Sonpah is a hamlet of 400 households situated on the main road of Doodpathri in Beerwah Tehil in Budgam district, where more than 20 people have earned state and national awards for their unmatched and highly attractive “Sozni” work.
This Shia-dominant village was known as “Sonpadd” (Golden Leg) in ancient times as a spring located in the middle of the village had a reflection of a “Golden Leg” on which a Jamia Masjid had been built.
The “Sozni” work was introduced by a holy religious preacher, Ghulam Hasan Shera, about 200 yearsago, said artisan Bashir Ahmad Bhat, who is a winner of the 2005 National Merit Certificate.
Ahmad said, “The preacher Shera, who died at the age of 100, had introduced “Sozni” work in the village and my father, Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, was the first person who picked up the artisan work lesson from him. However, my father died 20 years ago.”
Ahmad further said that “Sozni” work has been entrusted upon the villagers traditionally and they have continued this work till now and are earning their livelihood happily.
He said about 500 people, including educated young girls of the village, are associated with the “Sozni” work done on shawls, stoles and pherans, besides other items. They are earning their livelihood happily besides continuing their studies, he added.
He said undergraduates, 12th, matriculate boys and girls are also doing “Sozni” work, besides keeping the candle of their studies burning and providing a helping hand to their families.
Ahmad said, “Doctor Nazir Ahmad Malik, a child specialist, was also doing “Sozni” work before he became the doctor.”
“I have also directed my children to undergo training in “Sozni” work, besides continuing their studies,'' he added.
The authorities in the Kashmir Valley have been so impressed with the work and fame of the village Sonpah that the Department of Handicrafts has decided to give it the status of a “Craft Village” and for that, all necessary planning and work is being carried out, said Ahmad.
“Yes it was our demand to get the village Sonpah declared as a ‘Craft Village’, and added that the Director (Handicrafts), Mohammad Shah, has taken up the case seriously after seeing the work and the production of the artisans.
Bashir Ahmad said over 18 persons have been awarded state and national awards for their outstanding “Sozni” work.
He said that recently two more artisans, Ghulam Hassan Mir and Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, have been selected for the state award for their exemplary “Sozni” work created on shawls.
Besides, a Bachelor of Arts student, Safder Ali Mir, has also been selected for the national award, while Syed Baqar, another artisan, has been selected for a second award by the Government of India.
Bashir Ahmad has now introduced silk yarn to make the item more attractive for customers across the world.
He said that a group of Chinese visitors thronged Sonpah village about two years ago to see how “Sozni” work on shawls is inscribed and they were left dumbfounded after seeing the art.
He said the Chinese had the impression that this work is possibly done only with the help of machines and not just with a hand and a needle.
The group was so impressed that when they reached their country, a live demonstration of “Sozni” work from the village Sonpah was shown to the people of China for hours together, Ahmad said.
The visiting group had purchased a lot of Kashmiri shawls, stoles and traditional pherans with “Sozni” work from the market.
Ahmad said that he has also participated in the 2016 BRICS Exhibition held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and won a certificate of appreciation from the Indian Institute of Craft and Design, Jaipur for his outstanding “Sozni” art work.
He said there would be an overall improvement of Sonpah after the authorities declare it as a “Craft Village”.
A craft centre would come into existence where people can undergo courses of “Sozni” work besides other artisan jobs.