Kashmiri artisan weaves Indian map with tricolour inscribed on Independence Day

Srinagar: A Kashmiri artisan has translated the famous quote “In love of home, the love of country has its rise’’ of renowned 19th century English novelist Charles Dickens into reality by weaving a carpet of an Indian map with a tricolour inscribed on it to be represented on the occasion of 77th Independence Day.

Mohammad Maqbool Dar, of village Ashtangoo Bandipora, a carpet artisan, has already created history by weaving a mesmerising Kashmir culture in a silk carpet wall hanging and a tricolor on a carpet in the past that shot him to fame.

Keeping the tradition alive, Dar this time has woven a map of India with tricolour inscribed on a 2 x 2 cotton carpet that took him two months to complete, The wonderful creation is to be represented on the occasion of Independence Day under the “Mere Maati Mere Desh” (My Mother, My Country) initiative.

He believes that the traditional Kashmiri Carpet industry would get a boost from this patriotic gesture towards the country.

Talking to UNI Dar said, “I used to weave something unique on this occasion for the past some years to express my patriotism and love towards the country and I believe this gesture would definitely further explore the carpet industry of Kashmir valley”.

The carpet is fast blue in the background and deep saffron (Kesari) at the top, white in the middle there is a navy blue wheel. The lower part is dark green. All three parts are of equal proportion, making the map of India eye-catching.

Dar has a big team of educated girls who are also working with him weaving carpets of different sizes and hues for the past many years.

Dar said that he gave the idea to the Indian Institution of Carpet Technology (IICT), Srinagar, who provided him with the computerised “Talim” of weaving the Map with the tricolour on carpet with a printout of the subject.,

Dar, who also runs “Delight Carpet Weavers” society in the area, is associated with carpet weaving for the past 22 years and had 20 looms in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district where about 50 young and educated girls from downtrodden families are weaving different wall hangs with zeal and zest to earn their livelihood.

Dar said he has been invited by Deputy Commissioner, Bandipore, Owais Ahmad to the Independence Day function where this map would be showcased.

Dar had previously stunned onlookers by weaving a mesmerising Kashmiri cultural painting, that earned him a huge amount after its presentation in the “Srinagar Hunar Haat” 2021.

Dar appealed to the authorities to provide special incentives to the carpet weavers especially the young poor girls for their economic uplift in the society and to give life to the age-old traditional art in Kashmir Valley.

The quote “In love of home, the love of country has its rise’’ appeared in Dickens's widely read novel The Old Curiosity Shop which he had serialised between 1840 and 1841. It is said it was so popular that New York readers rushed in huge numbers when the ship carrying the final instalment arrived at the port. Dar is hoping that his latest creation would do an encore. (UNI)