Traditional skills : Kashmiri artisans transfer knowledge to students
The seven-day training programme ends at Lok Virsa
Artisans teach students Kashmiri crafts during the programme at Lok Virsa. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD JAVAID/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The Lok Virsa on Sunday was decorated with beautiful traditional Kashmiri craft items and related accessories as the seven-day training programme paying tribute to the Kashmiri folk crafts ended with artisans from the region teaching students techniques of their craft.
The programme, organised by the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa), is part of the series of “Craft of the Month” with an objective to promote traditional skills, giving knowledge to younger generation about the importance and utility of different crafts and provide opportunity to youth to learn about Pakistan’s rich, diverse and pluralistic cultural tapestry. Around fifty students were trained during the programme.
Master artisan Shaikh Muhammad Yousuf, who taught students techniques of embroidering Kashmiri shawls, said it was a unique experience for him to teach craft making techniques to children. “They were keen to know each and everything involved in the process. I tried to transfer my knowledge to them in an interactive manner. Some children were very intelligent and they got a lot in a little time”
Another artist Gul-e-Zehra said the idea of providing training classes to children is excellent. “Though I trained young girls in my native town in Kashmir but holding training classes with children of a developed urban area like Islamabad was a memorable task for me,” she said.
“We have tried to create new innovations in the Kashmiri papier mache craft. It involves three stages: first is the basic where we prepare a mixture with paper ingredients, then second stage is its moulding in various shapes and last stage is its painting in different colours which is called “Naqqashi,” Deeba Rana said adding that they had trained students in all the three stages during the programme.
Executive Director Lok Virsa Dr Fouzia Saeed said “Pakistani children have a great potential to learn knowledge about our rich craft heritage. Here we also saw little boys along with parents who were equally keen to gain information about the craft making techniques.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2016.
The Lok Virsa on Sunday was decorated with beautiful traditional Kashmiri craft items and related accessories as the seven-day training programme paying tribute to the Kashmiri folk crafts ended with artisans from the region teaching students techniques of their craft.
The programme, organised by the National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa), is part of the series of “Craft of the Month” with an objective to promote traditional skills, giving knowledge to younger generation about the importance and utility of different crafts and provide opportunity to youth to learn about Pakistan’s rich, diverse and pluralistic cultural tapestry. Around fifty students were trained during the programme.
Master artisan Shaikh Muhammad Yousuf, who taught students techniques of embroidering Kashmiri shawls, said it was a unique experience for him to teach craft making techniques to children. “They were keen to know each and everything involved in the process. I tried to transfer my knowledge to them in an interactive manner. Some children were very intelligent and they got a lot in a little time”
Another artist Gul-e-Zehra said the idea of providing training classes to children is excellent. “Though I trained young girls in my native town in Kashmir but holding training classes with children of a developed urban area like Islamabad was a memorable task for me,” she said.
“We have tried to create new innovations in the Kashmiri papier mache craft. It involves three stages: first is the basic where we prepare a mixture with paper ingredients, then second stage is its moulding in various shapes and last stage is its painting in different colours which is called “Naqqashi,” Deeba Rana said adding that they had trained students in all the three stages during the programme.
Executive Director Lok Virsa Dr Fouzia Saeed said “Pakistani children have a great potential to learn knowledge about our rich craft heritage. Here we also saw little boys along with parents who were equally keen to gain information about the craft making techniques.”
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2016.