Purushapura: Gifts from the past

Peshawari artisans will be given loans from the government to promote their city’s multicultural history.

PESHAWAR:

Peshawar, previously known as Purushapura (The City of Flowers), is, according to historians, probably the oldest and the most culturally fertile city of South Asia. Excavations carried out during 1992-93 and 1995-96 revealed that the city has been ruled by Mauryans, Greeks, Scythians, Kushans, Sassanians, Hunas, Hindu Shahis, Ghaznavids, Slave Dynasty, Ghurids, Mughals, Suris, Sikhs, Durranis and British and what we now see in Peshawari art, is a concoction of design philosophies of all these civilisations.

In the contemporary world, however, where Peshawari artisans are known for being pioneers of stone, wood and copper work and for their diverse creativity, they have also slipped into the category of cheap labour. Little effort was being put in the promotion of their art and government investment in the sustenance of these artists was almost nonexistent, until recently when in the last week of 2011, the Khyber government allowed a loan for Peshawari craftsmen. In a briefing with the media, Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that artisans from 10 categories including brass, copper and work, wood carving, pottery, footwear, sole-making, straw work, metal work, embroidery, khaddar khamta ( traditional cloth making ) and Daigmaar (traditional cooking) will be allotted the interest-free loan facility. According to the scheme, every craftsman will be given Rs50,000 to 70,000 to invest in their individual business and promote their skills.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government intends to extend this project to other districts of the province as well in order to improve the state of culture heritage. Many art techniques that are still practiced in the region are a reflection of its colourful history, which the government is now eager to preserve.

Copper handicrafts:

Copper was introduced in the subcontinent during Alexander the Great’s tenure but its importance to international world was only known when scholar Al-Beruni and Chinese travellor Heun’ Tsung appreciated the art work in their travelogues in the seventh century AD.

Until recently, Bazaar-e-Misgraran (copperware) in Qissa Khawani Bazaar of Peshawar enjoyed widespread reputation for its copperware and brass work. Zulfiqar, a shopkeeper says, “My grandfather had told me that the art of copper and brassware is hundreds of years old and they had learned it from Kashmiri artisans who may have inherited it from earlier Greek craftsmen who were there during Alexander the Great’s time.” Bowls, plates, urns, kozas, vases, images of camels, horses, and musical instruments are carved and engraved skillfully and even exported to Europe, Japan and America.

Golden and silver handicrafts:

Andershehar Bazaar is famous for all kinds of jewellery. Local jewelery makers say that the art of making jewellery reached its peak during the Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Akbar’s time, who used to invite jewellery makers from all over the world and the craftsmen, who produced the most exquisite gold items, were awarded extravagantly. Goldsmiths and silversmiths in Peshawar have inherited this art from their forefathers who lived through the Gandhara civilisation. The handicrafts are in great demand in Afghanistan, India, Japan and Europe.

Wooden handicrafts:

Over 40 shops located at Garhi Khana near the historic precinct of Gor Khuttree monument deal in wooden handicrafts. The wood work is a blend of Persian, Kashmiri and Central Asian design philosophies and is incorporated in furniture and decoration pieces. Artisan Gulmar Jan, 60, says that the art of woodwork has been practiced for more than 400 hundreds years by his family. For decades, his family has been producing wooden images of elephants, camels, horses, swans, ducks, eagles and pigeons, as these animals were and still are very important for the inhabitants of this region.

Leaf and straw handicrafts:

It is said that the craft of making various things from reed leaves, wheat and date palm is ancient. Previously only women were associated with this art but now men artisans have also adopted basketry to meet the increasing demand for this commodity. Things like hand fans, vases, bread pan and even bookshelves are made by weaving leaves together.

Chitrali handicrafts:

Chitrali embroidery is used to decorate handmade goods such as hats, shawls, waistcoats and lady’s handbags. Sadiq Amin, a dealer says, “Some 4,000 families are associated with this business. It takes months of hard work to make these goods to perfection but unfortunately the embroiderers are paid a nominal price for their skill.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2012.