Srinagar, Oct 24: A 65-year-old resident of Srinagar has dedicated his life to preserving an intricate craft that is part of Kashmir’s cultural heritage. Mehrajudin Beigh, from the Channapora area, has mastered chain stitch embroidery over nearly five decades.
Speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Beigh reflected on his long association with this art form. He said the quality and demand for handmade work have largely diminished. “Despite the beauty of traditional Kashmiri designs, there is a decline in interest in handmade chain stitch embroidery,” he lamented.
Mehraj said this shift is due to the rise of machine-made products, which offer faster and cheaper alternatives. “Machines have dented the demand for handmade work,” he said, adding that the artisans face challenges. “The affordability and quick production times of machine-made items have overshadowed the value of handcrafted pieces.”
He explained, “Once people try handmade items, they recognise their worth, but the lower prices of machine-made products keep them in demand.”
Beigh recalled creating a piece known as the Whitehouse piece in 2001 for Bill Clinton and a detailed work featuring Dilip Kumar, Prithvi Raj and Madhubala from the film ‘Mughal-e-Azam’, which took him a month to complete and was sold for a good return.
Despite the low demand, Mehraj continues to work passionately. “I prioritise quality in my art to highlight the differences between handmade and machine-made items,” he said. “The craftsmanship required for handmade chain stitch involves considerable skill and patience, with some pieces taking weeks or even months to complete. Unfortunately, the market’s shift toward machine-made goods threatens the survival of this traditional craft.”
Beigh expressed concern that very few young people are interested in learning the art, which puts it at risk of extinction. “Supporting handmade products and encouraging younger generations to engage with this craft is vital for its preservation,” he said.
While we appreciate the government efforts to revive the art, there is a need for greater involvement from authorities, Beigh said. He appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for immediate action to support this cultural legacy—(KNO)
