The Sonpah village, located in the Budgam district, is renowned for its traditional art of “Sozni” work. A total of 22 artisans from this village have been honoured with both state and national awards for their exceptional skills in Sozni embroidery.
Bashir Ahmad Bhat, a Sozni artisan from Sonpah, told Rising Kashmir that the residents of their village have been engaged in this craft for the past 150 years.
“There are over 400 artisans practicing Sozni embroidery in our village, providing a significant source of income for many,” Bhat said.
He said that there are more than 22 artisans from his village whose works have been recognised with state and national awards for their exceptional Sozni embroidery skills bringing recognition to their craft at both national and state levels.
“I was honoured with the National Award for Sozni work in 2005. In 2011, I received a certificate of appreciation from the ambassador to Tehran. Additionally, in 2016, I took part in a ten-day BRICS handicraft artisans exchange program held at the India Institute of Craft and Design (IICD) in Jaipur, which included artisans from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa,” he added.
Bhat has been involved in Sozni work for the past 45 years. “The majority of the people in our village rely on this art for their livelihood. My brothers and children are also engaged in Sozni work,” he said.
“In 2022, I was honoured with the Shilp Guru award by the Vice President of India. This recognition included a gold coin, prize money, a Tamrapatra, a shawl, and a certificate. On the same occasion, another artisan, Safdar Ali Mir was also awarded the National Award by the Vice President of India. He has also been associated with this craft for the last 25 years”, he said.
According to Bhat, the Shilp Guru awards are bestowed upon distinguished master crafts persons in acknowledgment of their exceptional craftsmanship, product quality, and their significant role as mentors in passing on traditional skills to trainee artisans, which is essential for preserving cultural heritage. These awards were initiated in 2002 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the revival of handicrafts in India.
“On August 7, 2023, I had the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. During our discussion, the Prime Minister assured me that appropriate measures would be implemented to support Kashmiri handmade products, thereby benefiting artisans, Bashir Ahmad Bhat said.
Bhat said that there are several artisans from their village who have preserved this art. Despite facing several difficulties, they did not leave this job. “This is one of the identities of the Kashmir valley, which has been preserved by the Artisans in our village”, he said.
“There is nothing difficult in life if a person is willing to work hard. I have received the Shilp Guru Award; tomorrow another artisan from Kashmir will receive it. I have trained hundreds of unemployed youths, including boys and girls, in various villages of Beerwah who are now earning a good income from this art,” he said.
Nissar Ahmad, another artisan specialising in Sozni work, said that he has been involved in this craft for the past 25 years and has been able to generate a substantial income from it.
He mentioned that from his collaboration with Bashir Ahmad Bhat, he has received valuable guidance due to Bhat’s esteemed reputation in Sozni artistry. Ahmad noted that many artisans from various villages within the Beerwah Tehsil also seek mentorship from him.
Ahmad further explained that artisans from Sonpah village are engaged in the production of reversible Kashmiri silk pashmina shawls. This characteristic is one of the hallmarks of the high-quality silk pashmina shawls crafted in Sonpah.
“There are well-qualified youth and students in the village who are also associated with this craft. While pursuing their studies, they are also earning a living through this work. Those who are well-trained in this skill are passing it down to their children, ensuring the continuity of this art form from one generation to the next,” Ahmad added.
