It is disheartening to hear about the struggles faced by Syed Aijaz Shah, an award-winning papier-mache artisan from Kashmir who has been forced to drive an auto-rickshaw to make ends meet. Despite winning several awards and accolades, Mr Aijaz has struggled to sustain his art due to the meagre amount of money it makes in Kashmir. He lamented that other artisans are also leaving the craft due to financial reasons, and that it may not sustain for more than 5-10 years. However, Mr Aijaz still finds time for his art every day, morning and evening, and remains a wonderful human being. The art of papier-mache is believed to have been brought to Kashmir in the 14th century by Persian artisans, but has lost its appeal in recent times.
”Aijaz Sahab is a wonderful human being. He still finds time for his art every day, morning and evening. He spends his day on his Auto and at the end retires back to his beautiful world of colour and craftsmanship; working on his unfinished murals and unworked dreams,” the last tweet in the thread reads, showing a picture of him busy working at his art.
It’s heartening to see that despite the challenges he’s facing, Syed Aijaz Shah remains committed to his craft and finds time to work on his art. It’s a testament to his passion and dedication. Hopefully, with increased support and recognition for artisans like him, the art of papier-mache in Kashmir can thrive once again.
