Abdul Rehman Mattoo is a 75-year-old blanket craftsman who has devoted his six decades to crafting blankets. Today despite his declining health and modest sales, Abdul Rehman persists in continuing his ancestral work at his workshop in Chattabal, Srinagar.
Abdul’s journey began when his father passed away. He, alongside his brother, then took up the mantle of their family legacy crafting blankets for children. Earlier, blankets were made with animal fur. But as ban was pronounced on animal fur, the craftsmen who worked on these blankets slowly went out of business. “Today hardly 3 or 4 workshops remain that are still make blankets for children by hand,” says Abdul.
Following his brother’s demise Abdul courageously continued the craft single-handedly, driven by a deep-seated determination to preserve his ancestral heritage. In Kashmir’s sub-zero winters, when many seek refuge indoors, Abdul remains steadfast, opening his shop day after day. From dawn till dusk he toils tirelessly to safeguard a tradition that is slowly fading with time. He hardly makes 100 to 200 rupees each day as handcrafted blankets cannot compete with machine made goods these days.
Despite the passage of time and the encroachment of modernity, Abdul’s unwavering dedication illuminates the path for future generations, reminding us of the significance of preserving our heritage and tradition.
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Mohsin Mushtaq is a multimedia journalist based in Kashmir.
