Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 21: President of India Pranab Mukherjee presented National Award 2015 for paper mache to Syed Maqbool Hussain Rizvi in a function organized to honour the artisans from across the country in New Delhi.
Maqbool was awarded for a masterpiece (vase) which took him six months to make and has the entire Mughal emperors painted across its body. With an experience of 40 years, Maqbool is a prolific painter and paper mache artist from Kashmir who has already won the State Award in 2013.
In his modest workshop in downtown Kathimaidan, Alamgiri bazar Srinagar Maqbool has been creating the wonders with his brush strikes. The variety of his designs range from Iranian to Indigenous Kashmiri patterns and include flower work, darbari work (Mughal art) and embossed work etc. He not only has developed expertise in traditional work but has also made some exhilarating innovations in the art of paper mache.
Born on January 15, 1960 at Srinagar, Maqbool learnt this craft from his father. He has imparted training to about 50 students. He has participated in various exhibitions and has consistently received excellent response to his craft.
Meanwhile, Minister for Public Works, Floriculture and Gardens and Parks Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari congratulated Syed Maqbool Hussain Rizvi for being conferred with National Award for excellence in paper mache craft.
Bukhari assured the artisans pursuing various crafts like Paper mache, Khatamband, Pashmina shawls, Copper works, Wood works, and all other skills who were left to live in an atmosphere of despondency and scarcity of resources that the present dispensation shall explore all possibilities to address their grievances.
He said the department of handicrafts is formulating a comprehensive plan to build the capacity of poor traditional artisan craftsmen and to train the youth in traditional arts in Kashmir.
Bukhari observed that such support to the traditional artisans and craftsmen will add a new dimension to skill Kashmir mission, improve the economic conditions of those engaged in this sector.
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