The workshop under the name "Ghulam Dar" is one of the most difficult and complex professions in the world, because it requires immense patience and unparalleled precision. Any slightest mistake can lead to the work being undone for months.
After decades of hard work and constant struggle, Ghulam Dar, a 72-year-old master, achieved something that makes him smile. Last month, he was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri award for his tremendous contribution to the art of wood carving. "I have endured suffering and poverty for 60 years. But in the end, my art was recognized, and I was awarded fourth highest honor in the country," he said.
This craftsman, who is the last of those working in this field in his country, added: "This award can become a stimulus for the art of wood carving, which the youth no longer chooses. The new generation lacks patience; they want everything to happen quickly. They believe that this art came to Kashmir during the Sheikh-Sufi Hamza Makhdum in the 15th century."
