At 75, Kashmir's Last Pashmina Shuttle Maker Teaches Son His Craft
· India · Times of India, LiveMint
Seventy-five-year-old Abdul Majeed Zargar is believed to be the last surviving maker of the hand-carved wooden shuttle, known locally as the Mukh, used in Pashmina weaving across Kashmir. Operating from Amda Kadal Jogiwan in Srinagar, Zargar spent nearly five decades crafting the essential tools by hand after trying his hand at silver-making and knife-making. He initially struggled to sell his work until an encounter with a Khayam trader and local craftsmen helped him establish a market. Now, Zargar is teaching his son how to build the Mukhs to ensure the traditional craft survives beyond his lifetime.
Why it matters
The survival of traditional Pashmina weaving in Kashmir depends on specialized tools like the Mukh, making the preservation of this rare artisan skill vital for the region's heritage textile industry.
Read the original report — Times of India
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