Srinagar, Mar 14 (KNO): For generations, the artisans of Kashmir have been renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship, creating intricate copperware using age-old techniques passed down through centuries.
From delicate tea sets to ornate bowls and vases, each piece is a testament to their mastery of the craft and reflects the region's rich cultural heritage.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the machine- made copperware, however, for the last few decades has emerged a new challenge for the centuries-old copperware industry of the valley.
Machine-made copperware is rapidly gaining ground, posing a formidable challenge to the traditional craftsmen who have long dominated the market.
As a result, traditional Kashmiri copper artisans are finding themselves in a tough battle to compete with their machine-made counterparts. Many are struggling to adapt to the changing market dynamics, facing declining demand for their handcrafted products.
“We are facing unprecedented challenges from machine-made copperware. Our products may be crafted with care and attention to detail, but the onslaught by machine-made copperware had brought down its worth,” said Abdul Aziz Lankar, a copperware artisans and a dealer.
He said the advent of modern manufacturing techniques and the rise of machine-made copperware have begun to disrupt this age-old industry.
“With advanced machinery capable of mass production, manufacturers can churn out copperware at a fraction of the time and cost required by traditional artisans. This shift has not gone unnoticed by consumers, who are increasingly drawn to the convenience and affordability offered by machine-made copperware,” Lankar said.
Farooq Ahmad Misger , another copperware dealer said the industry is at the evrge of extinction due to the invasion by the machine-made copperware.
“This art is now not being imbibed by our younger generations. If government doesn’t intervene, we will lose the art, hence the centuries old industry, ” he said.
The artisans are hopeful of revival of the hand-made copperware industry especially after government announced measures to ban machine-made copperware.
Taking strict measures against machine-made copper, the government in January this year appointed Director of Handicrafts and Handloom (H&H) Kashmir as the person in charge of implementing the J&K Prohibition of Manufacture of Specified Copper Utensils (by machine) Act.
The step is aimed to combat the introduction of machines in crafting copper utensils which has resulted in marginalization of traditional artisans, and has allowed individuals without specific copper working skills to enter the industry, adversely affecting traditional craftsmen—(KNO)