Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 27: Adding yet another badge of honour on its already coveted robe, 2 master craftsmen have brought glory to Kashmir by winning the prestigious National Award in the handicrafts category, recently announced by the Union Ministry of Textiles.
Manzoor Ahmad Khan, from Rainawari and Khawaja Nazir Ali, from Alamgiri Bazar, Srinagar, will be conferred with the National Award by the President of India for excellence in the field of hand-knotted carpet weaving and sozni embroidery at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on December 9.
In a press release issued here today, a spokesman of the Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir said, “We are elated on their recognition for their immense contribution in taking crafts like sozni and carpet weaving to the next level.”
The awards come with a citation and a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh cheque. “Apart from the winners, two more craftsmen, Mashkoora Hameed from Budgam in sozni embroidery and Mir Arshad Hussain from Srinagar, in papier mache, have won special mention and have been invited to the function at Vigyan Bhawan,” he added.
Manzoor Ahmad Khan, a renowned weaver of hand-knotted carpet, was recently conferred first prize in UT Awards for the year 2024, at SKICC on Tuesday. “He also participated in the first edition of Know Your Artisan at Jhelum Riverfront and will also be actively engaged in Guru-Shishya Hastashilp Prashikshan Programme for Kupwara by Indian Institute of Carpet Technology, Srinagar,” he added.
Khawaja Nazir Ali has also distinguished himself in the field of sozni embroidery in recognition of which he has been honoured with the prestigious National Award.
Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, Mussarat Islam, also showered praise on the awardees and added that this recognition will provide traction to the famed handicrafts and handlooms of Kashmir and help in targeting newer niche markets, especially in South East Asia.
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