They defeated the virus but they have been devastated by the lockdown, says Ghulam Ahmad Hajam, a stone carver. All his savings and the jewellery of the women in the household are all gone and the future looks bleak.Memorial stones, Hamam stones, stones for minarets, mortars and pestles found in every Kashmiri kitchen, carved into memorable and intricate forms, sold near Pantha Chowk on the Srinagar-Jammu highway was a ubiquitous sight. Carving stones is easier said than done. It requires time, effort and skill that is acquired over decades. It requires patience, perseverance and imagination. Certainly not any less than other fields. Locally called ‘Sangtarash’ (Sang = stone; tarash = carver), their skill in calligraphy is outstanding. The art of stone-carving was introduced in the 12th century, they claim, by visiting craftsmen from Persia. But while the art survived through centuries, this unorganised sector is not entitled to any welfare scheme of the government or loans and is languishing, they inform.
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