by Iqra Akhoon
SRINAGAR: Abdul Rehman, the tailor who once had four apprentices helping him to manage the stitching load, was unhappy with the decline of the craft at the fag end of his life. He passed away at around 100.
Rehman, a resident of Barbar Shah never gave up his skill even after having pacemakers implanted many times. He raised his family with his skill but was unhappy that the shift in fashion marginalised the skilful in the stitching craft. He was so devoted to his skill that he would always ensure his dilapidated shop was not shut.
Sometimes he would do it merely for socialising because he has been working from this shop since 1947. He attributes the marginalisation to the influx of non-native skilled workforce and the readymade fashion.
(The feature image, used in this report is not linked to this news story. It is merely representational.)
