He thinks this piece of art is unique and priceless and had earlier thought of putting up a price of Rs 80 lakh for it.
“Once Farooq Abdullah visited my place, he wasn’t then in power, he bargained and agreed on Rs 21 lakh and left with a promise of getting a nod from Delhi but …,” says Aga Ashraf.
“In a letter from Ghulam Nabi Azad regarding the same tree, he said he doesn’t want that this piece of art should leave the country so will make sure that it stays but… nothing much has happened.”
Now a Kashmiri born American has shown some interest in preserving Qasba’s tree in his yet to be established museum. He is taking up “Ladishah Project” to preserve the heritage and different facets of Kashmir.
Whatever will happen to this “unique piece of art”, its creator bid adieu to this world and had to sell many of his art pieces to have some money saved for his last rites, Ahanger says.
