SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: The old and priceless glory of Srinagar City once again came into spotlight through paper-mache art, when a famous paper-mache artist, Maqbool Jaan from Lal Bazar, Srinagar, drew complete map of Old Srinagar city on a small piece of cloth.
According to artist Maqbool Jaan large scale construction work and urbanisation around Srinagar have polluted water-bodies and fresh water reservoirs. Over the years, the water-bodies have almost disappeared while many others have lost their existence, with encroachments in and around the area.
Lakes like Dal-Lake, Nigeen, Aanchaar, Wular, Manasbal etc in Kashmir have shrunken to a fraction of their original size due to unchecked encroachment.
Maqbool Jaan, 56, winner of four National awards and one International award, has made this painting to draw nature lovers’ attention to how human beings have destroyed nature and the beauty of Kashmir Valley, particularly Srinagar city over the years. Maqbool said, “The idea of creating an old map of Srinagar city came to my mind when I saw a very old map. It upset me a lot but gave me a motivational support, to create something new and different “.
“It took about a year to complete, while about one or more months are required for giving it final touch. Art is the best way to express ideas, so through this art, I want to send a message to all my brothers and sisters who are residing in and around Srinagar, that we should save our environment and must not pollute water-bodies. Our focus should be on keeping the inherited things alive”, Maqbool Jaan added.
“Kashmir is famous for its natural beauty, people from all over the world visit Jammu and Kashmir to see the famous Dal Lake, Mughal Gardens, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and other tourists spots. If we continue to pollute environment and encroach water-bodies why would tourists visit Kashmir? If everything disappears because of our greed, how we will attract tourists,” he added.
Maqbool is hopeful that the government will not only approach him but also appreciate him. The Common man also hopes that the government will come out in support of Kashmiri artisans as they are truly the strong back-bone of the economy of Kashmir.
“I wish this masterpiece will be placed at a place where people can see it all time, like Parliament House of India,” he asserted.