India

Kashmir’s Last Mukh Maker Keeps Hand‑Carved Shuttle Tradition Alive

By Livemint

Pashmina, the ultra‑fine fabric made from the Changthangi goat’s undercoat, has long been a hallmark of Kashmir. The shawls are produced by skilled artisans who learn the craft over many years, with each piece passing through 12 to 14 manual steps before the fibers become the famed shawls. 75‑year‑old Abdul Majeed Zargar of Amda Kadal Jogiwan, Srinagar, is not a shawl weaver but a key contributor to the process. He is one of the valley’s last Mukh craftsmen. Locally called ‘Mukh,’ the small wooden shuttle is essential for weaving Pashmina shawls, and the craft is at risk of disappearing.

For nearly five decades, Zargar has made Mukh, a wooden shuttle that carries thread across a handloom. He discovered the craft by accident as a teenager while trying to earn a living. “I first worked with silver making and then turned to knife making. After trying both, I realised neither skill worked for me,” he told Kashmir Life. Zargar’s early attempts with Mukh were unpromising, and he almost abandoned the work after a year of frustration. The turning point came when a trader who dealt in weaving tools in Khayam introduced him to a group of craftsmen. They pointed out flaws in his shuttles but bought three pieces for ₹40 each.

Today, those shuttles sell for ₹1,800 and are considered essential tools in Pashmina production. “It is the basis of Pashmina. If this is missing, Pashmina cannot be made,” Zargar said. Many weavers now use factory‑made shuttle boats, which are cheaper and more readily available, leaving little room for craftsmen like Zargar who have spent a lifetime perfecting the hand‑carved Mukh.

“What matters is that the craft should continue,” Zargar said. “I do not know what will happen after me, but as long as I can hold my tools, I will keep making them.”