I've just flown home from India, where I have been visiting a young friend. My friend Intekhab is a rafoogar, a darner of Kashmiri shawls. He comes from a long line and large extended family of rafoogars, who for generations have devoted themselves to restoring these old and precious textiles.
Our friendship was formed early in 2006 when we undertook a joint residency in Ballarat Victoria, along with Intekhab's fellow rafoogar Zakir, as part of the Common Goods project. You can learn about this project and discover what we did during our residency by following the links at the right to the website and blog respectively.
I speak no Hindi. Intekhab speaks a little English. He is of the Muslim faith, a young man the same age as my daughter. We would seem to have very little in common except our shared interest in mending old cloth. Even there, our attitude differs. Intekhab is trained to mend invisibly, to remove from the cloth any trace of the passing of time. My interest in mended cloth lies in exposing the effects of aging, allowing the marks to tell the story of the life the cloth has led. I am very happy for the mends to remain visible.
Yet this young man and I, as we collaborated on a work for Common Goods, formed a bond which has stood the test of time and distance. Intekhab has phoned me from India every few months, to ask about my family and my health, and even to offer me Christmas greetings on Christmas Day, each time urging me to visit him and his home town of Najibabad, 200 kilometres north east of Delhi.
How could I refuse such an enticing offer? So of we went, my husband and I, to Delhi, and to Rajasthan, and then finally north to Najibabad. We met Intekhab's family and friends, who made us very welcome. We visited Intekhab's workshop, and those of his extended family and colleagues, where we saw the results of the rafoogars' very special skills and creativity.
We were taken touring to visit local landmarks which spoke of the history of the town. Intekhab's family welcomed us into their home, where we experienced great hospitality and generosity. We shared a special meal cooked by Intekhab's mother. Intekhab's father kindly showed us some of his treasured old Kashmiri shawl fragments.
I was given a precious gift of two embroidered strips of centuries-old shawl. I am charged with honouring that generosity by incorporating these precious fragments into a worthy piece of work.
All too soon our special visit was over, but our memories will last a lifetime. Intekhab, how can we ever thank you enough?
6 comments:
It is good that Mr Intekhab got rocognition inabroad also. But this is our bed luck that person like intekhab are getting how much for this precious antique presevation.....Najibabad is the hub of these after Kashmir.....where are is being rejuvenated....there are so many youth like intekhab and donot know their importance and utility. They are under utilized...fm s r khan
One of the person like Amir Khan who is also doing this job and preserving these precious Art.These skilled person are generating employment for poor muslim girls as they are designing the shawls crafted by hand under the guidance of Mr Amir Khan S\o Late Shri Jamilur Rehman Khan of Rampura Najibabad....This youth is hardly 8th class pass....and just because of this precious art have become the source of income of many poor muslim girls of this area. from S R Khan
It is unfortunate that people who have given their entire life to this profession are not getting their due .Najibabad is the hub of this rare art of Rafoogari or darning..People like Zahoor Ahmed and Sharif Ahmed (mohalla Rampura)are one of the oldest and most knowledgeable people in this profession but their knowledge is not properly utilized.They can be reached at websavvyasian@gmail.com
Awesome blog about najibabad
Many people had written books on JAMAWAR SHAWLS . But very few people know that the contribution which has been made to the JAMAWAR SHAWLS is highly provided by NAJIBABAD'S DARNERS(RAFOOGAR).To bring up this incredible art of the darner at very high,well-known and reputed scale in worlwide, this credit goes to MRS.PRIYA RAVISH MEHRA because she has been doing it since very long with all her heart and soul.
I am Intekhab Ahmad(darner) very grateful to her .
for more details contact:9811649326
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RAMPURA,NAJIBABAD,DIST.BIJNORE,U.P
Yes, Intekhab, well said. Priya has done so much over the years to ensure that the fine skills of Rafoogars like yourself are recognised by the world. I am grateful that she arranged your visit to Australia. It's hard to believe that it is nine years since we worked together in Ballarat. My later visit to Najibabad remains one of the highlights of my life. You were such a wonderful host!
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