Mudasir Tariq
SRINAGAR, Aug 24 : Kashmir's walnut wood carving is among the world famous crafts. Different types of furniture and gift items are made from walnut wood, but from a recent past this famous industry is in peril due to an increase in furniture imports coupled with rising deforestation.
"These days a kind of timber for furniture comes from several northern states popularly known as the Sheesham. This kind of furniture is a threat for our walnut wood furniture as it brings with its own workers and experts creating a competition for us, not only this but Sheesham furniture cuts the cost to 50 per cent or more as compared to our furniture," said Nisar Ahmad, a local furniture maker. The Kashmiri furniture industry is fighting for its survival with increasing deforestation, the industry is facing a tremendous shortage of timber required to make various furniture items, thus paving a more way for the imported furniture in the Valley. "With increasing deforestation, the industry is facing tremendous shortage of timber required for making all these beautifully carved items. This is paving way for sales of the imported furniture to flourish in the valley, we can see the market is flooded with other kinds of imported furniture giving us a tough competition," said Ali Mohammad, another furniture maker.
"Our furniture items are handmade right from fabrication, carving and final finish. This carving requires more skilled craftsmen and is more time consuming. This makes our furniture costly while there are other kinds of furniture also available in the market that too at cheap rates, people prefer to buy them and we are running into losses," he added. Shabir Malik, who owns a furniture shop, said the local furniture was no match for Sheesham but people still preferred the imported furniture as it is economical.
"No furniture wood can match Kashmiri wood on account of colour, design and durability. But people here especially the middle class prefer to buy the Sheesham as compared to Kashmiri furniture due to its low cost," said Shabir
Another challenge faced by the Kashmiri furniture industry is the rising popularity of steel and plastic furniture in the market. These items have slow down the rates of Kashmiri furniture to a considerable extent.
"We prefer to use plastic furniture as compared to the traditional furniture made of walnut, deodar or kikkar, as it is available at affordable prices. It is light weighted, and easier to move it from one place to another," said Nusrat Jan, a housewife.
While observing the market there is a boom of plastic and steel furniture. Dining tables, beds, chairs, tables and every other furniture comes either in steel or plastic and are very much preferred by the locals. "Even after working hard day and night to bring classical furniture for our customers we are having a tough time, the government on the other hand is watching as a mute spectator and nothing is being done to flourish this Kashmiri furniture industry. These days this industry is undergoing a great threat and if it is not well addressed a dreadful end seems to be inevitable," said Wajahat Khan, another furniture maker. |
