From passion to profession: Mohd Yousuf Najar reviving centuries-old Kashmiri paper mache art

Sep 15, 2023

Srinagar, September 15 (ANI): Meet Mohammad Yousuf Najar, a resident of Nowpora Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir who is inducing new life to paper mache art by making different items out of it including furniture. Yousuf learned this centuries-old art from his ancestors. But as time passes, the paper Mache handicraft is declining as youngsters from families involved in the business are not interested in carrying on the legacy. But this is not the case with Yousuf as he always wanted to do something different in this art form. In order to preserve this handicraft, Yousuf wants to give it a new life so that more and more youngsters will join it. Yousuf who has been associated with this art since his childhood is now making furniture like tables with paper waste which is strong and durable and his work is also recognised by the government. Talking to ANI, Mohammad Yousuf Najar said, “I always wanted to try something new and I wanted more and more people should get engaged to this art so I tried making furniture out of paper waste which no one has tried out yet. The table which I have made out of paper waste is very strong and durable and can be easily used in our homes.”