I visited Srinagar for its scenic beauty but returned with a lesson in patience

My 72-hour stay in Srinagar began with a warm welcome at the Dar-Es-Salam hotel by our hosts at Aadyam Handsoven, a social company from the Aditya Birla group. Manish Saksena, business manager, and Vishesh Sharma, responsible for marketing and commercial development, invited us to live the city through organized experiences that honor the craft heritage of Kashmir. After setting up in my room with a view of Lake Nageen, I left for a papier mache workshop. There, I met craftsmen Maqbool and Firdaus who have run their studio for more than 40 years after their transmission for three generations. They took me through the process, recycling paper, used notebooks to mold the dough and color the final product.

See how the paper could turn into furniture, trays and clutches was fascinating. It reminded me of the time when I made a pen in my supw class (socially useful productive work) in 4th year, which I always have as a token of my hard work. I had always been a DIY girl, making cards developed for friends, family and teachers on every occasion. “Where did all my creativity go?” I considered, looking at Maqbool and Firdaus using their hands with a precision practiced.