Saturday, June 30, 2012

Carpet weaving in Kashmir


Kashmir Carpets are known worldwide for their mesmerizing beauty and excellent artistry. The exclusive handmade carpets ranging from superbly crafted wool carpets to the high quality wool / silk blends and the epitome of luxury, the pure silk Kashmir carpets are widely demanded all across the world. Kashmir carpets are quite expensive though nowadays replica designs are also available at cheaper rates. However, no replica designs can match up with the original designs and Kashmiri carpets and rugs are a worthwhile lifelong investment. These carpets reflect the beauty of the place itself. Today, Kashmir carpet rugs especially those constructed from silk are the most sought after floor covering items in the world.

Kashmiri Carpets Rugs Hand Knotted
Kashmir carpets are always handmade. Apart from being always handmade, a noteworthy quality and feature of Kashmir carpets is that they are always knotted and never tufted. The knots determine the durability and the strength of the Carpet or Rug. Kashmir carpets are often woven either double knots or and single knot. As compared to double knotted carpets, single knotted carpets are fluffier. The double knotted carpet pile is less resistant to touch and pressure.

Kashmiri Carpets Art
The carpet weaving craft did not originate in Kashmir. It is said that the carpet weaving technique and style have been acquired from Persia. The carpet weaving initially was very much influenced by the Persian designs, styles and patterns. However in the late seventeenth century, Indian style began to replace the Persian style, though most carpet designs, even today, reflect a Persian touch.

Yarns used in Kashmir Carpets and Rugs
The yarns used are either silk or wool or a combination of the two. Pile is usually wool. While manufacturing woollen carpets, cotton is used as base; silk carpets may have a cotton or silk base. As compared to woollen carpets, silk carpets are expensive. Sometimes silk is used in the woollen carpets for extra sheen. Woollen carpets are soft and make thinner folds. They are more flexible and have the shine of the silk. The knots per square inches in these carpets are high. Silk Kashmir carpets have a distinct sheen with velvety soft touch.

Designs, Patterns, Colors in Kashmir Carpets
Carpet woven in Kashmir is a marvellous piece of art. If installed in homes, these carpets lend their beauty to the whole environment. Carpets are beautified by intricate patterns and marvellous designs. The most popular design of these carpets is the tree of life. Designs are mainly floral or zoological though geometrical motifs are also found. The designs are named after Iranian city like Kashan, Kirman, Ardabil, Meshad, Qum, Faraghan, Hamadan and so on. The colors of the Kashmir carpet distinguish it from the other carpets. The carpet colors are more subtle and muted. Vegetable dyes are used for coloring the yarn. All shades of red, green, yellow, blue are used predominantly. All the carpets are quite unique in themselves. Each piece is differentiated from others by their color-way and other details.

Kashmir Carpet Weaving Style
Carpet weaving technique used in Kashmir is called Talim. It is in fact a blueprint of carpet weaving. It is paper that is covered with interminable rows of twists, curves and hieroglyphs. After learning the design depicted on the Talim for months, the actual manufacturing starts.

Buying Tips
If you want to buy Kashmir carpet it is necessary to keep in mind certain things. As this carpet is very expensive and is one time investment, it is must that you keep the following factors in your mind before purchasing Kashmir carpets

·         Check carefully the material of the carpet. Take a close look to see that the carpet you are purchasing has been made of silk pile on silk base, silk pile on cotton base, silk and wool on cotton base or wool on cotton base.
·         You can enquire the knotting pattern just seeing the carpet from the reverse side
·         Look the carpet carefully and enquire whether all the design has been woven correctly
·         Also whether each motif or element of design has clear, crisp outlines
·         Also feel the edges with your hand to find out whether the edges are smooth or not. 

The loom has silk threads stretched across tightly through which the weaver weaves patterns.

A weaver at work..focus is the mantra

The patterns are first coded on a sheet of parchment.The weaver has to continuously refer to the code so as not to miss out a design.the designs are very well balanced and symmetrical.

Silk threads are imported from China

There are few coded patterns available.The weaver changes colour schemes to create novelty in designs.The codes are inherited from forefathers.

Mughal patterns are in great demand.

Peacock immortalized ..a dream is woven

Omar Khayyam with his goblet ..this pattern symbolizes his love for wine and woman..both intoxicating.

Geometrical pattern in tribal colours

Weaver of dreams..magic carpets.Perhaps Alladin had such a carpet that took him across continents.These carpets are magical in the sense that one sees different shades and hues from different angles.


Saturday, June 16, 2012

Michael Angelo


A poem written by the poet , Salauddin Parvez ...it is dedicated to my son Osman when he was two years old..it reflects the bond between my son Osman and my father,Shamim Hanfi.Osman calls him Baba..

   MICHAEL ANGELO
(Ek nazm kahaani Shamim Hanfi ke nawase ko dekh kar)

Baba ek lekhak hain
Burdbaar aur mateen
Unke buland maathe par shiv ke maathe ki chaandni
Mehekti rehti hai
Unke shabdon mein
Anginat  yugon ke gyan gagan
Ghan ghan gaajte rehte hain
Us meethi ghan ghan ko sun kar raaj hans
Jaana chaahte hain,jo maansarovar
Kanwal kaliyon ko le kar ur parte hain achaanak
Aasmaan ki taraf

Baba ka ek nawaasa hai,naam hai Osman
Pyaar se sab use Michael Angelo kehte hain
Us ki umr hai kewal do saal
Nayan naqsh mein us ke sansaar bhar ke chitrkaron ke
Sunder bachchon ke chitr baatein karte hue
Saaf sunai dete hain
Michael angelo ka ek shauq hai,ajeeb,bohot ajeeb
Woh duniya bhar ki saari cheezein
Kamre ki khirkiyon se bahar phenk dena chahta hai
Michael Angelo ki naani,isi wajah se
Hamesha,kamron ki saari khirkiyan band rakhti hain
Phir bhi woh jaane kis pal
Koi na koi cheez zaroor khirki se baahar phenk deta hai
Uski is phenka-phenki mein
Baba ke do nazar ke chashme,teen chappalen,
Paanch kitaben,naani ke saat purse,
Ma ke gyaarah hair pins,aur khud uske
Ek sau ek khilone shaamil hain
Un khilonon mein ek remote se control hone waala
Air india ka jahaaz bhi haiaur ek
Battery se chalne wali, japaan ki Suzuki gaari bhi...
Haan ek baat to bataana bhool hi gaya
Idhar kayii dinon se Michael Angelo bolna seekh raha hai
Ab woh koi cheez phenkta hai to ek
Lammmmbi si “”zoom” bharta hai
Aur ek shabd”Ooper” keh ke
Apni sharaarat se sab ko aagaah bhi
Kar deta hai

Woh oope kyun kehta hai!
Maano uske liye prithvi aakaash hai
Aur ghubbaron aur patangon ki tarah
Har cheez us aakaash mein
Urte hue dekhna chaahta hai

Ek din jab maina ki jhari lagi hui thi
Raat ke baarah baje ka samay tha
Michael Angelo ki Ma,Nani,sab so gaye the
Baba bas sone hi waale the apni study mein
Unhon ne kitaab aankhon se hataa ke
Seene pe bichhai thi
Chashma bhi aankhon se utaar ke
Takiye ke neeche rakh diya tha
Ki unhen...
Aahat si hui...deka Michael Angelo
Dabe dabe qadmon mein unki study mein daakhil hoke
Bilkul unke paas aake tehr gaya hai
(study ki khirki khuli hui thi)

Michael Angelo ne kai baar Baba ko hilaya
Jaag to nahin rahe woh...lekin Baba to
Use dekhte hi sone ki acting karne lege the
Michael Angelo ko jab poori tarha ho gaya itmenaan
Woh so rahe hain...usne apni nanhi munni baahon mein
Baba ke bade se wajood ko
Is tarha uthane ki koshish ki jaise woh unhein
Khirki se baahar phenk dena chaahta hai...
Aur phir waaqai usne Baba ko ek lammmmbi se ‘zoom’ bhar ke
Khirki ke neeche phenk hi diya aur zor se taali baja ke
Khud ko aagah kiya ‘ooper’

Baba ekdam jaise ghbra gaye
Deewan se uthe jaldi jaldi
Harbaraate hue rack se torch uthai
Sutt sutt slipper pehne
Darwaaza khol ke,bohot si seerhiyan utar ke
Jab khirki ke neeche pahunche,
Apne aap ko dhoondne...wahaan koi nahin thha!
(paani ab bhi ghan gha baras raha thha)

Baba bohot der tak yunhi haath mein torch roshan kiye
Gumsum khirki ke neeche khare hue bearish mein bheegte rahe
Bohot der ke baad jab aasman par
Bijli ki ek kamaan tooti aur uska ek ansh
Unki aankhon mein bhi chubha to woh gumsumi se
Bedaar hue...palte ghar ki jaanib...
Bohot si seerhiyan charh ke
Paani mein sharabor thhake thhake,
Bukhaar mein thhore se tape tape
Chheenkte hue jab apni study mein
Pahunche...dekha!

Michael Angelo,
Unka chashma lagaye
Bilkul unhin ki tarha
Kitaab apne seene par phailaye
Unke deewan par
Nihayat itmenaan ke saath so raha hai















Happy Father's Day!!

Friday, June 8, 2012

Half Moon

The book'Half Moon'I recently edited is finally out!!Published by Bahrisons,New Delhi...waiting for its official launch!

Ghazal

Soundscapes

Soundscapes A vast desert Ripples in sand Grains in crevices of my palm A red roof Against a Monochrome sky Co...