Naqsh-e-Daur The Story of Ghulam Nabi Dar
In Srinagar’s Safakadal neighbourhood, Ghulam Nabi Dar’s modest workshop stands as a quiet repository of artistry and tradition. For over six decades, he has carved stories into walnut wood, weaving the history and culture of Kashmir into every intricate design. Born into humble circumstances, he first discovers his passion in his father’s workshop, observing, then holding tools, and eventually carving for himself. Under the guidance of master craftsman Noor Din Tikoo, he absorbs the visual vocabulary of Kashmiri woodwork: chinar leaves, intricate motifs, and Quranic calligraphy etched with devotion into walnut grain. These are not merely decorative patterns; they are a language Kashmir has spoken for centuries.
Today, his legacy lives not only in the motifs he creates but also through his son, Abid, a state-awarded craftsman in his own right. Yet, this centuries-old craft faces an uncertain future, threatened by industrialisation, deforestation, and economic instability. Dar’s workshop becomes a space where time slows, each chisel stroke a quiet act of resistance against a rapidly changing world.
His journey is not untouched by hardship. Through difficult times in Kashmir, when uncertainty looms large and Srinagar’s streets fall silent, Dar remains steadfast. He continues his work with unwavering dedication, his chisel against walnut becomes an act of faith, a quiet refusal to be erased. While history unfolds loudly outside, he carves his response in wood, in a language that predates conflict and outlasts it.
Despite dwindling resources and shrinking markets, hope finds its way back to him. After receiving national recognition, something unexpected happens: phone calls begin, not from galleries or institutions, but from young people, students and aspiring artisans who feel with urgency that something irreplaceable is slipping away. Welcoming them openly, Dar commits to guiding and mentoring, determined to pass his knowledge on to a new generation. In their curiosity, he sees a future where the craft does not just survive but evolves.
Our film follows Dar’s journey through his work, his teachings, and his quiet reflections on a craft that is inseparable from the valley itself. In his modest workshop, he revives forgotten designs while imagining new ones, were tradition and creativity flow seamlessly together. As he carves, his mind drifts to patterns yet unformed, each stroke carrying a lifetime of memory, resilience, and devotion. His story is one of perseverance and quiet faith, reminding us that preserving culture is not only about honouring the past, but nurturing it for generations yet to come.