Srinagar, Aug. 16 -- Communities thrived because honesty was an everyday practice, and artisans created not just objects of beauty, but the very fabric of social harmony.

The roots of this enduring tradition reach across continents and centuries. More than 700 artisans journeyed from Central Asia under the guidance of Shahi Hamadan (RA), bringing skills and vision that would seed generations of craft.

Later, under the reign of King Zain-ul-Abidin, known as Badshah, the valley saw a careful intertwining of social infrastructure, agriculture, and artistic development.

Canals flowed, crops thrived, and artisans prospered as vital members of a cohesive, thriving society.

Yet today, that legacy stands at a precipice. The rush of modernity ...