Art of Calligraphy on revival in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, May 14 (ANI): The art of calligraphy is on a revival mode in Jammu and Kashmir, after the State's Academy of Art, Culture and Languages started running courses to facilitate the revival of rare calligraphic work.

The academy is providing all facilities to the students, including notebooks, pens, charts, and black ink during the three years course for calligraphy diploma.

"The art suffered during the period of insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. But now thankfully it is reviving. The academy has shown a lot of interest in it. In the past two to three years it is working for the progression of the art," said Syeda Nayeema, in-charge Calligraphy Cultural Academy.

Young boys and girls in the state are taking up these courses with a lot of interest.

"It was a very famous art earlier. But now the modern parents want their children to study and not indulge in anything else. I was studying too, but I thought that I should learn this art, as it is a part of our tradition," said Sabeena, a student.

The students too think that the efforts of the academy are commendable.

"Calligraphy was on its way to become extinct as everything is now done on computers. It has stopped for some time due to turmoil but now the academy is making efforts to revive it. People too are showing interest in it now," said Saba Akhtar, another student.

Calligraphy in Kashmir flourished under the sultans and the Mughals. The sultans used to employ calligraphers to copy important works.

Initially, the calligraphists were brought from central Asia as they had knowledge of paper from China whereas the Indian calligraphists worked on birch bark. (ANI)