In 1998, a severe motorcycle accident in Delhi left Srinagar-based artisan Haji Ghulam Rasool Khan bedridden—confined to a single room for recovery. It was during this period of adversity that he rediscovered his ancestral craft: the age-old Jamawar patchwork, a 14th-century Kashmiri textile tradition that had nearly vanished.

Harnessing memory instead of templates, Khan devoted himself to this intricate craft, transforming his modest home in Amda Kadal, Srinagar, into a workshop of revival. His handiwork—marked by paisley and floral motifs using Sozni and Kani embroidery on fine pashmina or silk—resonates with cultural depth and artisanal precision.

Khan’s lifelong devotion brought widespread recognition: awards such as the State Award (2003), National Award (2005), Shilp Guru (2010), culminating in the Padma Shri in 2021, and the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Award in 2023.

Today, he stands not only as a master artisan, but also as a mentor—preserving cultural heritage and empowering future generations to carry forward the legacy of Jamawar patchwork, one delicate stitch at a time.