In Zadibal, Srinagar, where old carpets carry memories of generations, Altaf Ahmad Sopori has spent the last thirty years practising the rare art of Rafoogari. Trained by the legendary yet feared master Ali Mohammad Dar, Altaf learned the craft with patience and persistence, mastering a skill many hesitated to approach. From his small workshop at home, he and his colleague Abdul Hamid now repair carpets from Belgium, Iran, Kashmir and many other places, often bringing back pieces families believed could never be restored.
Rafoogari demands more than stitching. It requires the eye of an artist to match colours, patterns and weaves so perfectly that even decades-old damage disappears. Some carpets take months to repair, and every piece carries the weight of culture and memory. Yet, despite the precision and dedication the job demands, Altaf and his colleague struggle to earn a stable livelihood.
He hopes the government will support artisans like him through the Karkhandar Scheme so they can train young people and keep this vanishing craft alive. But the reality remains harsh. Altaf says he would not want his children to choose this path, knowing it cannot meet their basic needs.
Still, Altaf continues his work with quiet determination, travelling from home to home, breathing life back into carpets that hold the history of Kashmir in every thread.
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