Mohammad Aslam Khan is a 70-year-old veteran Sozni embroidery artisan from Kathidarwaza, Rainawari in Srinagar, with over 55 years of experience practicing this centuries-old craft. He is regarded as one of the senior craftsmen in his community and has trained more than 200 artisans in the intricate needlework of Sozni embroidery, which is traditionally done on Pashmina and Toshe shawls. Khan inherited the art from his uncle and his uncle’s student, keeping the family tradition alive even as many relatives left the craft for other livelihoods. His skill and dedication are such that his portrait painting was chosen as the cover image for the book Shawls and Shawlbafs of Kashmir — Legends of Unsung Heroes by Dr. Abdul Ahad.

Khan emphasizes the extreme patience, meticulous handwork, and cultural value of authentic Sozni embroidery, lamenting the sharp decline in demand due to machine-made imitations, exploitation by middlemen, and lack of sufficient support for artisans. He warns that without urgent intervention from authorities, the craft risk disappearing, taking with it a vital part of Kashmir’s heritage.