Abdul Majeed, an 85-year-old award-winning Kashmiri artisan, is among the last masters of Aari (Staple) work—a delicate form of landscape embroidery once celebrated across the Valley and beyond. He learnt the craft in his youth, at a time when Aari work was rising in popularity in Kashmir, inspired in part by the efforts of a...
Mirza Altaf Hussain Beigh, a 66-year-old Papier Mâché Naqashi artisan from Srinagar, has devoted his life to a craft he began learning at the age of six. With nearly six decades of experience, he stands among the last Kashmiri masters who carry the traditional skill of Naqashi, an intricate art involving the hand-painting of vivid...
One of Kashmir’s renowned embroideries, Chainstitch, continues to survive in the nimble hands of 72-year-old Abdul Qayoom Wani from Srinagar, who has dedicated nearly 55 years to this intricate craft. Having learnt the art from his father, Mohammad Ramzan Wani, he has witnessed both its flourishing years and its slow decline. Known for the enchanting...
60-year-old copper naqash, Manzoor Ahmed Naqashgeer of Teingpora Nawakadal in Srinagar, is one of the last remaining masters of Kashmir’s centuries-old copper naqashi tradition. Copper utensils – once an essential part of every Kashmiri household – are renowned for their exquisite hand-carved designs created by skilled naqashis. But today, this heritage craft is under grave...
Mohammad Rafiq Najar is a 65-year-old master walnut wood carver from Naidboni in Rainawari, Srinagar, who has dedicated over four decades to the intricate traditional craft of Kashmiri walnut wood carving—a heritage art known for its detailed patterns and cultural significance. He inherited the craft from his father, Noor Mohammad Najar, and became known for...
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...
The Sports Company has built a robust sporting ecosystem over the years, offering unparalleled services in Club Management, Grassroots Training, Talent Management, Sports Education, Corporate Sports Events, and E-Sports. At its core lies a deep passion for sport … the very vision with which The Sports Company was founded. Its mission is clear and ambitious:...
Span Foundation has proudly supported Zubair Ahmad Lone’s training for the past four years, enabling his remarkable rise in Alpine Snowboarding across national and international circuits. Through sustained funding and mentorship, Zubair has been able to train abroad, compete consistently, and push the boundaries of what an Indian winter-sport athlete can achieve. His results reflect...
Span Foundation is proud to have sponsored the intensive 28-day training program of Sachin Saroj, one of India’s fastest-rising climbing talents, in Kaliningrad, Russia in 2025. At just 21 years old, Sachin, the son of Nand Kishore, a truck driver, has carved an inspiring path in Indian sport climbing. He discovered the sport during his...
Span Foundation is proud to have been a key sponsor of the October 2025 Zabarvan Downhill MTB Series. Across Gulmarg, Shillong, and Guwahati, we witnessed remarkable talent, community energy, and the growing power of India’s mountain-sport movement — and we’re honoured to support it. The trophies were based on local folklore and crafted by local...
