Tahir Ahmad Kalwal, 56, hails from Onta Bhawan Soura in Srinagar. Forced to leave the valley during the peak of insurgency in the 1990s, he relocated to Delhi in search of safety and livelihood. It was there, far from home, that he was introduced to the delicate and demanding art of fur-work. Intrigued and determined, Kalwal trained in the craft, gradually mastering the process of transforming animal hides—especially sheepskin—into high-quality leather products.

Years later, he returned to Kashmir with a mission: to revive the nearly forgotten tradition of fur-work in the valley. Today, he is among the few remaining artisans in Srinagar who continue to practice this heritage craft. Using hides of domestic animals such as sheep and goats, Kalwal carefully processes them through traditional tanning methods. While the raw materials are locally available, the absence of proper tanning infrastructure in Kashmir presents a major challenge for those in the trade.

Despite the odds, Kalwal’s dedication stands as a quiet act of cultural preservation—keeping alive a vanishing art form while trying to inspire a new generation to value and carry it forward.