It may look cinematic, but it is grand and real. The striking colonial architecture on the vast Silk Factory grounds in the heart of Kashmir’s capital, however, faces the wrecking ball. The government wants to demolish it.
It cannot, though, unless it steamrolls the campaign led by cinematographer Tassaduq Hussain Mufti, acclaimed for Omkara and Kaminey . The self-effacing activist happens to be the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s son, and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s younger brother.
Colonial architectureThe Srinagar Silk Factory, set up in the 1860s on a 13.5 acre site in Srinagar’s Solina area, has some colonial architectural marvels including five filatures, three cocoon stores, a workshop and the silk factory itself. Several structures were added in 1917 and 1931 on the sprawling lawns, amidst Chinar and Mulberry nurseries.
Campaigners have been pointing to the ‘slow death’ of this originally picturesque site. It began to fade under official neglect and diversion of land and structures to State departments.
On Tuesday, Mr. Mufti invited conservationist Gurmeet Rai and her photographer husband Raghu Rai, as well as many urban architects, to make a private visit to help preserve the site. “The plan is to protect and restore the structures,” Mr. Mufti told The Hindu .
Some six acres of land have already been diverted to the Excise Department, J&K Industries and the Public Service Commission. The Power Development Department runs a workshop from a colonial structure here.s
The State Public Service Commission wants to dismantle one of the filatures and Mr. Mufti thinks “the ugly PSC structure is worth bringing down.” There will, however, be no demolition on the premises of the Silk Factory, he asserts.
Site of struggle
The historically significant site hosted Asia’s first workers struggle in 1865, well ahead of the U.S. ‘May Day’ movement of 1886. Records say 28 weavers died and another 100 were injured when Dogra forces fired upon the weavers in Zaldagar area.
