By Tufail Ganie and Fozia Baba
Kashmir’s traditional homes once told stories through their roofs, woodwork and quiet harmony with nature. Through the Pash Tae Peaher initiative, Mohammad Farooq Zargar of Srinagar is trying to bring those forgotten stories back to life. The traditional houses of Kashmir were not just brick-and-wood structures; they carried an entire culture, lifestyle, and way of thinking within their walls. Their roofs spoke to the weather, the wood carvings told the story of the artisans’ hard work, and the entire house stood in deep harmony with nature.
A big dream that began with a small concern
It all began with a question that arose in Farooq’s mind- does the new generation know what the traditional houses of Kashmir actually looked like? Have the children heard about those roofs that kept homes safe even during snowfall? Or about the Khatamband ceilings, with wooden carvings that are not only beautiful but also durable? From here was born an initiative named ‘Pash Tae Peaher’. In the Kashmiri language, ‘Pash’ means roof and ‘Peaher’ means a simple earthen house. A pharmacist by profession, Farooq has proven that to preserve a heritage, not a degree but a heart and strong determination are needed.
A wooden model that holds an entire heritage
With patience and painstaking effort over three years, Farooq prepared a wooden model of a traditional Kashmiri house. This is not an ordinary model; the doors, windows, fine wooden carvings, and roofs are showcased exactly as they once existed. A special feature of this model is its roof. Four distinct traditional roof patterns used in Kashmir are displayed together in one place. Farooq says this is the first model of its kind that offers a glimpse of authentic Kashmiri architecture.
Roofs that understood the weather
The traditional roofs of Kashmiri houses were not just visually beautiful, but encompassed intelligent design. Made of birch bark, mud, and grass, these roofs allowed snow to slide off easily. In winters, they kept the house warm and in summers, they helped keep the house cool. The interiors of the house were decorated with Khatamband ceilings featuring geometric carvings on walnut wood.
A journey from children’s toys to heritage
Farooq used to craft children’s toys. One fine day, an idea came to his mind- why not create a toy through which children can learn of their heritage! This idea gradually took the form of ‘Pash Tae Peaher’. Through this model, Farooq hopes to educate young minds and reconnect them with a past that shaped Kashmiri identity. Alongside his work in non-formal education for children, he continues to build more such models, believing that understanding where we come from is essential to shaping where we are headed.
Thinking of livelihood along with heritage
‘Pash Tae Peaher’ is not just an emotional project, it holds the promise of a livelihood. Farooq plans to create smaller versions of this model which can be used as interior design pieces, gift items, and decorative objects. He hopes the model-making project will create new employment opportunities for youth while promoting entrepreneurship at the local level and preserving a timeless heritage.
Heritage fading amidst glitter and shine
Farooq believes that the glitter of today’s world has distanced people from the heritage of their ancestors. He says the challenge is to package tradition with new technology and a fresh perspective. Farooq has worked out a 6E model for the project. The first E stands for entertainment so that children take an interest. Then come experimentation, exploration, exploitation, excellence, and finally entrepreneurship.
Farooq also seeks institutional support for the project that will take care of research, prototyping, production, and marketing. He says, “Without knowing our past, we cannot compete with the future.” With every small wooden piece he creates, Farooq is reminding Kashmir of a heritage which was once the identity of this valley. ‘Pash Tae Peaher’ is not just a model, but an attempt to reconnect Kashmir with its roots.
Also Read: An Educator Establishes Largest High-Tech Private Library in South Kashmir
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