MOULDING A BETTER FUTURE: SAIMA SHAFI (KralKoor)

Hailing from Srinagar Kashmir, Saima Shafi better known as KralKoor has made a name for herself as a pottery artist, combining classic and modern techniques to decorate things of everyday use and decor using pottery.

From difficulties in getting the modern pottery equipment and then going to Bengaluru to learn the discipline she has overcome every challenge in order to pursue her dream.

Her efforts have brought national and international recognition to Kashmir. Saima can be credited for taking pottery in the valley to a whole new level.

PWD Engineer by profession, Saima, has taken it upon herself to revive the lost art of pottery in Kashmir. Initially, she started this out as a hobby during her battle with depression and now it has spiraled into much bigger things for this talented individual. She turned every problem in her quest to learn pottery into a chance to build her skill set.

Apart from getting local media recognition, the success of her art has snowballed and featured into national and international media.

These achievements caught the attention of Tourism department of Jammu and Kashmir as she received the Appreciation Award for her work. She has also been felicitated by the Lt. Governor on Women’s Day. It was due to her efforts that the Handicraft Department has taken an initiative to work for potters in the valley.

She aims to help and guide those young boys and girls who aspire to take up this art form. Her future goal is to open a Pottery Learning institute in the valley which will be a a huge step in this direction.

With what Saima has achieved in her career so far, we at Taarukk are sure that she will one day succeed in her goal and we wish her all the very best.