Basit Zargar/Srinagar

Mohammad Yusuf Muran remains busy from dawn to dusk, chiselling wood-carved masterpieces.

Muran, 58, who hails from Srinagar Downtown, was born deaf and dumb. However, his handicap never came in the way of his learning the traditional art of wood carving.

He started learning the art of wood carving from his elder brother, who is also deaf and mute, at the age of four.

Muran has created a replica of the Jamia Masjid of Srinagar. It took him three months to complete this masterpiece. This won him applause and appreciation from all over the world.

Mohammad Yusuf Muran engrossed in creating an art piece

Muran’s other masterpieces created out of deadwood are King George of England on a horse, a statue of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Mahatma Gandhi, the Hazratbal Shrine, Kashmiri Samovar, Kangri, and a shepherd.

He created wood-carved mementoes on Kashmir’s wildlife and on the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road link, showing an Indian and a Pakistani hugging each other.

Wood carving has been the traditional art of the Muran family for the past 200 years.

Before partition, their great-grandfather had a showroom in Karachi from where he sold his artworks in central Asia through the ancient Silk Route.

“Muran is so talented that if you give him a picture, he would create the same on Deadwood,” said Mudasir Muran, his nephew.

"Earlier, my father used to make all these items, and he was a legendary artist. He passed away a few years back and now my uncle, Mohammed Yusuf, is engaged in this art. Other people, too, make all these items, but not with such a level of perfection as my uncle possesses,” he said.

Mohammad Yusuf Muran

The family wants the government to help people like Muran. 

“We also know that this sector of handicrafts has been monopolized by a few big traders. The artists should be rewarded for their craft.”

Mudasir says his uncle is being ignored because he is deaf and dumb. “I am trying very hard to keep this art form from dying. I have set up one of the best stores in Kashmir without any help from the government, which has been quite difficult. 

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“I even met the high officials and laid down my ideas in front of them, but it did not make any difference.”