Defying Joblessness: The carpet weaver who became his own boss
Srinagar, Jan 26: At eight years old, Shafat Ahmad Chachoo’s tiny fingers learned to weave intricate patterns on carpet looms, not as a hobby, but as a necessity. Today, at his thriving nursery in Nowpora, those same hands nurture plants worth lakhs—a testament to resilience in the face of Kashmir’s shifting economic realities.
Born into a family of nine crammed into two rooms, Chachoo’s story mirrors that of countless artisans who have had to reinvent themselves as traditional crafts gave way to mechanisation and market forces.
“I earned 5 rupees per day from 1993 to 1995. In 1995, my income increased to 15 rupees per day. From 1995 to 2000, my monthly income rose to 1,000 rupees,” Chachoo recalls, his voice matter-of-fact about the grueling six months it took to master carpet weaving at such a tender age.
But earning wasn’t enough. As the third child in his family, with older siblings already married, the responsibility of educating his younger brothers and sisters fell squarely on his young shoulders. While he managed his own education through home tuition, he was determined that his siblings would have better opportunities.
The late 1990s and early 2000s witnessed a dramatic shift in Kashmir’s carpet industry.
Machine-made products flooded markets, undercutting demand for handwoven pieces. Middlemen squeezed margins further, leaving artisans with meagre wages despite punishing work hours. For families like Chachoo’s, survival meant adaptation.
In 2000, Chachoo made his first pivot—from carpet weaver to daily-wage labourer. “I started doing labour in 2000 and earned 150 rupees per day. Year by year, my wages increased to 250 rupees per day. But it was not enough due to inflation,” he explains.
His father’s work in garden maintenance sparked an idea. Observing that nursery owners were earning decent incomes, Chachoo saw an opportunity—but lacked the means to seize it.
Without land or capital, he borrowed Rs 20,000 and rented a small plot. “I sold flowers and plants on the streets, and we started earning well,” he says simply, understating the risk and labour involved in those early days.
Two decades later, Shafat Nursery stands as a family enterprise. Chachoo’s family now owns two houses, his siblings have completed their education, and his younger brother has joined the business. The nursery employs several workers, including women, and has grown from a few thousand rupees in borrowed capital to a business worth lakhs.
In a region where government employment remains the gold standard of success, Chachoo offers a different perspective. “Try your best in any work that your heart connects with. It does not matter whether the work is big or small—just start it. It will improve your life and keep you away from mental stress. It’s not only government jobs that bring success. You can be successful with any work—just work hard and trust yourself.”
His story resonates at a time when Kashmir’s youth grapple with limited government job opportunities and an evolving economic landscape. From carpet looms to green blooms, Chachoo’s journey proves that success can be cultivated in unexpected soil—with patience, perseverance, and the courage to begin.
Shafat Nursery is located in Nowpora, Srinagar.
By: Neha Nazir
