ISLAMABAD: Sindh’s magnificent and intricate material culture and textile heritage have remained neglected, under-represented and under-researched. They have been subsumed under a generic classification of western Indian art and culture. In fact, many of the textile designs and techniques of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Kutch originated in Sindh and spread to other areas.

These views were expressed by author and curator Nasreen Askari, while giving a presentation, chronicling the textile heritage of Sindh.

Organised by the Asian Study Group (ASG), in commemoration of 40 years since founding of the organisation, the event featured a multimedia presentation of Ms Nasreen’s book titled, The Flowering Desert: Textiles from Sindh. The book was co-authored by Ms Nasreen and her husband Hassan Askari.

Talking to Dawn, Ms Nasreen said the book was based on her and her husband’s personal collection of textiles from the desert, delta and hilly regions of Sindh.

“It’s not just a list of objects, rather a tribute to the people, the artisans and the vibrancy of Sindh’s diversity and rich traditions in the face of every adversity,” she said.

The book documents the visual history, traditions, techniques, patterns, motifs, and colours of textiles spanning over 50 years.

She said it was unfortunate that authorities and the younger generation were apathetic towards the rich heritage of Sindh. She was critical of the decline in social and political values, narrow vision of the self-centred political leadership and tiff between the federal and provincial governments.

“The leaders should be visionary, and smart enough to play intelligently to safeguard the interests of the people of Sindh, create awareness among the younger generation about their cultural diversity and heritage,” she said.

A dentist by profession, Ms Nasreen said she dedicated her life towards preservation of material culture and hopes that Sindhi artisans and their intricate works will get due appreciation and recognition.

Furthermore, Ms Nasreen is the co-founder of Mohatta Palace Museum, Karachi, one of the leading museums in South Asia, where she still works as its director. Over 25 exhibitions have been curated at the museum.

A recipient of the Pride of Performance Award for her services to arts and culture as well as the Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai medal, Ms Nasreen has authored several books on textiles and traditional ceramics and tiles of Pakistan which are now accepted as reference works and used by leading international auction houses to authenticate items on sale.

Earlier, Parveen malik of ASG spoke about the calendar of events, the group has planned during October and announced winners of a photo contest.

Ambassador of Spain to Pakistan Manuel Duran Gimenez-Rico and Serena Hotel General Manager Michele Galopin also spoke on the occasion and lauded the ASG for arranging the event. They appreciated the guest speaker for her remarkable work and extended their support for ASG in organising such events.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2021