Zufa Iqbal wins the prestigious Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE award for inventing ‘Namda Rolling Machine’
In the valley of death, a teenager has brought smiles back on the sullen faces.
An 18 -year -old Kashmiri girl has earned a rare honour by winning the prestigious Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE award for inventing the first of its kind `Namda Rolling Machine’.
A popular Kashmiri woollen rug with embroidery works—Namda— has a huge demand in and outside the Kashmir valley. Along with the carpet, Namda is also exported to different countries as these exquisite woollen rugs are used as decoration pieces as well.
A class XII student of Presentation Convent School Srinagar, Zufa Iqbal was one among 30 people shortlisted out of the 55,000 applicants from 458 districts of the country. The award was presented to her by President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Monday. With the new machine on the block, Namda weaving will be less time consuming, which could help in cost effectiveness and capacity-building besides push the overall sales of this Kashmir artcraft.
“There was no machine for Namda weaving. I gave this machine which will reduce time considerably. I am using the mechanism of variable tension which creates firmness. Plus in 15 minutes the embroidery and drawing will be incorporating in the same thing,” she said.
“When you get ideas you do not know whether it is a hobby or an interest. I call it an interest because I like what I do. Since childhood, I was much aligned to all this stuff. And today, I have innovated this machine. I made three to four models before trying this successful one,” she shared.
Daughter of a businessman dealing in exquisite Pashmina shawls, Zufa wants to be pursue either medicine or engineering.
“My parents want me to become a doctor. I am also interested in becoming a doctor. But engineering is also a good option. I do not mind becoming an engineer,” she said. Since Namada rolling machine is the first of its kind, Zufa has formally filed for the patent of this innovation.
“Kashmir University is my mentor. I did not apply for the award. They recommended me for IGNITE. I have filed an applictaion to get it patented,” she said.
In demand
A popular Kashmiri woollen rug with embroidery works—Namda— has a huge demand in and outside the Kashmir valley. Namda is exported to different countries as these exquisite woollen rugs are used as decoration pieces as well.
With the new machine on the block, Namda weaving will be less time consuming, which will make it cost effective.
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