From the heart of Srinagar’s Gojwara, 26-year-old Maheen Shabir is making waves as an artist, entrepreneur, and now a vocational trainer who’s helping others discover the power of creativity.
Born deaf Maheen’s journey has been anything but easy. But instead of letting her disability define her, she chose to define herself through her art. With the constant support of her family especially her father, who helped her learn to communicate at home Maheen built her confidence one step at a time.
After completing her Master’s degree, Maheen turned her lifelong passion for handmade crafts into a mission. Her creative journey began with something simple a handmade greeting card she once made for her cousin. The appreciation she received for that small effort changed everything. It gave her the motivation to start sharing her work online, and soon her beautiful creations started gaining attention and love from people across Kashmir and beyond.
Today, Maheen creates a wide range of art from gift boxes and explosion cards to wall hangings and décor pieces, often using recycled materials. Her work reflects her deep connection to Kashmiri culture, blending traditional touches with modern creativity.
“Craft-making isn’t just my hobby,” she says. “It’s a part of who I am it helps me express what words can’t.”
After losing her mother, Maheen faced one of the hardest times in her life. But instead of giving up, she turned her pain into purpose. Craft became her escape, her comfort, and her strength.
Now, as a vocational trainer, Maheen is sharing her skills with others especially young women and helping them find confidence and independence through art. She’s not just teaching them how to make crafts, but also how to believe in themselves.
Maheen’s story is one of courage, creativity, and quiet strength. Through her work, she continues to keep the soul of Kashmiri tradition alive, proving that true art comes not just from the hands, but from the heart.
