Srinagar, Feb. 24 -- For more than four centuries, the pashmina weavers of Kashmir have been telling their tale through the blooming chinar leaves and Teardrop paisleys. However, with the global fashion trend moving at a quicker pace and cheaper options flooding the markets, this ancient art form was on the brink of an existential crisis, until Zubair Kirmani chose to pen a different script.

The 46-year-old Srinagar native is not only designing shawls. He is also conducting a cultural rescue operation, one Quranic verse at a time.

When Heritage Becomes a Burden

Take a stroll through the old city markets of Srinagar, and you will see the same paisley designs that your grandmother used to love. This is where the trouble lies. "It's beaut...