BY ZAHID MUKHTAR
Kashmir, the paradise on earth, is famous, all over the world not only for its mesmerising beauty but is also renowned for its vast cultural diversity. And among its cultural elements apart from its languages, dresses, folk music, Sufi culture, hospitality, famous Kashmiri cuisine, the most important is its handicrafts that indeed add another feather on Kashmir’s cap. Some handicrafts are as old as the civilization of Kashmir but a good number of others were added to this cultural trade time to time by different kings and religiously motivated personalities the chief of them were Sultan Zainul Abdeen and Mir Syed Ali Hamdani a Persian mystic.
There is a wide variety of arts and crafts made by the traditional artisans all over the Kashmir spending their sweat and blood in a delicate manner, these handicrafts include Qaleen Bafi, Gaba Sazi, Paper Mache, Wood Carving, Copper Ware, Chain Stitch, Embroidery, Crewel, Namda Sazi and so on. Though these traditional artisans can be sighted everywhere but Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal have always been the main hubs of these crafts to kept them active and alive whole heartedly. Among these unique artistic activities some were having local origin like Shawl making, Namda Sazi, Willow Wicker (Kani Kaem), Wood Carving while many others had Persia and China as its main origins. Despite having foreign origin the Kashmiri artisans with their strenuous efforts and skilled techniques gave these crafts a unique Kashmiri taste and texture and a good example in this regard is the unique artistic experiments with shawls, bed sheets, inkstands, boxes, palkis, spoons, and trunks were famous not only in India, but across the world as well. Since Kashmir is a region of harsh winters that comes with a lot of difficulties including extreme cold waves and many more, as such there has to be a system of providing warmth to our bodies and there is nothing more comfortable as to have these handmade clothes and beddings which are made of natural and eco friendly raw material like wool, pashmina, silk and cotton. Handicrafts of Kashmir is the best choice of tourists across the world for their homes through it be furniture , furnishing or decoration purpose. Kashmiri Shawl besides being most expensive artefact, is among the world’s most presented gift items.
So keeping in view the name, fame and status of handicrafts and to maintain a prestigious position of this department thorough out the world, government initially appointed the then local trainees (artisans) as instructors by establishing various craft centers though out the valley. The department was organized into a full-fledged department of handicrafts in the year 1972-73, and prior to this, the department used to be a part of Industries and Commerce. The department of handicrafts so constituted begun to operate with its main thrust on the provision of proficient artisan forces, mobilization of people to make small scale cooperatives, providing market places for buying and selling of these crafts, to eradicate the middle man ship and above all to maintain the qualitative image of Kashmiri crafts and many more. Fortunately, this process of upliftment in terms of handicrafts is still at a good pace at the government level. Government on and off or as required, comes up with the latest techniques and introduces new schemes so as to leave no stone unturned with regard to the betterment of these handicrafts. Though a lot had been done to maintain the quality and a reputational position of Kashmiri handicrafts an important milestone was recently achieved when the government of Jammu and Kashmir succeeded in getting world’s famous identification tag system that is “Geographical Indication Tag (GI Tag)” in favour of the following Kashmir handicrafts:
Kani Shawl
Kashmir Pashmina
Kashmir Paper Machie
Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving
Khatamband
Kashmiri Hand Knotted Carpet
GI tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess origin-based qualities and reputation in the region. The GI Tag right enables the right holders to use the indication to prevent its use by a third party whose product does not belong to the particular region and doesn’t have the required quality and standards. While such processes of upliftment has been there time to time and can be considered as a joint achievement of the department, however, the role played by the present director Mr Mahmood Ahmad Shah (JKAS),is really praiseworthy. Mr Mahmood Ahmad is the man with mission, and the way he handles the department is not every body’s cup of tea, I suppose the department will undoubtly rejuvenate in a real Kashmir taste and talent.
Handicrafts, after tourism, was considered to be the main sources of income particularly in Kashmir and no doubt is still enjoying a reputed position in this regard, however, due to the introduction of machine based artefacts this magnanimous art started to lose its importance to a great extent. This was the first blow to this cultural art of Kashmir in the form of a cultural disaster. The worries were further added and the situation was further worsened when these mechanically made artefacts were sold in the name of Kashmiri handicrafts.
Another reason for these handicrafts to lose their reputation in world of trade is that we consider them the means of bread and butter only rather than to think them as a part of our Cultural Identification and unless we understand this fact, nothing good can be expected in this behalf. As a means of cultural transmission, many literary skills like folk tales, folk music etc were being transmitted to the listeners who were always there watching these artisans, for there has been a culture of get together in all these art and craft centres. While on one side, the rest of the world is known and identified in terms of science and technology, education and defence system, this part of the world is known by its picturesque beauty and famous handicrafts.
We agree handicrafts as an identification of our cultural heritage we accept it as a means of income as well, but we still feel things are not going good. And we feel that something is there, that is to addressed, and, yes, that the ground worker(artisan) who is not willing to do the job. But what can be done when it comes the question of belly, as it rightly said “Belly teaches all arts”, and sometimes same belly compels a person to unlearn what else he has learnt and to keep all arts at the mercy of extinction, just because he is not in position to make his family’s both ends meet. He is forced to shift to a more convenient and more money providing trades and businesses. So the government has to think in this regard and to come up with more and more beneficial schemes in favour of these ground level workers. The government should set up ITI based handicraft institutes so that not only training be provided to the desirous candidates but also to provide them certificates thereof so that they can apply for various handicraft related jobs at both government as well as private sectors. Most importantly handicraft as a vocational subject is to be introduced in all government schools so that we may strengthen and flourish this cultural identification of Kashmir and to preserve it for our next generations.
Author is a Teacher, hails from Berigam Kulgam and can be reached at: zahidmukhtar268@gamil.com
