Kashmiri carpet industry once famous all over the world is losing fast the market and if the trend continues the carpet industry like other traditional crafts will become a past history of the Kashmir craft. The Kashmiri carpet which was once famous for its texture all over the world is dying and the reason for the decline of the carpet industry is that carpet weavers has lost interest in the trade due to the failure of the Government in promoting this art which was once not only an employment generating trade but also a major attraction for foreign tourists in valley. As of now carpet weavers have shown increasing tendencies to switch over to other lucrative modern trades due to the lack of interest shown by government in incentivising this trade. The trade that once generated employment opportunities to thousand of youth is Kashmir is now rarely seen the trade of interest by craft lovers in Kashmir and the situation could get worse in the coming years if the government does not take immediate measures for reviving this ailing industry in Kashmir. Since the government has done nothing to increase the decreasing no of skilled carpet weavers in recent years, the trade has consequently ceased to be a lucrative job in Kashmir and the fact of the matter is that the new generation has no interest in this craft. There was a time when we used to export our carpets to the whole World and kashmiris used to be proud of the carpet trade world over but the government apathy has made the future of this craft very bleak. Irony of the fact is that most of the demand for carpets in the country is now met by the carpet-producing units in Amritsar, Rajasthan, Agra, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
Markets and exhibitions if arranged for the craft will bring back the ailing craft to life. Let’s hope the different stakeholders associated with the craft will work for the continuity and conservation of the craft in coming years.
In other parts of the country an impression is being created that there is hardly any innovation in Kashmir carpet now while the fact is that we still follow the same designs and patterns that were available with us decades ago. If we want to gain market we need to innovate the craft more and more month after month and year after year. Moreover markets and exhibitions if arranged for the craft will bring back the ailing craft to life. Let’s hope the different stakeholders associated with the craft will work for the continuity and conservation of the craft in coming years.
