“Local crafts besides being an inalienable part of Kashmiri culture is also very deeply connected with the promotion and development of tourism in Kashmir.”
Crafts and Kashmir are synonymous to each other and Srinagar the fountainhead of Kashmir crafts deserves the award the World Craft Council has bestowed upon it. Not just Srinagar but entire Kashmir Valley is proud of getting the recognition from the top world craft body after a long wait of several decades. In fact Kashmir deserved the award long ago but all is well that ends well. The award undoubtedly gives artisans of Kashmir the satisfaction and encouragement that would rejuvenate the local crafts in Kashmir. In fact local crafts besides being an inalienable part of Kashmiri culture is also very deeply connected with the promotion and development of tourism in Kashmir. Srinagar being the centre of tourism activities would mostly likely see local crafts getting a big boost after the announcement of Craft City Award for it by the World Craft Council. The centrality of Srinagar in the growth and development of Kashmir culture and local crafts remains unquestioned and as such the announcement of the award by the top world craft body is one more feather in the cap of the Kashmir craft. While the award by the top world craft body is recognition of the Kashmiri crafts at the international level, the plight of artisans which has gone unnoticed for almost more than two decades deserves and demands immediate attention and intervention of the Jammu & Kashmir Government for the purposes of reviving the pristine glory of Kashmir arts and crafts. The attention that revived tourism during last three years if given also to the revival of Kashmir arts and crafts also would double the unprecedented rise in tourist footfall in coming years in Kashmir. Significantly the commendable job Kashmir chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has done in preserving the architectural heritage besides arts and crafts in Kashmir merits a mention here. In fact the consistent efforts of the Kashmir chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) under the leadership of Saleem Beig former Director General J&K Tourism Department in highlighting the broader causes of the preservation Kashmir heritage, arts and crafts have not gone unnoticed.
“The consistent efforts of INTACH Kashmir if supplemented with certain measures for financial support to artisans would promote the local crafts with greater intensity in future. Identifying the artisans for the financial assistance from Jammu & Kashmir Bank which they need to develop their units could fully revive the Kashmir crafts and take it to greater heights in coming years. Such measures would in fact give a huge boost to tourism in Kashmir. A strategy to place promotion of Kashmir crafts at the centre of tourism promotion policy if pursued with greater sensitivity and seriousness would open up floodgates ofr employment opportunities for hundreds of artisans across Kashmir.”
The good work done by INTACH Kashmir towards preservation of heritage buildings, arts, crafts and culture has finally contributed to global attraction towards art and culture of Kashmir. The consistent efforts of INTACH Kashmir if supplemented with certain measures for financial support to artisans would promote the local crafts with greater intensity in future. Identifying the artisans for the financial assistance from Jammu & Kashmir Bank which they need to develop their units could fully revive the Kashmir crafts and take it to greater heights in coming years. Such measures would in fact give a huge boost to tourism in Kashmir. A strategy to place promotion of Kashmir crafts at the centre of tourism promotion policy if pursued with greater sensitivity and seriousness would open up floodgates ofr employment opportunities for hundreds of artisans across Kashmir.
