Opinion | Made in Kashmir Heritage Powering Viksit Bharat

Kashmir does not merely produce handmade items; it preserves a living heritage. What the modern world markets as slow luxury, Kashmir has practised for centuries

In a world driven by calculated accuracy, where measurements decide value and machines control creation, the human hand continues to hold its place. Machines can produce identical objects endlessly, perfect in form but empty in feeling. An artisan, however, leaves behind something far greater than an object. A slight shake of the chisel or an uneven stitch becomes proof of human presence. These details tell stories where feelings matter more than efficiency. Silent perfection belongs to factories, but the soul belongs to people. This belief forms the foundation of Kashmir’s deep connection with handmade crafts.

Craft is not a luxury label or a trend in the Valley. Craft is a way of life that has been shaped by history, climate, and community. “Handicrafts in Kashmir were introduced and developed with Persian and Central Asian influences, especially after the advent of Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (R.A.) in the 14th century.” These skills have come to be regarded as a symbol of Identity, dignity, and survival, and have been handed down from one generation to another through the process of taleem and tarbiyat.

Severe winters forced families to stay at home for months, making their homes workshops. Men, women, and children worked together to create a life of their own because large-scale industries were not there. These crafts brought a sense of pride to the community, fueled rural economies, and gave women a place of importance in the economy, even before the word empowerment was coined. While machines may be quicker and cheaper, they lack memory, emotion, and a sense of belonging.

Currently, the handmade industry is one of the strongest pillars of the economy in the region, after agriculture and tourism. The lack of industrial infrastructure has ensured that the handmade industry is an eco-friendly source of employment for over 3.5 lakh artisans/karigar directly, and thousands more in ancillary industries. For farming communities, the earnings from the craft industry help sustain the economy during the winter months. The exports have been valued at ₹2,567 crore over the past two financial years until early 2025, and the exports were expected to touch ₹3,000 crore by March 2025.

Kashmir does not merely produce handmade items; it preserves a living heritage. What the modern world markets as slow luxury, Kashmir has practised for centuries. Every craft carries rhythm and discipline shaped by time rather than speed.

Pashmina, often called the fabric of Kings, begins in the high Himalayas with the soft undercoat of Changthangi goats. Hand-spun and woven, it is light, warm and enduring. The Kani Shawl, guided by the coded language, known as the Taeleem, is woven using small wooden needles, kanis, transforming thread into poetry through months of disciplined labour. These are not seasonal fashion items, but heirlooms valued across global luxury markets.

Papier Mache, which was brought from Persia, is a waste paper recycling technique used for creating beautiful art pieces, which in the past were used for creating sacred texts and are now used for creating beautiful artifacts and are admired worldwide. Walnut Wood Carving, which is made from the locally grown walnut trees in the form of beautiful flowers and geometric designs such as Pinjirakari, is a reflection of the state’s connection with the natural world. These are the crafts of a sustainable era.

Kashmiri carpets, especially silk and wool, Reshmee Kaleen, are hand-knotted following tealeem, often sung along during weaving. Each carpet represents months or years of labour and stands as a lifetime investment.

Copperware like the Kandikari Samavar and Traem Sarposh blends utility with hospitality, while silverware engraved by Nakash transforms everyday objects into meaningful gifts.

Embroidery traditions such as Sozni, Aari and Tilla reflect collective craftsmanship rather than individual ownership. A single piece passes through many skilled hands. Chain-stitched rugs and crewel work (Zalakdozi) now feature in global interiors as a symbol of warmth, strength, and authenticity. Crafts like Namda, made by felting wool, and willow wicker used for kanger and basket used in marriages and picnics, through Shaakhsaazi, were born from survival needs yet remain essential in Kashmir life. And now also used for aesthetics and fashion trends.

Cultural objects like the Pheran, Kanger and traditional utensils used in the wazwan feast are not decorative alone. They hold memory, function and shared identity. The Pheran, shaped by centuries of history, remains central to the Kashmiri life and now aligns naturally with global fashion trends focused on comfort, ethics and sustainability.

Globally, made in Kashmir products are accepted and admired because they offer depth. Each piece carries weeks or months of patient human efforts. Unlike factory products that repeat endlessly, these crafts carry variation, intention and story. Buyers receive not just the products, but a connection to place and people.

Within Kashmir, handmade represents dignity and survival. Across India, it stands for heritage and Pride. Internationally, it is valued as luxury, not because it is expensive but because it is rare, ethical and meaningful. Social media, exhibitions, international fares and digital platforms have expanded this reach, connecting artisans directly with conscious global buyers.

For Viksit Bharat 2047, the path is clear. Development does not mean replacing hands with machines, it means strengthening identity, protecting authenticity through GI tags, and building strong “made in Kashmir” brands that safeguard our art and artisans/karigars from imitation. Made in Kashmir is not merely a label. It is a promise of patience in a hurried world, of human efforts in an age of machines, and of meaning in a market flooded with sameness and perfection. Hence proving its contribution to Viksit Bharat. As India moves toward a developed future, Kashmir’s artisans quietly shape that journey thread by thread and knot by knot. What is made in Kashmir does not just serve the world and generate economy, it helps define the kind of world we choose to build.

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