Editorial | Preserving Heritage

Kashmir is the heaven for the finest arts and crafts that have been carefully nurtured for centuries. It (kashmir) isn’t a mere abode to breathtaking sceneries and picturesque landscapes only, but has also been home to art forms with intricate and interesting details that has seen its admirers all over the globe. However, a certain shift in the conditions for these art forms, has reduced the process and has taken life out of what used to be identified as the selfhood of Kashmir and Kashmiris. Due to these shifts Kashmir has been arrested in a steep decline of its legacy. Only Nurturing new generation of makers can bring this lost legacy back . Nurturing a new generation of makers is essential for the proliferation of craft, with a need for sufficient training, overall support and role models to encourage those with a desire to learn. Could more be done to preserve yesterday’s skills for tomorrow? For most of our history, making objects by hand was the norm, and the skills were passed from one generation to other. in this digital age when most people spend their days in front of computer screen , the thrill and sense of satisfaction in taking time to make something of yourself using hand is that much more important . Crafts form an integral part of our cultural heritage . which are now dying a silent death. The skills and techniques required are known by few . in almost all practising crafts as the craftspeople become older and retire from their work and there is no one comming into the crafts to take their place. New generation is not interested.

What makes craft so important? In an article in prince’s foundation London craft experts have given a varied opinion on “what makes craft so important”. The article titled preservation of heritage talks more about how hand can’t be replaced with technological explosion. We live in a digital world where digital explosion has made so many objects /categories redundant. These are things that once had a role that went far beyond utility. They were the possessions that we used to embody memories, to mark the essential landmarks of life, to show something about who we are. As we used them and lived with them, they marked the passing of time. A smart phone is not much compensation for a wristwatch inherited from a parent. So we can’t give up our tradition.

Our identity, our past: Craft is about connection – to nature, to one’s place and to oneself. It is about connecting the past to the present, while looking towards the future. There are about 2.50 lac artisans directly dependent upon crafts (handicrafts ) according a handicraft deptt handout in UT of jammu Kashmir. The need is to reach out to them ,provide all facilities that will yield results .the need is to nurture new and already existing talent in handicrafts . Without training the next generation of craftspeople, we are at risk of loosing our heritage . The overall industry scenario has changed , people are into making mass-produced items hence we are surrounded by mass-produced items, with the focus on production being quick and cheap to ensure the maximum profit for the people. at the top. I think there is a growing number of people that would like to go back to having items that are handmade, with unique characteristics and a story behind them. Items crafted the traditional way provide a link back to how our ancestors made things and this is appealing to a lot of people. Most of the people in our country love hand made products.