On World Cities Day, 2023, 55 cities globally joined the list of UNESCO Creative Cities. UNESCO Creative Cities Network is a UNESCO project which was launched in 2004. The project aims to promote cooperation among cities of the world whose means for sustainable urban development are culture and creativity. These cities tend to share quality knowledge and practices related to the same. The development is observed in the economic, social, cultural, and environmental sense. These cities tend to promote cultural industries and enhance the participation of the people in cultural life.
Srinagar bagged the title of the UNESCO Creative City under Crafts and Folk Art on November 8, 2021. The artistic and cultural wealth of the city owes to its presence on the historic silk route, which provided for the exchange of ideas. According to historical records, when Sikander’s son Sultan Zain-ul Abidin ruled Kashmir in the 15th Century A.D., artisans and crafts men were invited to Kashmir from different parts of Islamic culture, to practice various crafts. The crafts industries were reorganized and the Mughals set up the royal ‘Karkhanas’ in the 16th century. These ‘Karkhanas’ carried on to gain the support of the Dogra rulers who reigned over the region in the 19th and 20th centuries. Later, local artisans developed their own new ways to practice these crafts, inspired by the natural charm of the place. The dossier of Srinagar focuses on 7 crafts from the city; four of which are building crafts – Papier-Mache, Khatamband, Walnut wood carving, and Pinjrakari (latticework), and 3 of them are GI tagged.
Papier-Mache work
Sakhtsazi, Naqashi, Koshur Kagaz
The Papier-Mache craft was introduced to the valley of Kashmir by a Sufi saint Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani in the 14th century. He, along with many skilled crafts men reached Kashmir from Persia. Being one of the oldest handicrafts, it reflects the nature and life of Kashmir and is an inseparable part of Kashmiri culture.
The process is done manually and includes two steps – Sakhtsazi and Naqashi. Sakthasaz makes objects with paper pulp, with the help of other materials like cloth, rice straw, and copper sulfate. Naqqash deals with the task of painting on the pulp surface. Organic colors are used for painting. Before painting, a solution of glue and white gypsum is applied to the surface. Once the surface dries, a wet stone is used to polish it to give it a smooth finish. The brush used for the purpose is made of the hair of a pashmina goat.
Along with small objects and figurines, the art is used for the ornamentation of walls and ceilings of the buildings. A smooth surface out of paper pulp is made on the wooden walls and ceiling. Then, a layer of polished Kashmiri paper of Koshur Kagaz is applied. It creates a fine surface to do the painting. The prime example of this art being used as an architectural element is the Shah Hamdan Mosque in Srinagar. The designs have been inspired by Kashmiri flora and fauna; designs on the Kani shawl, etc.
Khatamband
Posh, Gaj Patti
In Persian, ‘Khatam’ means enclosure which represents a polygon. This polygon is continuous and does not end at a certain point. ‘Bandh’ means close. These two words when joined together (Khatambandh), mean joining polygons together close to each other such that they form an enclosure and continue to infinity. Khatamband is a building craft of making a false ceiling, attached to a wooden ceiling for decoration purpose. The art consists of two constituent pieces – the polygonal pieces called ‘Posh’ and the wooden beading called the ‘Gaj Patti.’ Fir wood that is locally available and light in weight is used to make the pieces. The geometric pieces are attached to the ceiling only by interlocking without any use of glue and nails. Nails are used to support the whole grid at critical points. Once complete, it gives the impression of an illusion. It is like various geometric patterns merge into each other.
Walnut wood carving
Walnut trees, dun
The craft of walnut wood carving is supposed to be brought to the valley in the 15th century by Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom. The craft is unique to the region of Kashmir due to the abundance of Walnut trees in the region, locally known as ‘dun.’ The even texture and fine-grained nature of the wood allow for various carvings from shallow carving which is half inches deep to deep carving which is two inches deep is done on the wood. Carving can be done on the roots, trunk, and branches of the tree. However, the root is the most suitable part as it is the strongest. Earlier, it could be seen only in palaces and high-end residential units, like the Naqshband mosque, the Razdani Palace of Zain ul Abidin, the shrine of Nund Rishi, etc. But now, smaller objects are also made and carved out of this wood.
Pinjarakari
Lattice, Fine sections
The introduction of this craft to the valley of Kashmir is also attributed to the Sufi saint Shah Hamadani. It is the art of making lattices by interlocking crisscross thin wooden battens. The wood of Himalayan blue pine, Himalayan silver fir, and walnut are used for the craft. They find their place in the partitions, ventilators, parapets, windows, balconies, etc. of Kashmiri architecture. Apart from being aesthetically pleasing, they have a function too. They offer privacy to the user. Fine sections having a thickness of 5 mm and a width of 1.8 mm are used in the formation of lattices. This fineness makes it different from other lattice crafts such as wood, stone, and metal.
Srinagar is an example of how the building crafts have a great potential to develop the city and bring it to an international level. Developing local building crafts also goes hand in hand with drives like ‘One District One Product.’ ‘Vocal for Local’, etc. India is full of such crafts. If they are focused on, the problem of unemployment can be solved and the cities can have one more dimension to develop, that too in a sustainable manner.
References:
BYJUS. (n.d.). Geographical Indications in India 2023 – List of GI Tag Products. [online] Available at: https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/geographical-indication-tags-in-india [Accessed 10 Nov. 2023]
Google Arts & Culture. (n.d.). The Style and Sophistication of Papier-Mâché. [online] Available at: https://artsandculture.google.com/story/ywUhrpCzm4WtLw?hl=en [Accessed 10 Nov. 2023]
gaatha.com. (2023). A Puzzle to solve. [online] Available at: https://gaatha.com/khatamband-craft-kashmir [Accessed 10 Nov. 2023
gaatha.com. (2023). Sieves that sprinkle Stars in my room… [online] Available at: https://gaatha.com/pinjra-kari [Accessed 10 Nov. 2023]
gaatha.com. (2023). The story of Boxes. [online] Available at: https://gaatha.com/kari-kalamdani-papier-mache-painting-kashmir [Accessed 10 Nov. 2023]
Hindustan Times. (2021). UNESCO’s network of creative cities: Srinagar is now newest member. [online] Available at: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/unescos-network-of-creative-cities-srinagar-is-now-newest-member-101636388822092.html [Accessed 10 Nov. 2023]
