Let’s save Kashmiri carpet

Kashmir is known around the world as a paradise, which has not just been the locus of the West’s romantic imagination since the British Raj but also the ultimate destination for the holidaymakers from mainland India and beyond. The Valley, at the same time, is also known for its hand-made carpets and shawls, which are globally sought after for their aesthetic designs and soft threads. That’s why the government’s latest crackdown on fake, machine-made “Kashmiri handicrafts” feels not just timely but deeply necessary.

A few dealers in Srinagar and elsewhere have been found to be selling factory-made carpets or shawls as if they were the work of traditional artisans. Buyers are misled, sometimes paying lakhs for items produced in machines, not looms. Worse, these fake items often come with fake QR codes.

The directive issued this week, asking all registered dealers to sell only genuine, GI-certified crafts or face deregistration, is a strong step. However, the move has come too late in the day. Artisans have been pleading the government for years for help. This has detrimentally affected their trade. In fact, they are now struggling to survive in a market flooded with fakes.

A sustained crackdown can change this. Not just by punishing the dishonest, but by finally rewarding the honest, the nameless men and women in villages across the Valley who still spend months knotting a carpet or weaving a pashmina shawl. They don’t have marketing budgets or fancy showrooms. All they have is skill, patience, and tradition.

But a notice alone won’t fix everything. The government must also ensure that enforcement doesn’t become a one-time photo-op. Regular inspections, support for small genuine sellers, and public awareness are all crucial.

That said, the government also needs to stake steps to protect artisans by offering them easier access to GI labels, financial aid, and platforms where their work is seen and valued. We owe this not just to them but to our economy and culture.