Abstract
This paper offers a comprehensive exploration of the illustrious shawl and carpet industry in the Kashmir region, with a particular emphasis on its transformation from the pre-partition to the post-partition era. Kashmir, celebrated for its opulent cultural heritage and artistic traditions, is renowned globally for its textile craftsmanship, especially in the domains of shawls and carpets. These creations are not merely utilitarian but stand as embodiments of the region's artisanal excellence, reflecting the creative sensibilities of its skilled craftsmen. The shawl and carpet industry, historically pivotal to the economic and cultural identity of Kashmir, underwent profound transformations during these transitional periods.
By scrutinizing the pre- and post-partition eras (up to 1990), this study aspires to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Kashmiri shawl and carpet industry, shedding light on its historical significance and its enduring relevance in an ever-evolving world of markets and traditions. The research seeks to capture the essence of these timeless textiles and the narratives they encapsulate regarding Kashmir's enduring legacy of craftsmanship.
References
Ahad, A. (1987), Kashmir to Frankfurt: A study of arts and crafts, Rima Publishing House, New Delhi
Annual Administrative Report of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Jammu and Kashmir State for the year 1939-40
Administrative Report of Jammu and Kashmir State for April 1943- April 1944
Administrative Report of Jammu and Kashmir State for April 1948- April 1949
Administrative Report of Jammu and Kashmir State for April 1950- April 1951
Administrative Report of Jammu and Kashmir State for April 1954- April 1955
Bamzai, P. N. K. (1973), History of Kashmir, Metropolitan, New Delhi
Bamzai, P. N. K. (2007), Socio-Economic History of Kashmir 1846-1925, Gulshan Books, Srinagar
Bhan, R. K. (1938). Report on the Economic Survey of Carpet Industry in Kashmir, Department of Industries and Commerce, J&K State.
Daly, S. (2002), “Kashmir Shawls in Mid-Victorian Novels”, Victorian Literature and Culture, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 237-255
Dhar, D. N. (1999), Arts and Artisans of Kashmir from Ancient to Modern Times, Himalayan Research and Cultural Foundation and Bhavana Books and Prints, New Delhi.
Bates, C. E. (1873), A Gazetteer of Kashmir, Government Printing, Culcutta.
Digest of Statistics, Jammu and Kashmir Government, 1991-92
Gervis, Pearce. (1954), This is Kashmir, Cassell and Company Ltd., London.
Ganju, M. (1945), Textile Industries in Kashmir, Premier Publishing and Co., Delhi.
Kapoor, T. N. (1967). Industrial Development in the States of India, Sterling Publishers Pvt., Ltd., Delhi.
Keenan, B. (1989). Travels in Kashmir, Permanent Black, Delhi.
Kumar, A. (2022). Precious Threads and Precarious Lives: Histories of Shawl and Silk Industries of Kashmir, 1846–1950, Routledge, London and New York.
Karpinski, C. (1963), Kashmir to Paisley, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, New Series, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 116-123, available on https://www.jstor.org/stable/3258212
Lawrence, W. (1891), The Valley of Kashmir, Oxford University Press, London.
Moorcraft, W. and Trebeck, G. (1841), Travels in Himaliyan Provinces of Hindustan and Punjab (1819- 1826), vol II, John Murray, Albemarle Street, London.
Neve, E. F. (1931). Things seen in Kashmir, Seeley Service & Co., London.
Nazaraof, P.S. (1935). Moved on! From Kashgar to Kashmir, George Allen and Unwin Ltd, London.
Sufi, G. M. D. (1979), Islamic Culture in Kashmir, Light and Life Publishers, New Delhi.
Techno-Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir (1969), National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi.
Warikoo, K. (1989), Central Asia and Kashmir: A study in the context of Anglo-Russian rivalry, Gyan Publications, Delhi.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 South India Journal of Social Sciences