Things We Make and Do

Local Crafts and Traditional Occupations of J&K

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Overview

This topic connects children to the rich craft heritage of Jammu & Kashmir, helping them appreciate the skill, labour and cultural significance behind everyday objects. For JKTET Paper I, "Things We Make and Do" falls under Environmental Studies, which integrates social and natural environments. Expect questions on identifying raw materials, processes, regions associated with specific crafts, and the occupations of artisans.

Mastering this topic requires knowing the distinguishing features of Pashmina, papier-mâché and walnut woodwork—the three flagship crafts of the region—along with other traditional occupations such as carpet weaving, Kani shawl making, copperware (Kansa), and agriculture-based livelihoods. Questions often link crafts to geography (e.g., Pashmina from Ladakh goats) and to the broader theme of sustainable livelihoods and cultural preservation.

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Key Concepts

• **Pashmina** is a fine fibre obtained from the Changthangi goat found in Ladakh at altitudes above 4,000 m. The harsh cold produces the soft undercoat (pashm) that is hand-spun and hand-woven into shawls.

• **Papier-mâché** (called *kar-i-qalamdani* in Kashmiri) uses waste paper pulp moulded over wooden or clay forms, then painted with intricate floral and chinar-leaf designs using natural and mineral colours.

• **Walnut woodwork** (*kar-i-jaddi*) is the art of carving walnut timber—abundantly grown in Kashmir—into furniture, screens, trays and decorative panels. Designs include dragons, lotus flowers and grape-vine motifs.

• **Kani shawls** differ from embroidered shawls; they are woven on looms using small wooden sticks (kanis) to create tapestry-like patterns. A single shawl can take months to years.

• **Carpet weaving** in Kashmir uses hand-knotted silk or wool on vertical looms. Knot density (measured per square inch) determines quality; 324 knots/sq in is standard, 900+ is premium.

• **Copperware (Kansa/Traam)** involves sheet-copper beaten and engraved into samovars, plates and household items—centred in Srinagar's old city.

• **Traditional occupations** extend beyond crafts: houseboat building (*doonga* makers), saffron farming (Pampore), apple and walnut cultivation, and seasonal grazing by Gujjar and Bakerwal communities.

• **GI Tags**: Pashmina (2008), Kani Shawl (2008), Kashmiri Papier-mâché (2011), Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving (2023) hold Geographical Indication status, protecting authenticity.

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Formulas / Key Facts

| Craft/Occupation | Raw Material | Region | Key Feature | |------------------|--------------|--------|-------------| | Pashmina | Pashm fibre from Changthangi goat | Ladakh (Changthang plateau) | World's finest natural fibre (12–16 microns) | | Papier-mâché | Waste paper pulp, gum, colours | Srinagar, Budgam | Lacquer finish; motifs: chinar, kingfisher | | Walnut woodwork | Walnut timber | Kashmir Valley | Deep carving; motifs: vine, dragon | | Kani shawl | Pashmina yarn | Kanihama, Budgam | Twill-tapestry weave; no embroidery | | Silk carpet | Mulberry silk | Srinagar | Hand-knotted; Persian knot | | Copperware | Copper sheets | Downtown Srinagar | Engraved samovars, thalis | | Saffron | Crocus sativus flower | Pampore (Pulwama) | Harvested in October; GI tag 2020 |

• Pashmina shawl can pass through a finger ring (called "ring shawl") due to fineness.
• Papier-mâché items are often called "naqash" after the painter artisan.
• Walnut wood is brown-grey; carving depth can exceed 2 cm in high-relief work.

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Worked Examples

**Example 1 – Identification**

*Question:* Rahim's grandmother has a shawl that took two years to make and has patterns woven into the fabric, not stitched. What craft is this?

*Solution:*

• Key clue: patterns *woven* (not embroidered) and long production time.
• This describes the **Kani shawl**, woven with small wooden sticks on a loom.

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**Example 2 – Raw Material Link**

*Question:* Which animal provides the raw material for Pashmina, and where is it found?

*Solution:*

• Animal: **Changthangi goat** (also called Pashmina goat).
• Location: **Changthang plateau, Ladakh**, at altitudes 4,000–5,000 m.
• The extreme cold causes the goat to grow a fine undercoat (pashm).

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**Example 3 – Craft-to-Region Matching**

*Question:* Match the craft with the correct place: 1. Papier-mâché – (a) Pampore 2. Saffron – (b) Srinagar 3. Copperware – (c) Kanihama

*Solution:* 1. Papier-mâché – **(b) Srinagar** (Zadibal, Rainawari areas) 2. Saffron – **(a) Pampore** (Pulwama district) 3. Copperware – **(b) Srinagar** (Old city)

• Note: Kanihama is linked to Kani shawls, not listed here.

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Common Mistakes

| Wrong Thinking | Correct Fix | |----------------|-------------| | "Pashmina comes from sheep wool." | Pashmina is goat undercoat fibre, not sheep wool. Distinguish pashm (goat) from regular wool (sheep). | | "Kani shawls are embroidered with needle." | Kani shawls are *woven*, not embroidered. Sozni shawls are embroidered; Kani shawls use tapestry weaving. | | "Walnut woodwork uses imported wood." | Kashmir's temperate forests naturally grow walnut (Juglans regia); wood is locally sourced. | | "Papier-mâché is made from plastic." | It is made from *paper pulp* mixed with adhesive and rice straw; completely biodegradable. | | "GI tag means the product is exported only." | GI tag certifies geographical origin and quality; products are sold domestically and internationally. |

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Quick Reference

• **Pashmina** → Changthangi goat → Ladakh → 12–16 micron fibre → GI 2008.
• **Papier-mâché** → Waste paper pulp → Srinagar → Chinar-leaf motifs → GI 2011.
• **Walnut woodwork** → Walnut timber → Kashmir → Deep-relief carving → GI 2023.
• **Kani shawl** → Pashmina yarn → Kanihama → Loom-woven tapestry → GI 2008.
• **Saffron** → Crocus sativus → Pampore → World's costliest spice → GI 2020.
• Traditional occupations link *geography* (raw material), *skill* (artisan), and *culture* (heritage preservation).

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*Word count ≈ 850*