GI status sought for Kashmiri carpets

Chennai: A Jammu & Kashmir-based cooperative weavers’ association has filed a petition before the geographical indications registry, Chennai, seeking GI status for the famous handmade Kashmiri carpet. Meeras Carpet Weavers’ Industrial Cooperative Ltd, Baripora, Nawa Kadal, Srinagar, has filed the petition before Chinnaraja G. Naidu, assistant registrar, trade marks and geographical indications, geographical indications registry.

The association has submitted that the hand-knotted Kashmiri carpet is being manufactured since 1423 AD. It asked the registry to grant GI status under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. The Kashmiri carpet history dates back to the period of Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamdani (1341-1385 AD), a famous Sufi saint from Persia who came to Kashmir. He brought highly-skilled artisans through the silk route and laid the base for cottage industries in Kashmir valley.

After the Mughal conquest, Emperor Akbar (1580 AD) also brought weavers from Persia to Kashmir. During the period of Zainul-Abadin (Budshah), 1730 AD, the carpets started gaining fame everywhere.The carpet weaving skill has been handed down by fathers to sons. Over centuries, the art of carpet and shawl-weaving is one of the best forms of artistic talent of Kashmiris. Hand-knotted pure silk carpets, with their delicate Kashmiri style stitch, are known for their softness and craftsmanship. The process is long and requires a lot of preparation. The yarn determines the type of the carpet.

The craftsmen in Kashmir follow the traditional Persian / Islamic designs of Kirman, Kashan, lsfahan and Heart. Though there is a strong Persian influence in Kashmiri carpets, yet one can also see local variations.Among others images of life of tree in all its glory, natural beauty of Kashmir and its picturesque scenes, hunting scenes, bird and animal motifs and historic themes were in the Kashmir carpets. These carpets come in a variety of colours and designs.The wool is obtained from living sheep reared in the mountains, it said.