It is the first Himalayan state to earn this unique creative art and crafts status. Himachal Pradesh’s Kalka-Shimla railway line and Great Himalayan National Park, Kullu have already won the UNESCO inscription in the recent past.
With this, Jammu and Kashmir would get a new push to economy of weavers and craftsmen and the tourism industry in the state. Srinagar city has joined elite and proud cities of Varanasi , Chennai (both UNESCO cities of music), Jaipur( crafts and folk arts) Mumbai (film) and Hyderabad (gastronomy).
But Srinagar is the first city in the India that has been inscribed as UNESCO creative arts and craft, says Srinagar Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu on social media site that has gone viral in the state.
Mattu said they credit the Lt governor of Jammu and Kashmir, UT and the Ministry of Human Resource Development(HRD) and INTACH Kashmir for earning the UNSECO Creative City of Art and Craft inscription for Srinagar who pooled their efforts to earn this prestigious status.
It would give a new push to the art and crafts of the valley, bringing not only the nature lovers but also the art and crafts lovers across the world to the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, said city lovers.
Mayor of Srinagar had sent a detailed proposal to the HRD Ministry saying that the rich legacy of arts and crafts of Srinanagar is uniquely placed in the world that was a major candidate for UNSECO inscription in creative art and crafts. In Srinagar, the major art workshops exist in the old town Shahr-e-Khas- dotted with the unique heritage sties and historical and cultural value.
LG, Jammu and Kashmir thanked the Prime Minister for the UNESCO inscription that would go a long way in protecting the rich art and craft legacy of Srinagar. The Mayor had sent meticulously prepared dossier of exceptionally rich art and crafts legacy of Srinagar with the help of INTACH Kashmir to UCCN in June this year, the office states.
“Our art and crafts not only greatly define our economic stability, but also impact preservation of cultural and aesthetic values of our people”, Mayor said in a letter of representation to the HRD ministry which is with HimbuMail. At the core of vision for Srinagar lies the idea of sustainable development of Srinagar, Innovation and social cohesion, he said.
“We firmly believe that we possess the skill and legacy and cultural quotient to compete in and qualify for the Creative Craft cities Network of UNESCO (UCCN 2021)”, he said.
(Kuldeep Chauhan is editor and administrator, Himbumail)
