Kashmir’s celebrated Pashmina shawls, known for their detailed buta or paisley patterns, recently witnessed a captivating French influence. This creative venture saw the traditional Kashmiri shawls being embellished with abstract art instead of their usual intricate designs, infusing modern aesthetics into the fabric and reintroducing it to contemporary consumers.
Understanding Pashmina
Pashmina is a Geographical Indication (GI) certified wool originating from the Kashmir region in India. The word ‘Pashmina’ is derived from the Persian term “Pashm”, indicating a weavable fibre, particularly wool. The local people of Kashmir initially used Pashmina shawls as a warmth providing clothing in the harsh winter season.
Owing to the high-quality wool and intense labour involved in its creation, Pashmina Shawls are expensive. The process of weaving a single Pashmina Shawl is time-consuming and can take approximately 72 hours or longer, depending upon the complexity of the work involved.
The Origin and Source of Pashmina Wool
The wool used for crafting Pashmina Shawls is fetched from Changthangi goats (Capra Hircus). These goats are domesticated in the Ladakh region by the Changpa tribes, a semi-nomadic community inhabiting Changthang (spanning across Ladakh and Tibet Autonomous Region) and other areas of Ladakh. The Changpa community falls under the Scheduled Tribe category, as per the Indian Government’s affirmative action reservation program.
The Global Significance of Pashmina
Pashmina is globally recognised as one of the finest and top-quality wools. The exquisite Pashmina Shawl has caught the attention of international audiences, making it one of the most sought-after shawls worldwide. The high demand for Pashmina Shawls has uplifted the local economy in the regions where it is produced.
Insights from the UPSC Civil Services Examination: Question on Changpa Community
A previous year’s question from the UPSC Civil Services Examination pertaining to the ‘Changpa’ community of India read as follows:
“Consider the following statements:
1. They primarily live in the State of Uttarakhand.
2. They rear the Pashmina goats that yield a fine wool.
3. They belong to the category of Scheduled Tribes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3”
The correct answer was option (b), indicating that the Changpa community rears Pashmina goats for their fine wool and is categorised under Scheduled Tribes, but they primarily inhabit Ladakh rather than Uttarakhand.