Discovering Jammu's Rich Heritage: The Resurgence of Basohli Art and Cultural Identity

Jammu and Kashmir is more than Rajma Chawal and the sacred Vaishno Devi - especially Jammu. There is a lot to explore and dig down into our ancient culture. But before I dig into it, let me share a bit of backstory about how I got connected with Jammu.

When I was a child, my father dreamt of enrolling me at IITTM, Gwalior. Whenever we were out for a walk, he would say, ‘Ishi Institute se padhna hai.’ Luckily, I got admission there for my MBA in Tourism. After college, I got a campus placement at Orbit Tourism & Trade Fair, Mumbai. Gwalior ek choti se jagah the aur Mumbai ek badi city with a fast-paced life. So, for the first 10-15 days, I thought, ‘ye jagah mere liye nahi bani hai’.

Anyway, my professional life began, and after some time, I married Arnab. He was from Jammu. And due to his job transfer, we shifted to Delhi. Soon, Aaratrika came into our life. But Delhi’s pollution troubled her. So, we decided to shift to Jammu for her healthy life.

Arnab and I loved handicrafts. So, the idea to explore the Jammu handicrafts came during the COVID-19. After some research, we started focusing on the ‘Basohli Art ‘. It’s a well-known art from the 17th century. Not many, including the Jammu locals, are aware of this art. While talking with the local artisans, we suggested them to restart the work. But they hesitated as it wasn’t economically viable.

Luckily, a few of them cooperated. With Shivakshi, we started with making bookmarks. Then we met Sunita. She is a genius and is always open to experimenting with different products. With their help, we have revived the art. We aim to promote ‘Basohli Art’ through exhibitions, workshops and tours for school and college kids. Slowly, people are recognising it. And now they know, ‘Basohli isn’t just a place. It’s a feeling! A feeling infused with the mesmerising traditional art from the 17th century.

To sum up, I would like to say, ' Our culture is our identity. So, it’s our responsibility to educate and pass on these rich cultures to the younger generation. Only then will the true beauty of our country be alive!

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