Pashmina Shawls
Context:
Recently, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to the US for Quad Summit, he presented a silver model of a Delhi-Delaware train to US President Joe Biden and a pashmina shawl to First Lady Jill Biden.
Relevance:
GS-01 (Culture)
About Pashmina Shawl:
- Pashmina shawls are known for its renowned craftsmanship and the use of fine Ladakhi cashmere wool.
- It was originated from Kashmir.
- The term “Pashmina” means “Pashm,” meaning “soft gold” or “soft wool” in Persian.
- Cashmere wool used in the making is sourced from the undercoat of the Changthangi goat, also known as the Pashmina goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), which is native to the high altitudes of the Himalayas in Ladakh, India, Nepal, and Tibet.
- Kashmir’s pashmina shawl for its traditional crafting methods and as a tribute to the rich artisans, has received Geographical Indication (G.I.) certification.
Geographical Indication (GI):
- Geographical Indication (GI) serves as a marker identifying goods with distinctive qualities originating from specific geographical areas.
- It was introduced by enacting Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which facilitates its registration and overall protection.
- It is also considered and recognized as an element of intellectual property.
- The GI tag is valid for Ten Years. It is primarily applicable to agriculture, natural and even manufactured products which also includes handicrafts and industrial goods.
- The idea of calling awarding GS tag for products, prevents the sale of similar items under the same name, offering legal protection against unauthorized use.
- Some of the renowned products with GI tags are Basmati rice, Darjeeling Tea, Chanderi Fabric, Mysore Silk, Kullu Shawl, Kangra Tea, Thanjavur Paintings, Allahabad Surkha, Farrukhabad Prints, Lucknow Zardozi, Kashmir Saffron, and Kashmir Walnut Wood Carving.
