Paper short abstract:

This paper presents cross cutting research from both sides of the Line Of Control and presents a consolidated approach to the value of culture for peace building in Kashmir. It explores socially valued, economically useful, culturally significant, gender specific approaches to livelihood generation.

Paper long abstract:

This paper is part of a longitudinal study of the creative practices of the Kashmir region. The value of crafts, their potential to generate income, and contribute to peace-building and economic reconstruction of a conflict (and post conflict) area is explored through this paper. The focus remains on the value of culture in the lives of women from the region.

Indian Kashmir and Pakistani Kashmir remain divided over the rightful ownership of the region. Wars, civilian conflict, high defense budgets and a plethora of innovative, yet impossible political solutions surround the region. The politics of the region, dominates the conversation about the region, preventing socially valued, economically useful and culturally significant approaches to livelihood generation from being recognized by policy makers, government and non-government bodies. This research therefore straddles the Line Of Control and compares, contrasts and presents a consolidated approach to the value of culture to the women of Kashmir.

This paper proposes the recognition of the power of creative making not only for generating sustainable incomes, but to also enable communication of complex differences and attempt to heal divisions in society. It approaches this from the dislocated perspectives of craftswomen on either side of the line of control, who indicate interest and ambition to produce crafts to boost their domestic income. In an underdeveloped, insecure region, with primary focus on military spending and policing, women on both sides of the LOC have created spaces of making, which support their abilities to build themselves alternative lived realities.