On 3rd February, the High Commission of India in London organised an event to celebrate the art and cultural heritage of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Members of the Indian diaspora gathered at the prestigious St James Court to appreciate the craftsmanship of shepherds, spinners, weavers, and artisans from Kashmir, and their passionate journey to create Pashmina - the finest natural fabric known to the mankind.
Her Excellency Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam, High Commissioner of India to the UK delivered welcome remarks and kickstarted the event. This was followed by a talk by Mrs Varuna Anand, an established textile designer promoting Kashmiri art. She explained the art of making pashmina and how the industry has been fostering.
In the meantime, Babar Afzal who is trying to re-build a global market for Pashminas, shared his experiences of living among shepherds and spoke on sustainability of the industry. Mr Charanjeet Singh, Deputy High Commissioner delivered concluding remarks following which the three artisans Mrs Varuna Anand, Mr Babar Afzal and Mr Aijaz Sheikh from Kashmir displayed beautiful Pashmina shawls in an exhibition at the venue.
The event was co-sponsored by Exim Bank of India, Air India and The Nehru Centre.
