Kashmir is frequently discussed in terms of political issues, territorial disputes, and military conflict, however, the essence of what Kashmir is, can be found in the way that people refer to it or, pass down, and remember objects. The material culture of Kashmir, that is, the physical evidence lives in folded shawls stored in trunks, old chests made of walnut, copper samovars used for making tea, prayer books wrapped in cloth to protect them, and photographs tucked into family albums. Although these things may seem to have little significance in themselves, the collective material evidence of these things provides a record of identity that continues to exist through the rhythms of everyday life.
For many families from Kashmir, memory is created from more than just stories, it has a tangible and physical quality that can be tied to an object. A pheran that has been worn through the winter provides more than just warmth and it represents continuity. A handwoven shawl may conjure up memories of a grandmother's bedroom, a wedding, or a time when her family migrated to another area to escape conflict. A set of kitchen utensils is representative of a household's rituals, food, and ways in which they share their experiences. In this way, the material culture of Kashmir serves as a silent archive of memory, preserving what is often not included in formal histories.
For a place like Kashmir, where political discourse often dominates the debates held in front of the public, this becomes more significant. If we only think of history in terms of war, we are also at risk of forgetting what life really looks like. However, our identity has a lot to do with things we can physically touch or use, mainly things that connect us to our past. For example, the smell of dried herbs used to prepare food during winter, or the taste of kehwa made for guests, or the embroidery done on clothing that has been made by hand. Objects such as those mentioned above help to shape our identity. During interviews with family members and members of the Kashmiri diaspora, many people has shared how they hold onto items such as books written in Kashmiri or recipes from their families. People who live far from the Valley create feelings of belonging with their family members across great distances because they have the same experience with the same physical item, whether it is a book, recipe, or piece of cloth. The fact that these items do not replace their true home, but allow them to carry it with them into the future.
The history of different kinds of materials helps to illustrate that memories are not something we can think about abstractly. They are something tangible that we have stored in our minds and frequently hidden from us. If we want to gain a deeper understanding of the conflict in Kashmir, then we must also consider the things said about it, in addition to all of the things that are written about it.
Sources:
https://archive.org/details/dli.pahar.3229
https://indiafoundation.in/articles-and-commentaries/jammu-and-kashmir-a-glimpse-into-history/