Qaleen Explained

Qaleen (Kaleen, Kalin, قالین) is a type of hand knotted piled carpet.[1] [2] The term is used throughout Turkey, Iran and Central Asia, and making is currently practised as a handicraft in Turkey and Iran.[3] Artisans may need at least two months to make one qaleen.[4] The craft was learned from Persians by the artisans of Kashmir on the Indian subcontinent.[5] These knotted pile carpets so were a blend of Persian and Indian craftsmanship. Qaleens or Ghalichas were made in the Kashmir[6] region of India and Pakistan.[7]

Name

Qaleen is a word meaning carpet in a number of languages, including Arabic,[8] Turkish[3] and Urdu.[9] [10]

History

Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin king Budshah introduced the "Kal baffi" craft (of hand knotted carpets) from Persia to Kashmir in the 15th century. The Sultan brought carpet weavers from Persia and central Asia to Kashmir to train the local inhabitants.[11]

Structure

Kalin, which were smaller in size and were a product of jails in Punjab, were made using one row of knots and another alternate in weft yarns, wool pile, and cotton in warp side.[12]

Mechanization

Mechanization and Industrialisation is a threat to many ancient crafts including Qaleen bafi (weaving).[13] Now Qaleens are made on looms and powerlooms in many parts of India and Pakistan.[14] Islamabad is a centre for qaleem manufacturing, with around 80,000 workers employed in this trade.[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Another local woollen product is an ornately patterned woollen rug, known as qaleen . The usual weft threads are used in making the galeen, but in this case, the warp thread is purchased from the market . Very delicate patterns and designs ...

    Persistence and Transformation in the Eastern Hindu Kush

    A Study of Resource Management Systems in Mehlp Valley, Chitral, North Pakistan

    By Fazlur Rahman · 2007

  2. Book: Gajrani, S.. History, Religion and Culture of India. 2004. Gyan Publishing House. 978-81-8205-060-0. 198. en.
  3. Book: Mousavi, S. A.. The Hazaras of Afghanistan. 2018-10-24. Routledge. 978-1-136-80016-0. en.
  4. Web site: Community. Direct Create. 2020-02-14. Kaleen (Carpets) making from Kashmir. 2020-12-24. Medium. en.
  5. Origin: Once upon time, from Persia a Sufi mystic named Hazrat Mir Syed Ali Hamdani visited Kashmir. His caravan comprised highly skilled weavers and came via the silk route. And thus, Kashmir became the land of carpet weaving. Another school of thought believes, in 15th century, Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin king Budshah introduced this craft to Kashmir.  However, both theories find comfort in the fact that artisans were invited from Persia to train Kashmiris in the art of spinning and weaving.  These hand knotted carpets are locally known as KalBaffi or Qaleen.

    https://craffi.com/Product-Detail.aspx?Pcode=PD-27

  6. In Chapter V, the book is having a little twist, putting forth the tale of artisans of Kashmir, while they, Child and Angel, are on the top of Shankar Acharya hills. In the very Chapter, We’re being pioneered to a new character, Zubair. Who’s dealing with the business of Qaleen bafi. And, reaches to the upper areas of Bandipora to do Qaleen (Kashmiri handmade carpet) trade.

    ‘The Dying Whisper of a Never Born Child’ on Kashmir

  7. Mughal buildings. ... Nowadays knotted pile carpets Qaleens or Ghalichas made in Pakistan are still entirely dependent on imported designs among which the Bokhara

    Pakistan Quarterly - Volumes 10-11 - Page 62

  8. Book: Hayes, Fletcher Fulton Compton. Synopsis of the Grammar of Modern Arabic: With a Vocabulary and Dialogues. 1859. 159.
  9. Web site: Urdu Word قالین - Qaleen Meaning in English is Carpets. 2020-12-22. UrduPoint. en.
  10. Web site: قالین into English translation and word in English ڈکشنری. 2020-12-23. englishurdudictionarypk.com.
  11. Web site: 2023-02-25 . QALEEN: THE CARPET OF DREAMS . 2024-03-13 . en.
  12. Book: Fairchild's dictionary of textiles. 1959. New York . Fairchild Publications. 296.
  13. Web site: Mehra. Puja. The rise of the machines: Kashmir's weavers fear for their future. 2020-12-24. www.aljazeera.com. en.
  14. Web site: 2012-10-22. A Fading Art. 2020-12-24. Kashmir Life. en-GB.
  15. Book: Qazi, S. A.. Systematic Geography of Jammu and Kashmir. 2005. APH Publishing. 978-81-7648-786-3. 112. en.

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