By 1922, Kashmir had its own cricket team, or rather two teams. One team belonged to the British Resident in Srinagar and another team was sponsored by Maharaja Pratap Singh. Ironically enough, at present, the once independent nation of Kashmir has been reduced to the mere status of a Union Territory, which in my opinion is a huge disregard and disrespect to the region’s cultural, political and ethnic identity!

1. The Story of Kashmir’s Bat Wonder

Once upon a time, during British rule in the Indian subcontinent when Kashmir still persisted as the merry-making avenue for visitors across the globe, few British army men were up for a game of cricket. The plan came to a halt when the only bat they carried with themselves at the time, broke up putting a halt to the much awaited engagement of the weekend. Anxious, they brought the cricket bat to a local carpenter, Allah Bakhsh from Sialkot (now in Pakistan), asking him to fix it. Allah Bakhsh replicated the bat’s style quite aptly and returned it. The British, overwhelmed to resume the game, thanked the man of the hour, spilling the secret that even though the design was apt, the wood used wasn’t suitable for making cricket bats and that it needed a specific grain pattern. Therefore, by the end of the “fine day”, Allah Bakhsh had had his piece of the pie. Upon multiple tests and trials, the suitability of Willow wood (locally called as Vir or Veer) for the purpose was discovered. Kashmir did not take much time to understand the reality that it was already a step ahead because of its possession of the raw material – the willow. Earlier, as Walter Lawrence mentions in his Valley of Kashmir, the local willow was used as fuel and cattle feed. The British decided to have their cricket bats made from Allah Bakhsh who set up a manufacturing unit, the first of its kind in the Indian subcontinent, near Sangam, Anantnag, the selection of the site being governed by its nearness to the Jhelum waterways through which willow wood was earlier transported to Sialkot where multiple sports goods were crafted. Post-partition, several manufacturing units relocated to India, marking the beginning of a cricket bat legacy spanning generations in the Heaven on earth- Kashmir. The bat-making is now spread on a long stretch including Halmulla, Bijbehara and Sangam located in district Anantnag and can be encountered as a series of beads along the string like Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

1.1 The Ningli Willow Plantation- First of its kind!

Aware of the strategic shift and the beneficial edge Kashmir enjoyed from its merry temperate climate (directly as well as indirectly!!), the first head of the Kashmir Forest Department Sir Jc Mac Donnell and his associate Redcliff took up the willow plantation work in 1916 around Wular Lake wetland, now popularly called as the Ningli plantation. Also, it is pertinent to mention here that at the time, Kashmir was a princely state, and the Maharaja being committed to conservation, pushed for the growing of multipurpose trees for the general good of the people. Gradually, the plantation spread across the wetlands of Haran-Shalbugh, Hokur-Sar, Mir Gund, Mamandanji, and Kitrenteng. The innovative and noble aim behind the move was to ensure sustainability in the fuel wood as well as bat raw material demands while minimizing pressure on natural forests. At first, the wetlands grew the indigenous varieties of willow, but steadily with the growing popularity, Salix Alba var caerulea (White Willow/ Cricket Bat Willow) species was imported from England and France and planted in the Harran range. Thus started Kashmir’s never looking back journey with cricket- the sport that runs in the veins of not only Kashmiris, but people in general and each individual of India and Pakistan in particular. By 1922, Kashmir had its own cricket team, rather two teams. One team belonged to the British Resident in Srinagar and another team was sponsored by Maharaja Pratap Singh. Ironically enough, at present the once independent nation of Kashmir has been reduced to the mere status of a Union Territory, which in my opinion is a huge disregard and disrespect to the region’s cultural, political and ethnic identity!

2. What makes Willow wood so special?

Defect in wood is a major setback limiting the utility of wood. Wood defects are the abnormalities or irregularities in wood that can develop from a varied number of causes, like naturally due to rapid tree growth, the woods natural tendency to absorb or expel moisture, or may be acquired from insect and fungal growth that may occur anytime from the seedling stage to the seasoning process or even due to improper handling and storage methods. Multiple types of defects develop in wood and can be broadly categorized into a) Natural defects- Bark Pockets, Bird Pecks, Burls, Coarse Grain, Raised Grain, Knots, Shakes, Splits, etc, b) Conversion defects- Torn Grain, Diagonal Grain, Chip Mark, Machine Burn, Machine Bite, Machine Gouge, etc, c) Seasoning defects- Bowing, Check, Crook, Twist, Case Hardening, etc. These defects not only undermine the monetary value but drastically reduce the durability and strength of wood causing its rapid decay, none of which can be afforded in sports industry!

White Willow, in this backdrop, is ideal for professional bat making. It possesses all the pre-requisite properties that can make a bat that is light enough and strong enough to strike the ball as required and also survive the impact. Also, with proper seasoning, handling and storage techniques, defects can be prevented considerably.

3. Stipulations of the Batters tool

Laws of Cricket- the code specifying the rules for cricket worldwide; currently has 42 laws governing different aspects of the game. Law 5 specifies the universally accepted dimensions of a cricket bat, giving due recognition to the individual requirements of cricketers. It specifies that the length of the bat may be no more than 38 inches (965 mm), the width no more than 4.25 inches (108 mm), the overall depth no more than 2.64 inches (67 mm) and edge no more than 1.56 inches (40 mm). To ensure adherence, the umpires are now given a bat gauge so they can check the legality of the bat at any time.

4. The craft of designing

Kashmiris have won a great reputation as artisans. In Kashmir, with its severe winter when climate conditions are semi-arctic, craftsmen utilize their leisure as well as creative intelligence in creating artefacts of exquisite beauty. Princely patronage encouraged these handicrafts from early times till the present times when the articles have created a distinct niche in a big market like India, and abroad.

Here, I give a brief account of otherwise intensive and exhaustive procedures followed by the artisans to craft cricket bats with an amalgamation of tradition and technology, for providing a sneak peek into the functioning of the industry, thereby enhancing the understanding of the subject matter. The manufacturing of cricket bats in Kashmir is a complex process that requires a great deal of skill and attention to detail. Right from the selection of the suitable kind of wood to the handling of the final product, various steps can be enumerated as follows-

• Acquiring raw material - In Kashmir, the genus Salix is represented by 23 distinct species. While Kashmir Willow (Salix alba) is used for bats of lower price range, English Willow (Salix alba var. caerulea) bats fetch quite high prices. Consequently, Kashmir Willow bats are widespread in local and amateur competitions and English Willow bats find place in high level tournaments.
• The commercial bole of willow trees is chopped into logs which are in turn split into wedges called clefts. The wood (clefts) is then dried in the sun for around a year to remove any moisture retained. This is the traditional air seasoning method and is often carried out following the Open Crib arrangement of air drying that ensures maximum ventilation during all the four seasons experienced in the region.
• Upon the completion of the drying period and examining for any further requirement, clefts are then cut into the blade of a bat with suitable length and breadth. The blade typically has a face, back, toe, shoulder and two sides.
• Handle attachment - The handle, mostly made from Singapore cane, a type of rattan palm known for its strength and flexibility, is fixed using glue and squeezed into the V shaped slit on the top of the bat.
• Once the bat is structurally ready, it needs to be given treatments for protection against the defects causing agents. This process involves the application of a special oil that is designed to protect the wood from moisture and damage. The oil is applied using a specialized machine that ensures an even coverage of the entire blade.
• Testing and Reinforcement - The performance of the bats is tested under traditional match like conditions with around 2000 shots played with a standard leather ball. Composite layers may also be added to improve durability.

This way, after rigorous conversion and processing, the bat is finally ready to swing at the crease!

5. The legacy in dire straits!

Teeli et al (2023) gathered comprehensive data on the availability of raw material for the cricket bat industry in Anantnag and Pulwama districts of Kashmir during 2017-18. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the major problems faced by the industry and to assess quality parameters of cleft and the wood used for making these clefts. For the study, latest available official records of Government of Jammu and Kashmir as well as questionnaire based sample survey data were used. The industry produced 15.10 crore clefts that consumed 17, 28,532 ft3 of wood. 62 manufacturing units were included in the sample survey.

The findings of the study are summarized as follows:

• The units were classified into three categories on the basis of raw material consumption capacity of wood during the year 2016.

• Problems faced by the units and their relative prevalence was:

• There is a wide gap between the demand and supply of raw material of the cricket bat units in the valley. Loss of willow plantation areas due to its conversion into other forms of land use has been pointed out as a factor responsible for reducing the areas available for bat production. The units also face problems of raw material in terms of insufficient quantity, poor quality and high cost of raw material.
• Insufficient supply of wood to the bat industry may also be decoded to be due to the lack of incentives, viz., no minimum support price, input subsidy, etc., are available to the farmers for raising bat willow plantations.
• Moreover, there has been a significant fall in the cultivation of willow trees as most growers prefer poplars, which is a fast growing species. It takes around 15 years for a willow tree to attain optimum size, whereas poplars grow within 5-7 years to its harvestable size.
• Poor quality of the wood is another major problem faced by the bat industry in the valley. The plantations of Salix alba are grown and managed without following any scientific tree crop management practices. The timber thus produced has poor quality of raw material that has many knots and other defects.
• With mechanised seasoning, the working cycle would be shorter, and with incorporation of technology, our bat could be more competitive.
• There is a proper grading system of bats on the basis of grain. Traditionally willows are not graded according to international standards in Kashmir, and that is why the clefts and bats do not attract the global market.
• Most of the bats are exported to Delhi, Jalhander, Meerut, Gujarat, Mumbai, and Karnataka etc. In order to export cricket bats to these States, an industry pays transportation cost. Besides these, costs also include expenditure on grips, thread, sand paper, polish, sticker etc.
• The unit holders are not aware of the concept of subcontract. The products were marketed only within India as there is a lack of awareness on advanced technologies and other requisites that are a prerequisite for the international market. A technology driven intervention can increase the cluster turnover by three to four folds. Also the marketing activities need to be integrated in order to explore the global markets. Due to the small size of the individual units, it is imperative that networks are created in order to go for ISO 9000 certification and thereby capture large export orders. Export consortia can also be formed to ensure brand building, participation in international fairs, buyer negotiations and compete with other countries on quality and price fronts.
• One of the requirements of an enterprise to work effectively and efficiently is the regular and adequate power supply and these basic facilities are not adequately provided to the bat manufacturing units. It was reported by the unit holders that the erratic power supply i.e. only for 2 to 4 hours in a day results in damage to the machinery and causes suspension of work for long hours, keeping men, materials and machines idle.

6. Legal Aid to the industry- the Willow (Prohibition on Export and Movement) Act, 2000

An act framed for the prohibition of export and movement of willow wood (any form other than the fully processed and value added end product, like furniture, sports goods, etc.) outside Jammu and Kashmir, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Act states that Willow of any species/variety shall not be carried or exported to any place outside J&K, except under general or specific orders of the government or any other authority designated for the purpose and subject to such condition as the government may specify. Any person who violates or attempts to violate the provisions of the Act shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years and shall also be liable to fine extending upto 1 lakh Indian rupees.

The Act safeguards the industry against the plaguing issues of smuggling of willow clefts and the consequent shortage in raw material. However, there is still a long way to go in ensuring that the laws framed in Assemblies are actually enforced on ground. It is necessary to clearly define and communicate the rules and provisions with the masses, develop an effective feedback compliance system to improve and update the provisions with changing times, and deter the violators by all possible means. We are living in a world in flux. Nothing is static. How can the laws framed once be applicable always?

7. Helping hand of the government

Although the industry is quite significant in terms of providing employment to a substantial number of people ranging from 1,00,000 to 1,50,000, and significant revenue ranging from 700 crore to 1 billion annually, it is overall considered as a small scale industry with majority of the 400 units operating on small to medium scale. The Indian government offers various schemes and subsidies to support small-scale industries (MSMEs), including the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS), and Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), only to name a few. In a major achievement for the industry, Government of India and the Handloom and Handicrafts Department of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has included the iconic 'Kashmir Willow Cricket Bat' in the newly notified list of handicrafts. Now bat-makers can benefit from schemes and welfare measures under the National Handicraft Development Programme (NHDP) and the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS). Furthermore, the inclusion facilitates the issuance and renewal of Pahchan ID cards for artisans, improving access to government support, incentives, and training.

However, it must be emphasized here that in addition to launching projects and schemes, it is necessary for the government to also invest on skill training and awareness among the beneficiaries and most important of all, on the equality in access, something that is becoming difficult to ensure in the present era of an upcoming new face of inequality- the Digital Divide.

8. Cricket Bat of Kashmir deserves a GI Tag

We very well know that a Geographical Indication Tag (GI Tag) is a type of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) that protects products linked to a specific geographical location, ensuring that only those from that particular area can use the name and all the associated qualities and claims. GI is a very powerful and effective tool ensuring increased value and recognition, protecting heritage, benefitting local artisans, and, setting the seal on the quality of products.

Taking into account our history and heritage, and considering the kind of detailed, rigorous, and, backbreaking nature of the craft, and the diminishing quality and value of the original Kashmir Willow bat in front of the low quality, duped and cheaper products, we the people of Kashmir seek GI Tag for our Cricket bats. After all, we rightfully deserve it.

9. My interview with a manufacturer

In my recent visit to one of the manufacturing units situated at the same place- Bijbehara, I happened to get an in depth exploration of the bat making process with a one on one interaction with the General Manager of the Unit. The gratefulness of belonging to a place with such rich heritage (in literally every sphere, from food to sports to clothing to politics to topography), the detailed understanding of the challenges ahead, and the new found hope of saving, in the least, one part of the identity of Moej Kashir (Motherland Kashmir), all have summed up deep in my heart and have emerged in the form of this manuscript. Jotting down the exact interconnectivity and reciprocity is out of the scope of this manuscript and most importantly beyond my ability of giving form to thoughts, so I present here a brief aide-memoire in lieu to the interaction.

Me: Assalamualikum. How are you and why is the unit so deserted?

Him: Walaikum assalam. We are glad to have you here. Actually it is the time of Friday prayers and everybody has left for that. Even though we have 48 Fridays in a year, each one of them is reverent and sacred! Let’s talk first, then I will join for the Namaaz. So, I am the General Manager of the unit and you may ask any questions you want. Please go ahead.

Me (after several questions about numbers, statistics, and the process of manufacture): Would you want your children to join the industry?

Him: Yes Inshallah! This craft defines us. I would want my son to be recognized by this industry and also the industry to benefit from his contributions, in any capacity.

Me: What do you think makes Kashmir Cricket Bat special?

Him: Well, the fact that it comes from Kashmir. I mean it is the best in all requirements. No matter how many products come in the market, we are unbeatable in quality. But we have to acknowledge that we are falling weak in front of the problems- shortage in raw material, competition from cheap variants in the market, lack of infrastructure, primarily electricity, and of course government support- financial as well as moral. Why won’t the government open new markets for us, or, introduce us to the BCCI, in the least.

Me: Where do you see the industry in next 10-20 years?

Him: I hope to see it doing very well, realizing the actual huge potential that I believe it has, but I am saddened to admit that this I only can wish for. Being practical, I have to say that it is going to be very difficult for us to survive given the present scenario persists!

10. Success beyond challenges- GR8 Sports

GR8 Sports, a pioneering start up based in Anantnag, Jammu & Kashmir, carved a niche for itself on the global stage. With years of intensive global research and collaboration with the ICC, cricketers, coaches, umpires, and master craftsmen, the company redefined the potential of Kashmir willow bats on the global stage using cutting-edge AI-based CMC (Computer Monitored Compression) technology as a key tool. Their innovation was spectacularly showcased during the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, where their bat hit the tournament’s biggest six, a testament to its exceptional performance and quality. GR8 Sports has successfully addressed long-standing challenges related to weight, balance, ping, stroke, sweet spot, and dimensions.

GR8 Sports- the true representation of our Kashmir’s resilient blood, has emerged as an example of iron-willed attitude.

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References:

• https://kashmirlife.net
• https://www.academia.edu/download/113657453/6612.pdf
• https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities
• https://brighterkashmir.com/gr8-sports