Indigenous Cultural Handicrafts Under Threat: A Marxist Analysis of Kalasha Artisans in Rumbur Valley, Lower Chitral, Pakistan

Abstract

This study explores the indigenous handicrafts of the Kalasha community in Rumbur Valley, Chitral, Pakistan. The main objective is to examine their cultural significance, economic value, and the challenges the Kalasha culture and its artisans face. Kalash Valley has undergone tremendous changes in the socio-economic structure and functional modalities of traditional crafts. Using Karl Marx's alienation and commodification-related concepts. The research explores the displacement of traditional crafts by Kalasha craftswomen, using qualitative methods, interviews, and field observations, revealing their skill in creating intricate handicrafts from local materials. However, their craft is threatened for various reasons, including insufficient access to the market, absence of training centers, poor infrastructure facilities, increasing production costs, and waning interest in the young generation towards these crafts. The commodification of handicrafts by tourism has led to economic marginalization and alienation of artisans from their labor and cultural identity. To address this, the research suggests community-led training initiatives, improved market accessibility, and policy-driven support for artisans. Implementing online sales platforms, recognizing artisans' contributions, and integrating cultural preservation efforts into local governance can sustain Kalasha handicrafts and empower them economically. By applying Marxist theory, this study highlights how external economic pressures shape traditional crafts, offering insights into preserving Indigenous heritage in the face of modernization. Without systemic interventions, Kalasha handicrafts risk becoming mere commodities for tourist consumption, eroding cultural heritage.