Talim (textiles)

[2][4] The term talim, which refers to a symbolic code and system of notation used by shawl and carpet artisans in their weaving processes, came to the Urdu language from the Arabic noun taʻlim (تعليم),[5] which means "authoritative instruction",[6] "teaching",[6] or "edification".

[8] According to a local belief in Kashmir, talim was introduced to them by Persian scholar and Sufi Muslim saint Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani.

[3][13] Talim has been compared to "hieroglyphics"[4] or as a "notational-cum-cryptographic system",[1] as it is challenging to decipher and is unique to the shawls of Kashmir, which requires expertise to comprehend.

[4] According to researcher Gagan Deep Kaur, "The talim is widely held to be a trade secret of the community and has always been fiercely guarded by the owners.

The resurgence of the carpet industry in Amritsar during the last century resulted in the prevalent use of the talim technique among the local weavers, a majority of whom hailed from the region of Kashmir.

Indian textile historian Jasleen Dhamija wrote in her 1989[update] book Handwoven Fabrics of India that there were still some weavers in the Kashmiri village of Kanihama who applied talim in weaving shawls.

[citation needed] The institute aims to preserve traditional Kashmiri carpet designs by digitising talim and training weavers in the technique.