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Living in the Material World: Cosmopolitanism and trade in early twentieth century Ladakh

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2012

JACQUELINE H. FEWKES*
Affiliation:
Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University, 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA Email: jfewkes@fau.edu

Abstract

The historical trading communities of early twentieth century Ladakh, in northern India, interacted with multiple cultures through both travel and the flow of trade goods. Using a neo-pragmatic philosophical framework, I will argue that this community—largely rural and commonly thought of as isolated—was, in fact, cosmopolitan. The traders' interactions with specific commodities prompted them to traverse cultural boundaries and engage with new ideas. This view of cosmopolitanism suggests that, while particular economic, political or social contexts may be part of the settings in which both individuals and communities are engaged in cosmopolitan processes, contexts do not define the cosmopolitan.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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References

1 These borders are disputed, and the borders shown on this map do not necessarily represent the views of the author, but rather are those most commonly represented in Indian maps.

2 This map shows some of the main towns to which Leh was connected; these should not be thought of as end points, but rather as access points for trade that spread throughout the respective regions.

3 German geographer Ferdinand Von Richthofen (1833–1905) coined the term ‘Silk Road’ to describe the network of travel routes stretching between China and Eastern Europe, with branches that extended in north—south directions. The term the ‘Silk Route’ is misleading, as many types of goods actually travelled along these roads, including commodities such as perfumes, drugs, spices, precious stones, metals, cotton, dye-stuffs, coffee, tea, and art objects.

4 These routes have been categorized as one route each; however, they were actually a series of interconnected roads that traders might have chosen, depending on the weather, the goods they were carrying, and the type of financial backing they had for their expedition.

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7 The family has since opened a museum, which they have called the Munshi Aziz Bhat Museum, to showcase the variety of early twentieth century trade goods. This museum is one of the first regionally established historical institutions to display Ladakhi contributions to, and participation in, trade between South and Central Asia.

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