Basohli, the Aroma Startup Hub

• Context (PIB): Basohli of J&K to become Heritage Town and Aroma Startup Hub.
• It is situated on the right bank of River Ravi at an altitude of 1876 ft, in the uneven lofty hills of Shiwaliks.

A Heritage Town is a place that holds significant historical, cultural, and architectural value.

• It was known for the palaces which are now in ruins and miniatures paintings (Basohli school of Pahari painting).

Basohli Paintings Basohli paintings are considered the first school of Pahari paintings, and which evolved into the much prolific Kangra paintings school by mid-eighteenth century. Basohli paintings are said to have been described as ‘Poems in colours’. The earliest paintings in this style have been dated to the time of Raja Kirpal Pal (1678–93). The paintings are marked by strikingly blazing colours bold lines, rich symbols and peculiar features giving an accumulative impact of highly sensuous environs. Their central inspiration is Vashnavism, the themes have been taken from the Epics and the Puranas. The different themes of the paintings are religious (Gita Govinda and Ramayana), secular, historical, contemporary and literary. Basohli painting obtained Geographical Indication (GI) Tag in 2023.

Aroma Mission

• Popularly referred as “Lavender or Purple Revolution“, has started from J&K.
• To promote the cultivation of aromatic crops for essential oils that are in great demand by the aroma industry.
• To enable Indian farmers and the aroma industry to become global leaders in the production and export of some other essential oils on the pattern of menthol mint.
• Nodal Agency: CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow.
• Coverage: Provides assured benefits to the growers of Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, Gujarat, Marathwada, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and other states where farmers are exposed to frequent episodes of weather extremes and account for maximum suicides.
• Aromatic Plants include lavender, damask rose, mushk bala, etc.
• It focuses on:
  • setting up of cooperatives for marketing,
  • promotion of cultivation and processing of high value medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs),
  • development of superior varieties and their agro technologies,
  • setting up of distillation units and processing facilities,
  • skill and entrepreneurship development,
  • value-addition and product development from MAPs.