RUA 2025-(wl-6754)-Navigating Modernity: Urban Governance, Traditional Livelihoods, and the Hanji Community in Srinagar's Smart City Initiative

This paper examines the impact of Srinagar’s Smart City project on the Hanji community of Kashmir, exploring the intersection of urban development, traditional livelihoods, and cultural preservation. Through ethnographic fieldwork and policy analysis, we investigate how this indigenous community, historically tied to Dal Lake, adapts to rapid urbanisation. The study reveals tensions between modernisation efforts and the preservation of traditional ecological knowledge, highlighting the challenges in balancing economic development with cultural heritage. Our findings underscore the need for participatory approaches in urban development that integrate local knowledge and cultural practices, offering insights valuable for policymakers and urban planners working in similar contexts globally.