Kashmir’s fame never rested only on snow and scenery. This valley built its name on work. 

Nearly six centuries ago, two men planted the economic tree that still feeds us: Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani, known here as Shah-e-Hamadan, and Zain-ul-Abidin, remembered as Budshah.

They turned a small Himalayan valley into a business hub of Asia. They invested in water, land, skills and fair markets. Their policies created wealth that lasted for generations. 

Today, Jammu and Kashmir’s economy stands at about ₹2.86 lakh crore, roughly 0.8 percent of India’s GDP. Per-capita income hovers near ₹1.6-1.7 lakh, while the national average sits near ₹2.2 lakh. Growth runs near 5-6 percent annually. 

The economy expands in official reports, while the average Kashmiri household still counts every rupee.

Budshah understood that prosperity begins with basics. He repaired canals and dug new ones at Zakura and Martand. 

Water from the Sindh and Lidder rivers flowed into the fields of Zaingeer and Mattan karewas. Irrigation expanded, yields improved, and farmers saw real gains.

The benevolent king also fixed taxation. Earlier rulers often took half the produce, but Budshah reduced the state share to one-fourth and even one-seventh in fertile belts. 

The sovereign stopped arbitrary collections, introduced standard weights and measures, and issued new copper coins to build trust in markets. 

Farmers and traders knew what they owed, and earned.

Granaries and public works secured food supplies and created employment. Chroniclers recorded that peasants rose into a life of comfort and stability. Research such as “Economic Development and Sultan Zainul........

© Kashmir Observer