Book Review

Book Review

The Slumberland of Kashmir, by P. K. Badam, published by Uday Publishing House Ansan Road, New Delhi: Flat 209, Mahgun Maple (Valencia) Sector 50, NOIDA, 201301; pages 480 price Rs. 795.00.

The book is a record of Kashmir's history, geography, religion, culture, literature, ethos and militancy. The sentences are simple and straight. These flow from the pen of the author and go directly into the heart of the reader. The volume is helpful for the young generation, which is for people who do not have time to read lengthy accounts. It is a dependable reference book for an individual and a library. It is useful for the well-read and the laity.

The author has gone down deep into the evolution of Kashmir society and come to the conclusion that Kashmin Pandits, known as Saraswat Brahmins, are the descendents of the Aryan civilization.

It delineates attributes of the ruling periods, in Kashmir, of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Dogras and the British and how Kashmiri Pandits fared during these times. It cames the genesis of the Kashmir issue. Then tells us how the trouble started after Pakistan tned to take control of the area by killings, rape and loot. Alter the state acceded to India the situation could have been better handled if the Union Government were pragmatic enough to fathom the hidden aspirations of Sheikh Abdulah and his cohorts.

Badam delves deep into the bane of terronsm. He says that this nefarious movement compelled lakhs of Kashmin Pandits, original residents of that soil, leave the area and go to the other parts of the country and the globe. His nostalgia about the composite culture of Kashmir-popularly known as Kashminyat-is penetrative. He says that the age-old cultural trait is humanistic and has no political or religious trappings. The cult has been strengthened by the Rishi-Sufi leaching of the unity of humankind. But, alas. this trait is under threat now.

He says that Kashmiri Pandits have been facing persecution since 1320 A. D. when the valley underwent Muslim rule That evil continued for 500 years before it was over After the country became independent, in 1947, this community was discriminated against. As a result, the majority of its members had to flee the valley to save their lives and honour.

The author describes Kashmir as an area of diverse religious practices. Hinduism and Buddhism flourished simultaneously. Within the Hindu religion, its followers accepted a variety, without bitterness, of the followers of Shaivism Vaishnavism and Shaktism.

Badam is of the opinion that Kashmin has had a rich heritage of literature. Good works have been produced by the earlier distinguished authors like Bilhana Kalhana, Abhnavagupta. Kshemendra, Utpaladeva Jonaraja. Patanjali Coming later in this field were Mullah Shah Mohammad Shahabidi, Hider Malik, Narayan Kaul, Birbal Kachroor, Professor Akbar Haider, Dewan Kripa Ram, Hargopal Kaul, Nand Lal Kaul Talib, Dina Nath Chicken (Mast), Pandit Anand Kaul, Munshi Bhawani Das Kachroo and Nityanand Shastri, Among the latest contributors are Pran Kishore Kaul and Ghulam Nabi Firaq. He has given the reason for coining strange surnames for some KP dynasties.

The author has presented information about important institutions. The younger generation can make a good use of this. These include Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts and the Institute of Kashmir Studies, which promotes Bhakti sufi-Rishi pluralistic culture in the world-wide context.

There is description of important events like that of disappearance of Moi-e-Muqaddas - the sacred hair of Prophet Mohammad- and the unusual manage of Parameshwar Handoo

Reference is available of important shrines of Jammu and Kashmir like that of Kheer Bhawani, Mata Vaishnavi Dev Shankaracharya temple. Amarnath Cave. Martand, 

Hazratbal Shrine and Chrar-e-Sharief Significant festivals have been announced. These include Shivaratri, Eid-ul- Fitr and Navreh. Information has been provided about the sins, Sufis and intellectuals of the state. The first place, in this regard goes to LaLLa Yogeshwari, followed by her disciple Noor-ud-din-Noorani, Krishna Joo Razdan and Swami Lakshman Joo Achievements of the present-day writers, too) have been presented. These include that of Dina Nath Nadim Amin Kamil and Abdul Ahad Azad.

Lives and achievements of important personalities " have been analysed. These include that Dr. Karan Singh Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Dr. G. L. Badam.

Works of the present-day writer have been quoted These include that of Dr Vijay Sazawal and Barrister Hamid Bashani who says that Kashmin Pandits are the real sons of the soil of Kashmir .

The last chapter of the book removes the fatigue of the reader. In that author Taslima Nasreen says that "as long as Islam remains unreformed, there can be no end to terror.

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Courtesy:- Jagannath Dhar and  Koshur Samachar 2019, May