On Kashmir - Part 1
There goes Arundhati Roy again... I agree that our politicians have not handled the issue wisely. Starting with Nehru, everybody failed Kashmir and the people of Kashmir through false promises, lies and deceit. Below I try to present a brief history of Kashmir. Much of it comes from my learning in Prof Mathews class in Social Transformation of India course in 1st term at Kozhikode.
Akbar annexed Kashmir in 1586 AD. Kashmir has been under the subjugation of Afghans, Sikhs and Dogras. Now, it's India's turn. History of Kashmir is bound in Shaivite Hinduism. Lal Ded (1320-1392) was a Shaivite woman saint who struggled against orthodoxy. Local sufi order was called as Silsila-e-Rishiyan which consisted of Muslim saints of Kashmir. Sheikh Nuruddin was another saint who believed that Hindus and Muslims should leave peacefully. The famous shrine in Kashmir Charar-e-Sharief is the shrine of this greatest saint of Kashmir. Syncretic traditions were established in Kashmir. Preservation of relics, recitation in chorus, prayer with folded hands. There were many female disciples also. Dahat Bibi had debated with Mir Mohammad Hamadani on "futility of rituals". After the demise of Sheikh Nuruddin, 360 rishis had come to pay their homage. Rishi Latifuddin took non-violence to extremes. Rishi Payamuddin set up a free order of community kitchen for poor which still exists at Tangmaarg.
Akbar annexed Kashmir in 1586 AD. Kashmir has been under the subjugation of Afghans, Sikhs and Dogras. Now, it's India's turn. History of Kashmir is bound in Shaivite Hinduism. Lal Ded (1320-1392) was a Shaivite woman saint who struggled against orthodoxy. Local sufi order was called as Silsila-e-Rishiyan which consisted of Muslim saints of Kashmir. Sheikh Nuruddin was another saint who believed that Hindus and Muslims should leave peacefully. The famous shrine in Kashmir Charar-e-Sharief is the shrine of this greatest saint of Kashmir. Syncretic traditions were established in Kashmir. Preservation of relics, recitation in chorus, prayer with folded hands. There were many female disciples also. Dahat Bibi had debated with Mir Mohammad Hamadani on "futility of rituals". After the demise of Sheikh Nuruddin, 360 rishis had come to pay their homage. Rishi Latifuddin took non-violence to extremes. Rishi Payamuddin set up a free order of community kitchen for poor which still exists at Tangmaarg.
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