Kashmir : Our heritage | Edited by | Prof. K.L. Kalla | Part 6

Master Zind Koul, Har Gopal Koul, Arnimal,  Bawani Das Kachroo, Mehjoor, and many other preached the message of brotherhood, one idea and one ideal  . Both Hindu and  Muslim schools of sufism glorified our percepts.

So it is a truth, “ men are emigrants from a common origin. They spread out, settled in various zones and developed a living, having  been influenced by natural resources. The races have undergone minor modifications as a result of migrations that exposed them to different environments and led them to adopt different ways of life. So a culture was  born. “ Sir William Jones was a pioneer of Sanskrit studes in the West and credit goes to him for finding the Asiastic Society of Bengal, in 1784. In 1789, he published translation of  “ Shakuntala”  and later the “Code of Manu”. The Kashmir Research Department was founded in the reign of late Maharaja Pratap Singh. The  aim was to carry the study of  research into ancient history, literature, arts and  sciences of the country. The collection of manuscripts was made in this  State and in Banares. By and by, copies of all Kashmirian Sanskrit works were obtained from 1861.

Gradually, it grew into a Research Institute and great scholars like Grierson and Dr. Stein were attached to it. In  1942 this Institute were converted into the Kashmir Research Department. During  Maharaja Ranbir Singh’s rule works in Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic were translated. Dr Stein started making catalogue of  manuscripts in Sanskrit, Tibetan and languages in some monastery – library of Ladakh. Dr. Grieson suggested translation of numerous manuscripts in Kashmir in  1875 Dr. G Bhuler was deputed by Govt. of India to collect manuscript in Kashmir, Rajputana and Central Asia. In Kashmir, he  discovered manuscript named, “Shaiva” He divided these into  two classes of Shaiva Schools “Spanda Shastra” of  Vasugupta and the “ Pratyabhijna Shastra” of  Somanananda and  Upaladeva Mr. J.C. Chatterji,  the Director  was the first to work on this. Since 1942 about  80 volumes have been published. Some of these are (1) “Shiva Sutra Vimirashini” by Vasu Gupta, with commentary of  Khemraj (2) Ancient Hindu Law, named “Anviraprayas Chitta Nibhandha”  (3) History Doctrine of the Advaita, Shaiva “School  of  Kashmir , by  Mr. J.C.Chatterjee, (4) Premarthasra of Abhinavagupta”, (5) Lalleshwari’s “Vakyani” was translated by M.A.Stein, (6) The Hindu Realism, by J.C. Chatterji. (7) The Gilgit Manuscripts was edited by Nilinaksha.

This literature attracted the attention of outside scholars, L.D.Barnett, P.T.Srinivasa Ayengar, K.C.Panday, Rev. Emil Baer, Kurt F Leidecker, J.Dulle. Some local scholars, who worked on this literature were Madhushhan Koul, Harbhatta Shastri, Mukund Ram Shastri, and Kailash Nath Kalla, Nila Kanth Kalla, Nath Ji Kalla, Jaya Lal Saraf (Saint/Singer)


About the editor

Professor Dr. Krishan Lal Kalla (Pandit) has to his credit several books such as “Lalla Rookh, Glorious Heritage”, “Eminent Personalities of Kashmir” among his other works. A Gold Medalist Professor Kalla was associated with University of Jammu & Kashmir and Higher Education Department of vaious Colleges of the Jammu & Kashmir State. He also did research on Indo-logical topics at Sharada Peeth Reseach Institution, Karan Nagar, Srinagar under Dr. R.K. Kaw.

Information Courtesy: Gulshan Books. From the pages of “Kashmir Heritage”

Image Courtesy: Heritage India

Comments (6)
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  • Showkat Shafi

    Very informative indeed. No nation great or small can survive without preserving its heritage And since we have a rich heritage in the form of our art ,culture ,literature ,architecture, folklore etc it is our duty to preserve . Both communities muslim and pundits should join their heads and hearts to make it happen.

  • Ravinder Sus

    Very informative.

    I have read a book ‘Lalla Rookh’ and these heritage preservation is our primary duty.

  • Riyaz A Kokiloo

    Kashmir is the only state after Central Asia, which has been written extensively. It’s culture, art, history, litrature is well documented. Almost all the European travellers, Chinese monks & travellers; its own historians have spoken about its cultural richness, fame and have fascinated people all around the world.

    Some old museums and collection houses around the world possess it’s arti-facts and extensive research is going on about its magnificent past.

    I am proved of myself being born in this enchanting land.

    Riyaz A Kokiloo.

  • Vivek

    Thousand of years before the British empire was established, thousands of years before America was discovered, thousands of years before the Industrial revolution started, thousands of years before the modern day India was established, Kashmir was a thriving place with a glorious civilisation.

    Thousands of years before Jesus Christ was born, thousands of years before Islam was founded, Kashmir had an established, rich civilisation & heritage.

    All Kashmiris need to understand this & take pride in the glorious past of the Kashmiri civilisation

  • Prof. Vinod Taneja

    एक पठनीय व संग्रणीय ग्रंथ

  • Karthikeyan Chidambaram

    One suggestion.
    Mention of religions is better avoided. As religion is alien.
    Introduction of religion, affiliations and recognition was the root cause of some troubles, it will rise up again to destroy at intervals, as it is now.

    We need to go back to what it was originally, purely knowledge and philosophical.