Kashmir: Its Cultural Heritage

Kashmir has been for centuries the fountainhead of art and culture in the East. At the cross-roads of the ancient caravan routes in central Asia, Kashmir has been the meeting point of various cultures. In her spacious valleys, she has harmoniously blended their myriad trends to produce a of civilization distinctive of her people and her heritage. But Kashmir is more than a civilization. She is an answer to man’s eternal craving for scenic beauty. It was my great good fortune to have spent several summers in the early years of my life in this picturesque Valley, when I had ample opportunities of trekking far and wide into the interior. This developed in me a deep love and admiration for the lovelier and the happier side of life there. These memories of the early impressionable days were later strengthened by a somewhat detailed and systematic study of Kashmir in all its various phases. This book is an outcome of my admiration and study. The book aims at presenting the lay-reader with a vivid story of Kashmir’s “achievements” in the spheres of art, learning and literature. From Kashmir’s arts, her handicrafts, her traditional lore, her music, her customs and her ideas, I have attempted to seek the pattern of her artistic and cultural heritage. At a time when the question regarding the accession of Kashmir to one of the neighbouring countries has assumed an international significance, this cultural aspect of the Kashmir story should not be allowed to go by default. This little book is an attempt to fill in the gap. If, therefore, by a perusal of this book, the reader is enabled to appreciate and grasp the brighter side of life in this beautiful Valley, I shall feel my labours to have been fully rewarded. Before I close, I take the opportunity of expressing my gratitude to Mr. M. Chalapathi Rau, the reputed Edited of the National Herald of Lucknow, for permitting me to make use of material from some of my articles on Kashmir published earlier in his newspapers. I also wish to thank all those friends and well-wishers who inspired and assisted me in completing this little work.