Kashmir Scan 05 | Page 35

nongovernmental organization had

younger generation in the dock for

who have immensely contributed to

come up with a survey indicating

its ignorance?

all branches of Sanskrit literature

that the new generation of Kashmir

Like many other important civiknows

and learning. Notwithstanding

little about monuments,

lizations, we have also had a great

Kashmiri scholarship suffering a

shrines and cultural landmarks in the

past ' woven in the mosaic of myths

setback for about two centuries that

old Srinagar city. Truly old Srinagar

and legends; romances and sagas.'

are seen as a black spot in the history

city has been a ' cauldron of tradi-

Our history is brimful with tales of

of the land, in fourteenth century“ Istions

that changed the socio-cultural

chivalry and stories of triumphs and

lam inaugurated a reign of intellec-

spectrum of the beautiful country

tragedies. Some ancient archeologiand

tual liberty.” To quote G. M. D. Sufi,

gave Kashmir its own identity.'

cal sites and

scribbling

on sills

' the close interaction Kashmir with

It is true, during the period of the Sul-

and etchings and drawings on the

the Central Asia opened up new vis-

tans it was known for number of uni-

terracotta tiles excavated at Kutabul

tas of knowledge and wisdom.

versities and seminaries it was

Anantnag suggest that the tradition

“ Samarqand was resplendent with

known as great seat of learning and

of writing in Kashmir society is very

glories of arts and science then

attracted scholars and students from

ancient. It has been with this rich

known to the civilized world. Kash-

distant lands of Persia, Central Asia

tradition that the writing and reading

mir drank at this fountain and there-

and Arabia. For hundreds of years it

found their mediums on birch bark,

after acquired the fame as home of

has been abode of great mystics, po-

hides, slates, stones, wooden planks.

Islamic learning ' s”. It was a golden

ets and scholars. Minarets of hos-

For its scholarship and learning ' s

period for scholars of this land. Not

pice, shrines and ruins of some uni-

Kashmir had distinctive place not

only that paper industry flourished

versity do it place of distinction. Hav-

only in South Asia but also in whole

but because of closer interactions of

ing been an epicenter of resistance

of Asia and beyond. Scholars from

Kashmir scholars with men of letters

against many alien rulers and des-

distant land trekked their way to this

from the Central Asia opened up

peradoes it has a important place in

land for acquiring knowledge and

new avenues of learning and many

the contemporary history of Kash-

wisdom in various universities durmir

great books were produced during

. It is a case in point why com-

ing all the three periods of its history

this period. Most of the literature pro-

pared to elderly generation our youn-

Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim. In the

duced during the period was in Perger

generation is ignorant about his-

words of Prem Nath Bazaz,

' The

sian language.

tory and culture of the land. More

intellectual labor of Kashmiri think-

The treasures of classical literathan

literature, oral history intro-

ers in the early age ' was not confined

ture of Kashmir in Sanskrit and Perduced

our generation to culture, tra-

to the spheres of philosophy and reli-

sian that would introduce the younditions

and social ethos of the land. It

gion only. They wrote on number of

ger generation to the rich traditions

also is a moot point

how this igno-

subjects.” He names many scholars

and culture of the land are not availrance

has been affecting their intel-

from Bhim Bhatta og eight century

able to them. Hardly any youth of

lectual growth. Is it right to put the

to Soma Deva ' of eleventh century

today has even heard of the twelfth