Kashmiris

For other uses, see Kashmiri (disambiguation).

Kashmiris are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group speaking the Kashmiri language, living mostly, but not exclusively, in the Kashmir Valley in the portion of the disputed Kashmir region administered by India.

Kashmiris

کٲشِرؠ
A Kashmiri woman with a child in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, c. 2014
Regions with significant populations
India (Jammu and Kashmir)	6,797,587 (2011)*
Pakistan (outside Azad Kashmir)	353,064 (2017)*
Pakistan (Azad Kashmir)	132,450 (as per 1998 census)
Languages
Kashmiri
Religion
Majority: Islam (Sunni majority, Shia minority) Minority: Hinduism, Sikhism
Related ethnic groups
Other Indo-Aryan peoples
*The population figures are only for the number of speakers of the Kashmiri language. May not include ethnic Kashmiris who no longer speak the Kashmiri language.

History

Main article: History of Kashmir

For the 1954–2019 history, see Jammu and Kashmir (state) § History.

Earliest Neolithic sites in Kashmir valley are from c. 3000 BCE. Most important sites are at Burzahom. During the later Vedic period, the Uttara–Kurus settled in Kashmir. In 326 BCE, Abisares, the king of Kashmir, aided Porus against Alexander the Great in the Battle of Hydaspes. After the battle, Abhisares submitted to Alexander by sending him treasure and elephants.

During the reign of Ashoka (304–232 BCE), Kashmir became part of the Maurya Empire and the city of Srinagari (Srinagar) were built. Kanishka (127–151 CE), an emperor of the Kushan dynasty, conquered Kashmir. In the eighth century, during the rule of Karkota Empire, Kashmir grew as an imperial power. Lalitaditya Muktapida defeated Yashovarman of Kanyakubja and conquered eastern kingdoms of Magadha, Kamarupa, Gauda, and Kalinga. He defeated Arabs at Sindh. The Utpala dynasty founded by Avantivarman followed the Karkotas. Queen Didda, who descended from the Hindu Shahis of Udabhandapura on her mother's side, took over as the ruler in second half of the 10th century. After her death in 1003 CE, Lohara dynasty ruled the region.

In 1339, Shah Mir became the ruler of Kashmir, establishing the Shah Mir dynasty. During the rule of Shah Mir dynasty Islam spread in Kashmir. From 1586 to 1751, Mughal Empire ruled the Kashmir. Afghan Durrani Empire, ruled from 1747 until 1819. The Sikhs, under Ranjit Singh, annexed Kashmir in 1819. In 1846, after the First Anglo-Sikh War, the Treaty of Lahore was signed and upon the purchase of the region from the British under the Treaty of Amritsar, the Raja of Jammu, Gulab Singh, became the ruler of Kashmir. The rule of Dogra dynasty, under the British Crown, lasted until 1947, when the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir became part of India. It is now a disputed territory, administered by three countries: India, Pakistan, and the People's Republic of China.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Kashmir

Language

Main articles: Kashmiri literature and Kashmiri language

See also: Sharda script

(left)An example of early Sharada script, in the Bakhshali manuscript; (right) Stone Slab in Verinag in Perso-Arabic script

Kashmiri is spoken primarily in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir. Although the language originates from Sanskrit it received a great deal of Persian influence during the Afghan and Persian rule evident in the language spoken today. According to many linguists, the Kashmiri language is a northwest Dardic language of the Indo-Aryan family, descending from Middle Indo-Aryan languages. The label "Dardic" indicates a geographical label for the languages spoken in the northwest mountain regions, not a linguistic label. UCLA estimates the number of speakers as being around 4.4 million, with a preponderance in the Kashmir Valley, whereas the 2001 census of India records over 5.5 million speakers. According to the 1998 Census there were 132,450 Kashmiri speakers in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. According to Professor Khawaja Abdul Rehman the Kashmiri language is on the verge of dying out in the Neelum Valley.

Kashmiri is believed to be the only one among the Dardic languages that has a written literature. Kashmiri literature dates back to over 750 years, comparable to that of most modern languages. Some modern Kashmiri poets and writers are Mehjoor and Abdul Ahad Azad.

Music

Main article: Music of Jammu and Kashmir § Kashmir

Some traditional music of Kashmir are Chakri, Henzae, Ladishah. Rouf is a traditional dance form usually performed by women on occasions like marriage and functions.

Cuisine

Main article: Kashmiri cuisine

Rice is the staple food of Kashmir. Meat and rice are the popular food item in Kashmir.

Noon Chai or Sheer Chai and Kahwah or Kehew are beverages of Kashmir. The Kashmir is also known for its bakery tradition. sheermal, baqerkhayn (puff pastry), lavas (unleavened bread) and kulcha are popular.

Kashmiri Samovar and Noon Chai

Rogan Josh

See also

• List of Kashmiris
• Kashmiri diaspora
• Kashmiri Hindus
• Kashmiri Shaikh
• Kashmiriyat
• 1931 Kashmir agitation
• 1941 Census of Jammu and Kashmir
• Kashmir conflict
• All Parties Hurriyat Conference
• Elections in Jammu and Kashmir
• Theory of Kashmiri descent from lost tribes of Israel

Bibliography

Encyclopedia

• Amin, Tahir; Schofield, Victoria (2009), "Kashmir", in John L. Esposito (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Islamic World, ISBN 9780195305135
• Khan, Nyla Ali. Kashmir. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Islam and Women.
• West, Barbara (2010), Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania, ISBN 9781438119137

Scholarly books

• Ames, Frank (1986). The Kashmir shawl and its Indo-French influence. Antique Collectors' Club. ISBN 9780907462620.
• Bhat, M. Ashraf (2017), The Changing Language Roles and Linguistic Identities of the Kashmiri Speech Community, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, ISBN 978-1-4438-6260-8
• Bose, Sumantra (2013), Transforming India, Harvard University Press, ISBN 978-0-674-72819-6
• Brower, Barbara; Johnston, Barbara Rose (2016). Disappearing Peoples?: Indigenous Groups and Ethnic Minorities in South and Central Asia. Routledge. ISBN 9781315430393.
• C. Baron V. Hugel, Annotated By D.C. Sharma (1984). Kashmir Under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors Pvt Ltd. ISBN 9788171560943.
• Chowdhary, Rekha (2015), Jammu and Kashmir: Politics of Identity and Separatism, Routledge, ISBN 978-1-317-41405-6
• Chen, Yu-Wen; Shih, Chih-Yu (2016), Borderland Politics in Northern India, Routledge, ISBN 9781317605171
• Drace-Francis, Alex, European Identity: A Historical Readered. European Identity: a historical reader.] Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.
• Fahim, Farukh (2011), "Centuries' Subjugation Kicks off a Bitter Struggle", in Harsh Dobhal (ed.), Writings on Human Rights, Law, and Society in India: A Combat Law Anthology : Selections from Combat Law, 2002–2010, New Delhi: Human Rights Law Network/Socio Legal Information Centre, pp. 258–264, ISBN 9788189479787
• Hangloo, Rattan Lal (2000), The State in Medieval Kashmir, Manohar, ISBN 978-81-7304-251-5
• Jalal, Ayesha (2002), Self and Sovereignty: Individual and Community in South Asian Islam Since 1850, Routledge, ISBN 978-1-134-59937-0
• Rai, Mridu (2004), Hindu Rulers, Muslim Subjects: Islam, Rights, and the History of Kashmir, C. Hurst & Co, ISBN 1850656614
• Schofield, Victoria (2000), Kashmir in Conflict, London and New York: I. B. Taurus & Co, ISBN 9781860648984
• Schofield, Victoria (2010), Kashmir in Conflict: India, Pakistan and the Unending War, I.B.Tauris, ISBN 978-0-85773-078-7
• Sevea, Iqbal Singh (2012), The Political Philosophy of Muhammad Iqbal: Islam and Nationalism in Late Colonial India, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 9781139536394
• Snedden, Christopher (2015), Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-1-84904-342-7
• Watt, George (2014). A Dictionary of the Economic Products of India, Part 2. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781108068796.
• Zutshi, Chitralekha (2004), Languages of Belonging: Islam, Regional Identity, and the Making of Kashmir, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, ISBN 978-1-85065-700-2

Books

• Bamzai, P. N. K. (1994), Culture and Political History of Kashmir: Ancient Kashmir, M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd., ISBN 978-81-85880-31-0
• Bamzai, Prithivi Nath Kaul (1994), Culture and Political History of Kashmir: Medieval Kashmir, M.D. Publications, ISBN 978-81-85880-33-4
• Bakshi, S. R. (1997), Kashmir Through Ages, Volume 2: Kashmir - Valley and its Culture, Sarup & Sons, ISBN 978-81-85431-71-0
• Bhandari, Mohan C. (2006), Solving Kashmir, Lancer Publishers, ISBN 978-81-7062-125-6
• Chatterjee, Suhas (1998), Indian Civilization And Culture, M.D. Publications, ISBN 978-81-7533-083-2
• Dar, P Krishna (2000). Kashmiri Cooking. Penguin UK. ISBN 9789351181699.
• Green, Peter (1970), Alexander of Macedon: 356-323 B.c. : a Historical Biography, University of California Press, ISBN 978-0-520-07166-7
• Heckel, Waldemar (2003), The Wars of Alexander the Great 336–323 BC, Taylor & Francis, ISBN 978-0-203-49959-7
• Kaw, M.K. (2001), Kashmiri Pandits: Looking to the Future, APH Publishing, ISBN 9788176482363
• Kaw, M. K. (2004), Kashmir and its People: Studies in the evolution of Kashmiri society, Volume 4 of KECSS research series: Culture and heritage of Kashmir, APH Publishing, p. 90, ISBN 978-81-7648-537-1
• Khan, Iqtidar Alam (2008), Historical Dictionary of Medieval India, Scarecrow Press, ISBN 978-0-8108-5503-8
• Madison Books; Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC; Corby Kummer (1 November 2007). 1001 Foods To Die For. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7407-7043-2.
• Hāṇḍā, Omacanda (1998), Textiles, Costumes, and Ornaments of the Western Himalaya, Indus Publishing, ISBN 978-81-7387-076-7
• Kennedy, Kenneth A. R. (2000), God-Apes and Fossil Men: Paleoanthropology of South Asia, University of Michigan Press, ISBN 978-0-472-11013-1
• Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra (1977), Ancient India, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4
• Parashar, Parmanand (2004), Kashmir The Paradise Of Asia, Sarup & Sons, ISBN 978-81-7625-518-9
• Rafiabadi, Hamid Naseem (2003), World Religions and Islam: A Critical Study, Part 2, Sarup & Sons, ISBN 9788176254144
• Rafiabadi, Hamid Naseem (2005), Saints and Saviours of Islam, Sarup & Sons, ISBN 978-81-7625-555-4
• Rapson, Edward James (1955), The Cambridge History of India, Cambridge University Press, GGKEY:FP2CEFT2WJH
• Janet Rizvi (2001), Trans-Himalayan Caravans: Merchant Princes and Peasant Traders in Ladakh, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-565817-0
• Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1988), Age of the Nandas And Mauryas, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-81-208-0466-1
• Sharma, Subhra (1985), Life in the Upanishads, Abhinav Publications, ISBN 978-81-7017-202-4
• Singh, Upinder (2008), A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century, Pearson Education India, ISBN 978-81-317-1120-0
• Wink, André (1991), Al-Hind, the Making of the Indo-Islamic World, BRILL, ISBN 978-90-04-09509-0
• Solomon H. Katz; William Woys Weaver (2003). Encyclopedia of Food and Culture: Food production to Nuts. Scribner. ISBN 978-0-684-80566-5.
• The Panjab Past and Present. Department of Punjab Historical Studies, Punjabi University. 1993. p. 22.

Journal articles

• Bhasin, M.K.; Nag, Shampa (2002). "A Demographic Profile of the People of Jammu and Kashmir"(PDF). Journal of Human Ecology
• Downie, J.M.; Tashi, T.; Lorenzo, F.R.; Feusier, J.E.; Mir, H.; Prchal, J.T. (2016), "A Genome-Wide Search for Greek and Jewish Admixture in the Kashmiri Population", PLOS ONE, 11 (8): e0160614, Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1160614D, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160614, PMC 4973929, PMID 27490348
• Journal of History. Department of History, Jadavpur University. 1981. p. 76.
• The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India, Volume 52. The Survey.
• The quarterly journal of the Mythic society (Bangalore)., Volume 96. The Society.

Primary sources

• Lawrence, Sir Walter Roper (1895), The Valley of Kashmir, Asian Educational Services, ISBN 978-81-206-1630-1
• Mohamed, C K. Census of India, 1921. Vol. XXII: Kashmir. Part I: Report.
• Proceedings – Indian History Congress, Volume 63. Indian History Congress. 2003.
• Punjab Census Report 17 Feb 1881. 1883.
• Ram, Anant; Raina, Hira Nand (1933). Census of India, 1931. Vol. XXIV: Jammu and Kashmir State. Part II: Imperial and State Tables.
• Sir George Watt (1903). Indian Art at Delhi 1903: Being the Official Catalogue of the Delhi Exhibition 1902–1903. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 978-81-208-0278-0.

External links

Media related to Kashmiri people at Wikimedia Commons