Kashmiri people

{{ethnic group| |group=Kashmiri People |image= |caption = Jawaharlal NehruMuhammad IqbalIndira GandhiMohan LalKatrina KaifMahjoor |poptime = 5,600,000 |regions = |region1 = |pop1 = 5,527,698 (2001) |ref1 = |region2 = |pop2 = 105,000-1,500,000 (1993) |ref2 = |region3 = |pop3 =115,000-150,000 |ref3 = |rels=Sunni Islam, Shi'a Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism |langs=Kashmiri Urdu, which is also known as Koshur and hence are classified as a Dardic people.

History

Originally, the Kashmiris were mostly Hindus or Buddhist. Islam was introduced by foreign invaders and Sufi saints from Central Asia, Hazrat Bulbul Shah of Anatolia and Hazrat Shah Hamadan of Hamadan, being the most prominent of them. Prince Rinchin of Ladakh, a Buddhist who was living in Jammu & Kashmir at the time came under the influence of Saint Bulbul Shah and converted to Islam. Later on, after the defeat of the Hindu ruler Suhadeva or suhadave [red giant] by Dulchu, Rinchin became King of Jammu & Kashmir and adopted the name Malik Saduruddin after converting. The Islamic influence on the Kashmiri population resulted in Islamic conversions. A majority of Kashmiri Pandits converted to Islam and became Muslims. However, there are still communities of Hindus and Sikhs living in the Kashmir Valley, the former being known as Kashmiri Pandits. The origin of the Kashmiris according to mythology is from the Rishi Kashyap.

Genetics

Genetically, Kashmiri people are closely related to other Dardic populations but are also very close to neighboring populations like Pashtuns, Punjabis and Sindhis

Kashmiri Pandits

Kashmiri Pandits traditionally refers to people in the Brahmin caste (priests are sub-caste of the Brahmins, thus not all Brahmns are priests) of Hinduism. They are speculated of as being descendants of Saraswat Brahmins, who are mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures as inhabiting the Saraswati River valley, the geographic location of which is unknown. The actual origins of this community and the circumstances of its relocation to the areas that they now inhabit are not fully known. An ancient legend mentions that Parashuram, an avatar of Shiva, is said to have carved the community out of the five sons of Raja Ratten Sen. Saraswat Brahmins are originally from what is today Kashmir, but can also be traced into Punjab and as far as Sindh in southern Pakistan. They were usually skilled in Sanskrit and Hindu law, religion, music or philosophy. They have the earliest recorded history in Kashmir and have also been mentioned in the Mahabharata.

Conversion to Islam

Islam had swayed over vast territories around Kashmir, and the new faith had made its entry gradually into Kashmir. By the 14th century, Islam gradually became the dominant religion in Kashmir Valley, starting with the conversion in 1323 of Rincana, the first king of a new dynasty from Ladakh, at the hands of the famous saint, Bulbul Shah. After conversion to Islam He named Himself as MALIK SADUR-UD-DIN .The First ever Muslim Ruler of Kashmir ,The Muslims and Hindus of Kashmir lived in relative harmony. Other Kashmiri rulers such as Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, were tolerant of all religions in a manner comparable to Akbar. In the late 18th century during the reign of Emperor Alamgir, many converted to Islam. Today, many people are Muslims, although some still practice Hinduism.

Migration

Drought of 1800

During 1800, a massive drought swept across Kashmir, which caused many in the region to migrate out of the Kashmir Valley, and south of the Jehlum River into what the Punjab region. Those who migrated entered mainly into agriculture, and by the 1820s, after the drought passed, many of the Kashmiri immigrants returned to the Kashmir Valley. Some, however, remained in Punjab as they had settled comfortably. Some chose to continue migrating southwards, eventually settling in the old city of Lahore mainly at Delhi gate and Bhatti gate.

Partition

A second migration occurred during partition, and some Muslims from the valley settled in the upper Punjab during the reign of Hira Singh Dogra and during the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh. By 1931, Muslim agitation started against Hari Singh because his policies and reforms were discriminatory against Muslims. The Maharaja intended to exploit the Kashmir issue and was not willing for the state to accede unconditionally to either Pakistan or India. The situation deteriorated in October, 1947 when in Jammu, communal problem began to raise its ugly head and resulted in number of kashmiris fleeing to Pakistan.

Culture

Like other Kashmiri families, the social structure is based on the extended family. However the wider kinship network of biraderi and how it impacts on relations and mobilization is equally important. The extended family is of fundamental importance as a unit of decision making and with respect to the relations of its members with wider society. The institution of biraderi*mdash;which loosely means brotherhood—provides a useful collective framework for promoting mutual well-being. This is achieved through help and co-operation in social, economic and political spheres and it reinforces a sense of belonging and collective self-assurance.

Languages

Those who reside in the Kashmir Valley speak Koshur. Koshur also refers to the culture, which differs greatly from non-Kashmiris in neighbouring Mirpur, Poonch, and Jammu. Members of this tribe who settled in upper and central Punjab from 1800 onwards because of famine and bad social and economic conditions have adopted Punjabi culture, and although now speak Punjabi—but they continue to identify as ethnic Kashmiris.

Ethnic variation as shown by linguistics

as Dardic, Indic and Sino-Tibetan]] The population living in the Valley of Kashmir is Dardic and different in culture, language and ethnic origin from the peoples of Azad Kashmir who although Muslim are ethnic Punjabi/paharis. The people living in Ladakh are primarily Buddhist of Tibetan origins.

References

Further reading

Kashmir Return of Democracy By Yodhishter Kahul, Yudhistar ed Kahol

The Crisis in Kashmir: Portents of War, Hopes of Peace By Šumit Ganguly

See also

Kashmiri Pandits

List of Kashmiris

Category:Dardic peoples Category:Ethnic groups in India Category:Jammu and Kashmir Category:Ethnic groups in Pakistan Category:Social groups of Jammu and Kashmir