Kashmiri literature

Kashmiri literature ( _ks. कॉशुर साहित्‍य) has a history of at least 2,500 years, going back to its glory days of Sanskrit. Early names include Patanjali, the author of the "Mahabhashya" commentary on Panini's grammar, suggested by some to have been the same to write the Hindu treatise known as the Yogasutra, and Dridhbala, who revised the Charaka Samhita of Ayurveda.

In medieval times the great Kashmir Valley School of Art, Culture and Philosophy [http://shaivism.net Kashmir Shaivism] arose. Its great masters include Vasugupta (c. 800), Utpala (c. 925), Abhinavagupta and Kshemaraja. In the theory of aesthetics one can list the Anandavardhana and Abhinavagupta. Many generations later, in our modern times, a new lease of life given, to same "school of thought" was given by Swami Lakshman Joo of Ishbher/Gupta Ganga, Srinagar, India.

The use of the Kashmiri language began with the poet Lalleshvari or Lal Ded (14th century), who wrote mystical verses. Another mystic of her time equally revered in Kashmir and popularly known as Nunda Reshi wrote powerful poetry like his senior Lal Ded. Later, came Habba Khatun (16th century) with her "lol" style. Other major names are Rupa Bhavani (1621-1721), Arnimal (d. 1800), Mahmud Gami (1765-1855), Rasul Mir (d. 1870), Paramananda(1791-1864), Maqbool Shah Kralawari (1820-1976). Also the Sufi poets like Shamas Fakir, Wahab Khar, Soch Kral, Samad Mir, and Ahad Zargar. Among modern poets are Ghulam Ahmad Mahjur (1885-1952), Abdul Ahad Azad (1903-1948), and Zinda Kaul (1884-1965).

During 1950s, a number of well educated youth turned to Kashmiri writing, both poetry and prose, and enriched modern Kashmiri writing by leaps and bounds. Among these writers are Dinanath Nadim (1916-1988), Rahman Rahi, Muzaffar Aazim [ http://www.geocities.com/miraazim/] , Ghulam Nabi Firaq, Amin Kamil (1923-) [http://kamil.neabinternational.org] , Ali Mohd Lone, Akhtar Mohiuddin and Sarvanand Kaul 'Premi'. Some later day writers are Hari Krishan Kaul, Majrooh Rashid, Rattanlal Shant, Hirdhey Kaul Bharti, Nazir Jahangir, Moti Lal Kemmu (playwright).

Contemporary Kashmiri literature appears in Sheeraza published by the Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Anhar published by the Kashmirri Department of the Kashmir University, and an independent magazine Neab International Kashmiri Magazine -- http://www.neabinternational.org published from Boston,Vaakh an independent publication and Koshur Samachar.

Writers in Urdu

*Muhammad Iqbal, 1877-1938
*Brij Narayan Chakbast, 1882-1926
*Saadat Hasan Manto, 1912-1955
*Shaikh Abdullah, 1905-1982
*Allama Mustafa Hussain Ansari, 1945-2006

Writers in Hindi

*Amar Nath Kak
*Chandrakanta (author)
*Omkar N. Koul
*Rattan Lal Shant
*Hari Krishen Kaul
*Shashi Shekhar Toshkhani
*Bhushan Lal Koul
*Shiban Krishen Raina
*Swami Lakshman Joo

Writers in English

*Jawaharlal Nehru
*Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
*Krishna Hutheesing
*Gopi Krishna
*Ram Nath Kak
*Nayantara Sahgal
*M.J. Akbar
*Salman Rushdie
*Hari Kunzru
*Lalita Pandit
*Swami Lakshman Joo

ee also

* List of Kashmiri poets
* List of topics on the land and the people of Jammu and Kashmir
* Kashmir Shaivism - philosophy gives Kashmir its soul, God is universal, in all equally.
* Swami Lakshman Joo - last original philosopher of the old school, loved all, teacher of all.
* Kashmiriyat - a socio-cultural ethos of religious harmony and Kashmiri consciousness.
* [http://shehjar.kashmirgroup.com/ Shehjar e-journal] - Online magazine on Kashmir history, literature & politics.