Kathasatisagar (Folklore of Jammu-Kashmir)

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

About the Book The sole aim of writing this book has been to rekindle the values of Kashmir that has been considered as the cradle of civilisation. The book aims at making the world know about the land of Kashmir that has been a prime contributor in extensively escalating Bharatiya culture across the globe.

The book articulates about the reality of ancient Kashmir where people belonging to different sects lived peacefully and in co-existence. For centuries, education, culture and knowledge has been a matter of reverence and honour that has consequently produced great scientists, scholars and saints and has made Kashmir a melting pot of knowledge and wisdom.

The book brings to light the invasions and forcible conversions that has led to genocide and seven recorded exoduses of Kashmiri Hindus. It also recommends some steps that government needs to take towards the dignified return of Kashmiri Hindus back into their homeland.

Proud children of this land who carry with them the cultural heritage of Kashmir, its spiritual strength, urge for knowledge and search for truth, will be the harbingers of human hope. They will be the torch bearers of respect for elders and teachers, universal love and unlimited hospitality for all beings.

This book is a collection of inspiring cultural folklore of Kashmir.

About the Authors Raj Nehru, the 'Skill Guru' is a well-known name in the field of Skills and Vocational Education. Born on 12 April 1969 in Kashmir, he is an expert in Human Resource Management and Development. He has spent more than two decades in various roles and different organisations, including Indian Army, IBM and Schneider Electric and has worked in many parts of the world. He is the youngest and founding Vice Chancellor of Shri Vishwakarma Skill University, Government of Haryana, the first Skill University of India and 6th in the world. He has also served as the Vice Chancellor of J.C. Bose University of Science & Technology, YMCA, Faridabad. He has been Mission Director of Haryana Skill Development Mission. He is founder of Utsav Foundation that educates and skills underprivileged children from slums. He has undertaken various philanthropic activities and has worked in areas of uttarakhand, Visakhapatnam and Jammu & Kashmir.

Dr. Gariyali, born in Kashmir. educated in Delhi, Sussex and Oxford, is a 1972 batch officer of Indian Administrative Service. She is the first woman to be appointed in India as Secretary to the Governor as well as Secretary to the Chief Minister.

Her parents left Kashmir following Kabaili Hamla, when she was four months old. They kept the love of Kashmir alive in her heart. Devastated with the genocide of 1990, she founded Vitasta Welfare Fund which assists the community.

She has authored 'My beautiful journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari' and 'Kashmir: the land of Kashyapa-The Saga of Kashmiri Pundits'.

Foreword Kashmir has been a seat of Indian Culture from times immemorial. It is one of the earliest kingdoms existing even before the times of Mahabharata. Sri Krishna visited Kashmir and coronated Yashomati, the Queen of Kashmir.

Pandavas visited Kashmir during their agyatvas. There is evidence in Buddhist texts that Gautama Buddha visited Kashmir.

Preface While I was writing my book 'Kashmir-The Land of Kashyapa: The Saga of Kashmiri Pandits, I requested Raj Nehru to write a foreword for my book. I found him to be extremely proud of being a Kashmiri Pandit. At that time, he informed me that he has been gathering many interesting aspects about the culture of the Kashmiri Pandits and has been writing small stories around them as a hobby. I found that both of us were passionate about similar things and cherished our heritage which we do not want to be forgotten. We decided to collaborate to write a book together. This work is the result of our collaboration. It is our tribute to Kashmir, to its loving people, to its ancient heritage and to the great contribution it has made to the society within and outside India.

Acknowledgment We acknowledge using the writings from books and articles of following authors who inspired us to produce this volume.