Pluralistic
spirit in Kashmir
Sir,
Refer to Mr. J L
Koul Jalali's write up "Let Pluralistic
Spirit flower in Kashmir" dated 17th
November 2001.
The learned writer
has missed the role of some leading central Asian
Sufis in forcible proselytisation, harsh
treatment of non-Muslims and promotion of
Islamisation to effect religious changes in
Kashmir. To buttress what I say the writer's
attention is drawn to the standard chronicles of
Zakhiratulmaluk, Tohfatul Ahbab and Baharistani
Shahi by Muslim authors. The rishis of Kashmir
vintage were a lot entirely different from the
sufis of Central Asian brand. If the boundaries
of distinction are not explicitly defined, the
evaluation of cultural moorings as prevalent in
Lalla's historical times will suffer impairment.
The rishis of Kashmir were bed rocked in the
vedic ethos of Kashmir and pursued the ideals of
contemplation, truthfulness, asceticism and self
knowledge. Lalla as a Shaiva Yogini upheld and
disseminated the same ideals at a time when there
was total deluge and Nand Rishi despite lot many
aberrations throve on the preservation of the
same indigenous ethos.
It is a misnomer
that the influx of Central Asian Sufis including
the one the learned writer has named paved the
path for conflation of cultures and
civilisational moves.
Instead it led to
confrontation with the well founded cultural
pattern and world view of indigenous variety. The
vedantic and Buddhist influences on the sufis of
central Asian variety by and large failed to
moderate their views on Kufra and Religious
conversions and their subsequent responses to men
of other faiths and their cultural and
civilisational motifs.
In his doctoral
thesis, 'Sufism in Kashmir, Dr. Qayoom Rafiqi
candidly observes that the sufis in general were
politics oriented and avidly keen to find a niche
in the courts of Sultans and nobles and enjoy
positions of power and panoply. In sharp contrast
to them the Kashmiri rishis permeated with the
spirit of hermitages (ashrams) were quietists,
pacifists and even in spiritual quest and
detested politics as an activity repugnant to a
love affair with God.
Yours etc...
Prof Mohan Lal Koul
Talab Tilloo,
Jammu.
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