Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 3: Dr R L Bhat’s another book ‘Kashmir Under Shariyat’ hits stands today.
The book was released at a grand function organised by Kashmiri Baradari Zila Kulgam here in the community hall of Ganishibal, at Lower Muthi, which was attended by a huge gathering of writers, intellectuals and prominent people.
Kashmir Under Shariyat is the study of the Islamization and aftermath in Kashmir. Based on the first Persian history of Kashmir, Taariikhi Sayyid Alii, Kashmir Under Shariyat brings to fore the straits and situation in Kashmir under the rule of later Muslim kings.
The function presided over by Justice B L Bhat (Retd) had the germane guidance of the well known educationist Prof O N Koul. Noted scholar, Pradeep Koul Khodbaly introduced the work to the public with his thought provoking paper on the book. He showed that Kashmir Under Shariyat presents the happenings of Kashmir during the two centuries of later Muslim kings from the very horse’s mouth. The work lists the destructions and devastations that took place in Kashmir as told by the first Persian historian of Kashmir. That now, with the exposure of facts that have remained out of the sight of people, there is a pressing need to revisit the told history of Kashmir to remove the misconceptions.
R L Bhat, the author of the book said that the study of Taariikhi Sayyid Alii had sparked the urge to delve deep into the records of Kashmir. He found that the history as it was currently told did not match the actual narration in the earlier records and that the story had been grossly changed.
This led him to read the Sanskrit and Persian histories in the original. That study revealed that the current account of medieval Kashmir is not what is stated in the records of the period, the primary sources. This book was the fruit of that labour conducted with scientific approach. Each and every statement is borne out with full references to the earliest records.
Lauding the effort of the author, the speakers including the historian of Kashmir Padma Shri Prof K N Pandita and professor A N Sadhu said that the exhaustive work of R L Bhat has brought hidden facts of the history of medieval Kashmir to fore.
The function was conducted by well-known writer and poet, Tej Sagar. Dr Roshan Saraf, ex-president Samprati read a poem fitting the occasion. Trustee T N Koul Sevak, poet and activist Kashmiri Baradari Zila Kulgam presented the vote of thanks.
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