Book challenging Kashmir’s fictional Hindu histories released

• Ahmad’s book debunks works of Kalhana, Jonaraja and Srivara
• ‘It’s about the oppressive ruling class and the oppressed ones’

‘Kashmir: Exposing the Myth Behind the Narrative’, a book by author, poet and former bureaucrat, Khalid Bashir Ahmad that challenges Rajatarangini and Kashmir’s fictional and mythological Hindu histories by historians like Kalhana, Jonaraja and Srivara and lays bare how they had blacked out militant Hinduism that wiped out Buddhism form Kashmir from their histories was released here Thursday.
The 387-page book published by Sage was released at a function organised by ‘Pen Wielders’ at S P College auditorium.
Prof. Rafiqi, who was the chief guest at the function, said Ahmad’s book had provided historians with new angles to ponder upon.
In his address, he said cultural wars were being fought in the media, surcharging the already hostile atmosphere.
“India has suffered whenever its diversities had been suppressed,” he said. “Ahmad has taken a lead in record and writing the history that many needed to know and there is a similar need for such oral and folk histories.”
Divided into nine chapters, Aborgines, Mind’s Eye, Malice, Power, Blood, Agitation, Migration, Homeland and Media, Ahmad has dedicated the book to the people of Kashmir.
Earlier, in his introductory address, senior journalist, Mohammad Sayeed Malik said Ahmad had made a painstaking effort to compile the book that is a first of its kind on Kashmir history.
Referring to the author’s contribution in bringing out a narrative that had been lost, Malik said the book is gives voice to the narrative that had become unheard in the barrage of other narratives.
Ahmad has also authored ‘Jhelum: The River through My Backyard.’
His two works in Urdu poetry and prose have won the highest State literary award in 1984 and 2010.
Reviewing Ahmad’s book, senior journalist, Naseer Ahmad Ganai said it was not about Kashmiri Pandits or exposing their claim of being persecuted by Muslims for centuries but about the oppressive ruling class and the oppressed ones.
He said the book teaches the reader to safeguard against falling prey to the mind’s eye of history.
“One lesson that we can learn from Ahmad’s book is that the art of governance has not changed and the pattern of narrative has not changed,” Ganai, who works for Outlook news magazine said, relating Kashmir’s history of centuries to the present day.
Ahmad, an author, poet and a former Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) officer held the position of Director Information and Public Relations and also as Secretary J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.
He also headed the departments of Libraries and Research, and Archives, Archeology and Museums.
In his review of Ahmad’s book, senior journalist, Tariq Bhat said Ahmad’s book had debunked the history on which generations of people of Kashmir had developed.
“The book exposes the myths that had been perpetuated over the years in Kashmir,” said Bhat, who works for The Week.
The speakers praised the book and termed it as a resourceful compilation of history that had as the title of the book suggests exposed the myths behind the narratives disseminated over the years by Hindu historians like Kalhana, Jonaraja and Srivara.
Author and academician, Shahnaz Bashir termed the book the first history book in Kashmir with standardized historiography.
“This the most compelling and important history of this century in Kashmir,” said Bashir who teaches at the Central University of Kashmir and has authored two books Half Mother and Scattered Souls.
The programme was attended by a cross section of society including journalists, lawyers, academicians, rights activists, and civil society members.
Veteran journalist of the BBC fame, Yusuf Jameel who conducted the proceedings of the programme presented the vote of thanks.
The event organisers, ‘Pen Wielders’ were represented by Jameel, Editor of Urdu daily Afaaq, Morifat Qadri and former Station Director, Doordarshan Kendra, Srinagar, Shabir Mujahid.