"Kashmir"- it has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan over the last fifty-nine years. Accusing fingers have been raised at individuals and leaders since 1947. It only shows how little people know about its history, which is the real cause of its current miseries.
Kashmir, the land of 'Neela Nag'--Son of Kashyap Rishi and
his wife Kudru,a supposedly serpant girl, who produced 'half-human and
a half-Snake' children. Incidentally, 'Kashmir' is the name derived from Kashyap
i.e. Kashyap Mar). The beautiful valley of River Vitasha
(Jhelum) has no one to blame but its own history for its current
miseries. If it is now in the center stage of current Indo-Pak face off, it is
the handiwork of its history.
Frankly speaking, since 1820, Kashmir has been under the spell of the curse of its own history. And the cure will also come from its history only. I bet you will dismiss this as a joke. But recorded facts are otherwise. This logic (or truth!) of history of Kashmir was revealed to me, some three years back, by an illiterate Kashmiri guzzar of North Kashmir, when I had gone there to study the Kargil ? 99 Episode. My friend, K****din, was convinced about it and I was stunned by it. And more I read about its history, more I am enamored by the sheer veracity of this logic. Here are some of the key points of my friend, K****din's 'Grand-Cycles-of-Kashmir-History-Theory': -
- Every 780-800 years of Kashmir's recorded history, it has been under the domination of a particular religion. This period of 780-800 years is called Grand Cycle of History.
Frankly speaking, since 1820, Kashmir has been under the spell of the curse of its own history. And the cure will also come from its history only. I bet you will dismiss this as a joke. But recorded facts are otherwise. This logic (or truth!) of history of Kashmir was revealed to me, some three years back, by an illiterate Kashmiri guzzar of North Kashmir, when I had gone there to study the Kargil ? 99 Episode. My friend, K****din, was convinced about it and I was stunned by it. And more I read about its history, more I am enamored by the sheer veracity of this logic. Here are some of the key points of my friend, K****din's 'Grand-Cycles-of-Kashmir-History-Theory': -
- Every 780-800 years of Kashmir's recorded history, it has been under the domination of a particular religion. This period of 780-800 years is called Grand Cycle of History.
- Every Grand Cycle is further subdivided into three sub
Cycles of 265-275 years each.
- First Sub- cycle of each Grand Cycle relates to
emergence, development and progress of a particular
religion.
- Second Sub- Cycle pertains to consolidation and
prosperity of the religion.
- The first two sub cycles of 500-530 years, above, make
the golden period of domination of a religion.
- The third sub cycle leads to decay and degeneration of
the predominant religion and emergence of a new religious
philosophy, which will dominate for other 500-520 years.
- The term ' religious domination' is to be read as 'State
Patronization' of the philosophy of 'Worship and rituals' by
human beings in a particular manner.
Keeping the above in mind, let us have a brief glance at the recorded
history of Kashmir. The best sources are RAJTARANGNI by Kalhan and 'Nilamat
Puran' of 2nd century AD.
'Rajtarangini' begins with the year 1184 BC when Gonanda?I, a 'Shaivite' king was ruling Kashmir. It roughly relates to Mahabharta period. The grand son of Gonanda ? I was Gonanda II who was deposed by one ? Haran Deva ? a brother of 'Janamejya' and Grandson of Arjun (Great Arjun of Mahabharat war). Most western and Indian Historians agree that Mahabharta war took place around 1000-1100 BC, although some Indian scholars put the date around 3000 BC. We will go by the majority opinion.
'Rajtarangini' begins with the year 1184 BC when Gonanda?I, a 'Shaivite' king was ruling Kashmir. It roughly relates to Mahabharta period. The grand son of Gonanda ? I was Gonanda II who was deposed by one ? Haran Deva ? a brother of 'Janamejya' and Grandson of Arjun (Great Arjun of Mahabharat war). Most western and Indian Historians agree that Mahabharta war took place around 1000-1100 BC, although some Indian scholars put the date around 3000 BC. We will go by the majority opinion.
It will be interesting to note, prior to the coming of Aryans
(Worshippers of Lord Vishnu - the Vegetarians), major portion of Northern South
? Asia (Present day India, Pakistan etc) was inhabited by Shaivites (Worshippers
of Lord Shiva - the non Vegetarians). Look at the 'Shiva Temples' spread along
the length and breadth of the sub continent. 'Shaivism' and 'Vaishnavism' were
different temporal philosophies. They were altogether different cults or what
you call religions today. Let us look at them: -
- The 'SHAIVISM' period in Kashmir ended with the deposition of Gonanda? II by Harandeva ? a VAISHNAVITE. This was the end of Ist Grand Cycle of its history. It was around 1050 BC. We do not have any recorded version of history prior to this. There are only mythological tales. But all legends tell us it was the abode of Lord Shiva and his followers were of Naga race. Remember, Prince Takshak, who killed Parikshat- Arjun's son. He was a Naga. It is a different matter Aryan literature dubbed him as a 'Nag' ? a 'Serpant'. - The second grand cycle of Kashmir began around 1030-1050 BC. 'Vaishnavism' dominated it and it ended around 250 BC when great 'Ashoka' came to Kashmir and founded SRI NAGAR in honour of goddess LAXMI (Approximately 800 years). Note, he was a Buddhist king and he established a city in the name of VAISHNAV goddess. It explains that cults (or so called religions of today) had no separate identity. They were intermixing and inter-mingling. - The third grand cycle heralded BUDHISM in Kashmir and ruled the roost between 250 BC to 530 AD. 'Kushan' kings patronized it. 'Kushans' came to Kashmir from China around 260 BC. They were followed by Shakas and Huns. This grand cycle ended with the emergence of Huns (a Chinese tribe), whose first king of Kashmir was MIHIRKULA ? a known tyrant in history (Approximately 780 years). - The fourth grand cycle, which established ' Hinduism', began around 530 AD, when Gopal Ditya, Mihirkula's son, come to throne. It is he, who gave religious recognition to the term 'HINDUISM' as we know it today. Here-to-fore, the term 'Hindu' was used only as a geographical identity for the land East of River Indus. It is pertinent to note the word 'Hindu' has a Persian origin and derived from 'Sindhu'? a Sanskrit word. 'Sindhu' was the name given to River Indus (From Sindhu it became 'Hindu' in Persian and from Hindu it became 'Indus', Indic or Indi in greek). As ancient Persians pronounced 'S' ? as an aspirate 'h', so 'Sindhu' became 'Hindu'. No Vedic literature or religious scriptures mention the word 'Hindu' , whether it is 'Vedas', 'Upanishads' or the great epics. In the written from, first time the word 'Hindu' appears on a tablet dated back to 518 BC when king Darius- I was ruling Persia. He used it to describe the geographical extent of his kingdom upto and beyond River Hindu (or Sindhu or Indus). Anyway, to cut the story short, till Gopalditya became king in Kashmir in 530 AD, the term 'Hindu' had only a geographical identity for the people living East of River Indus. To Gopalditya, these people were a Curious mix of conflicting beliefs and ideologies but with traits of liberal tolerance and peaceful co-existence. He, therefore, saw 'Shaivites', 'Vaishnavites' and 'Buddhists' as a composite mix of a larger philosophy. He termed it as 'Hinduism' and converted himself to it. Thus, it was a Chinese Hun, who gave 'Hinduism' its religious identity as a composite 'Culture of the Way of Living' of people. This Grand cycle of 'Hinduism' flourished between 530 AD to 1325 AD. (Approximately 795 years). It ended when Rinchen Shah, a Tibetan prince, came to power after marrying Rani KOTA DEVI, whose husband had run away when the turks invaded Kashmir in 1324 AD.
- The fifth grand cycle, which brought in ISLAM, began around 1325 AD when Rinchen Shah,the King, converted to Islam as he was snubbed by a Brahmin Mr. Dev swami, who stopped him from converting to Hinduism. An outsider, Gopalditya-a Hun, had initiated the reign of HINDUISM in KASHMIR, but another outsider was prevented and he brought in Islam. Even before this, all famous Buddhist kings of Kashmir had been outsiders- Kushans from china ? such as Jalushka, Haluska and Kanishka. Do not forget Harandeva (A Great Grandson of Arjuna of Mahabharta) ? an Aryan, was an also outsider.
- The golden period of 500 years of Islam in Kashmir was upto 1820 AD - when it was annexed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The third sub-cycle of this grand cycle began around 1820 AD. This sub cycle is of decay and degeneration. If you add other 265- -275 years to the 1820 AD, this grand cycle will close around 2085 to2095 AD. - In other words, by the end of 21st century, the sixth grand cycle will take over. What will be its ingredients? It could be more liberalized 'Secularism' or 'Globalism'. I RECKON BY THEN THE MANKIND WOULD HAVE GOT RID OF RELIGIOUS GRIP AND THE MAN WOULD HAVE ENTERED THE COSMIC AGE. We would have left THREE WAVES of Agriculture, Industrial and InformationKnowledge far behind. The last wave of KNOWLEDGE will drive away religion to the privacy of our homes only. I suppose it will take another90- 100 years for COSMIC MAN to emerge on the scene. Therefore till then, Kashmir pot will keep boiling? History itself will seek answer for the problem which has roots in history. Rests, all of them are mere actors in this drama of history.
- The 'SHAIVISM' period in Kashmir ended with the deposition of Gonanda? II by Harandeva ? a VAISHNAVITE. This was the end of Ist Grand Cycle of its history. It was around 1050 BC. We do not have any recorded version of history prior to this. There are only mythological tales. But all legends tell us it was the abode of Lord Shiva and his followers were of Naga race. Remember, Prince Takshak, who killed Parikshat- Arjun's son. He was a Naga. It is a different matter Aryan literature dubbed him as a 'Nag' ? a 'Serpant'. - The second grand cycle of Kashmir began around 1030-1050 BC. 'Vaishnavism' dominated it and it ended around 250 BC when great 'Ashoka' came to Kashmir and founded SRI NAGAR in honour of goddess LAXMI (Approximately 800 years). Note, he was a Buddhist king and he established a city in the name of VAISHNAV goddess. It explains that cults (or so called religions of today) had no separate identity. They were intermixing and inter-mingling. - The third grand cycle heralded BUDHISM in Kashmir and ruled the roost between 250 BC to 530 AD. 'Kushan' kings patronized it. 'Kushans' came to Kashmir from China around 260 BC. They were followed by Shakas and Huns. This grand cycle ended with the emergence of Huns (a Chinese tribe), whose first king of Kashmir was MIHIRKULA ? a known tyrant in history (Approximately 780 years). - The fourth grand cycle, which established ' Hinduism', began around 530 AD, when Gopal Ditya, Mihirkula's son, come to throne. It is he, who gave religious recognition to the term 'HINDUISM' as we know it today. Here-to-fore, the term 'Hindu' was used only as a geographical identity for the land East of River Indus. It is pertinent to note the word 'Hindu' has a Persian origin and derived from 'Sindhu'? a Sanskrit word. 'Sindhu' was the name given to River Indus (From Sindhu it became 'Hindu' in Persian and from Hindu it became 'Indus', Indic or Indi in greek). As ancient Persians pronounced 'S' ? as an aspirate 'h', so 'Sindhu' became 'Hindu'. No Vedic literature or religious scriptures mention the word 'Hindu' , whether it is 'Vedas', 'Upanishads' or the great epics. In the written from, first time the word 'Hindu' appears on a tablet dated back to 518 BC when king Darius- I was ruling Persia. He used it to describe the geographical extent of his kingdom upto and beyond River Hindu (or Sindhu or Indus). Anyway, to cut the story short, till Gopalditya became king in Kashmir in 530 AD, the term 'Hindu' had only a geographical identity for the people living East of River Indus. To Gopalditya, these people were a Curious mix of conflicting beliefs and ideologies but with traits of liberal tolerance and peaceful co-existence. He, therefore, saw 'Shaivites', 'Vaishnavites' and 'Buddhists' as a composite mix of a larger philosophy. He termed it as 'Hinduism' and converted himself to it. Thus, it was a Chinese Hun, who gave 'Hinduism' its religious identity as a composite 'Culture of the Way of Living' of people. This Grand cycle of 'Hinduism' flourished between 530 AD to 1325 AD. (Approximately 795 years). It ended when Rinchen Shah, a Tibetan prince, came to power after marrying Rani KOTA DEVI, whose husband had run away when the turks invaded Kashmir in 1324 AD.
- The fifth grand cycle, which brought in ISLAM, began around 1325 AD when Rinchen Shah,the King, converted to Islam as he was snubbed by a Brahmin Mr. Dev swami, who stopped him from converting to Hinduism. An outsider, Gopalditya-a Hun, had initiated the reign of HINDUISM in KASHMIR, but another outsider was prevented and he brought in Islam. Even before this, all famous Buddhist kings of Kashmir had been outsiders- Kushans from china ? such as Jalushka, Haluska and Kanishka. Do not forget Harandeva (A Great Grandson of Arjuna of Mahabharta) ? an Aryan, was an also outsider.
- The golden period of 500 years of Islam in Kashmir was upto 1820 AD - when it was annexed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The third sub-cycle of this grand cycle began around 1820 AD. This sub cycle is of decay and degeneration. If you add other 265- -275 years to the 1820 AD, this grand cycle will close around 2085 to2095 AD. - In other words, by the end of 21st century, the sixth grand cycle will take over. What will be its ingredients? It could be more liberalized 'Secularism' or 'Globalism'. I RECKON BY THEN THE MANKIND WOULD HAVE GOT RID OF RELIGIOUS GRIP AND THE MAN WOULD HAVE ENTERED THE COSMIC AGE. We would have left THREE WAVES of Agriculture, Industrial and InformationKnowledge far behind. The last wave of KNOWLEDGE will drive away religion to the privacy of our homes only. I suppose it will take another90- 100 years for COSMIC MAN to emerge on the scene. Therefore till then, Kashmir pot will keep boiling? History itself will seek answer for the problem which has roots in history. Rests, all of them are mere actors in this drama of history.
Having said this much, let me also make two points on the current day
problem of Kashmir. First of all, it is a misnomer to equate Kashmir with the
erstwhile territories of the state of J&K of Maharaja Hari Singh. The
J&K territories of Maharaja Hari Singh comprised six different regions,
which historically, ethnically, geographically and linguistically had nothing in
common except a lose central control of 100 years by the descendants of Raja
Gulab Singh. These regions were Jammu, Laddakh, Kashmir, Baltistan, Dardistan,
and 'Naushehra ? Poonch ? URI ? Mirpur' extension of Western Punjab. While
Jammu, Laddakh and Kashmir valley are with India; Baltistan, Dardistan (both
making Northern areas of Pakistan) and 'Naushehra ? Mirpur' extension of western
Punjab (NOW POK) are with Pakistan. It is misunderstood and lost identity of
other five regions and confused synonym of Kashmir with J&K which is the
cause of problem between India and Pakistan. J&K is not Kashmir but Kashmir
is part of it. To find a solution to this problem, Kashmir must be delinked
from other regions. My second point emerges from this. If India committed
blunders in 1947-1950, so has Pakistan. If only Pakistan had not forced the
hands of Maharaja Hari Singh by sending tribal raiders in Sept 1947, the history
would have been entirely different. This was the biggest blunder of MA Jinnah
who acted on the ill - timed advice of his military advisor, Major General
Akbar Khan (The infamous General Tariq of Tribal Raiders in Kashmir in 1947).
Mountbatten, a so-called friend of India, had ensured that Indian leadership of
the time, remained drowned in its self-created sea of moralities. But Jinnah
lacked patience or time (he was dying of cancer!). However, Jinnah and Nehru
could do nothing about it as 'History of Kashmir' had scripted their roles as
much. Ordained by History, events in Kashmir moved, as it desires. All these
Gilainis, Bhatts, Salahuddins, Yasin Maliks, Javed Mirs, Omar Farouks, Dhars,
Sheikh Abdullahs, are pawns in the hands of the history of Kashmir. Kashmir had
known tyrants (terrorists!) in its history: from 'Jaldevs' in the ancient times
to 'Mihirkulas' in the medieval times. All were outsiders. Today's Salahuddins,
Azhar Masouds, and their elk are the replicas of yesteryears 'Jaldevs' and
'Mihirculas'. History of Kashmir is using the terror groups to move on its
pre-ordained path. Right, Sir, history will find a cure at the right time. Wait
till the end of the century.
One passing remark I will make. Looking
for a solution to Kashmir problem? Are you? Then, India and Pakistan must get
out of the vicious grip of history. In simple terms, 1947 is not 2006 as 2006
will not be 2099. And today's solution is that LOC must be accepted as 'INTERIM
IB'. Leave the rest to future generations. Do they have the courage to do so? If
not, then, keep playing into the hands of history. Simla agreement of 1972;
Lahore Declaration of 1999 saw the vision of such a possibility but it got
scuttled because Nawaz Sharief & CO, realizing this possibility at a future
date, pre-maturely ventured into 'LOC?Nibbling? Act' in Kargil in 1999. His
Kargil misadventure was aimed at occupying important heights in Kargil before
LOC became accepted as IB. Basically, it was to safeguard his Northern
Areas-where a problemof independence is brewing up. But
history outsmarted him through his generals, who enlarged the scope of 'Nibbling
act' to a total misadventure. And it derailed the whole process. History of
Kashmir is too strong to allow anyone to tinker with its well-charted course.
You need men of steel nerves on both sides of the fence to override this
monster. Lawlessness in Kashmir, sir, is a creation of history and it will die
when it would have served its purpose. Till then live with it or make its mother
infertile. It needs men of vision on both sides to understand this alternative
option.
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