Archive for April, 2012
Who discovered Amarnath ?
By M.M. Munshi It has been clearly documented in history that Amar Nath Shrine has been visited by pilgrims since ancient times including a ruler of Kashmir between 34 BC and 17AD . (Kalhana’s Rajtarangini Book II . Verses 130-141). Narrative of Amarnath Mahatmyas and other related compos
Three Forgotten Tirthas in Shambles
by Arjan Dev Majboor Kashmir has been a place of attraction from centuries. Dr. Raghu Nath Singh who translated Jonaraja's Rajtarangini into Hindi says that there were three hundred famous Tirthas in Kashmir, visited by the locals and pilgrims from India and other Foreign lands. Kalhana, the f
Kaptesvara Tirtha: History and Legend
Dr. R.K. Tamiri Many pilgrimages lose their importance over time. Presently pilgrimmages to the holy cave of Lord Amarnath and the shrine of Tulmulla have the greatest sanctity for Kashmiri Hindus. Visits to Sarada shrine, Harmukta ganga, Bheda tirtha and Papsudana-Kaptesvara spring were highly rev
The Forgotten Tirtha of Gangodbheda
Where Saraswati appeared as Rajhansi By M.M. Munshi According to Kalhana in the three worlds the jewel producing earth is so extolled in the region of Kubera where the Kasyapa’s land (Kasmira) is enclosed by the father of Gauri - the Himal parbat. Where out of respect for Kasyapa the sun do
The sacred shrine of Shiva Vijayeshvara, Bijbehara, Kashmir
By Virendra Bangroo The town of Bijbehara or Vijbror is 28 miles from Srinagar and two and a half miles from district headquarters Anantnag. Vijbhor is derived from Vijayeshwar and was the site of an ancient sacred shrine of Shiva Vijayeshvara. The site was one of the famous tirthas of Kashmir.
Sodaratiratha : Myth, Legend and History
By Dr. Ramesh Kumar Background: For Kashmiri Hindus all the images erected by the sages and all the great lakes in Kashmir are holy. Regular pilgrimages to these places have formed an integral part of their socio-religious history. Naran Nag, located at the foot of steep Butsher mountain leading
Hindu Shrines in the district Pulwama, Kashmir
The origin of civilized society originates in the villages, where people of different identities interact for mutual benefit, self sufficiency and autonomy. All villages outwardly appear to be similar but each has its core a soul which is as distinct as one finger print from the other. There are wha
Bala Devi of Balahama, Srinagar
Isht Devi of Dogra Rulers By Virendra Bangroo INTRODUCTION : Ancient Hindu Shrines in Kashmir are under constant threat of oblivion either due to neglect or destruction. The village Balhama named after the Goddess Bala Devi is thirteen kilometers from Srinagar and is surrounded by the vill
Konsarnag – Myth, Legend and History
Naubandhana Tirtha Dr. R.K. Tamiri It was in summer (July) of 1982 that I visited the enchanting high altitude lake of Konsarnag. A decade and a half later when I drifted into the field of folkloristics and history I ‘discovered’ that in my trek to this beautiful lake I had accomplished the p
Lolab Valley: Shrines and Legends
By Dr. R.K. Tamiri Lolab, one of the most beautiful valleys of Kashmir, is located to the north-east of Srinagar. This valley, 15 miles long and 3 miles wide, is traversed by stream Lahwal, which flows down from the surrounding hills. Lolab has many pasture lands and a rich forest cover. Presentl
Tribal Invasion: An American Reportage
Margaret Bourke-White was a correspondent and photographer with American magazine LIFE. She authored many books, based on her coverage of Africa, England, France, China, Russia, Italy and Germany during the Second World War. Bourke-White also covered tribal invasion of J&K in 1947-48. Her repor
Battle of Shalteng
How Srinagar was saved in 1947 By M. M. Munshi The division of the British administrated provinces as it eventually took place was on the basis of political considerations. Certain areas i. e Eastern part of Bengal, and western part of Punjab which were predominantly Muslim populated were all
The Role of Ichamma Front in Saving Srinagar
By Raman Kumar Bhat The heroic role played by brave people like Major Som Nath Sharma and his fellow soldiers in defending Srinagar airfield in 1947 has received good attention from historians. Unfortunately, the chronicles penned down by military historians do not focus on the supportive role
Saviors of Leh
By M.M. Munshi When Soviet Russia took virtual control of Sinkiang (Xinjiang) in 1935 the British Indian administration came to an agreement with the Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir under which a sixty year lease of GILGIT (which formed part of Jammu & Kashmir State) was executed. The sole
There was enough evidence about Tribal Raid
By A Special Correspondent There is enough evidence to suggest that the J&K government and Government of India had sufficient information about raiders’ invasion before hand. Dr. Atri's revelation: On October 8, 1947 Dr. SK Atri, a leading doctor of Srinagar had been informed by some o
Pt. Amar Nath Muthoo: A Tribute to Grandfather
SKARDU-STORY Pt. Amar Nath Muthoo: A Tribute to Grandfather By Kuldeep Raina PT. AMAR NATH MUTHOO, affectionately called by family members as 'Lala' lived at Bulbul Lankar (Ali Kadal) in downtown Srinagar. He was born to Pt. Damodar Muthoo and Smt. Vishmal. Amar Nath had one brother-Pt.
Pt. Jia Lal Warikoo’s Martyrdom
PANDIT JIA LAL WARIKOO son of Pt. Tika Lal Warikoo lived near CMS Girls School, Fatehkadal, Srinagar. He did his B.Sc. from Punjab University and B.T. from Banaras Hindu University in 1937. Late Sh. D.N. Raina, a renowned teacher and Headmaster of National High School was his classmate. Sh. Jia Lal
How I lived under occupation forces
Muzaffarabad-1947 How I lived under occupation forces By Pt. Bishambar Nath Sapru Bishember Nath Sapru was born in 1917 at Srinagar (Kashmir) to Sh. Govind Ram Sapru and Smt. Umaravati Sapru. He had two brothers - Sh. Sham Lal was elder while Sh. Kashinath was younger to him.The lone sist
Sarda – A Memoir
By Nirmal Kusum Kachru (Translated from Original Hindi by Dr. R.K. Tamiri) Domel: THIS story is about Muzaffarabad, Domel. That day when Papa returned home he looked a little perturbed. Neither did he caress my face nor called 'Jai Ramji', as used to be his daily wont. Straightway,
Kashmiri Pandits – The Last Journey From Sarda
By RKS Shandilya Village Sardi, which houses the holy shrine of Goddess Sharda, is perhaps the most scenic place in 'Kishenganga (Neelam) Valley'. It lies about 20 kms to the north of Muzaffarabad. Till 1974 the village had no motorised transport link with the outside world. Due to its strategic im
Sati Sahni – A Conversation
Shri Sati Sahni is one of the most esteemed members of Journalist profession in J&K. In a career spanning six decades, he has combined high professionalism with deep integrity. As a War Correspondent he holds the rare distinction of covering four major wars--1948, 1962, 1965 and 1971. Sh
Pak Invasion – Looking Back
Sh. Sati Sahni is a Veteran Journalist with an experience of over six decades in the profession. An ace photographer, he is the only working Journalist to have covered all the four wars--1947-1948, 1962,1965 and 1971. In a conversation with Kashmir Sentinel he visited down memorylane to recapture
Kuldeep Rana
Dr. Brij Premi It was a cold Wintery evening, Srinagar was under a thick carpet of snow. The news about the demise of Kuldeep Rana carried by the evening bulletin of Radio Kashmir benumbed me. For a moment I could not reconcile that Kuldeep Rana, a handsome man with fine intellect was no more i
Witness to an Era
By Pt. Radha Krishan Sher Pt. Radha Krishan Sher was a noted Commentator on Kashmir affairs. He lived a principled life and never compromised with official/administrative apathy. The Community's exile had left a indelible mark on his personality. Pt. R.K. Sher was a staunch disciplinarian and a n
My years in Journalism
By Shamboo Nath Gurkha Our family lived in Budhgaer quarter of downtown Srinagar. This locality was a predominantly Pandit locality as were many other parts of the old city. This place was once the seat of power of King Rinchin, a Buddhist fugitive from Ladakh, who ascended the throne of Kashmir in
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