Kashmiri Brahmanas

Kashmiri Brahmanas, styled ‘Pandit’ are an ancient Aryan group. Now the descendants of the ancient Pandits are mostly Musalman in Kashmir, but significant Hindu population who continue to believe in the Shaivite religion of their forbearers exist in the former princely state.

These Brahmanas are of Dardic origin, and speak Kashmiri, the best preserved Dardic language. Once entire region from Afghanistan to Jammu and Kashmir used to speak a Dardic language, we know this from the fact all isolated tribes in these regions, unaffected by political and linguistic changes, to this day continue to speak a Dardic language.

Kashmiri Brahamanas produced intellectuals and scholars of great height like Abhinavagupta who brought Kashmiri Shaivism to great stature.

28 Afghan governors, who were independent monarchs for all intents and purposes, (‘mis’)ruled Kashmir for 67 years. End of Afghan rule did help them a bit, but only a bit. Sikhs didn’t take the risk and continue to observe many of the old laws of the Afghans and the Mughals.

The beginning of liberation and local-self-rule under the Dogras started well politically, but had to deal with great economic misfortune because of global crop failure and famine. Throughout the Jammu-Raj period, the condition of all Kashmiris, but specially that of the Kashmiri Brahmana improved. They once again became the leading intellectual classes of not just the princely state, but the entire subcontinent. By the time of Maharajadhiraja Hari Singh, all oppressive rules from the heritage of inheriting a kingdom built around the norms set by the Mughals and the Afghans were long gone.

But destiny had something else in mind. British managed to impose a hard-partition on the sub-continent. Resulting chaos partitioned the state after a bloody civil conflict. The final result of that was by late 80s and early 90s the militancy (which was a result of partition, and then occupation) reached such levels that the Kashmiris Pandits moved to Jammu.

To this day this brave community stand with their brothers from the rest of the state. I am proud of them.