Srinagar: A Hub of Religious, Political and Social Activities

By Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam 20 May 2023 Srinagar: Ek Azeem Shahar (Srinagar: A Great City) Authors: Shafi Ahmad Qadri Publisher: Haji Sheikh Ghulam Muhammad & Sons, Srinagar, Kashmir Pages: 460, Price: Rs 895 ----- Every city has its own unique history. How the city was established, how it fared during its existence, and when was it destroyed. There are historians and anthropologists who have dedicated their lives to understand a city and its people. Kashmir has been in news for wrong reasons for several decades. The political turmoil has rendered everything else into oblivion. Very little attention has been paid to other aspects of Kashmir, be it cultural, historical, religious, economic and social. The scholars and historians did engage with other aspects besides political, fearing a backlash from state and non-state actors. So, they indulged in ‘non-controversial’ subjects like Islam in Kashmir. Hence, writing on politics was confined to columnist turned historians and journalists masquerading as political theorists and analysts. Since, last one decade we are a witness to good scholarship being produced about Kashmir. But the unfortunate part of this process is that most of the work produced is academic in its orientation and uses Meta narratives to analyse issues. It makes it cumbersome for a lay common reader to show interest in such works, thus limiting its readership and appeal among the common masses. As informed earlier, that we have simple writers and columnists who are engaging with history. It is indeed a good feat that the void left by the so-called professional historians is being filled by non-professional but good writers. Srinagar, as a hub of religious, political and social activities occupies a centre stage in the Kashmiri milieu. The complex aspects of Srinagar will need several decades and engagement by variegated scholars to unveil its history, politics, economy, religious practices and social life. Late Prof. Ishaq Khan, had written a complete book about History of Srinagar and now Shafi Ahmad Qadri, a reputed writer turned historian has deliberated about different issues of Srinagar. Srinagar till year 1957 was a city comprised of seven bridges. With the expansion this old city now known as Shahr e Khas, is still central to understand the dynamic culture, religious ethos and politics of Kashmir. Kashmir has witnessed its transition from Hinduism to Buddhism, again a transformation to Hinduism with decimation of Buddhism. Further, Islam paved its way to Kashmir, through the active participation of Central Asian Sufis, who travelled to Srinagar mostly staying and creating hospices in Srinagar while travelling to other parts of the Valley. The transition of Kashmir from Hinduism to Islam, was a peaceful process, involving centuries of social activism, tirade against caste system and Jihad against the exploitation of masses and religion by clergy. It is this transition and earlier transitions that made the historian pandit Kalhana state, “Kashmir can never be conquered by military might, but only by spiritual forces.” In this book, Shafi Ahmad Qadri, through various short chapters that can be read independently and do not bore the reader with academic jargon, informs the reader about the genesis of various saints, Sufis, poets, temples, Gurudwaras, markets, scholars and various other influential personalities of Srinagar. The theme of all the essays is weaved around Srinagar. The shrines, hospices, masjids, temples, Gurudwaras and churches are omnipresent in the alleys of Srinagar. Many shrines are dedicated to the non-local Sufis, who propagated Islam in Srinagar, while many depict the presence of local indigenous Sufis and Rishis. Sufism developed an indigenous streak in Kashmir that absorbed the local influences and helped in the spread of Islam in Kashmir. The non-local Sufis did not have such a strong influence, because they did not speak the native language, could not reach beyond a certain elite and did not all settle down in Kashmir permanently. So, the mission of Islam was furthered by Rishis in Kashmir Valley. The shrines of Ghouse ul Azam, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani in Khanyar and Solina of Srinagar, with relics, their procurement, displaying them on specific occasions is documented, so is the case with other shrines that host relics, particularly Hazratbal. Srinagar, has the network of Sufi Silsilas, shrines, hospices and devotees associated with them. Jamia Masjid and Hazratbal shrine has shaped the politics of Kashmir, since last more than few centuries, but quite little has been written about it by our worthy author. Miracles are often attributed to the people of God (Waliullah), so Kashmir has its share of stories of miracles associated with the shrines and Sufis. The story of Srinagar is not just confined to Sufis, but we find a mention about Kings too, whose graves dote different parts of Srinagar. Then, we have details about Patther Masjid, constructed by Queen Noorjahan, but people avoided praying in it for a long period of time, depicting the misogynist and patriarchal mind set of masses. The Ulema and scholars must have popularized the myth that praying in a mosque constructed by a lady, even if she is a Queen is illegitimate, so people followed them, thus avoiding the prayers. Popular graveyards, Shia hospices, Imambaras, important schools, colleges, educational institutions and contribution of Christian missionaries in Srinagar is highlighted too. There still are many Kashmiris, whose castes inform about their non-local origin. Bukharis, Andrabis, Geelanis, Syeds, Kashanis and even our worthy author who is Qadri settled down in Kashmir with the advent of Islam and now constitute the locals. They have contributed a lot to enriching the social, political, religious milieu of Kashmir, while perpetuating and reinforcing the caste system too. They both have and have not assimilated in Kashmir, but do constitute an important part of it. There have been instances when locals have stood up against the outsiders like when Owaisi Saheb, a Sufi was martyred due to political skirmishes, then local Kashmiris realized that outsiders were running everything and even exiled many non-local Sufis and Pir families from Kashmir. The book is quite a good read and informs us about many aspects of Srinagar. It is quite heartening to know that the English version of the book is soon going to be published. We must congratulate both the author and publisher for this important feat. However, the work is not without its flaws. The greatest flaw of this book is the missing references, because this work is historical in its nature and not a creative fiction, where we cannot question the imagination of the author. We do not know, about the sources that Qadri uses to arrive at conclusions. Also, many ill-founded, illogical, unnatural and paranormal incidents are documented in this work. It is a part of the Sufi hagiographies, the aim of which is to create a miraculous aura around the personality of the Sufi by his followers, so as to elevate spiritual status in the eyes of masses. Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom completing whole Quran 300 times daily is sheer exaggeration and wrong (P-64), Mullah Akhoon Shah Badakshi, who was spiritual mentor (Pir) of Prince Dara Shikoh did not sleep for thirty years is interpolation, that should have no place in history writing (P-138). Overall the book is a nice comprehensive read for anyone who intends to be acquainted with the history of Srinagar. ------ M.H.A. Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir. URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/srinagar-religious-political-social/d/129815 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism