THE HINDU HISTORY OF KASHMIR BY H.H WILSON

Posted by : Utpal Publications Sunday, October 20, 2013

Kashmir has in recent times been the focus of public interest, largely owing to the dispute between India and Pakistan over the question of accession of that state to either of the two countries. This volume embraces the history of that country from the earliest times, based on Kalhana’s Sanskrit work, Rajatarangini. Wilson’s essay is a brief historical resume which comes down to 1003 A.D. R.C Dutt’s Introductory Essay traces its history to the date of the final conquest of India by the Muslims, while Buhler’s paper is a summary of the Report in search of Sanskrit MSS in Kashmir, Rajputana and Central India.

Every great social or religious revolution and historical event which transpired in India has left its impress on the history of Kashmir. Its history has borne its testimony towards fixing the date of the great Kuru war. It helps one to understand how Buddhism was a protest against caste distinction, and a Kshatriya assertion of the equality of all men. It reveals to us how Buddhism was for a time the accepted faith of the kings and peoples of India, and how after the commencement of the Christian era, it began to decline under the renewed exertions of Brahmans to assert their supremacy and revive their old religion. In its history are evidences of the dates of Kalidasa and Bhahabhuti: in it we find allusions to the first Muslim invasion of India under Muhammad bin Kasim: in it we read of that General of Turushkas” “well versed in the tactics of war” the invincible Mahmud of Ghazni, before whom Kashmirian army twice recoiled in dismay and disorder: and lastly, in this history we read of the rising power and kingdom of the Turuskha at the end of 11th century, when Delhi and Kanauj and all Northern India fell under the power of the followers of the prophet.