Some Aspects of the Sociai History of the Valley of Kashmir during the period 1846—1947'-Customs and Habits By: lUEblS Miss Farhat Jabeen Thesis Submitted for the award of i Doctor of Philosophy ( PH. D.) Post Graduate Department of History THE: UNIVERSITY OF KASHAIIR ^RXNJf.GA.R -190006 T5240 Thl4 is to certify that the Ph.D. thesis of Miss Far hat JabeiA entitled "Some Aspects of the Social History of tha Valley of Kashnir during the period 1846.-1947— Cus^ms and Habits*• carried out under my supervision embodies the work of the candidate. The research vork is of original nature and has not been submlt-ted for a Ph.D. degree so far« It is also certified that the scholar has put in required I attendance in the Department of History* University of Kashmir, The thesis is in satisfactory literary form and worthy of consideration for a Ph.D. degree* SUPERVISOR '»•*•« $#^$7M7«^;i«$;i^ !• G, R, *** General Records 2. JSdC ••• Jammu and Kashmir 3, C. M, S. ••» Christian Missionary Society 4. Valley ••* The Valley of Kashmir 5. Govt. **i* Government 6, M.S/M.S.S *** ManuscriptAlenuscripts, 7. NOs Number 8, P. Page 9, Ed. ••• Edition, y-itU 10. K.T. *•• Kashmir Today 11. f.n* •••f Foot Note 12» Vol, ••• Volume 13. Rev, •*• Revised 14. ff/f **• VniiosAolio 15, Deptt. *** Department 16. ACC *** Accession 17. Tr, *** Translated 18. Blk *** Bikrand. ^v^s^s ^£!^mmmSSSmSSimSSSmS^lSSmSm^^ ACKNOWL EDGEMENTt This Study was undertaken in the year 1985) December, as a research project for ny Ph.D. programme under the able guidance of Dr. Z. L« Jala# Ex-Reader« Post-graduate Department of History. I owe a deep debt of gratitude to ray respected supervisor under i^ose inspiring guidance and encouragement* I completed ray present work. This work could not have been completed without the help and able guidance which I have received from him. Dr. Jala helped me with his valuable advice and help at every stage of the research work. I am grateful to Dr. A. Q. Rafiqi* Professor and Ex-Head of the Post-rraduate Department of History, University of Kashmir for advice, encouragement and help, I received from him. I am also greatly thankful to Dr. Mitfiamnad Ishaq Khan, Professor and Head of the Post-graduate Department of History, Iteiversity of Kashmir for valuable suggestions and for his kindness to me in all respects. I anvthankful to ny teadiers. Dr. Madhvi Yasin, Dr. Abdul Majid Mattoo, Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Wmi (all Readers of History Department) and Dr. Muhahtaq Ahmad Kaw (Lecturer in the Department of History) for their valuable suggestions and encouragement during my period of research. My thanks are also due to Professor Abdul WSahid, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, who got the period of ray research project extended and thereby spared me a lot of anguish in ray state of depression. • •/• • • —11— I am particularly grateful to Pandit Soranath (Kashntdrl Department, University of Kashmir) for offering me valuable help In translating portions of the Kashmiri source material relevant to ray topic of research. I also express my sincere gratefulness to all the staff members of the Iqbal Library, Walverslty of Kashmir. Here I must meke sreclal mentl(^ of the names of Mr. h, R. Laittoo, (Seminar Library, Post-graduate Department of History) Mr. O. A. Wanl (Librarian of Law Department), and Shri A. K. Trakroa (Research Library)« who extended to me their cooperation and help* I am also thankful to Mr. Qiulam Resool 3hat, for his valuable help he extended to me In translating certain relevant extracts from Persian sources. I also express my deep gratitude to Dr. B.N. Kalla (Central Asian Studies) for his suggestions on various aspects of language. I am specially Indebted to Shrl Motl Lai Saql, (Cultural Academy) for lendlnn me some rare journals and periodicals I owe him more than the language can express. I owe a deep sense of gratlttide to Mr. Mohamned Qaslm Khawaja (K. C. S. Judicial) Sub->Judge for furnishing me information on Shla ceremonies connected with birth, marriage and death. I em also indebted to my co-scholars or fellow researches particularly, Mr. Fayas Ahmad Wanchoo, Mr, Bashlr Ahmad Khan, Mr. Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Mr. Mohd. Qazlm Wanl and Mr. Parveex Ahmad for their valuable suggestions and the discussions I had with them. • •/• • —lii— I should be failing in ray duty if I do not express my gratitude to Shri B. p« Sharma for help and valuable suggestions during no/ stay at Jamntu, Thanks are also due to Shri S. D.KhaJmria^ Mrs, Khajuria and their son Shri Rohit Khajuria for extending me all help end facility at their place* I am also than)cful to Dr. M. L« Kapur« Dr, S, S« Chark and Dr. D. c^ Sharma of Jammu University for their valuable suggestions. I am also thankful to the fol]owing institutions end staff members who helped me in making available the required research material relevant to ioy research project*- I, Research Library, Srinagar (Research and Publication Department), II, The Jammu and Kashmir luformation Library, Srinagar, III, City Central Public Library, Srinagt^r, IV^ S. P, S, Public Library, Srinagar, V, The Jammu and Kashmir State Archives, Jammu, Srinagar, VI« The J&ramu and Kashmir Acadeivy of Art, Culture and Languages, Srinagar, VII. S, P, S, Museum Library, Srinagar, VIII, Ranblr Library, Jammu, IX, Dogra Art Gallery, Jammu, 2 am thankful to Mc^ammad Shafi Zahid (Curator, Dogra Art Gallery, Jarmu), Ayjaz Ahmad Banday (Curator s. P. S, Museum) and Professor M, N, Dulloo for their valuable advice and help in all possible ways. ••/••• —iv— My thanXs are also due to the reethbers of the nOB-~> teaching staff of my Department particularly Mr. Ghulam Muhannad Dar Who qpared no pains In typing out this thesis. Last but not least* I mast record iny feelings of gratitude to my family members, for their unfailing encourage* moit and cooperation In all possible way8« p^3' (FARHXr JABEEN) COWTBHTat gWf NOf Mabronrations tit Aclcnowledgement ••* *•* 1—I3Zr CWtf>fHaf TITLB OF THE CHJ^PTBRt I. I.n.t>r»o-d-u»o*t»l-o-n ••* ••• 1—7 IZ. Physiography and XXI Xt% 5-5*0 Demogrephy ZZZ. Customs and Habits—A Xtt ttt Si-67 general sunrey ZV. Customs of the Hindus(Pandits) $${ Xtt 68-JSS" pretalnlng to blrth«marriage and death V. Customs of Muslims relating Xtt ttt /S6- Z/S to birth«marriage and death VZ« Habits of food« dress* Xtt ttt 2f6--l^8 ornaments and language VIZ. Znteractlon of the Hindus Xtt ttt ^99 - =5^./ (Pandits) and Muslims in respect of customs and habits VZZZ. C-o-n-o-l-Xft-s-i-o-n Xtt ttt 3Z&'3zB *-p-p.e.n-.d-i.o-e-s Xtt ttt 3^9-354 B-i-b-l.i-e-g-r.a-p-h-y Xtt ttt 356*- 3^9 (Introduction) • •• The course of hianait clvlUsatlOB is determined^ to a fairly large extent^ by the gee-0iysical conditions of the regien, Whic^ the people inhabit* The environment influences and regulates the life of man and loids a distinct colour to the cultiire of man. In the course of becoming, civilised man acquires and develops certain customs and habits. These customs anA habits become, with the passage of time, an integral part of his life process regulating his behaviour and attitude* Because of its profound influence on human life, habit has been called "Second Nature? There is a social b^aviour, an economic b^aviour • political b«^avio\ir and a religio-ethical attitude vAiidi men manifest in the respective iields during the course of various operations and activities* This b^aviour constitutes the basis of socio—economic* political and religio—ethical relationship existing between man and man and between one group of mmi and the other* Be it as it may, this b^aviour or attitude in its various aspects is governed by a set of identifiable customs and habits* The greater the antiquity of customs and habits the greater is their grip on the mind of man* However, a note of caution, in this regard, was sounded by Alfred Lord Twmyson in the I9th century in the following llness *01d order diange the yielding place to ne«<, and God fulfils Himself in many ways, lest one good custonnfli should corrx;^t the whole world? The suggestion conveyed in these lines is that there is always need to examine whether or not wa old custom or habit has become too corrx^t and^ therefore, too obsolete to be useful any longer. Customs and habits continue to survive and influance the all round human life inqpite of progress. Obviously, it would not be an exaggeration of the fact to say that the customs and habits are an index \ihldti largely help us to understand the lives of the people, reflecting various behaviours end attitudes. Each people of the world have their own customs and habits. And some of these customs and habits are so peculiar to those people that these tend to become features of their distinction. However, it must be admitted that these customs and habits evolve and grow over a long period of tine. A ntjmber of books have since been written on the History and Culture of Kashmir. But almost all of them have touchy the custwns and habits of the Kashmiris on the perii^ery. As a matter of fact, no serious attempt has been made, so far, to carry oxit an indepth study of the customs and habits of the Kashmiris. Obviously, it will be ray endeavour to deal, at some length, and in a certain depth, with customs and habits of the people of Kashmir.