The community of Kashmiri Pandits (Kashmiri Brahmins) is again facing an arduous situation as far as their survival is concerned. This is a phenomenon which has became a hallmark of this microscopic community. As this community has shown a tremendous resilience to survive against heavy odds in the past, I am confident that we as a community will also overcome this challenge which has been thrown to us by the upsurge of Islamic fundamentalism in the Valley of Kashmir. Also in my opinion there could not be a more appropriate time to highlight the contributions of this community towards our great country Bharat.

First of all let us discuss scientifically as to the origin of the Kashmiri Pandits since there is much speculation pertaining to this. Moreover, this is not in the least as ravel a subject as it has been made out to be. The earliest proven existence of Homo sapiens in Kashmir is from the Neolithic age, though some evidence has been found in the Shopian Tehsil for the existence of man from the Upper Paleolithic period. A Neolithic settlement which has been discovered in Burzahom has amongst other things human skeletons. These skeletons have a corporeal resemblance to the skeletons of a significant portion of the contemporary Kashmiri population. On the basis of Carbon-14 dating, the Neolithic phase of Burzahom has been dated to a period between 2,300-1500 B.C.

This finding is of great significance as this puts to rest the Aryan invasion theory of not only Kashmir but the whole of India. Also several lay persons (have quite erroneously) referred to the Kashmiris as a lost tribe of Israel.  Nothing could be further from the truth. These people drew their conclusions mainly because they came across names in Kashmir such as Daud (David), Sulaeman (Solomon) etc.  As is well known that these Jewish names are common in Islam too because Prophet Mohammad accepted the Jewish prophets. Moreover, Kalhana's Rajataringini (written during the reign of King Jayasimha which lasted from 1128-1155 A.D.) the main source of credible and old documented history of Kashmir makes no mention of any Semitic religions or Semitic names or languages occurring in Hindu or Buddhist Kashmir. For example only Aryan names such as Aryaraja (king of the Aryans) are mentioned in the Rajataringini.

The first mention of the Jews in Kashmir is by the great Muslim scholar and scientist from Khiva, namely Abu-Al-Rayhan Muhamnmad Ibn Ahmad Al-Biruni (b. 973, d. 1048 A.D.). He mentions, "The inhabitants of Kashmir are pedestrians, they have no riding animals nor elephants. The noble among them ride in palankins called Katt carried on the shoulders of men. They are particularly anxious about the strength of their country, and therefore take always much care to keep a strong hold upon the entrances and roads leading in to it. In consequence it is very difficult to have commerce with them. In former times they used to allow one or two foreigners to enter the country, particularly Jews, but at present they do not allow any Hindu (i.e the Indians) whom they do not know personally to enter, much less other people". During this period as is well known Kashmir was ruled by Hindu kings. It can actually be safely concluded that along with the Drok-pas of Ladakh, the Zoroastrians of India, Kirman and Yezd in Iran, the Kashmiri Pandit is probably the purest representative of the Aryan Race. 

Moreover, with the advent of Islam in Kashmir many overzealous Islamic (though by large Islam is not only a great religion but also preaches a scientific and objective approach to life) scholars and preachers attempted to Semitize Aryan Kashmiris not only religiously but also culturally. It was speculated that great prophets such as Solomon, Issa (Jesus), etc.  had mysteriously visited Kashmir. In addition the region of Sankaracharya Hill (where the famous and ancient Sankaracharya Temple is situated) was subsequently given the name of Takht-e-Solomon (Throne of Solomon). The names of numerous other places were also Semitized.  For example,  Vrahamulla (the molar of the boar in Sanskrit) became Baramulla.  To add to it all the traveler from Russia namely, Nicolas Notovitc (http://www.tombofjesus.com/wiki/index.php?title=Nicholas_Notovitch) carefully planted a story of Jesus visiting India.  Even a later than 14th century A.D. grave of a Muslim in Kashmir has been referred to that of Jesus!  In addition, many fabricated manuscripts have been planted from time to time to push the false theory that people such as Solomon, Jesus, etc. visited Kashmir.
 
The truth of the matter is that the majority of Kashmiris are of Aryan stock and follow a Semitic religion Islam. In a similar manner the majority of the Iranians also belong to the Aryan stock,  yet also follow a Semitic religion Islam.  Moreover, neither does the Old Testament, the New Testament, nor Indian Scriptures, nor the Rajataringini (the credible history of ancient Kashmir) inform us about the movement of these distinguished Semitic  prophets into Kashmir and other regions of India.   In addition  the people of the Vale (Kashmir Valley) have never been referred to as Dards in any ancient text. The Rajataringini has several references pertaining to the Dards.  However, like the Kashmiris the Dards are of Aryan stock too.  The Dards have been neighbours of the Kashmiris. Thus all this false data is being pushed for a long term political agenda of certain elements.  

Moreover, experts such as Monier-Williams, Grierson, Leitner, Turner etc., were convinced that the Kashmiri Pandits are the purest representative of the Aryan race.  In fact Hargopal Koul (one of the leaders of the Kashmiri Pundits) writing in 1883 A.D., referred to his community as the first of the Aryans as the most ancient and purest of blood. In addition the father of comparative philology Adelung suggested in 1889 A.D. that the Vale Of Kashmir was the original home of the Aryans.

This makes sense as most experts agree that the Aryan migration was westward and not eastward. In fact it might be interesting to mention (though this may not have any direct relevance to this article) that modern genetic analysis has revealed beyond doubt that the European people are specifically related to a significant portion of the Indian population.  Interestingly these genetic similarities between Indians and Europeans exist also in specific South Indian castes.

The contribution of Kashmiri Pandits in various areas of learning since ancient times is fortunately well documented. Apart from having creative people, the natural beauty of Kashmir has been a great stimulus for learning. Kashmir has often been referred to as Sardapitta (seat of the goddess of learning). Al-Beruni also informs us that Kashmir was a center of Hindu learning. In fact the great philosopher and saint Sankaracharya (b. 788, d. 820 A.D) is known to have prostrated himself in the Chakreshwari Temple at the Hari Parbat and declared that the Kashmiri Brahmins were great scholars and their philosophy was of the highest order.

While it is impossible for me to discuss the contributions of Kashmiri Pandits in various disciplines in detail in this article, however, few examples should clearly make evident the genius of the Kashmiri intellect. It must be remembered that all the school of poetics, viz Alankara, Riti, Rasa and Dhvani, originated and developed in Kashmir. The well known poets Ksemendra, Bilhana etc. were Kashmiris. Many experts are of the opinion that the great poet Kalidass was a Kashmiri. This poet was a known worshipper of Shiva and also often mentioned mountains in his poetry. Also the famous poet Udbhata according to Kalhana embellished the court of King Jayapida who reigned from 748-782 A.D. Moreover Damodaragupta a Kashmiri created an intellectual detonation by composing the sophisticated pornographical work Kuttanimata. The great Patanjali who authored the Mahabhasya and also the great grammarian Pannini were Kashmiris. According to the famous expert Prof. Sylvan Levi both Charaka and Koka Pandit were Kashmiris. Caraka the great physician authored the Carakasamhita while the great sexologist Koka Pandit was the originator of Kokasatra. His work on psychological and other sexual problems predated the work of Masters and Johnson by several centuries.

Kashmir has also been a great center of Hinduism namely Shaivism. In fact some of the greatest Shaiva scholars such as Vasugupta, Somananda, Bhaskara, etc., were Kashmiris. In the contemporary period this tradition was maintained by scholars such as Swami Lakhsmanji. Swami Lakhsmanji traced his lineage from none other than the great Shaiva polymath Abhinavagupta who lived in the 10-11th century A.D. Kashmir. Swami Lakhsmanji passed away in 1991.

It might surprise many a amateur person to realize that the history of the Kashmiri Brahmins is significantly linked to the Sikh history. During the governership of Iftikar Khan (1672-1675 A.D.) in the reign of Aurangzeb the Kashmiri Brahmins were treated in a harsh manner. Aurangzeb was convinced that if he could convert the Brahmins of Kashmir, Varanasi, Prayag, Hardwar etc., to Islam the conversion of the rest of the people of India would be a trivial task. According to the famous expert on Sikhs Max Arthur Macauliffe, "The experiment of conversion was first tried in Kashmir. There were two reasons for this. In the first place, the Kashmiri Pandits were supposed to be educated, and it was thought, if they were converted, the inhabitants of Hindustan would readily follow their example. Secondly, Peshawar and Kabul, Muhammadan countries , were near, and if the Kashmiris offered any resistance to their conversion, the Muhammadans might declare a religious war and overpower and destroy them".  Like everything else the thinking of Aurangzeb was simple and practical on this subject. Iftikar Khan being a fanatic Muslim himself was more than delighted to have been selected for this purpose. He used the method of persuasion coupled with the might of the sword for the conversion of Kashmiri Pandits.

The Kashmiri Brahmins were initially alarmed and decided to meet Guru Teg Bahadur and explain to him their situation. Luckily for the Brahmins of Kashmir Pandit Kripa Ram of Mattan of the Bharadwaj Gotra was a friend of Guru Teg Bahadur as the former had been a teacher of Govind Rai (later Guru Govind Singh). This made the meeting of the Kashmiri Brahmins with Guru Teg Bahadur rather easy.  According to the authentic records of that period, namely Bhat Vahi Talanda Pargana Jind, Pandit Kripa Ram and his delegation met Guru Teg Bahadur on 25 May, 1675 A.D. at Chak Nanaki in Parghana Kehlur and informed him of their plight. This great Guru threw a challenge to Aurangzeb to convert him first to Islam and then he could try to convert the Brahmins of Kashmir.  Eventually Aurangzeb had Guru Teg Bahadur imprisoned and subsequently Guru Teg Bahadur was publicly beheaded on 11th November, 1675 A.D. Prior to this three of Guru Teg Bahadur's companions, namely Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dayal Das were killed cruelly by the orders of Aurangzeb. Eventually Pandit Kripa Ram took up arms and joined Guru Govind Singh in fighting the Mughals and attained martyrdom in the battle of Chamakor in 1705 A.D.

Moreover, after the death of Guru Govind Singh on 7th October, 1708 A.D. from wounds following a cowardly attack, the loyal follower of Guru Govind Singh namely Banda Bahadur a Brahmin from Rajapuri (as is well known that Rajapuri or modern Rajauri has for most of its history been a part of Greater Kashmir) took up arms against the Mughals. Banda was born in to a Brahmin family (not a Rajput one as some authors have erroneously mentioned). Banda's original name was Lakhsman Dev Bharadwaj and all authentic records indicate that he was a Brahmin. This is also corroborated by the noted scholar Gyani Budh Singh of Poonch the author of the famous work Chhonwen Rattan. It is not an exaggeration to mention that probably never in the history of mankind has a person fought tyranny as did Lakhsman Dev Bharadwaj. He wrecked havoc in the Mughal Empire from the year 1709-1715 A.D. till he was captured and put to death. Later on it was also a Kashmiri Pandit namely Pandit Birbal Dhar who convinced Maharaja Ranjit Singh to capture Kashmir from the Afghans. Eventually following the advice of Pandit Birbal Dhar this stupendous Maharaja succeeded in capturing Kashmir in the year 1819 A.D.

The court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was also full of Kashmiri Brahmins such as Diwan Dina Nath, Colonel Badri Nath, Pandit Ayodhya Prasad etc. The Maharaja trusted Dina Nath in all sensitive matters and by 1838 A.D. Dina Nath was given the title of Diwan.  Even after the disintegration of the Sikh Empire Pandit Dina Nath displayed total allegiance to the Maharaja's descendants.

Modern times have also produced a galaxy of eminent Kashmiris Pandits. For example the Nehru, Sapru, Katju, Kunzru families etc. Many of these people made significant contributions in the political, legal and administrative areas in pre-independent and independent India. Also in the Indian Armed Forces General. T.N. Raina and Air Chief Marshal Koul rose to be the chiefs of the Indian Army and Air Force respectively.

Also poets such as Iqbal (Iqbal's ancestors belonged to the Sapru family, a fact which he often mentioned and was proud of) and Chakbast made great contributions to poetry. Finally it is not unlikely that Ayattolah Khomeini had Kashmiri Pandit genes! As is well known Sayid Ahmed the grandfather of Ayottolah Khomeini emigrated to Iran from Kashmir.