History
of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh/edited by Usha Sharma. New
Delhi, Radha, 2001, xiii, 414 p., $55. ISBN 81-7487-060-1.History
of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh/edited by Usha Sharma. New
Delhi, Radha, 2001, xiii, 414 p., $55. ISBN 81-7487-060-1.
Contents: Preface. Introduction. 1. The history of Kashmir/Francis Younghusband. 2. History of Ladhak/Alexander Cunningham. 3. Introduction to the Valley of Kashmir/Walter Roper Lawrence. 4. An outline of the history of Kashmir/R.C. Kak. 5. Ancient History of Kashmir/C.G. Bruce. 6. A note on Kalhana’s Rajatarangini/R.C. Dutt. 7. The Rajatarangini. 8. Ladhak’s place in global strategy and its history. 9. Kashmir—the Switzerland of India/Dermont Norris. 10. Bird’s-eye view of Ladhak/Sita Ram Johri. 11. Kashmir—ancient and modern/C.F. Tyndale Biscoe. 12. History of Ladhak/S.S. Gargan. 13. The architectural monuments of Kashmir/Sachchidananda Sinha. 14. Conquest of Ladhak/Alexander Cunningham. 15. Historical epochs/Ernest F. Neve. 16. Ladhaki letter of agreement, 1842. 17. Agreement between Tibet and Kashmir (1852). 18. The revolt in Kashmir, 1846/R.R. Sethi. 19. Agreement Between the Lahore and Kashmir Darbars, 1847. 20. Order No. 1 of 1928. 21. Through corridors of Jammu’s past/H. Raj Sharma. 22. Introductory essay on Kashmir/Jawaharlal Nehru. 23. The Kashmir story/Diwan Chaman Lall. 24. Kashmiri Pandit agitation and its aftermath/Prem Nath Bazaz. 25. Lakes and floating gardens/C.G. Bruce. 26. The Moghal Gardens in Kashmir/Sachchidananda Sinha.
"The state of Jammu and Kashmir is one of the largest states of the Indian Union. Situated in the north-west extremity of India, it captures a strategic position in our sub-continent. Hence it has become an important issue in Indian and Pakistani politics today.
"Its ancient history is chronicled in Sanskrit verses in the Rajatarangini composed by the celebrated historian Kalhana.
"The next phase in the Kashmir’s history began when it went under Muslim rule. Rainchan Shah who embraced Islam was an important name of this period. But the greatest ruler of this period was Zainul Abedin. Kashmir came under Mughal’s sway in 1856 under Akbar.
"The next important phase in Kashmir’s history is the Kashmir under Dogra Kings’ rule. Thereafter the events leading to partition, foundation of Pakistan, the turbulence in Kashmir, are well known by every one.
"This book chronicles all the important facts and figures in the history of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. It is hoped that this book will be useful to those who are interested in the history and politics of Kashmir. The book is divided into twenty-eight chapters dealing with the history and politics of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Besides this book also provides some rare documents to readers." (jacket)