Contents: Introduction. 1. Folklore of Nepal. 2. Folk-songs of Nepal. 3. Eight Kashmiri poems. 4. Medieval Kashmiri Literature (Shafi Shauq). 5. Medieval Dogri Literature. 6. Medieval Kashmiri Literature (Shafi Shauq). 7. Medieval Dogri Literature: the spirits. 8. Medieval Nepali Literature. 9. Modern Dogri Literature (Shivanath). 10. Modern Kashmiri Literature. 11. Modern Kashmiri Fiction: a selection. Index.

"This book presents a folk cultural and anthropological study of the Himalayan Folk Literature including Nepali, Kashmiri and Dogri. The illiterate rural folks and tribals the world over have their own repertoire of oral literature including songs, ballads, tales, epics and dramas, peculiar to them. Yet it showed the levels of their wisdom and intellect, wit and humour, fiction and realism. Anthropologists during the British period noticed that some tribes were given to more fantasy, whereas the other neighbouring tribes were rather realistic and were able to deal with crude realties of life.

The oral literature served to entertain as well as to give moral education and wisdom. In their community, a good story-teller or singer commanded special respect. The myth and legends also meant to cherish religious and social values of their society. The book is a valuable treasure for the students of religion, literature, anthropology and folk culture.

In later chapter, it also charts the course of Kashmiri, Dogri and Nepali Literature during the modern times separately." (jacket)