Kashmiris: Difference between revisions
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The '''Kashmiri people''' ({{audio-nohelp|Kashmiri.ogg|pronunciation}}, [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]]: कश्मीरी, [[Urdu]]: کشمیری) are a [[Dard people|Dardic]] ethnic group who ancestrally belong to the [[Kashmir region]], divided between the countries of [[India]] and [[Pakistan]]. However, an indeterminate number have left the region and now live in other parts of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The Kashmiris speak the [[Kashmiri language]] known as ''koshur''. |
The '''Kashmiri people''' ({{audio-nohelp|hi-Kashmiri.ogg|pronunciation}}, [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]]: कश्मीरी, [[Urdu]]: کشمیری) are a [[Dard people|Dardic]] ethnic group who ancestrally belong to the [[Kashmir region]], divided between the countries of [[India]] and [[Pakistan]]. However, an indeterminate number have left the region and now live in other parts of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The Kashmiris speak the [[Kashmiri language]] known as ''koshur''. |
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Originally, the Kashmiris were Buddhist and Hindu, however, after the conquest of Kashmir and much of India by Central Asians, the majority of Kashmiri people became Muslim. While there are [[Dogra]]s, [[Sikh]]s and [[Hinduism in Punjab|Punjabi Hindus]], who live in the Kashmir region, they are not ethnic Kashmiris and usually speak [[Dogri]] or [[Punjabi]] instead. |
Originally, the Kashmiris were Buddhist and Hindu, however, after the conquest of Kashmir and much of India by Central Asians, the majority of Kashmiri people became Muslim. While there are [[Dogra]]s, [[Sikh]]s and [[Hinduism in Punjab|Punjabi Hindus]], who live in the Kashmir region, they are not ethnic Kashmiris and usually speak [[Dogri]] or [[Punjabi]] instead. |
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Revision as of 15:25, 25 June 2007
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| India, Pakistan | |
| Languages | |
| Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Punjabi | |
| Religion | |
| Islam 90%, Hinduism 6% [1] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Dardic peoples |
The Kashmiri people (, Kashmiri: कश्मीरी, Urdu: کشمیری) are a Dardic ethnic group who ancestrally belong to the Kashmir region, divided between the countries of India and Pakistan. However, an indeterminate number have left the region and now live in other parts of the Indian subcontinent. The Kashmiris speak the Kashmiri language known as koshur.
Originally, the Kashmiris were Buddhist and Hindu, however, after the conquest of Kashmir and much of India by Central Asians, the majority of Kashmiri people became Muslim. While there are Dogras, Sikhs and Punjabi Hindus, who live in the Kashmir region, they are not ethnic Kashmiris and usually speak Dogri or Punjabi instead.
Ethnic Kashmiris have Dardic ancestry and originate from the Kashmir Valley. Whilst the Northern Areas of Pakistan are also inhabited by Dardic people, they do not refer to themselves as Kashmiris.
Pakistan controlled Azad Kashmir consists of Kashmiris (in Muzaffarabad district) and other tribes like Sudhans, Rajputs, Gujjars and Mirpuris who have cultural similarities with the Punjabis from the Potohar Plateau of the Punjab (Pakistan)[3]and the people of Jammu.
Ethnic Variation as shown by Linguistics
The population living in the Valley of Kashmir is primarily homogeneous, despite the religious divide between Muslims and Hindus. The people of the Valley, despite the religious contradiction, share common culture, language, customs and history, which is no doubt the basis of `Kashmiriyat.
The people living in Jammu are mostly Sikhs and Hindus and ethnically different from those living in the Valley in terms of language, genetics and culture. The Muslims living in Jammu, who are in a minority, share their religious identity with the Muslims of the Valley but are culturally different than them to some extent.
The people living in Ladakh are primarily Buddhist. Muslim minority in Ladakh belongs to the Shia sect. The people living in the the Northern Areas of Pakistan (Gilgit, Hunza and Baltistan), theoretically a part of Jammu and Kashmir are not Kashmiris per se and do not share much, except in religion with the Muslims of the Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Pakistan controlled Azad Kashmir. [4].
The Lost Tribes of Israel
Some consider the Kashmiri people to be descendants of one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. According to Rabbi Marvin Tokayer, the Kashmiri people have many Jewish cultural traits, including feasts, appearance, business practices, and other customs. He also asserts that a significant number of Kashmiri names and words derive from Hebrew[5]. Furthermore, sidelocks, although never worn by Muslims, are very commonly worn by the Kashmiris.
The Ahmadiyya movements also support an Israelite origin for Kashmiri people[6].
References
Further reading
- Kashmir Return of Democracy By Yodhishter Kahul, Yudhistar ed Kahol
- The Crisis in Kashmir: Portents of War, Hopes of Peace By Šumit Ganguly
See also
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