Soun Watan Gulzar Shalamar Hyuv,

Dal Manz Pholvun Pamposh Hyuv

Nav Jawan an Hund Vushun Khumar Hyuv

Myon Vatan, Chyon Watan

Saun Watan Nundbony Watan

Late Pandit Dina Nath Kaul

 

 

 

late Sh. Dina Nath Kaul ji which essentially sings the praises of our country and compares it

with Lotus that blossoms in Dal Lake, Blooming flowers of Shalimar Garden and the warmth

of the youth, has become the new identity of Kashmir, more so because it was etched today

in the pages that will become history tomorrow.

 

Budget 2020 speech, providing an official, government platform to this forgotten muted

identity of Kashmir.

 

The Kashmiri Hindu community is over whelmed today and profusely thank the Honorable

Finance Minister for conferring the respect that Ma Sharada in lipi form deserves.

 

Sharada script descended from the Gupta Brahmi system of writing. She is the mother of all

Himalayan scripts. Tankri, Landa, Tibettan and Gurumukhi are daughters of Sharada. While

the daughter scripts are flourishing, Sharada script native to Kashmir, is on the verge of

extinction. Sharada script was systematically and deliberately detached from the education

system, and, Nastaliq, the foreign script brought to Kashmir by the invaders, forced on local

Kashmiris.

 

Sharada was in used in Kashmir from the 3 rd century BCE as per the carbon dating of a

Bhakshali manuscript found recently pushing back all previous claims of it being used

between 8 th to 14 th century BCE.

 

Thousands of Sharada manuscripts lying today in museums and libraries across the globe tell

us that it was the prevalent script of its time, scholarly work in Vyavaharik as well as

hindus of Kashmir, Sharada was replaced by Nastaliq.

 

Below picture shows how Sharada was in common used so as to be inscribed on tombs,

smartly, Nastaliq was introduced. This tomb is from the time when transition from Sharada

no literature was written using Sharada, even administrative work began to be done in

Persian and hence Nastaliq became the official script. Sanskrit was replaced with Persian for

administrative work and Sharada was replaced with Nastaliq.

 

Generations passed and Sharada remained limited to astrologers till the 1950s and now

even that usage has been abandoned.

 

Many individuals and organizations have toiled post the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits to

revive the usage of Sharada and bring it to the mainstream. There were very few scholars

who strived through the period of exile to somehow breathe oxygen into the dying script

but with very few takers, many were dejected and depressed visualizing the future and

certain demise of this divine script.

 

The younger generation of Kashmiri Pandits then took it upon themselves to bring it to

mainstream, groups like the Core Sharada and its volunteers took it upon themselves to

take the script to the masses by way of online courses delivered free of charge with utmost

dedication and sincerity.

 

Civilian movements have the strength and determination to accomplish tasks which appear

impossible. Another dynamic organization India 4 Kashmir under the “Global Kashmiri

Pandit Diaspora” GKPD, has time and again reiterated for revival of Kashmiri Hindu culture

and ethos.

 

 

Today’s inclusion of Kashmiri poetry written in Sharada Script in a prestigious document

“The Union Budget 2020” read by none other than the Honorable Finance Minister of India

Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has given legitimacy and recognition to our efforts at reclaiming

the most important element of our lost civilization, our beloved Sharada Lipi.

 

Sharada Lipi which was muted and handcuffed for centuries by the invaders has got its voice

back and has been released from the fortress of cruel history.

 

Even after independence, no efforts were made by successive governments to reinstate

Sharada Lipi in the educational institutions. We are thankful as a community that Sharada

Lipi has got legitimacy and has been recognized by the Govt. of India led by Honorable Prime

Minister Sh Narendra Modi, in the most prestigious forum today dated February 1 st , 2020.

Inspired and invigorated by todays events, we are encouraged to request the Govt of India,

Ministry of Human Resource Development to kindly reintroduce Sharada lipi in the

curriculum as the second language in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir and again bring it to the

mainstream.

 

 

A beginning to recognize the importance of the script can be made by introducing names of

cities and stations written in Sharada lipi.

 

Gradual but steady introduction of Sharada script at institutional levels will go a long way in

reclaiming the glorious heritage of Kashmir.

 

Once again on behalf of the Kashmiri Pandit community I thank Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman for