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{{Short description|Ethnic Kashmiris who adhere to Hinduism and are native to the Kashmir Valley}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}}
{{infobox ethnic group
| group = Kashmiri Hindus
| image = Ancient Temple-Hari Parbat-2.JPG
| image_caption = Hari Parbat Temple in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]].
| population = 
| langs = '''Sacred language''' [[Sanskrit]] 
'''Ethnic language''' [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] 
'''Other languages''' [[Hindi]], [[Urdu]], [[English language|English]]
| rels = '''Majority''' [[Kashmir Shaivism]] 
'''Minority''' [[Shaivism]], [[Vaishnavism]] and [[Shaktism]]
| related = [[Kashmiri people]], [[Kashmiri Muslims]]
}}{{Hinduism in India}}

'''Kashmiri Hindus''' are ethnic [[Kashmiris]] who practice [[Hinduism]] and are native to the [[Kashmir Valley]] of [[India]].<ref name="Ling2008">{{cite book|last=Ling|first=Huping|title=Emerging Voices: Experiences of Underrepresented Asian Americans|year=2008|publisher=Rutgers University Press|language=English |isbn=9780813543420|page=126|quote=Kashmiri Muslims represent the majority population in Kashmir Valley, while Kashmiri Hindus represent a small but significant minority community.}}</ref> With respect to their contributions to [[Indian philosophy]], Kashmiri Hindus developed the tradition of [[Kashmiri Shaivism]].<ref name="Snedden2015">{{cite book|last=Snedden|first=Christopher|title=Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris|date=15 September 2015|publisher=Hurst|language=English |isbn=9781849046220|page=39}}</ref> Most of [[Hindus]] are now mostly settled in [[Jammu]] and other parts of India, mainly after their [[Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus|exodus]].

== History ==
{{See also|History of Kashmir}}
=== Ancient ===
During the reign of [[Ashoka]] (304–232 BCE), Kashmir became a part of the [[Maurya Empire]] and [[Buddhism]] was introduced in Kashmir. During this period, many [[Stupa|stupas]], some shrines dedicated to [[Shiva]], and the city of Srinagari ([[Srinagar]]) were built. [[Kanishka]] (127–151 CE), an emperor of the [[Kushan Empire]], conquered Kashmir and established the new city of Kanishkapur.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chatterjee|first=Suhas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KItocaxbibUC&pg=PA199|title=Indian Civilization and Culture|date=1998|publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd.|isbn=978-81-7533-083-2|language=en}}</ref>

=== Medieval ===
The [[Karkota dynasty]] (625–855 CE) ruled over the [[Kashmir]] and parts of northern [[Indian subcontinent]] and their rule saw political expansion, economic prosperity and emergence of [[Kashmir]] as a centre of culture and scholarship.<ref name=":17">{{Cite book |last=Larson |first=Gerald James |title=The arts of Kashmir |publisher=Asia Society ; 5 Continents |year=2007 |editor-last=Pal |editor-first=Pratapaditya |pages=36–37 |language=English |chapter=Nagas, Monks, Tantrics and Poets |editor-last2=Ames |editor-first2=Frank}}</ref><ref name=":24">{{Cite book|last=Witzel|first=Michael|title=Around Abhinavagupta: Aspects of the Intellectual History of Kashmir from the Ninth to the Eleventh Century|year=2016|isbn=978-3-643-90697-7|editor-last=Franco|editor-first=Eli|series=Leipziger Studien zu Kultur und Geschichte Süd- und Zentralasiens|location=Münster, Germany|pages=609–643|chapter=Kashmiri Brahmins under the Karkota, Utpala and Lohara Dynasties, 625-1101 CE|editor-last2=Ratié|editor-first2=Isabelle}}</ref> [[Lalitaditya Muktapida]] (724–760 CE) was a powerful ruler of the [[Karkota dynasty]] of [[Kashmir]] region in the [[Indian subcontinent]]. After the seventh century, significant developments took place in Kashmiri Hinduism. In the centuries that followed, Kashmir produced many poets, philosophers, and artists who contributed to Sanskrit literature and Hindu religion. Among notable scholars of this period was [[Vasugupta]] ({{Circa|{{CE|875–925}}}}) who wrote the ''[[Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta|Shiva Sutras]]'' which laid the foundation for a [[Monism|monistic]] Shaiva system called [[Kashmir Shaivism]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Art|first1=Los Angeles County Museum of|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-fvKVDxcJoUC&pg=PA51|title=Indian Sculpture: Circa 500 B.C.-A.D. 700|last2=Pal|first2=Pratapaditya|date=1986-01-01|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|isbn=978-0-520-06477-5|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=-fvKVDxcJoUC&pg=PA51 51]|language=en|author-link=Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art|author-link2=Pratapaditya Pal}}</ref>

After the dawn of the [[Lohara dynasty]], Islam had penetrated into countries outside Kashmir and in the absence of support from Hindus, who were in the majority, Rinchana needed the support of the Kashmiri Muslims. [[Shah Mir]]'s coup on Rinchana's successor secured Muslim rule and the rule of [[Shah Miri dynasty|his dynasty]] in Kashmir.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Unesco|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=18eABeokpjEC&pg=PA306|title=History of Civilizations of Central Asia|date=1998-01-01|publisher=UNESCO|isbn=978-92-3-103467-1|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=18eABeokpjEC&pg=PA306 306]|language=en}}</ref>

== Demography ==
The largest community within the Kashmiri Hindus are the [[Kashmiri Pandits]] (Kashmiri [[Brahmin]]s),<ref name="Mufti2013">{{cite book|last=Mufti|first=Gulzar|title=Kashmir in Sickness and in Health|date=24 September 2013|publisher=Partridge Publishing|language=English |isbn=9781482809985|page=121|quote=Hindus of the Kashmir Valley, known as Pandits, are mostly upper caste Brahmins.}}</ref><ref name="Kachru1998">{{cite book|last=Kachru|first=Onkar|title=Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh|year=1998|publisher=Atlantic Publishers |language=English |isbn=9788185495514|page=75|quote=Taking into account decennial growth rates and migration patterns, the 1981 census data suggests that there would have been 161,000 Hindus, most of them Kashmiri Pandits, in the valley in 1991.}}</ref> who are divided into several [[Brahmin gotra|gotra]]s,<ref>{{cite book|title=South Asian Language Review, Volumes 3-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NVhiAAAAMAAJ|year=1993|publisher=Creative Publishers|language=English|page=64|quote='Kashmiri Brahmins are said to have originally belonged to only six gotras, -By intermarriage with other Brahmins the number of gotras multiplied to 199' ( Koul 1924).}}</ref> such as the priests (''gor'' or ''bhasha Bhatta''), astrologers (''Zutshi''), and workers (''Karkun'').<ref name="NaganoIkari1993">{{cite book|last1=Nagano|first1=Yasuhiko|last2=Ikari|first2=Yasuke|title=From Vedic Altar to Village Shrine: Towards an Interface Between Indology and Anthropology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FvkQAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=29 September 2017|year=1993|publisher=National Museum of Ethnology|language=English|page=186|quote=The Hindus belong with few exceptions to the Brahman caste and are known as 'Pandits', while in other parts of India they are generally called 'Kashmiri Pandits'. These Kashmiri Brahmans are divided into three subcastes consisting, namely, of priests (gor or bhasha Bhatta), astrologers (jyotishi), and workers (karkun).}}</ref>

The [[Wani (surname)|Wani]] are historically [[Bania (caste)|Bania]]s, with subcastes, such as the [[Kesarwani]].<ref name="Rajghatta2019">{{cite news |last1=Rajghatta |first1=Chidanand |title=View: Most Pakistanis are actually Indians |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/view-most-pakistanis-are-actually-indians/articleshow/70811241.cms?from=mdr |newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] |accessdate=22 September 2019 |language=English |date=28 August 2019 |quote=The Indic influence extends across caste and clan. The last name of Burhan Wani, the slain jihadist now deified by separatists, is derived from the Hindu bania caste, and it further devolved into specific subcastes depending on what they traded in — for instance, those who trade in saffron became Kesarwani.}}</ref> During the Mughal era, many [[Kesarwanis]] migrated to other parts of [[India]] such as [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Bihar]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name="Singh1998">{{cite book|last=Singh|first=K.S.|title=India's Communities, Volume 5|year=1998|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|language=English|isbn=9780195633542|page=1663|quote= A community sometimes referred to as Kesarwani, they are reported from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, they provide histories of migration and origin which are somewhat similar. In Bihar, the Kesarwani or Kesri Bania believe that their community name indicates their original occupation of trade in kesar (saffron). They were originally the inhabitants of Kashmir who migrated to different parts of India during Mughal rule.}}</ref>

According to officials, 98,600 Kashmiri Hindus were issued domicile certificates of Jammu and Kashmir up to the end of June 2021. They further state, "90,430 domicile certificates were issued to displaced Kashmiri Pandits, while 2,340 families of displaced Kashmiri Pandits were registered as fresh migrants. Of these, 8,170 individuals received the domicile certificate."<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 August 2021|others=PTI|title=J&K: Over 98k Kashmiri Migrants Issued Domicile Certificates till End of June|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/jk-over-98k-kashmiri-migrants-issued-domicile-certificates-till-end-of-june-4082471.html|url-status=live|publisher=News18}}</ref>

On 16 May 2020, Order 52 was issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (JK DMRRR) which states that: ''"Bonafide migrants and bonafide displaced persons who are not yet registered with the relief and rehabilitation commissioner (migrant), Jammu and Kashmir, can apply before the competent authority for registration for purpose of issuance of a domicile certificate only."'' This is as long as one of the necessary documents is provided. The timeframe for registration (and claiming domicile) of Kashmiri migrants and displaced persons was later extended for the final time up to 15 May 2022.<ref>''[http://www.jkmigrantrelief.nic.in/orders/52_2020.pdf Registration of bonafide Migrants or displaced persons for the purpose of issuance of domicile certificate - regarding Govt Order No:52-JK (DMRRR) of 2020]''. Govt of Jammu and Kashmir Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Civil Secretariat Jammu (DMRRR). 16 May 2020.</ref>

== Persecution ==
{{Further|Persecution of Hindus in Kashmir|Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus}}

Under the rule of [[Sultan Sikander|Sultan Sikander Butshikan]] in the 14th century CE, many Kashmiri Hindus were forcibly [[converted to Islam]].<ref name="Kaw2001">{{cite book|last=Kaw|first=Maharaj Krishen|title=Kashmiri Pandits|publisher=APH Publishing|year=2001|isbn=9788176482363|pages=25–26|language=English|quote=Then came the fanatical and tyrannical rule of Sultan Sikander, the iconoclast (1398-1420 CE) who let loose a sort of hell against the non-Muslims through forced conversions and widespread destruction of their religious shrines all over the Valley. Possibly, by this time, the lower Hindu castes had got converted to Islam with the help of passionate zeal of the Islamic missionaries moving freely among the socially backward and rigid Hindu caste hierarchies already shaken by the spread of the Buddhist creed when Kashmir was from a considerable period one of the staunchest centres of the anti-caste movement of the Buddhist cult.}}</ref><ref name="Khan1973">{{cite book|last=Khan|first=Ghulam Hassan|title=The Kashmiri Mussulman|year=1973|page=41|language=English|quote=This community prior to their conversion was divided amongst the Brahmin, Kshatria, Vaish, and Shudr castes.}}</ref> They [[Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus|began to leave the valley]] in much greater numbers in the 1990s during the eruption of militancy following large scale militarization of Valley.

== Notable people ==
This is a list of notable Kashmiri Hindus.

* [[Anupam Kher]], Indian actor
* [[Kunal Khemu]], Indian actor
* [[R N Kao]], founder and First Secretary of [[RAW]]
* [[Krsna (rapper)]], Indian rapper
* [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], first [[Prime Minister of India]]
* [[Mohit Raina]], Indian actor
* [[Samay Raina]], standup comedian and chess enthusiast
* [[Bhasha Sumbli]], Indian actress
* [[Tika Lal Taploo]], lawyer

== See also ==
*[[Dogra Rajput]]
*[[Kashmiri Muslim tribes from Hindu lineage]]
*[[Kashmiri diaspora]]

== Bibliography ==
* ''The Hindu History of Kashmir'' by [[Horace Hayman Wilson]] {{ISBN|9788186714300|8186714308}}
* ''Kashmir Hindu Religious Culture'' By Chaman Lal Gadoo {{ISBN|9788191005714|8191005719}}
* ''Hindus of Kashmir - A Genocide Forgotten'' by [[Bansi Pandit]] {{ISBN|9798586697035}}
* ''The Hindu-Buddhist Sculpture of Ancient Kashmir and Its Influences'' By John Siudmak {{ISBN|9789004248328|9004248323}}
* ''Kashmir: Its Aborigines and Their Exodus''by Colonel Tej K Tikoo {{ISBN|9781935501589|1935501585}} {{ISBN|9781942426417|1942426410}}
* ''Kasheer - A Diabolical Betrayal of Kashmiri Hindus'' By Sahana Vijayakumar {{ISBN|9781942426417}}
* ''Genocide of Hindus in Kashmir''<ref>{{cite web |date=1991 |title=Genocide of Hindus in Kashmir |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Genocide_of_Hindus_in_Kashmir/pHocAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0&bsq=%22Genocide%20of%20hindu%20in%20Kashmir%22%20book&kptab=getbook |publisher=Suruchi Prakashan |language=en}}</ref> by Suruchi Prakashan
* ''The Infidel Next Door'' By Rajat Kanti Mitra {{ISBN|9781088402733|1088402739}}
* ''The Odyssey Of Kashmiri Pandits Destination-Homeland-Panun Kashmir'' by Dr M. L. Bhat {{ISBN|9781947586253|1947586254}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==

*{{Cite news|title=Kashmiri Hindus: Driven Out and Insignificant|work=BBC News|date=5 April 2016|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35923237 }}
{{Hinduism in India by region}}
[[Category:Kashmiri Hindus| ]]
[[Category:Hindu ethnic groups]]
[[Category:Social groups of Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Kashmiri tribes]]
[[Category:Hindu communities]]

Kashmiri Hindus - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 08:27, 14 August 2023