[Reader-list] Renaming AnantNag - Talibanised Kashmir

[Pawan Durani]

http://www.theshadow.in/theshadow/newsdet.aspx?q=9161

Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Mar 13: Preposterous to strengthen islamisation by moves to
rechristen thousands of years old nomenclature of Kashmir after
forcible exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, the latest one by the PDP MLA to
rename 'Anantnag' as 'Islamabad', Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM)
allegedly falsified the Member by substantiating some figures, which
of-course can be open for authentication.
Challenging the MLA, JKVM negated the claim that Tarikhi Hasan as
claimed by the MLA mentions that Anantnag had been founded in
Jehangir's time under the governorship of Islam Khan and named
'Islamabad' and that the name was latter changed into 'Anantnag'. JKVM
claims that the Tarikh of Peer Hassan Shah Khoihami is a comparatively
recent work written in the year 1884, which deals with Moghul period
in volume II and tells that there was no governor called

Islam Khan during Jahangir's time. JKVM however says that there was a
governor in 1075 Hijri (1664 A.D) during Aurangzeb's rule in Kashmir
(Vol II page 625-27) in the name of Islam Khan, who ruled for a period
of one year. There is no mention of his visiting Anantnag or founding
Islamabad in the book.

Contrary, Hasan states in Vol I part 2 of Tarikh in a footnote to the
chapter on Naags of Kashmir (page 840) that Anantnag is named after
the holy spring of Anant which is sacred to Hindus. On page 839 of the
said volume it is stated that Islam Khan laid out a garden in the
village Achgam near Anantnag and that the village was renamed Islambad
by Mugal Emperor Aurangzeb, says JKVM.
Further 'Anantnag' is an ancient holy place of Kashmiri Pandits, which
is mentioned in Nilmat Puran dated 4-5th century. It mentions
'Anantnag' at three places (Shlookas 916, 1205, and 1235, Vol II).
Again 'Anantnag' is mentioned in half a dozen places in Bringish
Samhita detailing different holy places in Anantnag district. Kashmiri
Pandits observe 'Anant Chaturdashi' every year and before 1990 when
forcible exodus of KPs took place, thousands of devotees used to visit
the sacred springs and perform Hawan there.
To say that the district was originally Islamabad and was renamed
Anantnag after some sepoy of Maharaja Ranjhit Singh is not only a
historical lie but an insult to the sentiments of Hindus of Kashmir,
said JKVM adding that Kashmiriyat the creed of tolerant cceptance of a
plurality is increasingly becoming an excuse for sly islamisation of
the valley.