Museum of Kashmir

In this episode, we explore Kashmir’s transformation after the arrival of Mir Syed Ali Hamadani and the spread of Islam. Discover how Sufi masters rose to power, shaping both spiritual and political landscapes as rulers sought legitimacy from religious scholars. We also dive into the turbulent 16th century, marked by the fall of Budshah’s rule, foreign interventions, civil wars, and the fierce pow...

Lala Ded or Lalleshwari or Lala Arifa, Kashmir's iconic mystic poet. In this episode, we explore her profound connection with Sufi saints, her fearless battle against caste and religious hierarchies, and the enduring impact of her vakhs . We also uncover the politics of translating her work during the Dogra Empire. Discover the true essence of Lal Ded, a figure who transcended religious bounda...

Welcome to the Museum of Kashmir podcast with Muhammad Faysal We start our new podcast series, ' Sultanat ' which does a deep dive into the medieval era of Kashmir. In our premiere episode, we explore the reign of the illustrious King Zain ul Abidin from the 15th century. We are joined by Sameer Hamdani , a distinguished Kashmiri historian and Design Director at INTACH J&K. His experti...

Islam, architecture and Kashmir are great indicators of the region's history. We take a look at the essential Kashmiri history; from the origins of Islam in Kashmir to the politics of empire and also the history of Shias in Kashmir. Our guest is Sameer Hamdani. He is the Design Director at INTACH Kashmir, whose primary area of research is in the field of Islamic religious architecture in South...

This is a verse attributed to Mīr Sayyīd Alī Hamādanī, the Kubrāwiyyā saint from Hamadān who came to Kashmir during the 14th century. After fighting with the Turco-Mongol emperor Timur, he along with his followers visited the country three times and stayed for certain periods in which they not only spread the message of Islam but also established industries that continue to thrive to this day. The...

Magarmal Bagh is a small neighbourhood nestled between the busy city centre of Srinagar - Lal Chowk and Batamaloo. It's hidden behind the recently built flyover and the cacophony of the city centre. It has been a witness to some tumultuous events in Kashmir's history over the century. One of them being the Magarmal Bagh Massacre that occurred on 19th of January, 1991 when Indian forces fired upon...

Why is it important to document oral traditions in Kashmir? In this episode we are going to talk about history and importance of storytelling in the region. It also throws light on how storytelling is tied to our cultural identity. The guest this week is Onaiza Drabu who is an anthropologist, writer and an ethnographer.