In a first, Kashmiri scholar’s PhD on ‘Kashmiri Marsiya’ gets global recognition

Srinagar, May 25: Making Kashmir proud by becoming the first scholar to earn a PhD in the United States with a specialisation in ‘Kashmiri Marsiya’, Dr Amara Ali has created a niche in global academics.  Dr Ali completed her PhD in ‘Kashmiri Marsiya’- an elegiac form of poetry that resonates deeply with the Valley’s spiritual and literary ethos, she said.  Dr Ali completed her doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin, where she specialised in South Asian languages and literatures.

Her research delves into the poetic, historical, and socio-cultural dimensions of Kashmiri Marsiya, a genre that has long remained overlooked in global academia, she further added.

An alumna of the University of Cambridge, UK, where she earned her master’s degree, Dr Ali’s scholarship has now led to her appointment as a Professor at the University of California, Berkeley — one of the world’s most prestigious research institutions. Dr Amara Ali previously served as an internee at Greater Kashmir, where her brief but impactful engagement further honed her analytical and writing skills. “Kashmiri Marsiya, traditionally marked by themes of mourning, resistance, and spiritual introspection, has remained largely absent from mainstream scholarly focus,” she added. Dr Ali’s work has now brought this unique literary form into the academic spotlight, paving the way for new dialogues, cross-cultural scholarship, and preservation of regional literary identity. Her journey symbolises a powerful fusion of cultural roots and global scholarship, and stands as a compelling inspiration for emerging scholars across disciplines. The academic and literary community in Kashmir has lauded her achievement.