The Revival of Kashmir’s Manuscripts
In Kashmir, heritage is not only found in its gardens, lakes, or carved wooden homes. It also lives quietly in handwritten Qurans, centuries-old manuscripts, and rare texts—treasures that were once the pride of families and shrines, but later left to age in wooden chests and cupboards. Many of these manuscripts, some of them hundreds of years old, seemed destined to be forgotten. Now, slowly and carefully, they are being given a second life.
For centuries, the Valley was home to a thriving tradition of calligraphy and manuscript-making. Kashmiri artisans wrote in elegant Naskh script, using natural dyes, handmade paper, and sometimes even gold leaf. Handwritten Qurans in particular were not just sacred books but works of art, decorated with delicate borders and floral motifs. Passed down through generations, they became family heirlooms. But time, damp weather, and decades of conflict took their toll. Pages grew brittle, ink faded, and many manuscripts slipped out of use and memory.
The turning point came with the establishment of the National Mission for Manuscripts centre in Srinagar, set up in collaboration with INTACH. Inside its quiet rooms, conservators now work patiently to save these fragile pages. Tears are repaired with washi, a fine Japanese handmade tissue prized for its strength and delicacy. Faded text is stabilised with organic materials, and acidity is carefully reduced so the paper doesn’t crumble. It is slow, painstaking work—often taking days to restore a single folio—but it is the only way to ensure these manuscripts survive.
Equally important is the trust-building with people who own these manuscripts. For years, families kept their collections hidden, fearing loss or damage. Today, many are opening their doors, allowing experts to document and digitise their treasures. Some of the Qurans brought in date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, their pages shimmering with lapis lazuli inks and the unmistakable Kashmiri style of floral ornamentation. Each rediscovered manuscript is not just a text—it is a glimpse into the Valley’s artistic and spiritual past.
Digitisation has added a new dimension. Once confined to homes and shrines, these works are now being scanned and preserved, giving researchers and younger generations access to knowledge that might otherwise have disappeared. Alongside Qurans, the growing archive includes Sufi treatises, Persian poetry, and even old medical texts. Together, they remind us that Kashmir was as much a centre of ideas and learning as it was of beauty.
The task ahead is still huge. Thousands of manuscripts remain scattered across the Valley, vulnerable to dampness, neglect, and time. Conservation is expensive, and the process can never be rushed. Yet, the efforts in Srinagar have created momentum—and more importantly, hope—that much more can be saved.
As one conservator said quietly, while turning the pages of a restored Quran: “Every manuscript we save is like saving a part of Kashmir’s soul.”
In the end, this work is not only about restoring old books. It is about reconnecting with memory, with history, and with the idea of Kashmir as a place where art and knowledge flourished. From dust to digital, these manuscripts carry voices across centuries—and now, finally, they are being heard again
Shereen Naman, Coordinator GK School of Communications
