"My contribution to the history of Kashmir has finally been recognized"

Born in Srinagar Kashmir in 1924, Prof Fida Mohammad Hassnain was recently conferred 'Lifetime Achievement Award' by Jammu and Kashmir state government. He is the recipient of several degrees and awards from various universities and institutions of India, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Mexico.

He started his service career in 1953 as Professor and retired as Director of Archives, Archaeology, Research and Museums in 1980.

He is associated with the Occult Foundation Calcutta, OISCA-International Tokyo, the Temple of Understanding New York, Sri Aurobindo Ashram New Delhi, Swami Gitananda Yoga Centre Pondicherry, World Congress of Faiths London, Hazrat Inayat Khan Sufi Centre New Delhi. He is also a spiritual healer and conducts Sufi Therapy Workshops in the Dynamic Psychiatry Hospitals in Germany.

In an interview with Syed Ali Safvi, Prof Fida Mohammad Hassnain talks about Kashmir history, and his upcoming books.

Syed Ali Safvi (SAS): How it feels to be honoured with prestigious lifetime award for your contribution to the history of Kashmir?

Prof Fida Hassnain (FH): The news about the Award gave me a feeling of happiness. I felt thankful and appreciative of what was done for me by the State Government. I thought that it has now been recognized that I have made some contributions to the history of Kashmir. It gives me encouragement to do more.

SAS: Tell us something about your self?

FH: I was born at Srinagar in 1924. My parents were teachers. My grand-father Mohammad Ali Khan Khokhar had migrated from Sialkot to Kashmir during the reign of Maharaja Ranbir Singh. I did my B.A. from Lahore and M.A.L.L.B. from the Muslim University Aligarh. I began my service career as Professor in 1948 and retired as the Director of Archives Archaology, Research and Museum in 1980.

SAS: As a historian how do you trace the history of Kashmir?

FH: Our ancient geographical work, the Nilamata Purana informs us about the emergence of Kashmir out of a sea. It is clear that 7500 years ago the valley emerged out of the Noah's Flood. He is Mano of the Hindu Scriptures mentioned in the Nilamata Purana, and Noah of the Old Testament. For this reason a Japanese scholars terms Kashmir as 'Mother of the Earth'.

SAS: In the light of history how do you see the future of Kashmir?

FH: I feel Kashmir has a bright future. I can express my feelings by quoting Godfrey Thomas Vigne (1844) who says: "Kashmir will become the focus of Asiatic civilization: a miniature England in the heart of Asia…. and, presenting so many attractions, it will become the sine quo non of the oriental traveler, whether he be disposed to consider it as the Ultima Thule of his voyage, or a resting place whence he may start again for still more distant regions."

SAS: Tell us something about your upcoming books?

FH: I feel honoured of being the only Kashmiri author whose several books have been translated into Russian, French, Italian, Polish and Arabic. My 36 titles have been published so far and the 37th – Shri Amarnath Tirtha is in the press. I am compiling a new title 'Kashmiriyat' at present.