Kashmiri literature

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June 30, 2026

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Kashmiri literature is a rich tradition that emerged from the Indo-Aryan language family, with its earliest roots potentially dating back to the 15th century. While the language itself has Dardic origins, it has been significantly influenced by Sanskrit, Punjabi, and Persian, reflecting the region's diverse cultural history.12

Key figures in Kashmiri literature include female poets like Lallā (14th century), known for her devotional poems, and Hubb Khātun and Arani-mal (16th and 18th centuries, respectively), celebrated for their love lyrics. Despite these contributions, Persian was the dominant literary language in Kashmir for much of the medieval period, supported by rulers who fostered scholarship in both Kashmiri and Persian. Muslims in Kashmir often use Persian and Arabic loanwords and write in a Persian-based script, while Hindus tend to use Sanskrit-derived words and the Sarada or Devanagari scripts.12

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Islamic arts
South Asian
…Islamic lore were elaborated in Kashmiri lyric and epic poetry. To the south an occasional piece of Islamic religious poetry can be found even in Tamil and Malayalam. Some fine Muslim short stories have been produced in modern Malayalam.
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…Islamic lore were elaborated in Kashmiri lyric and epic poetry. To the south an occasional piece of Islamic religious poetry can be found even in Tamil and Malayalam. Some fine Muslim short stories have been produced in modern Malayalam.
Read More

South Asian arts
Kashmiri
The hitherto commonly accepted period of Old Kashmiri is 1200–1500; but in fact the earliest example of the language is found in 94 four-line stanzas embedded in the Sanskrit philosophical work Mahānaya-prakāśa (“Illumination of the Highest Attainment”), which some scholars now date as late…
Read More
The hitherto commonly accepted period of Old Kashmiri is 1200–1500; but in fact the earliest example of the language is found in 94 four-line stanzas embedded in the Sanskrit philosophical work Mahānaya-prakāśa (“Illumination of the Highest Attainment”), which some scholars now date as late…
Read More