Cultural Heritage Of Jammu Kashmir And Ladakh

Situated at the crossroads of South and Central Asia, the State of Jammu and Kashmir has made a lasting contribution to Indian philosophy, arts and aesthetics, and historiography. Numerous sacred shrines of Jammu and Kashmir are revered and regularly visited by millions. Powerful cultural movements developed and spread not only to other parts of India but beyond India's borders.

The book "Heritage of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh" brings out the fact that though the three provinces of J& K are different geographic, cultural and linguistic entitles, age told traditions bind them todgether. While Ladakh is predominently Buddhist, Kashmir and Jammu are almost entirely inhabited by Muslims and Hindus respectively. This shared universe of discourse has been traversed by this volume, which ranges across geology, archaeology, histroy, art, architecture, herbal medicine, inscriptions, manuscripts, theatre, religion and corollary subjects. A specially valuable dimension of the volume is its accent on historiography.

Kashmir Is Known For Its Arts And Crafts. But There Is No Single Book So Far Which Deals Overall And Totally With Both Known And Lesser Known Crafts Of Jammu & Kashmir State. This Book Portrays A Comprehensive Study Providing Wealth Of Information And Visual Documentation On The Beautiful Part Of India Comprising Jammu, Kashmir Valley And Ladakh. A State With Rich Craft And Cultural Heritage Deserves To Be Better Known In Its Crafts Context Of People And Culture. As A Close And Living Relationship Ties Land To People And People To Craft And Culture, The Book Opens With Brief Description Of This Relationship. Since Traditional Skills Co-Exist And Change In The Course Of Changing Conditions, The Book Covers Some Of The More Important As Well As Lesser Known Crafts In Their Historical Background, Present And Potential For Future. Development Being A Constant Process, The Book Also Reviews The Actual Craft Situation,, Its Scope, Design, Craft Training, The Domestic Marketing And Exports Of Crafts, Concluding On The Most Important Factor-The Craftsmen And Their Welfare. The Book Is Invaluable In Many Way. Over 100 Pages Of Excellent Photographs And Typical Design Motifs. General Readers, Planners And Administrators As Well As Traders And Exporters Will Find Highly Useful The Details The Book Provides With The Personal Touch Of Author S Rich Experience Over The Years.

Papers presented at a Seminar on "Cultural Heritage of the Western Himalayas and Its Future" on March 23-24, 1994 at India International Centre, New Delhi.