The Rich Heritage of Jammu and
Kashmir
Studies in Art, Architecture, History
and Culture of the Region
By Prof. Somnath Wakhlu
Published in 1998 by: Gyan Publishing House, New Delhi - 110002
Prof. Somnath Wakhlu has basically been a teacher of English literature but
while working in the Amar Mahal Museum and Library, Jammu for the last two and
half decades his mind got yoked to many devotions of Jammu and Kashmir art and
architecture, history and culture, mysticism and literature. And he passes from
one devotion to the other with athletic ease.
The present book is divided into two parts: one is concerned with Jammu and
the other with Kashmir. Then each part is subdivided into various sections;
first, art and architecture; second, history and third, literature.
Essays on Art and Architecture: This section attempts at a descriptive
and critical study of ancient monuments of Jammu and Kashmir. The author has
detailed the geographic and scenic beauty of the places with actuality and
narrated the historical background in quite a succinct manner. He has examined
the religious aspect and then in the case of paintings his analytical faculty
marks the critical one.
Historical Essays: In this section Prof. Wakhlu writes about the
historical personages with vivid dramatic effectiveness without sacrificing the
historical accuracy. He has written only about the great and noble historical
figures ignoring many others of less significance.
Literary Essays: In the domain of literature he indeed has
self‑confidence and ease. Apart from English he also had the opportunity
to study both the Dogri and Kashmiri literature in depth. In this section he has
taken care to include only a few chosen representative poets.
By a slightest reflection on this work one can feel that he possesses a firm
sense of composition, a sweep, and compact and delightful verve and eloquence.
ISBN : 81-212-0570-0
© Somnath Wakhlu
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