By Dr. Abdul Ahad
Having no intrinsic competence to fight emerging problems and conquer new challenges of altered circumstances the village economy system eventually failed to deliver adequately. It could not keep pace with the rapidly growing population of the ancient Kashmir; an objective reality that inspired people to separate industry from agriculture; a development well-disposed to help artisans to manage production units, on full-time basis independent of agriculture, to meet their increasing demands. As a result they began organising themselves as a separate class, different from that of the agriculturists and divided themselves in groups to be able to pursue their occupation in accordance with the doctrine of social division of labour. By doing so they set in motion a large-scale manufacturing of artistic goods whose demand induced merchants to launch markets in big cities and towns for their selling’. The new marketing system gradually became elaborate enough to focus more on commodity relationship; an unprecedented milieu that made socio-economic connections complex and multifarious.
It was, undoubtedly quite pretty, superb and outstanding quality development which segregated not only industry from agriculture – to pave way for progressive evolution of division of labour, marketing system, commodity economy but also brought around great improvement in the tools of production But unfortunately it could not extend its limbs beyond the end of the 13th century A.D when Kashmir began drifting towards anarchism. And it tumbled down in face of civil strife, court intrigues and political rivalries that characterised Kashmir then and which eventually induced the ferocious Mongols to obliterate it completely. Under their leader, Dulacha, the Mongols pierced the mountains and penetrated the difficult passes to get to Kashmir and wreak havoc on whatever was available there. A total destruction of men, women,children and material ensued. A large number of skilled artisans, merchants and markets also perished in the violence perpetrated by the invader. The Valley was left without material resources and productive forces. The essential components of its economy, industry, commerce and trade were shattered completely. Its culture, literature, art, everything was devastated. Or to quote Jonaraja, the contemporary chronicler ;
“Kashmir became almost a region before creation, a vast field with few men without food but full of grass.”
A large number of skilled artisan’s perished” in the violence perpetrated by the invader; leaving Kashmir without productive forces and essential components of its economy and industry.
What all this implies is that besides agriculture, trade and industry played a vital role in the socio-economic system prevailing in Kashmir before the advent of Islam. Commercial and cultural intercourse between Kashmir, China,India and Central Asia developed phenomenally. Science, sculpture, literature and art and architecture also received a great boost”. But at the same time, certain features of disintegration and degeneration also appeared on the Scene to create, subsequently, irreparable cracks in the system. Industry, commerce and trade might have received set-back due to civil strife and internal infringements and dissensions fomented by the Damaras, a class of big landlords, and the Darad and the Mongol intrusions. But that was the last straw on the camel’s back. It was one thing to separate industry from agriculture but another thing to maintain and expand it as a permanent feature. It required absolute stability, peace and harmony to flourish and live longer. But the all invasive and highly centralised government of the period could not afford these on account of poor means of transport and communications. The technological limitations of the age also worsened the situation. Considering the stagnation of the period, which plainly manifested itselt in kottarajism, thanapatism (political despotism), purohitism (spiritual exploitation), tantarism (social anarchism) and feudalism of the State that fleeced the people through an oppressive system of taxation, Kashmir had overstepped the mark”. It did not, therefore, take long to crumble under the hammer-blows of the ambitious Mongol invader, Dullacha.
Thus, it was against this background that the Sultans established Sultanate in Kashmir in1320 A.D and endeavoured to lift the Valley from its age-old stagnation, despondency and melancholy by systematically restructuring its economy on sound basis. They had to start afresh. The first thing they did, therefore, was to restore peace and order. The restoration of order enabled them to usher in a new socio-economic environment based on Islam which, over a long period of time, had imbibed a great deal from the Central Asian Civilization.
The new setting brought about a tremendous change in the socio-economic relations. It made history by introducing Karkhanas in Kashmirls. These Karkhanas were established with the active co-operation of the Muslim missionaries from Central Asia who had immigrated into Kashmir in consequence of their persecution by Timur.
This makes one think why these missionaries helped the Sultans of Kashmir to reshape industry on the model of the Central Asian Karkhanas.
It can be understood if we approach it from the standpoint of the historical conditions obtaining in Kashmir at the time of arrival of the missionaries with the aims they tried to achieve.
These missionaries came to Kashmir at a very critical juncture of history when the Valley was deeply suffering from socio-economic turmoil, politico religious disquiet and ideological unrest. The old had almost faded away; the new was yet to be born. Takıng into account the stage of social evolution of the times, a new religion and ideology was obviously needed to fill the void. And this religion came with the missionaries who had absorbed a great deal from the central Asian civilization. This religion was Islam.
Dr. Abdul Ahad is a well-known historian of Kashmir. He presents a perspective on the Kashmir issue and talks about Kashmir’s history and individuality and personality.