An African Muslim Scholar sold as a slave:

Omar Ibn Said of the Tukolor Fula ethnicity was born in 1765 in Futa Toro, West Africa, present-day Senegal. He had received eduction in Arabic and religious studies for 25 years. The region was raided by the imperialists (1n) and he was taken a captive and sold as a slave in South Carolina to a cruel man called Johnson. To escape from his cruelty, Said ran away but was caught and jailed at Fayetteville, North Carolina. The pious man started writing in Arabic on the walls of the jail. (2/n)

Countries invaded, bombed or sabotaged by America after WW2:

China 1945-46

Syria 1949

Korea 1950-53

China 1950-53

Iran 1953

Guatemala 1954

Tibet 1955-70s

Indonesia 1958

Cuba 1959

D Rep. of Congo 1960-65

Iraq 1960-63

Dominican Republic 1961

Vietnam 1961-73

1n Brazil 1964

Belgian Congo 1964

Guatemala 1964

Laos 1964-73

Dominican Republic 1965

Peru 1965

Greece 1967

Guatemala 1967-69

Cambodia 1969-70

Chile 1970-73

Argentina 1976

Turkey 1980

Poland 1980-81

El Salvador 1981-92

Nicaragua 1981-1990

Cambodia 1980-95

2n

While flags usually represent solidarity of a people, the flag below represents disintegration of a Universal unity into “nation-ness” driven geographical fragments, designed and extended by Western imperial interests. The flag of Arab revolt against the Ottomans during WW1. (1/n The flag had been designed by Mark Sykes. Flags inspired by it include those of Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Kuwait, Sudan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Somaliland, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and Libya. The Sykes–Picot Agreement (2/n)

Hejaz Railway was an epidemic-avoiding (cholera), cheap conveyance for Hajis that ran from Damascus to Arabian Peninsula constructed from 1900-1908. Apart from its religious and political significance its importance lay in the fact that it marked Muslim solidarity. (1/n) It was proposed by an Indian Muslim by the name of Muhammad InshaAllah in 1897 who was a teacher and journalist. It was commisioned by the Turk Abdulhamid II as a mark of pride and defiance to European colonisers. It was build purely from Muslim money which was (2/n)

Indian Muslim soldiers in Singapore executed by the British after refusal to fight against Turkey, 1914-1915. Context (Thread)

The Fifth Light Infantry regimen of British Indian Army from Madras was sent to replace Yorkshire infantry. They consisted of Muslims who were Pathans and Rajputs and were mainly from the Haryana and Punjab areas. The Ottomans had sided with their (1/n)

The world’s first university was founded in 9th century C.E by a Muslim woman Fatima al-Fihri (also called “Umm-ul-Banayn). Established in the year 859, the University of al-Qarawiyyin was the first degree-granting educational institute in the world (as recognised by UNESCO (1/n) and Guinness World Records). Fatima was born in Tunisia and later migrated to Morocco. Upon the death of her father she inherited a large fortune. She invested the money in funding a local mosque and educational institution which took shape of a huge university named after her (2

Greek Kings of Kashmir:

There are 13 Greek kings related to ancient Kashmir, however 2 find a significant mention.

1. Demetrius, who ruled the Southern Part of Kashmir.

2. Menender (The Great) of Bactria, popular for his debate with a Kashmiri Buddhist priest Nagasena, (1/n) at a place 12 KMs from Srinagar, nowadays called Harwan.

Manender’s story is a fascinating one. He was born in Kalasi (Afghanistan) which was part of the Greek Kingdom. Strabo describes him as one of the most powerful kings of his time, even more powerful than Alexander. (2/n)

Known as Albucasis in West, his real name was Abu al-Qusim Al- Zahrawi. He is the father of Modern plastic surgery, having discussed surgeries for cleft lip/palate, ectropions, hypospadiasis and genital reconstruction, gynaecomastia and breast surgeries in 11th century. (1/n) The knife Al-Zahrawi invented for the Hypospadias (2/n)

The first detailed book on eye diseases was written in 13th century C.E by Khalifah Ibn Abi Al-Mahasin Al-Halabi. The book was the first to mention the anatomy of eyes in detail. It elegantly illustrated the anatomy of the eye globe, the optic nerves, (1/n) the optic chiasm, the optic pathway, the occipital lobe, the four cerebral ventricles, and the Dura mater and the Pia mater. The book illustrates ophthalmic surgical instruments with a drawings labelling and the way to use it. (2/n)

Spent whole night searching archives and downloading all the issues of National Geographic Magazine that featured Kashmir, from the earliest publication of the magazine. Sharing an article from 1929. This features some controversial photos of Kashmir ‘Hafizas’ (Dancers) (1/n) (2/n)

The Chinar.

Locally known as the “Buien”, according to a local legend the first Chinar tree is said to have been planted by Syed Qasim Shah in 1374 at Chhatergam, around 700 years ago. Vast plantation and popularisation of the tree is ascribed to Mughal Kings. (1/n) However, according to the conservator and environmentalist Mohammad Sultan Wadoo, the Buein was introduced in Kashmir valley from Greece, where it is named as ‘Platni’, when the Buddhist religion spread in the valley through the Buddhist monk Dharmarakista of Greece with the (2/n

Comments like “badzaat Kashmiri” etc. are tropes that have been employed in the past to degrade a Kashmiri. But many of the comments by the Western travellers are in praise of the Kashmiri locals. Going on to mention a few:

Lawrence: “there is hardly a thinng (1/n) that Kashmiri can’t do, as a fine craftsman he may have a few equals in the world, but none superior to him”

Younghusband: “Conservative the Kashmiri is, but not altogether impregnable to new ideas. He is kind ti his wife and children and divorce scandals or (2/n)

A brief hisoty of “Kanger”
Kanger: A fire pot that Kashmiris use to keep warm in chilling winters. In Kashmiri literature Kanger is considered as one’s beloved. Moti Lal Saqi writes in praise for Kanger:
“Kashmir and Kanger are each others identification. Present the (1/n) brazier anywhere and at anytime you identify Kashmir.”

The word ‘Kanger’ according to De Hultzseh seems to be derived from the word ‘Kasthangarika”. Auriel Stein also agrees that it is derived from the same word. Dr. W.F Elmslie, a well known missionary observed that (2/n)

Crossing Jhelum by means of a dangerous rope bridge.

In older days Chenab and Jhelum posed great challenges to the people. The bridges were less in number and the flow of the rivers was stronger as compared to today. So people would tie small rope bridges to cross (1) these rivers.

A British cricketer/traveller/photographer Godfrey Thomas Vigne travelled to Kashmir from 1835-1838 and mention such a make shift bridge in his book as follows:

“On both the sides of this rope about four feet high there are hanging ropes, made of the same (2)

‘MONDE KATH’: What does it mean?

Widow remarriage under Dogra rule

In the census of 1921 it was revealed that among Pandith community of Kashmir 22% females were widows and the proportion of females to males was 821 to 1000. Even some young girls and virgins (1/n) had been widowed. This stirred some conscious Kashmiri Pandits and Pandith Welfare Trust founded by a few youngsters started its struggle against the practice of not remarrying Pandit widows. Chander Joo, Harihar and SN Peshion voluntarily married widows. (2/n)

Human Rights, Amnesty and Sultan Salah-ud-Din Ayubi:

We are talking about 12th century C.E when the whole Europe was living their dark ages, small groups fighting and killing each other and savagery was the order of day. The middle world too was constantly (1/n) warring: tribes with tribes, kingdoms with kingdoms and civilisations with civilisations. Before the pre-modern concept of “Human Rights”, Sultan Salahuddin laid the most luminous examples of dignity for human life, tolerance, kindness and justice that would put (2/n)

The bridges of Srinagar:

First bridge (Amira Kadal) was built by Afghan governor Amir Khan Sher Jawan in 1774-1777 with the help of local boatmen (Hanjis). With the help of this strong and sturdy class he also built Sher Garhi Palace on it. (1/n) Second bridge (Habb’e Kadal) was been built by Sultan Habib Shah who reigned from 1557-1561 C.E. Some historians attribute its construction to Yusuf Shah Chak (1579-86) and is said to have been named after Habba Khatoon.
This bridge was rebuilt after the deluge of 1893. (2/n)

Sorry to say this is not correct. While we believe in Pan-Islamic solidarity whole heartedly, it does not need to be at a cost of historical fact. The fact that is described in detail by Muslim historians like Hassan Kuehaimi, Khwaja Muhammad Azam Dedmari along with (1/n)

https://twitter.com/CivitasKashmir/status/1435624660629078025

many Western scholars like Lawrence and Moorcraft. Even though the Afghans were brutal towards everyone, the Pandits were instruments for Afghans, they retained their positions and even progressed during the rule as Jia Lal Kilam mentions it clearly. Pandit (2/n)

Aryans in Kashmir:

From an archeological point, the Aryans in Kashmir is a misnomer. In the excavations that were conducted at two most important archeological sites in Kashmir: Burzohoum (located on Shalimar road) and Gufkral, no traces of Aryans as such have been found.
(1/n) An overview of Burzohoum excavation that every Kashmiri must know:

Burzhoum is dervied from ‘berze’ (berze kul) which is also called Birch tree which is deviduos tree native to Himalayas at high altitudes and has been found in ecavation areas as roofs of houses. (2/n)

MANTO AND KASHMIR:

After being displaced from Kashmir, in 19th century, his ancestors moved to Punjab. They had lived in Kashmir as 'Shawlbafs' (shawl weavers). Manto was always proud of his Kashmiri roots. In a letter to Nehru he wrote, "To be Kashmiri is to be beautiful"
(1/n) Manto's writings were a lucid blend of his Kashmiri roots, his gnawing Punjabi past, his excursions in markets of Delhi, alleys of Mumbai and his being a 'Mohajir' in Lahore.

In 1952 Manto wrote a preface to the collection of (2/n)

Jamia Masjid, Srinagar.

Commissioned by Sultan Sikandar in 1394 CE

Completed in 1402 CE

The space area of the Masjid is 146,000 sq. feet, The Masjid can hold 33,333 persons besides the Imam at a single prayer congregation.

(Colorised version of a photo from early 1900s)
(1/n Its walls are made of burnt bricks are over 4 feet (1.2 m) thick. The lower portion of the walls is made of rectangular stones. A total of 378 wooden columns support the roof. Each turret is supported by eight lofty pillars 48 feet (15 m) high and 6 feet (1.8 m) in girth. (2/n)