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The Kashmir Education, Culture and Science Society (KECSS)
in collaboration with N.S. Kashmiri Research Institute held for
the first time in the National Capital, New Delhi, a National
Seminar on 12 November, 2000 on "Remembering Lal Ded in
Modern Times". Lal Ded is considered the greatest spiritual
seer and saint-poetess of Kashmir. She lived in Kashmir in the
14th century. Yet, her, spiritual eminence is known to every
Kashmiri even to this day. She also was a great poetess and
thinker and created identity for Kashmiri people as a peace
loving, artistic, and cultural people of India who believed in the
composite culture of the country. Taking into consideration the
recent turmoil in the valley because of militant forces operating
from outside Kashmir borders, there is need by scholars to write
about the heritage of harmony left behind by Lal Ded and her
eminent followers like Nund Rishi and other well-known Rishis. Her
vaakhs or sayings provide source for peace and harmony.
Religious extremism and fundamentalism will gave way to
traditional love between communities and, bring enlightenment.
The participants in this seminar on Lal Ded attracted a wide
spectrum of eminent scholars, scientists and thinkers. Some
participants presented papers, and some spoke it depth on the
occasion. It is hoped that this seminar proceedings will
reciprocate ideas from various academic centers of the world,
desiring a peaceful world order.
The book should be of wide interest in India and outside India.
It should crease harmony and creativity for our mankind. The KECSS
is on the threshold of starting an International Center for
Kashmir Studies in order to extensively research on the academic,
cultural and social heritage of Kashmir. This seminar provides a
very good beginning in this direction.
We thank the distinguished scholars, executive committee
members of KECSS, notably Prof. B.B. Dhar, Mr. M.L. Bhatt, Prof.
S. Bhatt, Mr. M.L. Kachru, Mr. A.K Jalla and others who made this
historic seminar a success. The Kashmiri community in Pamposh
Enclave, New Delhi has always been supporting academic efforts by
KECSS. We are grateful to the members of this community for their
creative interest.
To Dr. S.S. Toshkhani, an erudite scholar, we are thankful for
planning this seminar along with KECSS members, and for editing
the seminar proceedings with great insight. Lastly, we are
thankful to Mr. S.B. Nangia of A.P.H. Publishing Corporation for
publication of this book expeditiously.
Mr. M.K. Kaw
President, KECSS
Prof. B.B. Dhar
Vice President, KECSS
B-36, Pamposh Enclave,
New Delhi 110 0048
July 1, 2002
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