The years 2005, 2006 and 2007 will be remembered for ages to come in modern Kashmir history, as during this period several more findings in the shape of idols of Hindu deities, Buddha's statues, sculpture, coins and terracotta tiles have come out from different villages of this picturesque valley. The findings have world-over drawn the attention of many curators, historians and art lovers, who term them as rare gifts from the aborigines of Kashmir.
While South Kashmir village of Kutbal was in the news in 2005, it was North Kashmir's Kupwara district that was the focus of attention during 2006 as the findings at Zurhama in Kupwara were astonishing and such excavations were made for the first time from Kupwara belt.
The unearthing of four unique bronze sculptures at Zurhama added a new dimension to Kashmir's history. These findings in a remote village of north Kashmir have baffled the experts, who want to know more from the dumped past. Similarly, the ancient coins dug out from Rafiabad area of north Kashmir in 2006-2007 further added a new leaf to Kashmir's rich history.
The Zurhama, findings dated 9th century AD, have attracted many art lovers. Out of these findings is the rare idol of Lord Vishnu, a Hindu god seated on a Garuda. (An extinct animal).
Deputy Director Archeology, J&K Government, M S Zahid says that these findings reveal that Zurhama area was once inhabited by religious personalities and it was a seat of learning. Sharda Peeth was once a large and famous university with invaluable scriptures and documents, mostly written in Sanskrit on tree leaves, called Bojh pattars. However, the University was set on fire by fundamentalists after destroying the entire books and other valuable scriptures. The area is presently falling in Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK) and has an ancient temple there in shambles.
Similarly, the findings in the shape of terracotta heads and female body terracotta at Lethipora and Kutbal in South Kashmir have also added a new dimension to the history of Kashmir. The people living in 4th century were so urbanized that they used tiles.
Zahid regrets that no much work is being undertaken either at Zurhama or at Kutbal. ``The work on projects like Kutbal and Zurhama need to be speeded up and those experts, who have won applause for their work, be given a free hand to explore the past. This is indeed in the best interests of archaeology as well as Kashmir'', opines Zahid.
