Historical Personalities
| Name | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Lalitaditya Muktapida | Great ruler of Karkota Dynasty (8th century) – expanded Kashmir’s empire across north India |
| Zain-ul-Abidin (Budshah) | Sultan of Kashmir (15th century) – promoted arts, crafts, religious tolerance |
| Raja Avantivarman | Founder of Utpala Dynasty – built Avantiswami Temple |
| Queen Didda | Powerful woman ruler of Kashmir (10th century) |
| Shah Mir | Founder of Shah Mir Dynasty, first Muslim ruler of Kashmir (14th century) |
🧑💼 2. Political Leaders
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah | Founder of National Conference, key figure in J&K politics, 1st Prime Minister of J&K |
| Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad | Second Prime Minister of J&K |
| Ghulam Nabi Azad | Former CM of J&K, Senior INC & later DPAP leader |
| Mufti Mohammad Sayeed | Founder of PDP, former Home Minister & CM |
| Mehbooba Mufti | First woman CM of J&K |
| Farooq Abdullah | Senior leader, former CM, and MP |
| Syama Prasad Mukherjee | Opposed special status (Article 370), died in Kashmir custody |
| Karan Singh | Son of Maharaja Hari Singh, former Sadr-e-Riyasat & Union Minister |
✍️ 3. Poets & Writers
| Name | Language | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Lal Ded (Lalleshwari) | Kashmiri | 14th-century mystic poetess – Vakh poetry |
| Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani (Nund Rishi) | Kashmiri | Rishi saint and poet – symbol of harmony |
| Habba Khatoon | Kashmiri | Romantic poetess – wife of Yousuf Shah Chak |
| Rasul Mir | Kashmiri | 19th-century romantic poet – called John Keats of Kashmir |
| Mahjoor (Peerzada Ghulam Ahmad) | Kashmiri | National poet of Kashmir |
| Rehman Rahi | Kashmiri | Jnanpith awardee poet |
| Amin Kamil | Kashmiri | Modern short story writer and poet |
| Ghulam Nabi Firaq | Kashmiri | Known for critical work and poetry |
📚 4. Literary Personalities
| Name | Award/Note |
|---|---|
| Rehman Rahi | Jnanpith Award 2007, Sahitya Akademi award |
| Nilamber Dev Sharma | Dogri writer – Sahitya Akademi award |
| Rattan Lal Shant | Kashmiri writer, Sahitya Akademi award |
| Shahnaz Rashid | Prominent Urdu/Kashmiri author |
| Arjan Dev Majboor | Prominent poet and scholar of Kashmiri language |
| Jitendra Udhampuri | Dogri, Hindi and Urdu writer, Sahitya Akademi awardee |
🇮🇳 5. Padma Awardees from J&K
| Name | Award | Field |
|---|---|---|
| Rehman Rahi | Padma Shri (2000) | Literature |
| M K Kaw | Padma Shri | Public Affairs |
| Mian Bashir Ahmed | Padma Bhushan | Social work (Gujjar leader) |
| Bashir Ahmad Bhat (Bashir Dada) | Padma Shri | Puppetry/Art |
| Jitendra Udhampuri | Padma Shri (2010) | Literature |
| Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz | Padma Shri | Music (Santoor) |
| Tsering Landol | Padma Bhushan | Gynecology (Ladakh) |
| Karma Sonam | Padma Shri | Social work (Ladakh) |
| Krishna Kumari (Kishtwar) | Padma Shri | Arts |
🎵 6. Musicians & Artists
| Name | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz | Maestro of Kashmiri Sufiana Mausiqi, revived Santoor music |
| Qazi Touqeer | Winner of Fame Gurukul – first Kashmiri to win national singing show |
| Shazia Bashir | Kashmiri folk singer |
| Rohit Sharma | Music composer from J&K |
| Abdul Rashid Hafiz | Famous Kashmiri folk singer |
| Raj Begum | Known as “Melody Queen of Kashmir” |
📌 Extra Important Personalities
| Name | Identity |
|---|---|
| Maharaja Hari Singh | Last Dogra ruler of J&K |
| Brigadier Rajinder Singh | “Saviour of Kashmir” – martyred in 1947 |
| Sonam Wangchuk | Education reformist, innovator from Ladakh |
| Tsewang Namgyal | Indian diplomat from Ladakh |
| Tsering Landol | Noted gynecologist from Ladakh, Padma Bhushan |
📘 Suggested Practice MCQs:
-
Who was called the John Keats of Kashmir?
Ans: Rasul Mir -
Who was the first woman CM of Jammu & Kashmir?
Ans: Mehbooba Mufti -
Rehman Rahi received which major literary award?
Ans: Jnanpith Award -
Who revived Sufiana Music in Kashmir?
Ans: Ustad Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz -
Who was the founder of the Shah Mir dynasty?
Ans: Shams-ud-Din Shah Mir