Valleys first bookstore

One of the oldest markets of Srinagar- Maharaj Gunj has an historic book store to offer which was established in 1890’s. During the Maharaja regime in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, a Kashmiri man- Ghulam Mohammad Bhat who was then 30 year old had a dream of education for the folks of the Valley and started a book store.
  

“In early days we used to sell only Kashmiri, Arabic and Farsi books. Bhat would go Lahore to bring books from there. During Maharaja Rule Kashmiri Muslims were not much educated so it was my grandfather wish to open book store to spread knowledge,” recalls grandson Iqbal Mohd.

The publishing house “Ghulam Mohd Noor Mohd Publishing house” was found in 1890’s. Till 1917 Ghulam Mohd was alone looking at store but after that Bhat elder son Noor Mohd joined his father foot step as to spread more knowledge among Kashmiri peoples. “My father was 10^th class pass, at that time matric pass was called an intellectual and also he had a good hold on English, Farsi and Kashmiri language” said Iqbal. 

During that era Noor Mohd used to travel throughout valley to collect Kashmiris chronicle for preservation. He has a deep bond with Kashmiri literature. Till 1947 Noor Mohd would to go Lahore to bring books but after the partition Lahore train stopped and Delhi, Lucknow started.

Iqbal Mohd further added “During that period there were few educational institutes, one of them was Islamia High School and Tyndale Biscoe and also there were some English medium school in valley so demand of English literature was less.”

Many people don’t know about Noor Mohd contribution to Kashmiri society. Noor Mohd used to visit different places to collect material from Kashmiris Islamic scholars and poets. Then they used to write it on copy for publication which to bring published from Delhi. “Everyone can’t effort books so there were only few elite class people mostly Kashmiri Pundits whom used to buy books,” said Iqbal.

Nearly selling books from more than centuries ‘Bhat’ caste has been replaced by ‘Kitab’. “Everyone calls us by our sir name Kitab and I am proud of that. We have been serving books from 19^th century so our caste has changed to Kitab,” said Iqbal.

Many people are not aware that Noor Mohd was also a writer who had written 175 books and one of the best among them is (Tareeq-a- Kashmir in 1952) all the books are written in Kashmiri language. He had spent his entire life to preserve the Kashmir’s history through his collection of books for the younger generations to come. “I had heard from my uncle that my father was so dedicated that he would travel across valley to meet poets of Kashmir,” said Iqbal.

In 1922 Noor started his own publication house by collecting material from different places and then compiling it in one book and bringing printed copies from Lahore. “Thousands of books we used to bring from Lahore. Demands for Kashmiri literature were increasing. There was no educational institution, media and university. We became the source for books and we contributed in a large way as we were playing the role of cultural academia in valley,” recalls Iqbal.

In Kashmir there was nothing big regarding education system in that epoch. Even matriculation was considered as elitist. At that period, Noor spread the Noor (enlighten) to the people of Kashmir.

Noor also was one among the rebels who stood against the Maharaja in 1931. “He was supporting ferment through education, he was making plans and strategies against the oppression,” recalls Iqbal.

After 1947 when India and Pakistan were put on World map and both the new nations claimed of this princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Noor thought of bringing printing press to Kashmir and in 1955 he brought.

“Stream printing press was the first press that my father brought from Delhi. After that we used to publish books from our own press” said Iqbal. Printing press was set up in central hub area of Srinagar Lal Chowk near KMD bus stand. “It was the first press that was owned by a Muslim person and we used to print every book but our main focus was on Islamic books,” recalls Iqbal.

Nearly for past one decade stream press was going smooth but new technologies were arriving in market and Noor thought of bring Litho printing press (printing from a metal or stone surface). “We also printed few newspapers of that time. As my father died in 1965 nobody was left who can continue printing press so that we sell the press and our main focus remains back on books. I was only two years old when my father died,” said Iqbal.

Further Iqbal added “After that it was my uncles who were running this store. But soon I got interested and I joined my father and grandfather historic book store. I brought new books in store and some English literature.”

Noor contribution to Kashmiri society is a lot but grandson of Ghulam Mohd has one request. “I want one special award in the department of Kashmiri language in Kashmir University by the name of Noor Mohd. It has been discussed so many times but still they had not implemented it. It a request through your medium,” said Iqbal.

Ends…