Philosophy of Lalla and Its Ontological Impacts on Social Reforms and Cohesion in Kashmir

Abstract

Kashmir is multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and diverse pluralist region in which the people from difference religions, cultures and ethnicity having their own faiths and interests but living together in cohesion and social harmony. The objectives are to explore the social transformational process in Kashmiri society by the most influential personalities. The foundation of this pluralist society is surrounded around few personalities like Lalla Arifa; a legendary lady saint who was founder of modern Kashmiriyat through her philosophical poetry. She contributed as a remarkable thinker, a mystic, a philosopher, social activist and reformer who challenged the conventional caste-based divisions and brought social unity. This study is based upon qualitative research methods focusing upon analytical and descriptive approaches to identify her messages which are currently known as “wakhs”. These “wakhs” are recognized as reformist intellectualism and sophistic methodology. Her literary contribution made social binding, mutual respect and harmony in Kashmir.