OnlyKashmir.in News Desk
New Delhi, July 31: In a significant step towards preserving and promoting Kashmir’s rich literary and spiritual heritage, the Sahitya Akademi has translated and published works on renowned Kashmiri women poets and mystics, including Lal Ded, Habba Khatoon and Rupa Bhavani, in multiple Indian languages. The information was shared by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat while replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha.
The Minister said the Sahitya Akademi carries out literary translations across 24 recognised Indian languages, ensuring that the timeless contributions of these iconic personalities reach readers throughout the country.
Among the notable publications is the Hindi translation of Lal Ded’s celebrated mystical verses, released under the title Lalleshwari Ke Vakh. The work has been edited by Radhavallabh Tripathi and translated by Adwaitvadini Kaul. In addition, monographs on Lal Ded have been published in English, Hindi and Urdu.
The Akademi has also released monographs on Habba Khatoon in English, Hindi, Tamil and Urdu, while a dedicated publication on Rupa Bhavani is available in English. These initiatives aim to introduce future generations to the literary, philosophical and cultural legacy of Kashmir’s most revered women poets.
Shekhawat further highlighted the Ministry of Culture’s flagship initiative, Gyan Bharatam, which focuses on surveying, documenting, conserving, digitising and researching India’s manuscript heritage through partnerships with universities, scholars and research institutions. Under the programme, Jammu and Kashmir received financial assistance of ₹16.55 lakh during 2024-25 and ₹28 lakh during 2025-26 to strengthen heritage documentation and preservation efforts.
