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Natural Disasters in Medieval Kashmir (16 th to 17 th Centuries)

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH CULTURE SOCIETY ISSN: 2456-6683 Volume - 2, Issue - 1, Jan – 2018
UGC Approved Monthly, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed, Indexed Journal Impact Factor: 3.449 Publication Date: 31/01/2018

Natural Disasters in Medieval Kashmir (16th to 17th Centuries)

Dr. Sameer Ahmad Sofi
CAS, Dept. of History, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
Email: [email protected]

Abstract: Kashmir has been the victim of natural disasters since the time immemorial. It is a seismic
prone region and has been hit by severe earthquakes. It has witnessed disastrous floods, huge
snowfalls, fires, famines and plagues. The available literature on the natural disasters during 16th and
17th century Kashmir is very scarce. The recent floods and earthquakes underlined the need for
collecting information about the natural disasters in the medieval period. The present paper is an effort
in this direction to made intensive search of the sources available dealing with the natural disasters in
medieval Kashmir. In this paper, attempt has been firstly made to understand the meaning of a natural
disaster and then it deals with some of the important disasters and the perception of historians dealing
with them.

Key Words: Kashmir, natural disaster, earthquake, famine, fire, plague.

1. INTRODUCTION:
A ‘natural disaster’ is a major adverse event resulting from natural processes like floods, earthquakes, fires,
drought, epidemic, crop failures, plague and other geo-environmental processes. A natural hazard becomes a disaster
only when it causes loss of life or property and typically leaves some economic damage in its wake, the severity of
which depends on the affected population's resilience or ability to recover and also on the infrastructure available.
A natural disaster can neither be stopped, nor be slowed, and nor be diverted. Hazards are part of our life. Man cannot
live totally in a risk free environment. Kashmir valley is seismically active earthquake prone area. It has witnessed
earthquakes (big and small) throughout history. Apart from that, majority of the houses in Kashmir were built of wood
and they witnessed fires time and again in history which resulted in a huge loss of men and property. Kashmir also
witnessed crop failures a number of times and apart from that the Medieval Indo-Persian historians especially Jahangir
also mentions of a plague and also some European travelers in their accounts mention of some famines and some
serious diseases. Some of the important natural disasters that occurred during the 16 th and 17th century Kashmir are as
under:-

2. Earthquake of September 24, 1501 A.D.

As far as earthquakes in medieval Kashmir are concerned, the Sanskrit as well as Persian sources does not
mention about the magnitude and frequency of earthquakes because Geological sciences were not developed to the
extent that magnitude of the earthquake could be measured. It was only in the 1930's that Charles F. Richter, a
California seismologist, introduced the concept of measuring the earthquake magnitude. However on the basis of
damage caused by the earthquakes in medieval Kashmir, we can just imagine how serious the earthquakes occurred.
Among the most severe earthquakes in Medieval Kashmir is the earthquake of September 24, 1501. Although we do
not have data available about the number of persons died or of the number of houses and other structures damaged but
on the basis of available information it is predicted that it was very disastrous and caused huge damage to property and
human life of Kashmir. The shocks of earthquakes continued for the next three months which created fear of death
among the natives of Kashmir.
Pir Hassan Shah in his Tarikh-i-Hasan records that, “On September 24, 1501 A.D. during the reign of Sultan
Fateh Shah, a severe earthquake occurred in which the creatures of God lost their lives and houses were razed to the
ground. The earth and the sky remained in tumult for a period of three months, then after three months normalcy was
restored” (Hassan Khuihami, p. 216; Iyenger, Sharma and Siddiqui, 1999, p. 186).

3. Earthquake of September, 1555

Among the earthquakes of Medieval Kashmir, the year 1555 A.D. is regarded as the most terrible year in
Medieval Kashmir due to the occurrence of a destructive earthquake which caused huge loss of life and property. This
earthquake continued for seven days. It was so terrible that it caused holes in the ground. The houses fell into these
holes and people were able to come out of the houses only by breaking the roof. Some houses fell into the river

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH CULTURE SOCIETY ISSN: 2456-6683 Volume - 2, Issue - 1, Jan – 2018
UGC Approved Monthly, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed, Indexed Journal Impact Factor: 3.449 Publication Date: 31/01/2018

Jhelum and because they were all made of wood they flouted for a long. Haider Malik says that it brought to mind of
the inhabitants of Kashmir, the memory of the “Dooms Day”. Among the most terrible happenings, is a tradition that
in Bijbehara of Maraj division, there were two hemlets Hasanpur and Husainpur, which were situated on both sides of
the river of the town (Bihat/ Jhelum). Both these hamlets changed their sides from left to right and from right to left at
midnight, with their houses and residents (Haider Malik, MS., 158ab; Iyenger, Sharma and Siddiqui, 1999, p. 188).
Nizamuddin Ahmad also mentions of a Village ‘Mardar’ which is situated below the foot of hill in which sixty
thousand people perished due to land slide (Nizamuddin Ahmad, II, 1875, p. 622). Tarikh-i-Farishta also mentions
this and says that about six hundred people lost their lives due to the occurrence of landslide which was caused by the
earthquake (M. Qasim, II, 1865, p. 359; Iyenger, Sharma and Siddiqui, 1999, p.187). Following are the views of the
historians about the earthquake of September 1555:
The Sanskrit Chronicler Suka in Rajtarangni mentions, “In the month of Asvina of the year 30, (The year 30 is
Laukik year used in Rajtarangni and the month Asvin corresponds to September, the corresponding year is 1555 A.D.)
there occurred frequent earthquakes on account of the wicked acts of the King as if the earth suffered from the
flatulency. The planet which causes calamity is assuaged by various acts, by gifts of land to independent people, by
giving back to men their properties which had been robbed, and by like deeds. Now there occurred an earthquake at
the second watch of night when all men were asleep, and it destroyed many people. It caused holes in the ground, and
travelers going on their way were misled at every step. Houses fell into these holes at night and people, anxious to get
out of their houses in the morning, issued by breaking through the roof. On this occasion many wooden houses fell
into the water of the Vitasta (Jhelum), and when they had floated down for seven kroshas,(one krosha is equal to two
miles) the people who were in them awoke and came out. The confusion caused by earthquake in two towns of
Hastinapura and Hosainpura, situated at some distance across the river, can be seen even to this day. Pitiable cries of
lamentation of the much afflicted people were then heard calling “O father!” “O mother!” “O friend!” “O brother!” in
different places, which made the heart feel as it were struck by the thunderbolt. At this time the sky appeared terrible
with claps of thunder, the movements of the stars were stopped, and the land was agitated like a ground on the waves.
The mind of the people became troubled with the fear of the earthquake, and they felt no affection for sons or friends
or wives or for good men or for kind hearted people or for any object whatever…The earth quake continued for
several days, occurring several times every day, and all the people lived under canvas” (J.C.Dutt, III, 1887, pp. 380-
82).
Nizamuddin Ahmad in Tabakat-i-Akbari mentions that, “In the year 962 H/ 1555 A.D. there was a great
earthquake in Kashmir and many villages and towns were destroyed… In a village called Mardar situated at the foot
of a hill, owing to the land slip about thirty thousand people perished” ((Nizamuddin Ahmad, II, 1875, p. 622).
Mohammad Qasim Ferishta in Tarikh-i-Ferishta says that, “In the year 962 H/ 1555, A severe earthquake occurred in
Kashmir, many villages and towns were destroyed. On this occasion the hamlet of Nilu and Adampur situated on the
side of the river Bihat with their bulidings and trees were being transported and appeared on the other side of the river
and the village of Mawar which is situated below the mountain, due to falling of the mountain over it about six
hundred people lost their life” (M. Qasim, II, 1865, p. 359).
Haider Malik Chadura in Tarikh-i-Kashmir narrates that, “During the reign of Habib Shah in the year 960 H.
An extraordinary and unique earthquake occurred. It brought to mind the memory of the “Dooms Day”. Of the many
uncommon occurances of this earthquake is, sinking of many houses under the ground. The residents of these houses
came out through the openings of roof with which the people of Kashmir are accustomed. On all sides the ruins and
debris of the houses were visible due to the shock of the earthquake. Among other extraordinary happenings, whose
authenticity is on the narrator of this event, is a tradition that in Mauza (village) Bilarah (Bijbehara) of Maraj division,
near the pass of NandMarg, there were two hemlets Hasanpur and Husainpur, which were situated on both sides of the
river of the town (Bihat). Both these hamlets changed their sides from left to right and from right to left at midnight,
with their houses and residents. Husainpur which was situated on the right side of the river in its place Hasanpur was
transported and Hasanpur which was situated on the left side of the river (Bihat) in its place Husainpur was
transported. Still the residents of the left side though reside on this side (right) cultivated their fields on the other side
(left). Besides this reports of other earthquakes have also been reported from Kashmir in the same way. If the entire
description is mentioned here it will appear like an exaggeration. The earthquake continued for seven days” (Haider
Malik, MS., 158ab).
The later Indo-Persian historians like Narain Koul Ajiz, Khawaja Muhammad Azam Diddamari and Pir
Hassan Shah also have the same narrative about this great earthquake. It looks they have consulted the works of
previous authors and does not provide any new information. However, Khawaja Muhammad Azam Diddamari and
Pir Hassan Shah verified the authenticity of this event narrated by 17th century historians by the cross cultivation of
Hasanpur and Husainpur. Pir Hasan Shah writing in the 19th century says that even today the people of Husainpur
cultivate their land in Husanpur and that of Husanpur cultivate their land in Husainpur (Hassan Khuihami, II, p. 243;
Narain Koul, MS. 75b, 76a; Diddamari, MS. f. 94a).

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH CULTURE SOCIETY ISSN: 2456-6683 Volume - 2, Issue - 1, Jan – 2018
UGC Approved Monthly, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed, Indexed Journal Impact Factor: 3.449 Publication Date: 31/01/2018

4. Earthquake of 1560-61
There is a passing reference in Suka Rajtarangni, who mentions that in 1560-61, during the reign of Ghazi
Shah who ruled for two years only, “The King saw conflagrations in different directions and there occurred
earthquakes” (J.C.Dutt, III, 1887, p. 387). Although it does not give us exact details of how many earthquakes
occurred and how much damage does they caused. However, on the basis of information given in Rajtarangni it can
be assumed that a number of earthquakes may have occurred throughout the year.
5. Earthquake of 1569-77
Suka also mentions of an earthquake during the reign of Ali Shah (1569-77), with no specific year mentioned,
it is stated, “The world showed symptoms of a calamity and trembled, as if unable to bear the weight of a famine…”
((J.C.Dutt, III, 1887, p. 394). From this statement of Suka, it is assumed that famine may have been the cause of the
earthquake.

6. Famine of 1597
In 1597, a severe and devastating famine broke out. Father Xavier writes about the gruesome effects of the
famine and says that, “The mothers were rendered destitute and having no means of nourishing their children, exposed
them for sale in the public places of the city, moved to compassion by the pitiable sight, the father brought many of
these little ones, who soon after receiving baptism, yielded up their spirits to their creator. A certain Saracen (Muslim),
seeing the charity of the father towards these children, brought him one of his own; but the father gave it back to the
mother; together with a certain sum of money for its support; for he was unwilling to baptize it; seeing that if it
survived, there was little prospect of its being able to live a Christian life in that country. At day break, next morning,
however, the mother knocked at the door of his lodging, and begged him to come to her house and baptize the child,
having first obtained the consent of its father. The later, after it was dead, wished to circumcise it but for this the father
would not permit but buried it with Christian rites” (Pierre Du Jarric, 1979, pp. 177-78).

7. Plague of 1617 AD
In 1617 AD, a devastative plague broke out. Jahangir in his Tuzuk writes about the plague and says that, “The
plague had taken a firm hold of the country (Kashmir) and that many had died. The symptoms were that the first day
there was headache and fever and much bleeding at the nose. On the second day the patient died. In the houses where
one person died all the inmates were carried off. Whoever went near the sick person or a dead body was affected in the
same way. In one instance, a dead body was thrown on the grass, and it chanced that a cow came and ate some of the
grass, it died, and some dogs that had eaten its flesh also all died. Things had come to such a pass that from fear of
death, father would not approach their children, and children would not go near their fathers” (Jahangir, I, 1909, p.
442).

8. Fire in 1619
Before Kashmir was freed completely from the plague, a fire broke out in the Valley in 1619 and Jahangir
says that almost 3000 houses burnt down (Jahangir, I, 1909, p. 442). The historical Jama Masjid of Srinagar also got
fire for which the historian Haider Malik Chadura and his father Malik Muhammad Naji were alleged for firing the
mosque, because of him being the Shia and the Sunni people of the city suspected them as a reprisal for the
destruction of the khankah of Shamsuddin Iraqi by the Sunnis during the reign of Mirza Haider Daughlat. The Sunnis
made petition to Jahangir for justice. Jahangir ordered that Haider Malik and his father should rebuild the mosque out
of their own expanses. They constructed the mosque as was ordered by the Emperor Jahangir out of their own
expanses. This fact is supported by an inscription on the stone slab on top of the entrance gate of the mosque (Parmu,
2009, pp. 305-06).

9. Famine of 1641
Again during the reign of Shahjahan in 1641, a great famine broke out due to the continuous and heavy
rainfall. This famine completely destroyed the crops. The scarcity of food stuffs forced a number of inhabitants to
migrate to other places. Lahore alone accommodated about 30000 people. Their hunger and wretched condition
touched even Shahjahan and he gave them one lakh rupees in cash and gave orders to open up ten kitchens to provide
free food for them (Lahori, 1868, pp. 282-83).

10. Earthquake of 23rd June, 1669

Muhammad Saqi Mustaid Khan reports of an earthquake on 23 June, 1669 and says that, “report of an
incident from Kashmir has been submitted before the King that on Wednesday 3 rd Safar, 1080 H. (23rd June, 1669) an
earthquake occurred in Kashmir from evening to the next morning. The buildings rocked like cradles but there was no
report of any calamity” (Saqi Mustaid Khan, 1947, p. 55). Pir Hasan Shah also gives similar information about this
earthquake. It looks that he might have only this source of information available about this event. He says that, “a

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH CULTURE SOCIETY ISSN: 2456-6683 Volume - 2, Issue - 1, Jan – 2018
UGC Approved Monthly, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed, Indexed Journal Impact Factor: 3.449 Publication Date: 31/01/2018

severe earthquake struck Kashmir which lasted from evening to morning. All the buildings of the city kept trembling
but fortunately no causality took place” (Hassan Khuihami, II, p. 408).

11. Earthquake of 1678-79

“During the governorship of Ibrahim Khan, first of all heavy floods occurred which caused a lot of
destruction. All the bridges of Bihat (Jhelum) River were destroyed. Houses got damaged. Crop fields and cattle were
also affected. The floods were followed by calamity of a severe earthquake. In which houses were destroyed and
living souls lost their lives. Due to the persistence of the earthquake for a long time people were shaken. Those who
were affected by earthquake constructed their separate (new) houses. The chronogram of the earthquake is taghyan-i-
behad (unlimited inundation), the earthquake was followed by severe flood” (Hassan Khuihami, II, p. 408).

12. CONCLUSION:
From the above discussion, we came to the conclusion that Kashmir had always been the region of natural
disasters. The earthquakes, floods, famines, fires, plagues caused a huge loss of life and property of its inhabitants.
The recent floods and earthquakes in the region further enhance the scope of the theme under review. It gives one
insight about the natural disasters which had struck Kashmir time and again in history. There had been all possible
measures taken on the part of rulers to recover and overcome from the disasters. For example after the famine of 1641,
Shahjahan gave amount of one lakh rupees in cash and also ordered to open up free kitchens to provide food for the
affected people.

REFERENCES:
1. Pir Hasan Shah Khuihami, Tarikh-i-Hasan, tr. into Urdu by Shareef Hussain Qasmi, Ali Muhammad and
Sons, Srinagar, Persian text of Tarikh-i-Hasan, is also available in manuscript form in CAS, Dept. of History,
Aligarh Muslim University.
2. R. M. Iyenger, Devendra Sharma and J.M. Siddqui, ‘Earthquake History of India in Medieval Times, Indian
Journal of History of Science, 34 (3), 1999.
3. Haider Malik Chadura, Tarikh-i-Kashmir, Manuscript in Indian Office Library, London, Rotograph No. 171,
C.A.S, Department of History, A.M.U, Aligarh.
4. Nizamuddin Ahmad, Tabakat-i-Akbari, vol. II, Newal Kishore Press, Lucknow, 1875.
5. Muhammad Qasim Ferishta, Tarikh-i-Ferishta or Gulshan-e-Ibrahimi, vol. II, Newal Kishore Press,
Lucknow, 1864-65.
6. Suka, Rajtarangni, in ed. Jogesh Chander Dutt, Kings of Kashmira, 3 volumes, vol. III, Mittal Publishers,
New Delhi, 1887.
7. Father Pierre Du Jarric, S. J, Akbar and the Jesuits: An Account of Jesuit Missions to The Court of Akbar,
edited by Sir E. Denison Ross and Eileen Power, Translated with an introduction and notes by C.H.Payne,
Tulsi Publishing House, New Delhi, 1979.
8. Nuruddin Jahangir, Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, vol. I, tr. into English by A. Rogers and H. Beveridge, Low Price
Publications, Delhi, 1909.
9. R. K. Parmu, History of Muslim Rule in Kashmir, Gulshan, Srinagar, 2009.
10. Lahori, Badshahnama, vol. II, ed. Kabir Al-Din Ahmad, Abd-Al-Rahim and W.N. Lees, Bibliothica Indica,
Calcutta, 1868.
11. Muhammad Saqi Mustaid Khan, Maasir-i-Alamgiri, tr. Into English by Jadaunath Sarkar, Calcutta, 1947.

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