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1. The Ornamental Word: Kashmir produced a number of renowned calligraphers in the medieval period- both associated with the native independent court and those who became a part of the Mughal, Durrani, Sikh and Dogra Durbar. One of the best calligraphic panel surviving in the...
2. Srinagar is at Kathi Darwaza, main gateway to Akbar’s city of Nagar Nagar. This panel is written in nastaliq, a style that found much favor in the Mughal court & was undertaken by Muhammad Husayn (d. 1020AH/1612CE) who was bestowed by Akbar with the title of Zarin Kalam
3. Specimens of Husayns calligraphic work can be found in numerous museums and possibly some private collections across the world including Bodleian Library, RASGI, Walters Art museum, etc. According to Abu’l Fazl, Maulana Muhammad Husayn was a student of Maulana Abdul Aziz, and
4. would sign off his work as Faqir-I Kashmiri, Muhammad Husayn Akbar Shahi, Banda-I Muhammad Husayn Kashmiri etc. Muhammaed Husayn worked both for Akbar and his son Jahangir. In Kashmir he had been associated with the Chak court. Some of the major works that he undertook
5. ...in the Mughal atelier include Jami’s ‘Baharistan’, Khamsa-I Amir Khusrau etc. (The images are from Met exhbition). He was regarded on par with masters of nastaliq, like Sultan Ali Mashadi & Mir Ali. His son Muhammad Ali was also a reputed calligrapher at the Mughal court.
6. Husayn was followed by another Kashmiri calligrapher Muhammad Murad who was rewarded with the title of ‘Shireen Kalam’ Sweet Pen. Some other Kashmiri calligraphers & painters at the Mughal court include, Muhammad Baqir, Haider, Kamal, Ahmed, Muhammad Reza, Yaqoob Kashmiri etc
7. Including a link on Kashmiri calligraphers that was held in Pakistan in 2017 & images of a few recent work by young Kashmiri artists. Still, unfortunately calligraphers whose work can be found across the world in museums and galleries' are forgotten in their native land.
