Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Onaiza Drabu Presents Kashmiri Literature Beyond the Page
Onaiza Drabu made a book of writing from Kashmir.
It gathers works written in the Kashmiri language across many centuries.
The book includes poems, stories and works that people have shared orally.
Drabu searched libraries, old recordings and digital archives to find them.
She also worked with translators to check the English versions.
She wanted to show that literature can live in homes and shrines, not just in printed books.
The anthology leaves out some works because translations were unavailable or similar themes were already included.
Drabu hopes the book helps more people discover Kashmiri literature.
Onaiza Drabu edited The Big Book of Kashmiri Literature, bringing together works in Kashmiri from the fourteenth century to the present.
The anthology includes poetry, prose, oral works and multiple genres, authors and translation styles.
Drabu drew on libraries, private collections, recordings, digital archives and conversations with translators to find and verify material.
She says the book focuses on Kashmiri-language writing because it reflects everyday life and literary traditions beyond formal publishing.
Drabu hopes English translations will introduce more readers to Kashmiri literature and encourage readership, translation and patronage.
- Who
- Editor Onaiza Drabu and the translators and writers whose works appear in the anthology.
- What
- The Big Book of Kashmiri Literature, an English-language anthology of works originally written in Kashmiri.
- When
- The works span from the fourteenth century to the contemporary era; Drabu describes several years of research and editing.
- Where
- The anthology focuses on Kashmiri literature and draws on collections and archives, including libraries in Srinagar and the University of Kashmir.
- Why
- Drabu wanted to represent the range of Kashmiri literature, including oral and everyday forms, and make it accessible to English-language readers.
- Editor
- Onaiza Drabu
- Title
- The Big Book of Kashmiri Literature
- Language of collected works
- Kashmiri
- Historical range
- Fourteenth century to the contemporary era
- Translation language
- English
- Sources consulted
- Libraries, personal collections, digital archives, recordings and conversations
- Selection approach
- A range of genres, writers and translators, including oral and non-traditional publishing contexts