The grave of a 16th century Kazakh-origin military commander, politician and historian, Muhammad Haidar Dulati, who served under Mughal Emperor Humayun, has been restored by the Embassy of Kazakhstan and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The site of the restored grave was opened to the general public following a formal ceremony that included offering of prayers by a number of dignitaries, including Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to India Bulat Sarsenbayev, and others.
Dulati was an outstanding son of the Kazakh Steppes, a representative of the ancient Kazakh tribe of Dulat, a prominent politician and a historian. He wrote the book “Tarih-i-Rashidi” which contains information about the formation of the Kazakh Khanate, as well as of events that took place on Kazakhstan territory and in Kashmir.
In addition to the ceremony to mark the formal opening of the restored grave, which goes by the name of “Mazar-i-Salatin” (Cemetery of the Sultans of the Empire of the Great Moguls), a desk containing chronological information about the site in English and Urdu has been installed to inform visitors about the life and times of Dulati. The text has been prepared by the Embassy of Kazakhstan and staff of the Taraz State University named after Dulati.
The restoration of Dulati’s grave and the information desk is the result of more than two years of work put in by Ambassador Sarsenbayev. He saw the dilapidated state of the grave during a visit to Kashmir in September 2015, and decided that something had to be done about it.
“The process of obtaining permits, determining the responsible institution, working and agreeing on the text of the information desk took more than two years. As a result, with the full support of the Government of India represented by the Archaeological Survey of India, we have managed to pay tribute to this great son of our people and his activities,” the Kazakh envoy said after the opening ceremony that took place on Thursday.
During the visit, an international conference titled “Muhammed Haidar Dulati: The Golden Bridge between India and Kazakhstan” with the support of the embassy and the Centre of Central Asian Studies of the Kashmir University.
A delegation of the Taraz State University led by Rector Mahmetgali Sarybekov and Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Science of Kazakhstan Absattar Derbisali attended the conference. The delegation also included professors and students of the university. Moderators were Ambassador Sarsenbayev and Professor G.N. Kahki, Director of the Centre of Central Asian Studies of Kashmir University.
Superintending archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India (Srinagar Circle) Dr. Vasant Kumar Swarnakar, Director of the Department of Tourism of the State of Jammu and Kashmir Mahmood Ahmad Shah and Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University Prof. Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi were also present on the occasion.
Over 100 representatives of various scientific institutions of India participated in the conference.
Professors of Kashmir University and Taraz State University presented their papers on the life and works of Dulati and the development of relations between Kazakhstan and India.
Ambassador Sarsenbayev thanked everyone involved in the restoration of the grave of Dulati and those involved in organising the conference. He also informed the audience about the current level of bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and India, including the fact that both nations were developing a strategic partnership.
Revealing that Kazakhstan is currently the second largest trade partner of India among the post-Soviet countries, he said.
He described Kazakhstan as India’s real partner, providing stable support to New Delhi on international platforms, especially during the period of non-permanent membership of Kazakhstan in the UN Security Council. He also emphasized the importance of developing relations between higher educational institutions of the two countries.
Professor G.N. Kahki expressed the hope that the work done will further strengthen the friendship between the two countries. Professor Andrabi expressed his desire to further develop cooperation with the Taraz State University.
Embassy staff prepared and distributed printed brochures with the text of the last Address of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. At the conclusion of the conference, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation was signed between the Taraz State University and Kashmir University.
