Sir Marc Aurel Stein, a prominent Hungarian scholar, explorer, archaeologist, and geographer, is renowned for his English translation of the Sanskrit metrical chronicle "Rajatarangini" by poet Pandit Kalhana. Stein's visits to Kashmir, spanning from 1888 to 1943, were marked by contemplation in the alpine meadow of Mahand Marg, where he translated and edited the chronicle. Engaged by the Dogra Ruler for this task, Stein collaborated with eminent Pandit Sanskrit scholars like Govind Koul. Contemporaneously, Sir Walter Lawrence, a distinguished figure in the Indian Civil Service, significantly impacted Kashmir's history. As the Settlement Commissioner, he completed pioneering work on permanent land settlement and authored "Valley of Kashmir," offering invaluable insights into Kashmir's culture and people. Lawrence's commitment extended to post-retirement roles, including service during WWI and diplomatic missions. Despite his contributions, there i
R C Ganjoo The local Sarpanch informed us that we were first supposed to reach Anderwan village, the starting point to Mohand Marg. I had heard about Mohand Marg from elders, and later on, I read about its significance. Sir Marc Aurel Stein’s name always made me inquisitive to know why he had chosen this location situated at a height of 11000 feet in the woodland of the Himalayas, to translate Kalhan Pandit’s celebrated history Rajatarangini and add to it […]
Sir Marc Aurel Stein (1862-1943), the Hungarian-born British archaeologist. A prominent Great Game character, Stein is most known for his frequent forays into Central Asia. To Kashmir, however, he is known as the bachelor sahib who would live in a tent pitched at Mohand Marg (Kangan) while shuttling between Lahore and Central Asia and translating Rajatarangni from Sanskrit into English. Apart from local resource persons, only his dog, Dash, would live with him. Between 1888 and 1943, he is in Kashmir almost every year. In his memory, a small museum is coming up at the spot he would live in the meadows. In this excerpt from his work is a detailed introduction to the origin and actions of the Damaras, Kashmir’s perpetual feudal lords