Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 30

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday urged the Centre to initiate the process of securing UNESCO recognition for Kashmiri Sufiyana music, saying international status would help preserve one of the region’s oldest classical traditions and promote it globally.

In a letter to the Union Minister of Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Abdullah requested the Union Ministry to examine a proposal submitted by the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage seeking inscription of Kashmiri Sufiyana Music, also known as Sufiana Kalam or Sufiana Mousiqi, on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The chief minister described the centuries-old musical tradition as a distinctive blend of Sufi philosophy, devotional poetry and classical melody that reflects Jammu and Kashmir’s composite cultural heritage and long-standing traditions of religious harmony.

He said recognition under UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage framework would provide international visibility to the art form while strengthening efforts to safeguard, document and promote it for future generations.

“Recognition by UNESCO would not only ensure international visibility and safeguarding of this invaluable tradition but would also facilitate its preservation, documentation, promotion and transmission to future generations,” Abdullah wrote.

The proposal, originally submitted to the chief minister by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage on May 26, argues that Kashmiri Sufiyana music meets the eligibility criteria for inscription as an intangible cultural heritage tradition because of its historical, artistic and community value.

According to the proposal, the nomination process requires the state government’s recommendation before the dossier is forwarded to the Sangeet Natak Akademi under the Union Ministry of Culture, which prepares the formal nomination for submission to UNESCO.

Abdullah noted that INTACH had offered to provide technical assistance in preparing the nomination documents, citing its previous experience in developing UNESCO heritage proposals, including submissions related to Srinagar’s inclusion in international cultural initiatives.

The heritage body said inscription on UNESCO’s list would encourage research, documentation and community participation while helping preserve the tradition through greater institutional support. It also said global recognition could strengthen cultural tourism by drawing attention to Kashmir’s rich musical heritage.

Kashmiri Sufiyana music is regarded as one of the region’s oldest classical performing arts, combining Persian and Central Asian musical influences with indigenous Kashmiri traditions. Performed using a distinctive ensemble of traditional instruments, the genre has long been associated with Sufi devotional poetry and remains an important expression of Kashmir’s cultural identity despite facing declining patronage in recent decades.