Shireen Naman
The Kashmir Valley harbors an invaluable treasure within itself – its traditions, customs, and cultures. Unfortunately, these elements now seem to have vanished, earning them the title of “lost cultures.” The history of Kashmir is exceptionally vast, rich, and brimming with ethnic details.
Among the lesser-known facts is the existence of Kashmiri numerals, which form an essential part of knowledge and overall development. It is challenging to trace the exact era when the Kashmiri numerical system came into existence. According to estimations, it may have been invented after Islam reached Kashmir. However, some information can be gleaned from the “Shiraza” magazine of that time, registered with the Cultural Academy, as stated by Javid Mukhdoomi, a researcher and writer of the “Indicsiyaq in Kashmir.”
The numeral system spread to various parts of the world, giving rise to different variations such as the Ottoman Turkish Siyaq and the Indic Siyaq. The Indic Siyaq Numbers were used in accounting under the Mughals until the mid-20th century, which likely explains their adoption in Kashmir. Kashmiri numerals and digits were commonly employed in the valley, especially by moneylenders, grocers, and various shopkeepers. Even the revenue department continued to use them until the early 1950s.
The Siyaq numerals were designed to complement the Arabic script. Their form was derived by abbreviating the Arabic names for numbers and compressing them into shorter symbols. Efforts have also been made to encode these numerals into Unicode, a system for defining character encodings of new languages. This enables the creation of keyboard layouts that allow people to type these new languages on computers and other digital devices.
Some suggest that the design of Siyaq numerals was an artistic endeavor aimed at achieving a specific effect. Others propose that the fusion of Persian, Arabic, and local requirements might shed light on their origins. However, Kashmiri numerals remain distinct and unmatched.
“A more mathematically inclined reader would notice, for instance, the absence of any symbol representing the numeral ‘ZERO,’ unlike in Arabic and Persian languages. This necessitates the use of special symbols for numbers like ‘TEN,’ ‘TWENTY,’ ‘HUNDRED,’ etc.,” explains Ghulam Nabi Aatish in the magazine “Shiraza.”
Undoubtedly, there must have been a period spanning several decades when multiple numbering systems coexisted in the valley. However, the Kashmiri system was ultimately neglected, initiating its gradual extinction. Like many others, the Anglo-Indian System of Notation took over our own system. Today, this significant part of Kashmiri culture, heritage, and ethos is extinct.
