Portrayal of Kashmir and Kashmiris in European Literature: A Study of Thomas Moore‟s Laala Rookh

Cashmere (Kashmir) has remained the subject of discussion and debate out rightly because of its scenic beauty and conflict over centuries. In order to explore Kashmir, European travel writers to Kashmir have depicted the picture of Kashmir and Kashmiris in their travelogues in their own ways. Thomas Moore‟s Oriental romance Laala Rookh has been an influential source of inspiration for historians and travelers to discover Kashmir. Although, Moore as a poet was stimulated by the travelers like Francois Bernier (1620-1688) and George Forster (1754-1794) to portray the striking picture of Kashmir that in a way was an invitation for Europeans to Kashmir. Without visiting Kashmir, Moore fantasizes and romanticizes Kashmir as a tourist resort. It is surprising that Moore has nowhere mentioned anything about the people of Kashmir but has praised only its beauty. The paper attempts to uncover, how the Valley of Kashmir and Kashmiris is portrayed in the Western canon with reference to Moore‟s Laala Rookh.