Establishment of CCAS:

In order to study the Central Asian region from diversified point of view, the Centre of Central Asian Studies was established in 1978 at the University of Kashmir, Srinagar. Immediately thereafter, the Centre embarked upon a series of un-interrupted and unflinching research exercises largely aimed at re-discovering the cultures and peoples of the region. Therefore, the most of the studies conducted through the Centre were historical and cultural in context, specifically focusing on affinities between Kashmir and Central Asia. For the reason that Kashmir is closely situated to Central Asia and served as bridge between India and Central Asia, its cultural mosaic reflected the syncretism and blend of various soio-cultural practices of a vast region.

In view of the historical and contemporary studies on the above geographical space, the Centre and its faculty is engaged in research on India’s bilateral and multilateral relation with Central Asian countries. In addition to above, the focus of research is currently on the themes like:

• International Relations & Conflict Resolution

• Power Structure & Security

• History, Culture & Archaeology

• Silk Route Revival and Trade

• Islamic Revivalism

• Ethnicity & Out-migration

• Socio-economic Transformation

• Resource Management

• Disaster Management

• Cooperative Development

• Environmental Degradation

• Technology Transfer

• Globalisation and Liberalisation

 

Central Asian Museum:

 

Establisbed in 1982, the bilateral and multilateral relations between India and Central Asia are sufficiently supported by thousands of artifacts showcased in the Central Asian Museum. Although CAM has been organising thematic exhibitions from time to time, yet it was a moment of joy when America-based organisation Asia Society and Museum (New York) requested CAM to send (temporarily) some of its art objects for the Art of Kashmir exhibition to be held in New York at 725 Park Ave (October 3, 2007 to January 6, 2008). The ‘Arts of Kashmir’ was a major international loan exhibition of objects of exemplary quality devoted to the rich artistic tradition of Kashmir. This exhibition which covered the period from fourth to twentieth century was the first ever to be devoted to the extraordinary arts of Kashmir valley. Premier examples of Kashmir’s little-known works of Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic art, along with famed craft works ranging from furniture and paper-machie to carpets and embroidery, were included to provide a sense of the broad artistic production of this region. The CAM is continuosly striving for conservation and preservation of art, artifacts and antiquities of the Himalayan region in particular. 

 

Area Study Programme:

 

Specialized studies pertaining to the region began to be pursued under its Area Studies Programme (ASP) after 1983 when the University Grants Commission provided the Centre with additional staff for an allied research wing – a special status that, inter-alia, served to link the Centre with rest of the Area Studies Centres of India. This enabled the Centre to set afresh its priorities with regard to contemporary problems relating to defence strategy, economic restructuring, resource management, religious revivalism, international relations, foreign investment, legal guarantees, etc. While negotiating new challenges, the Centre expeditiously carried forward its research agenda quite undaunted by the most hosti le and un-favourable circumstances that existed in Kashmir.

PG Program Archaeology: 

Centre of Central Asian Studies has quite recently in 2017 established PG in Archaeology discipline. Given that the Jammu and Kashmir state including the Ladakh region has a rich archaeological heritage spanning over mellinia of history needs a dedicated Archaeology program as an academic discipline in a university set up. The administration at University of Kashmir acknowledged the need of the course in the Himalayan region and subsequently the course was introduced in 2017. Apart from focus on National curriculum and considering the regional needs the course focuses on field archaeology and involvement of technology in archaeological research more to make the Himalayan archaeology as an intersting discipline for students.

Journal of Central Asian Studies:

In continuation to the ongoing research agenda, the Centre has been uninterruptedly publishing annually The Journal of Central Asian Studies (ISSN 0975086X) for the past 30 years. It has an international Editorial Board and is acclaimed across the world for its quality, style and content. This refereed Journal with the research papers received from across the world are being evaluated by experts from the world over. Besides, printing its hard copies, it is also available on departmental website for wide circulation and indexed in the world’s two leading databases EBSCO and ProQuest.