“Kashmir owing to favourable geographical conditions and advantages derived from inherited mental qualification of a portion of its population has played an important role in the ancient history of India all through historical times. It was a role out of all proportions to the size of the country and the numerical strength of its population. For the student of Indian history and civilization, Kashmir offers the exceptional advantage of possessing in Kalhana’s Rajatarangini a detailed indigenous record of the political and cultural events of the country. It is full and reliable from the 7 th century down to the 12th century and as such is unparalleled in Indian literature for any part of Hindu period.

“It must be noted that the survival of tribal distinction in the rural population of Kashmir the names of which in their Sanskrit forms figures often in Kalhana’s narrative of his own times and the immediately preceding period would be of distinct interest if supported by anthropometrical evidence.

“It might inter-alia enable us to trace definitely successive phase of racial admixture which the population of Kashmir has undergone by immigration across mountains both from the north and the south. The proposed survey will enable to trace this connection with racial elements from the Hindukush side. These are linked by the fact of their languages, all belonging to the Dardic group of Aryan branch of Indo- European language family.

“Kashmiri has been proved by Sir George Grierson, the greatest authority in the field of Indian linguistics, in respect of essential features of its morphology etc to belong to the Dardic stock. If this linguistic fact were borne out by the results of a systematic anthropometric survey such as Dr Guha is qualified for, it would mean a discovery of far reaching interest throwing important light on much discussed question concerning the relation between linguistic and racial affinities.

“A new edition of my annotated translation of Kalhana’s chronicle which has been out of print for many years is now being planned. It would be a special satisfaction to me and I believe also to many Indologist scholars if it were possible in this new edition of work which has long ago been recognized by competent students both in India and in the West as a kind of compendium on the history of Kashmir and its ancient geography and culture to refer to researches, which are destined to throw fresh light on the racial origin and character of the present population of Kashmir.” - Sir Aurel Stein.

(D. O. Note dated October 20, 1940 ,by Sir Aurel Stein to the Secretary Land, Health and Education, Government of India.) Stein Mss 82, Bodleian Library, Oxford.