The term Kashmiriat or Kashmiriyat has come to signify centuries-old indigenous secularism of Kashmir which has been expended and crumple many times in History. According to some sources of history, Kashmir was a great state in the past, and it has been extended to Ghazni and Gujrat. However, the word Kashmiriat or Kashmiriyat is of comparatively recent origin and is used for the modern history of Jammu Kashmir notably when Amritsar agreement on 16 March 1846 was signed between British and first ruler of the mixed state of Jammu Kashmir Ghulab Singh.
The term represents the State of Jammu Kashmir in general, but more particularly it covers an ethnic group living in some part of the valley and is in the majority. Their language is Kashmiri or Koshur is a from the Dardic subgroup of Indo-Aryan languages, and it is spoken primarily by the Kashmiris in the Kashmir Valley and Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir. As the state of Jammu Kashmir and Tabitha shortly called Kashmir and the dispute is known as Kashmir issue, so Kashmiriat or Kashmiriyat in the broader perspective covers the whole state of Jammu Kashmir.
The other ethnic groups living in the state of Jammu Kashmir and not speaking Kashmiri language are Pahari, Gojri, Ladakhi language (Tibetan), also called Bhoti or Bodhi, is the Tibetan language spoken in the Ladakh region. There are many languages spoken in Gilgit Baltistan, (Part of Jammu Kashmir under Pakistan direct control) depending on what district you are. Some Languages spoken here include Shina, Balti, Burushaski, Khowar, Wakhi and Domaki. Shina is the most significant language spoken in all districts of Gilgit Baltistan, including all its variations.
Shina is also spoken in some parts of Kargil and occupied Kashmir, India. The people are speaking Shina as mother tongue are known as Sheens/Shinaki. Burushaski is in Hunza Nagar, also in some parts of Gilgit, Ghizer and Indian Controlled Kashmir. The language is also spoken in Yasin valley with a slightly different accent. The people speaking Burushaski as mother tongue are known as Burushos/Hunzukuts. Shina is also expressed in some parts of Pakistan Administrated Jammu Kashmir’s district Neelum Valley on two different places.
The term Kashmiriat or Kashmiriyat emerged in the early sixties for Kashmiri Nationalism. It is also referred to show hospitality, humbleness, religious harmony and secular believes of the people of Jammu Kashmir where they have been practised coexistence and acceptance of multi-cultural, religious and ethical understanding for centuries. However, as the identity paradigm and socio-cultural identities are changing with the political effects and interest, this term is also changing its meaning, and now it is more political than social or cultural. The modern studies of the state of Jammu Kashmir are also called Kashmiriat or Kashmiriat. In Pakistan, Punjab University and Pakistan administrated JK University of Azad Jammu Kashmir has separate departments for Kashmir studies called “Department of Kashmiriat”.