news details |
|
|
| Social-political Situation in Jammu & Kashmir | | | Jitender Kohli | 10/21/2014 9:46:07 PM |
|
Kashmir is the news
at National and Inter-
National level for some time, yet its ignorance of past and present is amazing whenever the people, even top level, talk about this state, it gives an impression that only Kashmir valley and its personality's matters. Other two regions, viz. Jammu and Ladakh are ignored as non-existent.
To know about the state one has to peep into past first to find the roots of present situation. Geological good reasons, if mythological reasons are not believed, are good to trust that Kashmir valley was full span of water, which confined within hill walls around. The inhabitants were living on the upper hill reaches in one or other pockets. The geological up heals, over the years, in shape of earthquakes etc. the mountains breached at places, and water gushed out. North-West area of India, in pre-Aryan period have Mohanjodara - Harappan civilization which suddenly disappeared, leaving some traces of their existence, but none to intimate as what happened to them, possibly the vast water walls gushed out from Kashmir valley might have submerged/ washed away the said civilization.
Then the local tribes started to overpower each other and form a rule destiny. Pre-Mahabharata, this area was ruled by Gonanda the first king of Kashmir. The Hindu civilization started its organized existence as evident from the ruins of temples and other structures. For a very long period different Hindu kings ruled Kashmir, among them king Ashoka, Maurayan Empire, Kushans etc. are prominent for references. During these periods, Shivaism and Buddhism flourished in Kashmir. In 1020 a Mongol warrior named 'Dulacha' hailing from Turkistan defeated Hindu king Suhadeva. One Buddhist named Rinchana hailing from Ladakh had migrated to Kashmir valley had his own men who occupied upper hills. Finally he captured the throne after killing Ram Chandera' the then Chief Minister of king of Kashmir and married his daughter Kota Rani.
He offered to become Hindu but this proposal was turned down by the Kashmiri Brahmins and he embarrassed Islam. Thus became first Muslim king of Kashmir under the name of Sultan Sadar-ud-din. So Muslim rule started and initiated willing/ un-willing conversions. During 1389-1413, a Muslim ruler Sultan Sikender known as But-shiken (destroyer of deity statues) loosed terror among Hindus. Up to 1869, the ups and down in Kashmir valley happened, this made Muslim rulers and Kashmir fanatics more and more powerful. The Kashmir Hindus had to woven their-self with them for existence and till today they could not alienate themselves from so-called Kashmiriat in spite of their migration.
In 1819, Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed Kashmir valley with Lahore state and this Sikh rule remained for a short period of 27 years i.e. up to 1846.
On March 9, 1846, a treaty of Lahore was executed between British Government and Lahore state. The British Government had demanded 1.50 crore as expenses of war and accession of territory. The Lahore state was unable to pay the said amount hence the British Government on March 16, 1846 had a treaty at Amritsar. By virtue of it, it transferred and makes over forever in independent possession to Maharaja Gulab Singh heirs male of his body, all the hills or mountains country with its dependencies situated in east word of river Indus and westward of river Ravi including Chamba but excluding Lahol. This effort of Maharaja Gulab Singh had protected this state from being slaved to the foreign British. As such, the Dogra kings provided good governess and equal developments of the regions. It annexed Ladakh in its kingdom and fixed a border with Tibet. Though it is called Dogra-British rule as there was a complete watch and interference of the British Government existed in shape of appointed British officers in different departments, during this period, land reforms, abolishing the forced labour happened and some revenue reforms were made. Development of all the regions is evident in shape of structures etc.
In India at that time, freedom struggle had a steep rise under leadership of Indian National Congress. Muslim League also surfaced at National level. Some youths of this state went out to Lahore and Aligarh for higher studies. They returned with higher qualifications and new political and social awakening. Sheikh Abdullah was one of them. Sheikh Abdullah raised a political party named as Jammu & Kashmir Muslim Conference in 1932. He started agitation against Maharaja of the state. To provide a deep thrust he renamed the party as All Jammu & Kashmir National Conference with help of the National leaders. The Indian National Congress was the motivating force behind it that wished to broaden its area and have interest in happenings of Jammu & Kashmir state at that time. In 1944, Sheikh Abdullah launched a programme of Naya Kashmir and in the same year Mr. M.A.Jinah visited the state. Sheikh Abdullah had a intimate meeting with him and hosted reception to him. It was beautiful maneuver that Sheikh Abdullah had very close rapport with Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad and Gafar Gandhi.
At that time Cripps Mission came to India and National Conference telegraphically clearly said that the J& K State purchased by Dogras by paying 75 Lacs of Sikh rupees equivalent to 40 lacs British rupees as cost of land and soul of peoples so they put un-challengeable claim of freedom when British powers from India are withdrawn.
So, Sheikh Abdullah started quit-Kashmir movement in 1946 and on May 17, 1946 in his speech he said to get rid of Dogra rule and called upon Kashmiris to join Jihad as soldiers. He insisted for plebiscite also having aim to the independence, away from India too. The agitators of this movement are called freedom fighters and Martyr day is celebrated by present state Governments. Sheikh's close family relations with Nehru family, both Kashmiries, provided him courage to moot out Naya Kashmir dream which labeled as independence which could finally make this state as his and his family's property as he was seeing it with Maharaja and his family.
On 20th day of May 1946, Sheikh was arrested along with some other leaders of his National Conference. Nehru asked Maharaja Hari Singh to immediately release Sheikh Abdullah and proceeded in person to defend him. Perhaps, Maharaja Hari Singh under the advice of Ram Chand Kak Prime Minister of state, a Kashmiri Brahmin prohibited Nehru to enter the state, this created void between two and Nehru kept this grudge at all the costs.
This grudge made the accession delay and to subdue Maharaja Hari Singh, he involved Sheikh Abdullah in the accession deed by saying him the most competent man to ease out problem of Kashmir and able to put fine governs, he made him Prime Minister of the state. To lure Sheikh Abdullah and repaying for his friendship Nehru managed to put Article 370 by providing special powers to Sheikh. At National level the Delhi agreement was reacted to the words "Sheikh Abdullah has secured the most un-reasonable of his demand without conceding anything substantial. Every concession that Nehru has secured is limited by proviso, which almost nullified it. This is not likely to gain Kashmir for India but will certainly endanger the security and development of J&K." Shyama Prasad Mokerjee, President of Bhartiya Jan Sangh himself proceeded to Jammu. But he was arrested on May 11, 1953 and died in custody on June 23, 1953.
Article 370, and Delhi agreement, alienated people of the state, Kashmir rulers victimized and ignored the people of Jammu and Ladakh region but Dogras are the main victims.
Then Central Government continued with the appeasement policy for Kashmir valley, let them to raise anti-national slogans only in Kashmir valley.
In 1953, Sheikh was arrested and during Prime Ministership of Gulam Mohd.Sadique, the demonation of 'Sadar-e-Reyast and Prime Minister was changed to Governor and Chief Minister. A number of Constitution Articles benefited the state, permit system vanished. But all this happened due to intensive agitation by the Jammuities under the banner of Praja Parshid who claimed One Nishan- One Vidhan in one country; this emerged with Jansangh now called Bhartiya Janta Party.
The present central Government with changed governing carrying everyone along and PM Modi to share Diwali with flood victim of Srinagar practically proves its attitude and exposes the valley centric leadership including some of Jammu valley influenced leaders and people.
The state inhabitants must understand what the dynastic rulers had provided them and what they snatched including the democratic rights. If they wish to taste the democratic changed governance under the nationalist leadership must reject the valley centric families in the coming elections as the people have done in Haryana and Maharashtra. Though it is too late but not to delay further.
(The author is a Journalist, Ex- State Press & Publicity Secretary; VHP State Unit can be contacted on [email protected]) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
