Hi All,
I will start with a disclaimer that whatever is written in this article is purely as per my interpretation of J&K history and might not be fully filled with facts. All the information in this article can be challenged because it is only my perspective to view things.
I always believe that history is not a collection of facts but a collection of views of historians. It is a two faced coin and you can view and interpret the story depending on which side you are standing. So, as per my belief, to learn more about a topic you have to leave your side and stand in the middle to see both the sides of an issue.
So, let’s start with the city of temples and the land of, bravest community on earth, Dogras: Jammu. It all started when a great Sikh king Ranjit Singh give a portion of his territory to one of his loyal and brave Rajput commander Gulab Singh as a token of appreciation for his services. It was the same Gulab Singh who in his teen age once fought against the army of Sikhs when Jammu was invaded by Ranjit Singh. He enlisted himself in the army of Sikhs, raise to the level of commander in the army, won many important battles for Ranjit Singh and then he earned Jammu. He continued his brave efforts and kept on winning many adjoining areas from Afghan and other rulers. He increased his territory. After the death of Ranjit Singh, there was conspiracy and internal fight in the Lahore. Gulab Singh emerged victorious from all these and earned a bigger portion of Lahore treasure. He was known as the richest king in the north of Satluj. During crisis in Sikh empire, the corrupt Lahore court ordered to invade Jammu to get money which Gulab Singh won and under Lahore treaty he became maharaja of Jammu. He made Lahore court to transfer Jammu completely to him. He was a true diplomat and also had good relations with British Empire. British had problems with Sikh army in Kashmir and they could not establish their own rule in Kashmir. The best possible solution was to consider Gulab Singh as a Maharaja directly tributary to British on payment of 75 lakh of war-indemnity. As a result, British transferred all lands in Kashmir that were ceded to them by the Sikhs to Gulab Singh for Rs 7,500,000. It gave birth to the rule of Dogras and the second largest princely state in British Empire: Jammu and Kashmir.
The rule of Dogras gave a stable administration to J&K for about 101 years (1846-1947). It exposed the beautiful Himalayan region of Kashmir to the external world. Dogras spent more money on Kashmir than their own home Jammu to develop Kashmir as a tourist place. Ranbir Singh, son of Gulab Singh, even won Gilgit to complete the state of J&K. Meanwhile, the treaty of Lahore was not going well with British because there was no representative of British in J&K and it was completely independent state. British made several attempts to send their representatives in J&K but both Gulab Singh and Ranbir Singh did not fall to their pressure and remained independent.
It was a Muslim populated state ruled by Hindu Kings Dogras. All Kashmiri Muslims approached Ranbir Singh and pleaded to take them back into their original ancestral religion Hinduism as they were forcibly converted to Islam during Mughal and Afghan reign. Ranbir Singh sought the guidance of Swamy Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj, in this matter. Swamy Dayanand advised him that he could take them all back in Hinduism after performing few rituals. It could have been the greatest achievement in J&K history and a resolution of all its present problems but god has written some different future for J&K.
The proposed return of all Muslims to Hinduism did not go well with short-sighted Kashmiri Pundits. Kashmiri Pundits were having a good time due to the return of Hindu rule. They had paid and suffered a lot during Muslim rule and they thought that it was a pay back time. If all were converted to Hinduism, they would lose their elevated status in Kashmir. So, they tried to dissuade Maharaja but Maharaja was adamant. So, they took refuge to a dramatic situation. They filled some boats with stones and brought them midstream before Maharaja’s palace in Jhelum. They threatened him that they would commit suicide by drowning themselves along with the sinking boats as a protest against the decision to take back Muslims into Hindu religion and he would be then guilty of “Brahm-Hatya”.
Ranbir Singh was a brave soldier. He could see in the eyes of Mughal, Afghan, Sikh and British rulers fearlessly but he could not gather courage to face the Kashmiri Pundits who were using “Dharma” to meet their selfish ends. He dropped the plan of taking back Muslims into Hinduism and the first error has been committed in this story of errors. If he knew that this decision would take the blood of his state and made it suffer in future, he would have rectified his mistake. But he saved few Brahmins to make the same Brahmins and other people of J&K suffer in future.
After the death of Ranbir Singh, British got successful in appointing a representative in J&K during a rule of Ranbir Singh’s son Pratap Singh. The Maharaja was charged with the allegations to conspire with Russia against British rule and was forced to hand over all his power to a five members State Council which ran administration under the guidance of British representative for several years. It brought down the J&K state to the level of other British states like Hyderabad. British had gained control of politically important Gilgit and other parts of J&K where three empires meet and it can strategically come close to other empires of the world.
The succession of throne went to Pratap Singh’s young and intelligent nephew Hari Singh. He had spent his early years in England and wanted to use his intellect to modernize the state but his spirit of independence and love for motherland arouse conflicts with the British. He publicly spoke about his discontent in Round Table Conference in London and this outspoken support to independence didn’t go well with British who knew the strategic importance of J&K. British decided to break Hari Singh.
Hari Singh wanted to gain independence for his state but he did not know that he was committing another error in this story of errors. He was going to rebel against British who played wicked communal card and it led to the socio-religious movement in state which exists in the state even now. British aim was achieved and they get full control of Gilgit from Maharaja on sixty year lease in 1935. But British could not kill the spirit of Hari Singh and love for his motherland. He spend great amount of his treasure to modernize Kashmir valley even at the cost of his motherland Jammu. He made Kashmir the “Paradise” on earth to attract foreign tourists and improve state’s economy. Had he spent some portion on Jammu province which has equal potential to get developed in the same fashion, Kashmir would not be the only region to get world’s attention and suffer in future. Unknowingly, he committed another error of spending larger portion of money on Kashmir alone which created more rifts between Jammu and Kashmir regions.
Political Activity in India was at full pace. British rule was going to end but it had planted the seeds of communal hatred in J&K by giving importance to Kashmiri Muslim leader Sheikh Abdullah. Sardar Patel was doing remarkable job in uniting all Indian states under one flag. There were revolts from few strong kings at that time. Hyderabad king Nizam Osman Ali who was a real traitor and had waged war against India did not agreed to the idea. Patel pressurized him and made him bring Hyderabad under Indian flag respectfully. J&K state was also against the idea. Jawahar Lal Nehru decided that he will bring this state under Indian flag to counter Patel’s Hyderabad effect. This was the next error in J&K history which had resulted in avalanche of errors in the state which has brought J&K to the present irresolvable problem.
Hari Singh was a strong leader. He was a patriot. He can not give his mother land Jammu in the hands of Muslim populated state run governments. He came strongly on Nehru and he refused to nehru’s plan. He was a brave Dogra leader who knew every single dogra would fight for him and will not let any one come in this territory till they are alive and Nehru can not do this. Nehru was helpless. It was the only state that he had tried to unite. He could not withstand the thought of Indian prime minister’s failure to unite the only state with India he had tried. Angry Nehru took support from the Kashmiri Muslim leader Sheikh Abdullah and started a movement against Maharaja in his own state. It was the next error from Nehru who failed to foresee the future of the state. He was so eager to bring this state under Indian flag on his own that he even accepted Sheikh Abdullah’s demands of separate constitution, law, flag and administration. He would have repented later for this decision but he has made the childish error that would make people of this state suffer for next several decades.
Pakistan also tried to bring J&K under its territory as it was a Muslim populated state but Hindu king Hari Singh was a patriot. He could not do this to his motherland. Pakistan tried to take advantage of the situation and win control of J&K forcibly. Jinnah ordered his armies to attack. British appointed Army Chief of Pakistan Douglas Gracey refused to obey orders of Jinnah. His argument was that the J&K troops represented British Crown and he can not fight against them. Pakistan do sent troops later some how. Dogra Army fought bravely but they can not stop armed Pakistani army. Hari Singh looked at India for support and offered succession to India in return. He signed the letter of succession with India to help his motherland. India sent its troops to help J&K.
Pakistan has attacked J&K with a thought process that it is a Muslim populated state ruled by Hindu ruler. They will get local support in Kashmir region of Muslim populated areas and invasion of J&K will be very easy. But the people of J&K were true patriots. Hindus and Muslims both put a great resistance to Pakistan army to save their motherland. Indian armies took some days to reach J&K border. Local army was fighting to resist Pakistani movement in Himalayan terrains without food, water and weapons.
Even after fighting several weeks, Pakistan could capture only one-third area of J&K. Indian armies took charge and started gaining control over war. The war was led by Indian Home Minister Sardar Patel. Nehru’s ego was hurt. He could not let Patel gain bigger status in Indian Political history. He announced cease fire and that India has full faith in UN and India will complain to UN to get back the remaining area. With this announcement, the fate of the state was sealed. It was going to suffer for several coming decades in future. A state has been divided into two parts: Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Indian J&K.
Sheikh Abdullah has increased the political activity in the state. He was pressurizing Indian government to force Hari Singh to leave the state. He made Hari Singh’s son Dr. Karan Singh as “Sadar e Riyasat” (Head of Constitution) in the state. Hari Singh tried to stop his son but he was betrayed by his own son and wife. They looked at short term gain and could not foresee the future suffering. Hari Singh helplessly looked at his Dogra people but they also told him to leave. He was betrayed by his own people. He left the state and never returned back. He did not deserve this but still he got such treatment. A sin has been committed by the people of Jammu who will have to payback for this sin in future.
Nehru brought the matter of J&K to UN. UN ordered that Pakistan forces should leave J&K state and a plebiscite should be carried out in whole state of J&K to know whether people wanted to go to India or Pakistan because Pakistan raised questions on succession letter and claimed that it is only the choice of a British appointed Hindu ruler and not the wishes of a state. Pakistan did not accepted this decision as they claimed that India will rig the results of plebiscite under its own rule. Two years later UN ordered that India and Pakistan forces both will leave the state and a plebiscite will be carried out. India rejected this idea as they don’t want any other country to rule J&K considering the political importance of the natural resources rich state. The fate of the state was going towards a never ending discussion in United Nations.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Abdullah, then prime minister of J&K, wanted to make his rule permanent in this state. He made his own constitution and protected his powers under an arrangement in Indian Constitution with a special status to J&K. He builds the idea of a buffer state and independent Kashmir where Defense and Finance will be provided by India but J&K will be a separate independent Country. He made arrangements in the Indian Constitution that no other person from any other Indian states can migrate to J&K and buy a land in J&K so that only the original inhabitants of J&K will decide the fate of the state whenever a plebiscite is carried out. He grew more powerful and was equivalent to the status of Nehru in J&K. As per the rule of Congress, J&K had his own flag and no one from rest of India, including President and PM of India, can enter the J&K state without the permission of PM of J&K.
Jammu cried to this arrangement as the people can now foresee their future. Jan Sangh party came to the support of Jammu. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, founder of Jan Sangh party, refused to take permission and obey to a different flag in the same country. He gave a slogan of “Ek Desh, Ek Vidhan, Ek Pradhan aur Ek Nishan”. He tried to enter J&K without showing ID and taking permission from J&K PM. He was arrested at border and was jailed. He died in jail under mysterious circumstances but whole Jammu fought for his efforts. Owing to his efforts, permission and ID law was revoked from J&K but it could not stop state’s future to be doomed.
Going from a roller coaster ride, this state met another blow in the late 80s and early 90s. The wounds were so deep that it is still bleeding after two decades. Pakistan created terror organizations was trying to convince local Kashmiri Muslims against India and there were a lot of intensified attacks by Pakistan in late 80s as well. The Muslim rebellions in J&K formed their own party and decided to raise their voice in assembly where as present Indian and state government did not want their involvement. Later, it got a final blow when the election in 1987 was rigged and not a single candidate from these parties was elected. People cried foul and it convinced them that government in J&K can not be made without the will of New Delhi. All these leaders started their own terror organizations and revolted against Indian government. They showcase their strength by bringing almost all Kashmiri Muslims on streets. The Kashmiri terrorists had made a fool proof plan to gain control of J&K state and declare independence. They ordered Kashmiri Pandits to leave their motherland Kashmir. And, then the next major error was committed. Had it been any other community, they would not have left their homes on any one’s warning. But god has written a different fate for this state. Kashmiri Pandits left Kashmir and came to Jammu as migrants. India was losing upper hand on the Kashmir issue and Indian government sends its best administrator as a governor to resolve the ongoing problem in J&K: Jag Mohan.
Jag Mohan understood the plan of Kashmiri terrorists and acted swiftly. He came hard on the terrorists and gained administrative control over the issue. Suddenly, human rights team sensed problem and raised voice against Jag Mohan. He was forced to leave the state. Once again the mistake was done. Terrorism reached its peak. India used army to counter terrorism. Now Indian army was acting against its own citizens to bring peace. The state cried, bleed but no one comes to its rescue. A generation of Kashmiri youth was getting eliminated. Pakistan’s motive was being served. It started getting upper hand in Kashmir problem. Pakistan started sponsoring the terrorism in J&K. Death wreck its havoc for almost a decade when Kashmiri Muslim started realizing the mistake and thought about moving on. Pakistan could not let it happen. So, it started its own terror organizations on the name of Kashmiri Muslims. But, slowly and steadily Indian government started gaining ground and democracy was finally established in the state.
After 2 successful governments in J&K, short lived memory of people won and they have moved on from old issues. Situation was so complex that no one understands the real issues. One proof of the same is the participation of Kashmiri separatists in 2008 J&K state elections and Sajjad Lone could not even save his deposits in the elections. And, Pakistan’s terror organizations have started hitting them back. People in J&K have started to think about their future and development. The next thing this state did not want at any cost is one more error in handling the affairs of the state. I close my article with a hope that we will not witness any other error in the story of this state and May this state grows as per its potential.
PS: 1) J&K still has special status and its own flag. There are two flags in J&K secretariat: J&K flag and Indian flag.
2) Article 370 still exists and J&k has its own constitution.
3) Ajat Shatru (Karan Singh’s son) uses National Conference (Sheikh Abdullah’s party) ticket to contest elections and lost from Nagrota in 2008 elections.
Bye ~Sumit
