Jammu and Kashmir: Problems and Solutions

Prafulla KetkarAsst. Prof and Head, Political Science,

Smt. BRD Arts and Commerce Mahila Mahavidylaya, Nashik Roadprafulla10@gmail.com

Sequence of Discussion

What do we know about Kashmir? Various perspectives on the Kashmir

Issue; Historical understanding Strategic issues Decoding myths What we should highlight?

What do we know About Kashmir?

History? Demography/Population composition? Geography/Strategic Location? Political Situation?

Why Kashmir Now? 8 point agenda declared by the Centre: a. to de-scale the presence of security forcesb. to constitute a group of interlocutors to hold a

“sustained dialogue” with all shades of Valley life;c. to release about 245 persons detained for stone-

pelting;d. 5 lakhs for people who died in army/police firing; e. to remove AFSPA in certain districts.

Why Kashmir Now?

Statement by the J & K CM that the accession of Jammu and Kashmir into Indian Union was conditional and it had not merged with India ;

26th October: date of accession of Kashmir in India.

22nd Feb – Resolution for Complete Integration of J & K

Kashmir Issue: Various Perspectives

Spearhead of Secular India; Socio-economic problem; Strategically Important; Culturally, historically and politically India’s

integral part

Historical Understanding Kalhana’s ‘Rajat Rangini’ Story of “Jalodbhav” –

Kashyapanche Meer; Gonand: Mahabharat period: Remained the

center of Hindu Civilization; 273-232 BC: Ashoka established “Shrinagari” –

Jalouka spread the cultural aspects of Hinduism Karkota Regime – 300 -761 Kanishka,

Avantivarma and Lalitaditya: further integrated and brought the golden age in Kashmir

Lohara Regime – 1003 AC Mohammad Gajhanavi invaded Kashmir

Historical Understanding

Damara regime – real degeneration – Shah Mir and Rinchana entered Kashmir

1320 – Mongol invader Dulacha came to Kashmir – King Suhadev kept borders unguarded and Dulancha captured Kashmir with Shah Mir and Ramchandra Pradhan – Islamization of Kashmir

14 Oct 1586 – Akbar took over Kashmir

Historical Understanding

Akbar ruled through his representatives; After weakening of Moghal empire their

representative Mir Mukim Kanth ruled Kashmir and called Mohammad Shah Abdali to crush the popular revolt

Abdullakhan, Jabbarkhan & Azadkhan most cruel Afghani pathans;

Batta Bazar and Batavath 1720 – 1746 – worst period – ruled by Nadir Shah

Historical Understanding

1819 – Raja Ranjitsingh took over Kashmir and Ruled from Lahore;

9th March 1846 – British took over Kashmir from Dulip Singh after Sikh British War against – Lahore Agreement

16th March 1846 – Gulab Singh in Jammu region – from Dogra family since 900, helped Britishers during war, Purchased Kashmir in 75 lakhs, integrated Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir – ultimate British Control;

Partition and Kashmir

Raja Hari Singh – took decision to remain independent on the advice of Swami Sant Deo

Mountbatten, Mahatma Gandhi and Sri Guruji tried to convince Hari Singh on accession – but he refused;

24th October 1947 – Pakistan sent military infiltrators in Kashmir Valley, dual plan of Pakistan (Ramchandra Kak and Military) – Raja fled to Jammu

Accession of Kashmir Shaikh Abdullah – key member of Islamic

Conference – close to Nehru Role of Major Shah and Meharchand Mahajan 24th and 25th October – Ramlal Batra met Nehru

and Patel with a request letter from Raja – they pressed Raja to sign the accession treaty

26th October 1947 – the Raja signed the accession treaty – V P Menon – special representative of the Government got the treaty signed – defense, Ex. Affairs and Communication handed over to the Indian government – became the foundation of Art. 370

Blunder of 1948

From 27th October 1947 – Bharat declared all out war against Pakistan;

After initial losses, Indian military made serge in northern areas through Jozilla;

431 days war ended with a blunder - on the advice of Lord Mountbatten Nehru took the matter to the United Nations – 1st January 1948 and 28th October made a declaration about ‘plebiscite’ in Kashmir;

Internationalization of Kashmir

Gave Pakistan an advantage; Became a key to Pakistan’s role in the Cold

War; Retained the separate status of Kashmir

through Art 370; Had to accept the terms of condition of the UN

– S-1100 – resolution on 13th August 1948

UN resolution – key terms

End of War Pakistan will withdraw forces from Kashmir

Valley India will take plebiscite in Jammu and

Kashmir Both the countries will finalize an

agreement with each other regarding the modalities;

Karachi Agreement

Both the countries declared ceasefire on 1st January 1949;

Karachi Conference – Gen Nazir Ahmad & Gen Thimayya – UN delegation of 5 members headed by Williams Dell

Line of Control – was forced to be accepted

Strategic Issues

Key transport and trade roots passes through Pakistan;

All major rivers that makes Punjab and Sindh fertile originates in India;

It’s a key to enter in central and East Asia; Reach natural resources and important strategic

location makes ‘hot point’ for international politics.

Decoding the Myths?

Jammu and Kashmir is a Muslim majority state with Muslim Culture; (Hairat)

Most of the Kashmiri people are anti-Indian; (Lord Aveberry plebiscite);

Indian and Government and Army has been unjust to Kashmiri people; (Sadbhavana and packages)

India refused to take plebiscite

What we Need to Understand?

Kashmir has been an integral part of Hindu (Indian) culture since ages;

It is not an issue of Hindu or Muslim Majority – Kashmiriyat is as much part of Hindu culture as Punjabi/Marathi culture;

370 article has made the situation worst; It is not an issue of Hindu/Muslim/Buddhist

way of worship but nationality

What we Need to Understand?

More than 300000 pandits are displaced in last 23 years, their human rights are equally important;

Human rights of armed and police forces are also important;

Abdullah and Mufti Mohammad Said family used Kashmir for personal gains;

Huriyat conference never participated in elections;

What we Need to Understand?

Indian government is soft on separatists – should not be party to dialogue;

Democratic participation in Indian parts is much better than PoK (Nicholson report);

US cannot help us solve this problem; Pressurize government to make it an issue

of national importance – scrape Art 370 – make the integration real

Any Queries/suggestions?????

Thank YOU!!!!