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One By Three: A tale of Jammu & Kashmir

Writer's picture: The Old MonkThe Old Monk

Paradise is a promise no god bothers to keep. There is only now and tomorrow, nothing will be the same, whether you like it or not.

-quote from 'The Girl From Everywhere'



"One by three" is about that paradise which resides in the shadow of the Himalayas, abundant with lakes and frozen glaciers- The Jammu and Kashmir.


The state has a history of being an Independent Sovereign state, whoever has fought and conquered the land, has faced the problems. Once considered as a center of Shaivism, the state practices three main religions today. She has seen the rise and fall of many emperors and religions.

The composite nature of valley-


The state today, mainly practices- Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.


Buddhism became dominant in the valley in the time of great Emperor Ashoka, in mid of the 3rd Century, although it was widespread there long before his time. From Kashmir, Buddhism traveled through the region of Leh & Laddakh, Tibet to China.


Although the religion declined in the valley it continued to flourish in Leh regions.



The emergence of Islam -


Shah Mir, from Lahore, came to the valley in the reign of king Suhadeva. He worked under his rule and rose to prominence.He eventually succeeded him and became the Sultan of Kashmir. This is how the Sultan Dynasty, first Islamic Dynasty of the valley, had begun. During the rule of this dynasty from 1339 to 1561, Islam was firmly established in the Kashmir.


The population of the valley then, mainly comprised of Hindus, especially Brahmins, who were entitled to learn and gather knowledge.


They managed to learn the trade and became fluent in the Persian language. So, though the valley was under the Islamic rulers, Hindus controlled the trade practices. This was considered a good trade-off. Muslims were mainly artisans and peasants.

The Entry Of Mughals -


In the 16th Century, Mughals succeeded the Sultan dynasty. The conspicuous contribution to the architectural beauty of the Kashmir lies in the gardens built by the Mughals. The Mughal conquest was a turning point in the social, cultural, economic, and political history of the valley. A lot of mobilization happened in the valley, and that certainly changed its existing social order.

Later after the death of Aurangzeb, Mughals lost their control in the valley. The misrule by the Mughal satraps made it possible for the Afghans, The Durrani Empire, to consolidate the power.


Although the Afghans were successful in restricting external invasions in the valley, the period was marked by religious oppression, hight taxation, and the cruel governors.


Rise of the Dogra Dynasty-

The Sikh and the Afghans had fought numerous battles. Meanwhile, by the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the British East India Company had steadily consolidated its power in the sub-continent.


The valley became one of the theatres of conflict.


The Afghans were the first to be elbowed out. And in 1819, Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed the valley from the Afghans and ended their tyrant rule.

It was the first successful Non-Islamic invasion in the valley in the past 500 years.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh offered his able Sikh Gulab Singh, the king post of the Kashmir. He was a Dogra, who laid the foundation of the Dogra dynasty which was consistent in the valley until the last Dogra ruler Hari Singh finally acceded the state to India.



Maharaja Gulab Singh with the help of his General, Zorawar, expanded the valley to the North, by annexing the Ladakh and Baltistan areas and formed the state of Jammu & Kashmir- as we know it today.



Tibet and China resisted the expansion ambition of Gulab Singh. So, China and Tibet signed a Treaty of Chushul with Gulab Singh, which restricted everyone to expand the land. They mutually agreed to the borders and trade laws.


During this Dynasty rule, the administration was run by Kashmiri pandits. Except for some elite families, Muslims remained socially and economically backward in the state. However, Muslims from the Poonch sector in Kashmir were often recruited to quell any disorder in the valley.

Thus started the rise of tensions across the Kashmir and stays consistent and relevant to today's state affairs as well.


The Rise of British Influence-


After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh empire was on the verge of decline, since the Sikhs found no one to rule the empire of the same cadre. Maharaja Gulab Singh consolidated his position in the valley. He is said to have maintained a close relationship with the British Colonel Henry Lawrence of the East India Company.


Then happened the Anglo-Sikh war, when the British observed Sikh empire struggling with the leadership issues. Maharaja Gulab Singh did not participate in the war. There were whispers in the valley about the probable association of Maharaja with the British, which was not proven correct.


The British won Punjab. British signed a treaty of Lahore with Sikhs and got the power to govern the state of Punjab.


In succession, Gulab Singh signed a treaty with the British to remain a sovereign of the state. He paid 75 lakhs Nanakshahi Rs, the currency of the Sikh empire, to the British, which was the exact amount incurred by the British in just concluded war. Maharaj Gulab Singh bought the state of Jammu and Kashmir from the British. The treaty also had a sign of colonel Henry Lawrence as a witness.


British acquired the authority of Defense, trade, and communication but Gulab Singh remains the king of State, and history repeats itself, the state continues to remain a sovereign state.


Until the last Dogra ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh finally accedes the state to India.


By the Independece, the religion distribution of valley changed completely. Jammu- A majority Hindu region & Kashmir- A majority Muslim region.


Post-Independence


The partition-


In 1947, India finally reached the destiny, which was difficult for her to control. With the Independence came the horrendous partition, and the basis was religion.


The state which Maharaja Hari Singh was administrating comprised of 77% Muslim population. He had not made his mind whether to continue being an independent sovereign state or join the hands with one.


Whereas, Pakistan was desperate to include the state of Jammu and Kashmir. India did not make her mind either. The desperations of Pakistan were justified by the majority Muslim population​ and as the land that held the source of all the 6 rivers flowing into Pakistan.


Operation Gulmarg started in the valley, by Pakistan to annex the state. It led to a large scale communal violence in the state.

Pakistan also backed a rebel group near the Poonch region who was running a 'No Tax' campaign, a Muslim dominated group. Thus full attempts were made to create insurgency in the state.


Amidst this, Maharaja Hari Singh had to flee from the state. He also had arrested a local state leader, founder of National Conference, Sheikh Abdullah, in the whole situation for his sedition remarks. And on the recurring requests of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, he was granted bail. Appeasing the local was held rationale behind this decision.



During the agitation, the rebel group leader, Sardar Ibrahim declared Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, and Poonch as Azad Kashmir.




And this was the start of disintegration of the valley.

The British Motive :-


The British had their vested interests in the valley and especially the Gilgit-Baltistan area of the valley. So they started manipulating its local administration. British favored Pakistan, as it would suit their interests in an ongoing proxy war with the Soviet Union, and proximity with Gulf is also maintained.



But the British ambitions to merge state with Pakistan rose to smoke when Raja Hari Singh finally acceded to India after the Pakhton Tribes attack which left him helpless. And the Indian Army entered the state.


However, this did not stop the British from annexing the Gilgit-Baltistan area. They managed to motivate its Muslim population and rose against the Governor. Finally, the British declared Gilgit-Baltistan acceded to Pakistan.




So with Poonch declared as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit sector acceded to Pakistan, the valley got divided.

The India’s way -



Ram Chandra Kak, was the prime minister of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. He had a close relationship with the people sitting in Pakistan's government. He was against the Congress for what it was. British was also assured that if he stays, the state goes to Pakistan.


But three days before the Independence, in Raja Hari Singh court, Ram Chandra kak was dismissed. The action was taken on the saying of Gandhiji.


At the same time, Nehru was in talks with the state's hero Sheikh Abdullah. Sheikh Abdullah had not made his decision. His priority was to overthrow the monarchy. Later, anyone, whosoever accepts the state's condition he was ready to join hands. Although, the thought of an Independent Kashmir motivated him.


Proxy war from Pakistan with British tacit understanding gained ground in the valley. Violence rose. With these advancements taking place, the complete state finally decides to accede to India. India signs an instrument of accession with the Maharaja, which promised no autonomy. Nehru was aware that this will create tension in his relationship with the Sheikh, Kashmir's face at that time.

Internationalising the internal Issue: A Mistake?


India went to the security council against the aggression by Pakistan. India was suggested to reduce its military force to the minimum, to maintain law and order, and install an interim government. It also promised to hold a plebiscite in the valley.


India and Pakistan both were unhappy. India wanted the UN to restrict Pakistan for no intervention and, Pakistan did not want a plebiscite.





As instructed by the UN, India established an interim government. Sheikh Abdullah was sworn as a prime minister of the state. Despite the UN intervention and the government, on grounds, the Kashmir was at war.



Pakistan captures the Skardu region and India secures Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road. India did not move ahead by the Nehru's orders. The military general of the Army had then claimed that India would have captured the entire valley. Only if, Nehru did not stop to advance. And the operation would have been completed in 3 weeks.


Many theories have been put ahead to justify Nehru. Few talk about growing American pressure on the one-year-old country. And Nehru stopped exactly on the borders which separated Kashmiri Kashmir speaking and Punjabi Kashmir speaking. He did not dare to step in the Punjabi Kashmir region because Sheikh Abdullah did not have any dominance there. And so India did not fight for the inclusion of Punjabi kashmir region.


Growing Chinese Intervention-


China has an involvement in the region since the establishment of the Dogra Empire. China had a treaty signed with the Maharaja which does not allow both the parties to expand the territory.


With Kashmir, it was never just one threat.



After the end of the Chinese Civil war, when the communist party managed to win Sinkiang province and Tibet. China turned her eye on the Ladakh region.


Despite the appeasement, the panchsheel treaty, China annexed the Aksai chin. It was the North-east border of Kashmir. The region was used to build a linking road from Sinkiang to Tibet.


Indian consulates were also closed in Sinkiang province. Nehru, minister of affairs, let the incidents slide in. A blunder which should have been avoided. It displayed fallible face of India.



Later, Pakistan offered the region of Gilgit-Baltistan to china for the trade purposes, without any India's consultation.




The Entire state that belongs to India, is today divided among- India, Pakistan, and China.


Today-


India recently removed Article 370 from the state. The article provided a special status to j&k. This is the strong signal by the Indian government to countries across the border.



In all these incidents, nobody has lost more than the native people of the state. The state deprives of development due to such advancements across the borders. Once a homogeneous center of Shaivism and Hinduism, the valley has thrown out her own people due to rising communal problems. Various peace talks and treaties have taken place but nothing has sorted the long lasting issue.





Kashmir’s beauty is her Kashmiriyat, a way to live all together with harmony. Kashmiriyat teaches us to respect every religion. The way things have worked against the native Kashmiri Pandits fails the state in her on terms. Its our collective responsibility as a nation to help the state to restore her culture. Those who were thrown out and made refugees on their own land must get the justice.

Jammu and Kashmir were, is and will remain an integral part of India. Forces have to deal with the problem with the sense of Humanity. No nations across the borders have the right to interfere in this internal matter of India.


In the end, peace must prevail everywhere! Jai Hind!


I hope you liked this article on the Jammu and Kashmir. Please share this article among your friends. Let's work consciously towards solving this problem.Thank you for an overwhelming response for my previous articles.

Please follow the Instagram page @theoldmonk47 for more political updates made simple! :-)

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