Few days back I along with Director Center For Peace And Justice (CPJ)Mr.Nadir Ali were discussing Kashmir problem,he raised many critical questions like that of Separatism in Kashmir,he said that Separatism is deep rooted among Kashmiris. The sense of Separatism alienated the people of Kashmir from the rest of India.Whenever India defines Separatism,she counts Factions of Hurriyat,JKLF and many other parties but fact is that in Kashmir everyone seems to be a separatist,by putting so called separatists behind the bars,Separatism can’t be controlled and this is the very concern which India failed to address.
Being an independent country in the past, Kashmir was not easy to conquer. A renowned Kashmiri historian Kalhan writes in this regard that it is not possible to conquer Kashmir with sword but spirituality. It is pertinent to mention here that it was the Mughals, by which for the first time Kashmir lost its sovereignty and independence, prior to invasion they also developed communal hatred among Shia’s and Sunni’s of Kashmir so that people recognize the dominance of Mughals. However Kashmiris were not in sleep, they faced them with great bravery and with full determination, thus Mughals suffered heavy loss in the fight against Kashmiris.
In 1618 C.E a person namely Ahmad Sultan raised anti_Mughal movement,he awakened and evoked Kashmiris against Mughal attrocities,describing the Mughal rulers as luxurious and tyrannts,he raised people to revolt against Mughals.Due to atrocities of Mughal nobles and governors, the people of Kashmir invoked Ahmad Shah (Afganistan) to invade Kashmir. Then after a fight of 25 days at Shopian Mughal of governors were defeated and Kashmir came into the hands of Afghans.It is said that they were also brutal to Kashmiris ,they left no stone unturned to brutalize the Kashmiris.It is also mentioned that they made Shia and Pandits special target of their attrocities,but what happened, Kashmiris fought back.
Then came the Sikh rule.On 15 June 1819 C.E Kashmir got conquered by Sikhs.Dewan Moti became governor of Kashmir and he immediately banned Azaan and Namaz in Mosques,He locked Jamia Masjid as well.Many Mosques were taken by government and were converted into godowns,Cow slaughter was banned,amid to these attrocities Kashmiris keep their struggle continue and fought back.
Then the Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh purchased the Kashmir Valley from Sikhs through Amritsar Treaty on 9th march 1846 C.E in 75 Nanak Shahi Rupees.The deal was a big blow to the sovereignty of Kashmir and was the biggest sale ever in which Kashmiris were sold without letting them know about their future.
After the Dogras became masters of Kashmir, Kashmiri Muslims were living a life of poverty, agony and above all oppression,The Kashmiri Muslims had to pay taxes as the Hindus were exempted from paying their taxes,The inhuman forced labour,worst condition of peasants and other untold miseries had disgraced the people at large extent.
At the start of year 1929,all the sections of Kashmir society were seething with discontent.Meanwhile a batch of young men fired with the spark of freedom and enthused with nationalistic emotions return to the Valley in 1931,after receiving higher education in Indian Universities.
Thus the agitation began and processions and demonstrations were taken out against the Maharaja resulted in the Killing of 21 innocent and unarmed civilians.
There are many examples in history which show that Kashmiris always resisted against foreign invaders. Thus the Separatism is inherited in Kashmir,they opposed every ruler who want to mitigate and tries to destroy their identity and same applies for Indian state as well. Though India has successfully acceded Kashmir but she failed to win the hearts of Kashmiris and this very flame of Separatism glows up when ever any attempt is being made to destroy their image.
(The author currently a student at the Post Graduate Department of International Relations (Peace & Conflict Studies) at IUST Awantipora is writing on topics of greater public concern exclusively for “Kashmir Horizon”. His views are personal)
