Quit Kashmir movement was out of personal ambitions of Sheikh Abdullah and was backed by Nehru
Daya Sagar Sharma
November 08, 2008
A Look Through the Mist
The present day affairs of Jammu and Kashmir can not be seen in isolation to the role of National Conference .Sheikh Mohd Abdullah emerged on the J&K Scene in 1930s. He was an educated Kashmiri youth who took prime interest in the socio economic conditions of the masses of the Kashmir valley. The people in the valley were poor, simple and very less exposed to the outside world. Most of the local people worked in the fields, attended to the visitors / tourist and survived on the local handicraft / fruit industry. Those who could not afford the cost of cold winters and had not much labour job available indoors used to manage some means to go for labour out side valley in the plains. The some Kashmiri pundits who were not in government / other service jobs too left the valley during winters. Some of them visited their co religionists even in other states and collected some resources against the blessings they extended as priests. Majority in the Valley remained indoor during winter. Very few people left the Valley for business, service or touring during the summer months. A few who left the Valley for reasons other than Government service were from the rich segment and some of those who took to handicraft trade.
The Kashmiri Hindu ( Pundit ) remained engaged more in education / government service . Pundits could also raise some wealth and influence. So, Pundits could secure more role in decision making and economic affairs of the J&K. No doubt the Kashmiri pundits formed the bulk of the Hindu in Kashmir Valley in1930s. Good number of them also succeeded to actively participate in the socio- economic and administrative affairs of Kashmir Valley, including decision making. Some Kashmiri pundits also took part in the protests against the Maharaja directly or indirectly.
Majority of the population ( over 90 % ) in Kashmir Valley was that of Muslims. Hence Sheikh Abdullah and his associates who were working particularly for the welfare of the muslims could secure support quite early. They later shaped themselves as Muslim Conference and started raising questions on the trueness of the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh. Membership of Muslim Conference was open to Muslims only. I would not discuss here other local leaders of Kashmir Valley and J&K Muslims since here I am discussing the broader aspects of the behavior of National Conference and its prime leaders . Since majority the Kashmiri Muslims were not that much engaged in acquiring education it was easy for Sheikh to influence them. Muslim Conference argued that very few Kashmiri Muslims were in the services of the Maharaja government and hence a larger number of the poor and unemployed were from among the muslims. Sheikh´s Muslim Conference did gather reasonable support in the Valley.
Valley was far away from Jammu by standards of normal means of road transport in 1930s and most of the trade was through Jehlum Valley road Punjab via Muzafarrabad . The most of the rich & those from services / government found interest in visiting only Kashmir valley for her beauties .
Kashmir Valley being a muslim majority area and being a part of the State of a Hindu Prince would have surely attracted the British. Kashmir Valley drew more notice from the British India Government and even the political leadership of Congress . The British in 1920s were irritated by the Indian people asking Independence . Maharaja Hari Singh was also an irritant for the British since he too did not sponsor much anti Indian independence movement policies/ programmes in J&K
Another thing that mattered at that time was the contents of the Government of India Act 1935 where in the British had put the choice of the Prince of a Princely State as exclusive tool to decide the future of a Princely State in times to come. Where as the Indian National Congress was in principle opposed to it. Congress also found a useful ally in persons like Sheikh Abdullah Jawahar Lal Nehru drew close to Sheikh Abdullah. Sheikh Mohd Abdullah was brought on the Indian political scene by Jawahar Lal Nehru. Later Sheikh Abdullah decided to convert Muslim Conference in to a political organization and open its membership to all including Hindu. Some of his colleagues in Muslim Conference were opposed to the proposal and did not come along with Abdullah to National Conference . Some of his associates continued with the name Muslim Conference. This brought Sheikh Abdullah more close to Nehru and hence close to Indian National Congress as well. Nehru started giving very special treatment to Sheikh and his National Conference. Congress left it to the National Conference to play main political role in J&K. Congress was not wound up in J&K. But under the advice of Nehru Congress played a dormant role in J&K. Sheikh Abdullah got encouraged with the special preferential status that Jawahar Lal Nehru worked out for him with the Congress leadership. Rather Sheikh Abdullah appeared to rear some extra ambitions as well. Sheikh Mohd Abdullah even proposed that the British Empire and the leadership of Congress should have a special look at the accord between the British India Govt and Maharaja Gulab Singh as of 1946 ( Amritsar Treaty ). Sheikh in a way demanded that with the retreat of the British from Indian sub continent , the Democratic Government in Kashmir should also be handed over to National Conference as was being done with Indian National Congress and Indian Dominion. He was advocating that MAHARAJA should also quit like the British. It was with this ideology that in 1946 Sheikh Abdullah gave the call of Quit Kashmir against the Maharaja. Sheikh was so much encouraged with the support of Nehru that he did not even take Indian National Congress in confidence before giving the Quit Kashmir call (1946) on the lines of 1942 Quit India call. The Congress leaders were annoyed but Nehru still supported Sheikh Abdullah. Quit Kashmir movement of National Conference was out of personal ambitions of Sheikh Abdullah .
Nehru ´s out right support to Sheikh added more irritants in the bag of Hari Singh. Sardar Vallab Bhai Patel appeared helpless before Nehru. The result was that some other view makers could come close to Hari Singh and suggest him even some special plans for the future after the British left India. Hari Singh even arrested Sheikh Abdullah and it was with the pressures from Jawahar Lal Nehru that Sheikh was released after Sheikh assured a peaceful behavior to Maharaja. Muslim Conference did have some members in Jammu province like it had in Kashmir province and they offered more opposition to Sheikh Abdullah from Jammu after Sheikh Abdullah entered into direct confrontation with Maharaja Hari Singh in 1940s By this time the date of 15th August 1947 had passed . Before 15 August 1947 unfair conditions exited for accession with Indian Dominion for Hari Singh since the confirmation of Redcliff Award on Indo Pak boundaries was made by Mountbatten only on 16th August 1947. In the absence of this award J&K would have no link with India like it has now through Pathankot. May be this too provided some some reasons for delayed accession with India to Hari Singh.
Sheikh Abdullah had eyes particularly on Kashmir Valley and wanted to reinterpret the March 1846 Amritsar Treaty between the British India Government and Maharaja Gulab Singh to secure sovereignty atleast over Kashmir ( only ) to National Conference . At that time National Conference had no much political role in Jammu Province as well as in Ladakh region. Jammu Province and Ladakh were already part of Gulab Singh´s empire before March 1946 Amritsar treaty was signed. It was Kashmir Valley only that came under him in 1846 under the Amritsar treaty. Out side Kashmir Valley Congress could play a senior role. It was Nehru´s support and outright / blind alliance with Sheikh Abdullah that made Sheikh ambitious and he dreamt of extending his tentacles over whole of J&K under the quit Kashmir movement. Muslim Conference too got encouraged after Hari Singh became sore to Sheikh Abdullah and Nehru. Had Vallab Bhai Patel not been there may be Nehru would have succeeded in the exit of Hari Singh from J&K in September /October/ 1947 itself ( much before 1949 June ). It was not all over yet . Even After 1947 October Accession of J&K with India, New Delhi handled J&K affairs only as Kashmir Affairs and it is for this approach that the common man of Kashmir Valley and J&K in general is today paying the price through blood.
( Daya Sagar is social activist and leading scribe on Kashmir affairs dayasagr@yahoo.co.uk www.dayasagr.blogspot.com)
The present day affairs of Jammu and Kashmir can not be seen in isolation to the role of National Conference .Sheikh Mohd Abdullah emerged on the J&K Scene in 1930s. He was an educated Kashmiri youth who took prime interest in the socio economic conditions of the masses of the Kashmir valley. The people in the valley were poor, simple and very less exposed to the outside world. Most of the local people worked in the fields, attended to the visitors / tourist and survived on the local handicraft / fruit industry. Those who could not afford the cost of cold winters and had not much labour job available indoors used to manage some means to go for labour out side valley in the plains. The some Kashmiri pundits who were not in government / other service jobs too left the valley during winters. Some of them visited their co religionists even in other states and collected some resources against the blessings they extended as priests. Majority in the Valley remained indoor during winter. Very few people left the Valley for business, service or touring during the summer months. A few who left the Valley for reasons other than Government service were from the rich segment and some of those who took to handicraft trade.
The Kashmiri Hindu ( Pundit ) remained engaged more in education / government service . Pundits could also raise some wealth and influence. So, Pundits could secure more role in decision making and economic affairs of the J&K. No doubt the Kashmiri pundits formed the bulk of the Hindu in Kashmir Valley in1930s. Good number of them also succeeded to actively participate in the socio- economic and administrative affairs of Kashmir Valley, including decision making. Some Kashmiri pundits also took part in the protests against the Maharaja directly or indirectly.
Majority of the population ( over 90 % ) in Kashmir Valley was that of Muslims. Hence Sheikh Abdullah and his associates who were working particularly for the welfare of the muslims could secure support quite early. They later shaped themselves as Muslim Conference and started raising questions on the trueness of the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh. Membership of Muslim Conference was open to Muslims only. I would not discuss here other local leaders of Kashmir Valley and J&K Muslims since here I am discussing the broader aspects of the behavior of National Conference and its prime leaders . Since majority the Kashmiri Muslims were not that much engaged in acquiring education it was easy for Sheikh to influence them. Muslim Conference argued that very few Kashmiri Muslims were in the services of the Maharaja government and hence a larger number of the poor and unemployed were from among the muslims. Sheikh´s Muslim Conference did gather reasonable support in the Valley.
Valley was far away from Jammu by standards of normal means of road transport in 1930s and most of the trade was through Jehlum Valley road Punjab via Muzafarrabad . The most of the rich & those from services / government found interest in visiting only Kashmir valley for her beauties .
Kashmir Valley being a muslim majority area and being a part of the State of a Hindu Prince would have surely attracted the British. Kashmir Valley drew more notice from the British India Government and even the political leadership of Congress . The British in 1920s were irritated by the Indian people asking Independence . Maharaja Hari Singh was also an irritant for the British since he too did not sponsor much anti Indian independence movement policies/ programmes in J&K
Another thing that mattered at that time was the contents of the Government of India Act 1935 where in the British had put the choice of the Prince of a Princely State as exclusive tool to decide the future of a Princely State in times to come. Where as the Indian National Congress was in principle opposed to it. Congress also found a useful ally in persons like Sheikh Abdullah Jawahar Lal Nehru drew close to Sheikh Abdullah. Sheikh Mohd Abdullah was brought on the Indian political scene by Jawahar Lal Nehru. Later Sheikh Abdullah decided to convert Muslim Conference in to a political organization and open its membership to all including Hindu. Some of his colleagues in Muslim Conference were opposed to the proposal and did not come along with Abdullah to National Conference . Some of his associates continued with the name Muslim Conference. This brought Sheikh Abdullah more close to Nehru and hence close to Indian National Congress as well. Nehru started giving very special treatment to Sheikh and his National Conference. Congress left it to the National Conference to play main political role in J&K. Congress was not wound up in J&K. But under the advice of Nehru Congress played a dormant role in J&K. Sheikh Abdullah got encouraged with the special preferential status that Jawahar Lal Nehru worked out for him with the Congress leadership. Rather Sheikh Abdullah appeared to rear some extra ambitions as well. Sheikh Mohd Abdullah even proposed that the British Empire and the leadership of Congress should have a special look at the accord between the British India Govt and Maharaja Gulab Singh as of 1946 ( Amritsar Treaty ). Sheikh in a way demanded that with the retreat of the British from Indian sub continent , the Democratic Government in Kashmir should also be handed over to National Conference as was being done with Indian National Congress and Indian Dominion. He was advocating that MAHARAJA should also quit like the British. It was with this ideology that in 1946 Sheikh Abdullah gave the call of Quit Kashmir against the Maharaja. Sheikh was so much encouraged with the support of Nehru that he did not even take Indian National Congress in confidence before giving the Quit Kashmir call (1946) on the lines of 1942 Quit India call. The Congress leaders were annoyed but Nehru still supported Sheikh Abdullah. Quit Kashmir movement of National Conference was out of personal ambitions of Sheikh Abdullah .
Nehru ´s out right support to Sheikh added more irritants in the bag of Hari Singh. Sardar Vallab Bhai Patel appeared helpless before Nehru. The result was that some other view makers could come close to Hari Singh and suggest him even some special plans for the future after the British left India. Hari Singh even arrested Sheikh Abdullah and it was with the pressures from Jawahar Lal Nehru that Sheikh was released after Sheikh assured a peaceful behavior to Maharaja. Muslim Conference did have some members in Jammu province like it had in Kashmir province and they offered more opposition to Sheikh Abdullah from Jammu after Sheikh Abdullah entered into direct confrontation with Maharaja Hari Singh in 1940s By this time the date of 15th August 1947 had passed . Before 15 August 1947 unfair conditions exited for accession with Indian Dominion for Hari Singh since the confirmation of Redcliff Award on Indo Pak boundaries was made by Mountbatten only on 16th August 1947. In the absence of this award J&K would have no link with India like it has now through Pathankot. May be this too provided some some reasons for delayed accession with India to Hari Singh.
Sheikh Abdullah had eyes particularly on Kashmir Valley and wanted to reinterpret the March 1846 Amritsar Treaty between the British India Government and Maharaja Gulab Singh to secure sovereignty atleast over Kashmir ( only ) to National Conference . At that time National Conference had no much political role in Jammu Province as well as in Ladakh region. Jammu Province and Ladakh were already part of Gulab Singh´s empire before March 1946 Amritsar treaty was signed. It was Kashmir Valley only that came under him in 1846 under the Amritsar treaty. Out side Kashmir Valley Congress could play a senior role. It was Nehru´s support and outright / blind alliance with Sheikh Abdullah that made Sheikh ambitious and he dreamt of extending his tentacles over whole of J&K under the quit Kashmir movement. Muslim Conference too got encouraged after Hari Singh became sore to Sheikh Abdullah and Nehru. Had Vallab Bhai Patel not been there may be Nehru would have succeeded in the exit of Hari Singh from J&K in September /October/ 1947 itself ( much before 1949 June ). It was not all over yet . Even After 1947 October Accession of J&K with India, New Delhi handled J&K affairs only as Kashmir Affairs and it is for this approach that the common man of Kashmir Valley and J&K in general is today paying the price through blood.
( Daya Sagar is social activist and leading scribe on Kashmir affairs dayasagr@yahoo.co.uk www.dayasagr.blogspot.com)