Jammu and Kashmir:
Problems and Solutions

Prafulla Ketkar
Asst. Prof and Head, Political Science,
Smt. BRD Arts and Commerce Mahila Mahavidylaya, Nashik Road
prafulla10@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 forces
to constitute a group of interlocutors to hold a
“sustained dialogue” with all shades of Valley life;
to release about 245 persons detained for stonepelting;
5 lakhs for people who died in army/police firing;
to remove AFSPA in certain districts.

b.
c.
d.
e.
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 – 1 st
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 antiIndian; (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!!!!

Jammu and Kashmir Problems and Solutions

  • 1.
    Jammu and Kashmir: Problemsand Solutions Prafulla Ketkar Asst. Prof and Head, Political Science, Smt. BRD Arts and Commerce Mahila Mahavidylaya, Nashik Road [email protected]
  • 2.
    Sequence of Discussion Whatdo we know about Kashmir?  Various perspectives on the Kashmir Issue;  Historical understanding  Strategic issues  Decoding myths  What we should highlight? 
  • 3.
    What do weknow About Kashmir? History?  Demography/Population composition?  Geography/Strategic Location?  Political Situation? 
  • 4.
    Why Kashmir Now?  8point agenda declared by the Centre: a. to de-scale the presence of security forces to constitute a group of interlocutors to hold a “sustained dialogue” with all shades of Valley life; to release about 245 persons detained for stonepelting; 5 lakhs for people who died in army/police firing; to remove AFSPA in certain districts. b. c. d. e.
  • 5.
    Why Kashmir Now? Statementby 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 
  • 6.
    Kashmir Issue: Various Perspectives Spearheadof Secular India;  Socio-economic problem;  Strategically Important;  Culturally, historically and politically India’s integral part 
  • 7.
    Historical Understanding      Kalhana’s ‘RajatRangini’ 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
  • 8.
    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 
  • 9.
    Historical Understanding      Akbar ruledthrough 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
  • 10.
    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;
  • 11.
    Partition and Kashmir RajaHari 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 
  • 12.
    Accession of Kashmir     ShaikhAbdullah – 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
  • 13.
    Blunder of 1948 From27th 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 – 1 st January 1948 and 28th October made a declaration about ‘plebiscite’ in Kashmir; 
  • 14.
    Internationalization of Kashmir GavePakistan 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 
  • 15.
    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; 
  • 16.
    Karachi Agreement Both thecountries 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 
  • 19.
    Strategic Issues     Key transportand 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.
  • 20.
    Decoding the Myths? Jammuand Kashmir is a Muslim majority state with Muslim Culture; (Hairat)  Most of the Kashmiri people are antiIndian; (Lord Aveberry plebiscite);  Indian and Government and Army has been unjust to Kashmiri people; (Sadbhavana and packages)  India refused to take plebiscite 
  • 21.
    What we Needto 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 
  • 22.
    What we Needto 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; 
  • 23.
    What we Needto 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 
  • 24.
  • 25.