Jammu & Kashmir: A victim
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| BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS |
Jammu & Kashmir: A victimAuthor: Daya Sagar
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| Paperback: 390 pp Publisher: Ocean Publishing house, 2014. Price: INRs. 500 Language: English |
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| Book Review by Dr. Antra Bhatt Hakhu* |
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Jammu & Kashmir: A victim' was released on November 28, 2014 at the Hindi Bhawan, Vishnu Divangar Marg New Delhi. In this article, I would like to give prospective readers a sneak peek into the book. The book is an interesting accomplishment and a valuable addition to the extant literature on the history of J & K. It is fact based and draws its analyses from an in-depth study of archives. The author has very clear ideas and develops the same progressively in the book in the form of short chapters. The book is about Jammu and Kashmir and talks about 'Kashmiri Pandits' and all the other communities that belong/live in the state. It highlights how political activities and legal frameworks have overpowered the activities in the state. All this is done in simple language so that the common man can understand the needs and affairs of J & K as a state. The beginning chapters of the book focus on clarifying how Kashmir was and has been part of what is known as the community ‘Bharat’ for the past 5000 years and hence any attempt to contest the history of Kashmir Valley based on much recent accession may not be a fair attempt. Next, the issue of violations is addressed with multiple communities is discussed. These communities include people from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), living in Jammu, who because of lack of socio-cultural similarity have not been given their due. It even includes people living along the line of control (LoC) region, who have limited means of income and emancipation. The book then moves on to providing a detailed historical account of the rulers in J & K and the key treaties signed prior to independence. The entire era from Gulab Singh’s rule to signing of ‘Treaty of Chushul’ is traced. This is followed by a detailing of how the Muslim Conference party was formed, the years when its influence started to build before it was finally renamed National Conference by Sheikh Abdullah. The time of the partition was the most controversial period in Kashmir’s history and the book dedicates many chapters to explaining the ‘Quit Kashmir’ call that was launched by Sheikh against the Monarch Hari Singh and the aftermath of this event. Based on archival data, the author discusses how the ‘Quit Kashmir’ call was not curbed by the then Prime minister and Lord Mountbatten. This according to the book was the key reason for Hari Singh’s not acceding to India immediately after partition was announced. The discussion then moves to the main thesis of the book. This is the ‘instrument of accession’, a document signed by rulers of all states that agreed to be part of India. While the accession instrument was accepted for all states and was duly signed by Gulab Singh, the validity of accession of Kashmir to India was put in question by Mountbatten. As per archive records, Gulab Singh signed the accession document even though he stated that he did so to protect his people from the north-western tribesmen infiltration. The ‘instrument of accession’ was ‘portrayed’ to be disputed and is the key reason for dispute in Kashmir until today. After detailing the historical account, the author raises some valid questions that seem quite plausible to the reader. If in all other states the monarchs decided the accession fate of the people, why was plebiscite suggested by Lord Mountbatten in the case of Kashmir? Why did his suggestion overwrite the instrument of accession? Was the scene in Kashmir jeopardized due to politicians who wanted to see Sheikh Abdullah as an administrator? Was the ‘Quit Kashmir’ call actually mishandled? Why was the issue of Kashmir presented to the United Nations Organization (UNO) in an inappropriate way – as more of an ‘’accession problem’’ than an ‘’ infiltration problem’. The aftermath of Sheikh Abdullah’s government is also discussed along with a discussion on the article 370. The book answers questions on the why and how of Article 370 and how it is taken a flavor of being a symbol of separation. A must read for anyone who wants to get a detailed historical yet interesting account of what transpired between the monarch and the Indian government in J&K prior to the partition and the entire chronology of events till date. *The author is an Asst. Professor at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She is an Economist by training. However, issues on J & K are also part of her research interests. |
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| About the Author |
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Daya Sagar Author is a social activist and a senior coloumnist on Kashmir affairs |
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