Shaikh Abdullah was asked to represent Bharat in the United Nations in 1948. In New York, he had a four hour meeting with a delegation from Pakistan. Commenting on the purpose of meeting with the Pakistani delegation, Shaikh had himself disclosed, ” During our discussion regarding Kashmir, various plausible solutions were suggested and recommended. To keep a princely state as a buffer between two nations, could also be a sensible solution. But, the indemnity for establishment of an independent state would have to be given by both nations, Bharat and Pakistan, as well as the United Nations and China.”

Ironically, Pakistan did not agree to this “solution” and it had anguished Shaikh. Pandit Nehru still remained under reverie about Shaikh’s intentions. Around the same time, member of Bharatiya Constituent Assembly , M L Chattopadhyay visited Kashmir along with Dr. Raghuveer. They interacted there with elected representatives, Social and Religious leaders and constituted a detailed report regarding Shaikh and his conduct. They presented this report to the Congress parliamentary board in Delhi. The report had a comprehensive portrayal of Shaikh’s objective of “Independent Kashmir”.

Dr. Gaurinath Rastogi has narrated – While returning from the United Nations meeting, Shaikh Abdullah himself gave an interview to ‘  London Observer’s’ reporters, Michael Davidson and Ward Price, which was also published in “Montreal Daily star” on the 6th May 1949.  He had confirmed the plan of independent Kashmir, in no uncertain terms. When this news was published in newspapers, Sardar Patel called him to Delhi and rebuked him. Shaikh promised never to repeat such folly again, in future.

But, the words were hollow and nothing changed at all. On the contrary, the Intelligence Bureau officer, who had informed the Government of Bharat, about the interview, was obligated to evict Kashmir!!!

Shaikh’s intentions regarding formation of Independent Kashmir, of Muslim majority population, was an open secret. Yet, Pandit Nehru was unable to grasp his real face behind the facade of being secularist. Under Pandit Nehru’s nose, Shaikh was having clandestine meetings with American ambassador Handerson and debating over the possibilities of formation of independent Kashmir!!! Infact, on 29th September 1950 Handerson reported to the American External Affairs Minister – ” I have done two secret meetings, initiated by Shaikh Abdullah in Kashmir. He has exuberantly and earnestly conveyed that Kashmir should become independent. He claimed  that a larger section of the people wish this and he has credence that the leaders in Azad Kashmir, would also support this. Kashmiris fail to understand that why the United Nations, has not agreed upon this third alternative, to solve the Kashmir issue.” He had added that Shaikh Abdullah ‘s wife was prepared to put a step ahead. Begum Abdullah sent a message to UNCIP – the United Nations committee for Bharat – Pakistan in Srinagar, that her husband may not be able to take a clear stand for Kashmir’s independence but she was ready for it.

The important point that has been overlooked always, has been neglecting the sentiments of Dogras, Paharis, Shias, Gujjars and other tribes. Shaikh Abdullah was only speaking the voice of Kashmiri speaking Muslims. The other Kashmiri citizens wanted an amalgamation with Bharat but there was no one to voice out their opinion.

Pandit Nehru had always been on the side of Shaikh. Sardar Patel had opposed this outlook and he fought vehemently till he could. He was handling the Ministry of Princely States but Unfortunately, the Jammu & Kashmir issue had been ‘snatched’ away from him and it was placed under the Prime Minister. Had that not happened or if Mahatma Gandhi had intervened and stopped Pandit Nehru from taking over handling of Kashmir issue, the history would have been differently written. 

On 15th December 1950, Sardar Patel too, left for heavenly abode leaving the already wounded Kashmir issue in hands of Pandit Nehru. Shaikh Abdullah was slowly but steadily unveiling his true self. Deep down, he was certain that Bharat is engulfed in the Plebiscite demand by the United Nations Security Council. He was under the impression that now, Bharat would not have any other alternative than to agree with their demands and terms, hence his annotations towards Bharat, turned more and more critical and objectionable.

Almost four years had passed by, since Bharat became independent and Jammu – Kashmir was annexed to Bharat. The unification process of almost all the other states had been nearly completed but in Jammu – Kashmir, the process had almost come to a halt.

The democratic process has three major objectives. 

1. The fundamental right of the citizens.

2. Protection of citizen through independent judicial system.

3. Neutral Election process.

Shaikh disregarded these basic elements of democratic system. Instead he was inclined towards disrupting the unification process.  Shaikh Abdullah planned to have a separate Constitution and separate flag for the state!!! His demand was to have a separate Constitutional head for the state, elected by the state Vidhansabha and not nominated by the President.

It was evident that Shaikh Abdullah had become a stooge of the ‘outside’ pressure and was turning into a dictator. It was an irony that the citizens of independent Bharat had no option but to fight for their fundamental and constitutional rights. The year of 1952, turned out to be the period of inevitable conflicts.

On the 15th of January 1952, in the Gandhi Memorial Science Institute, education departing the state government had organised a programme for exhibiting physical strength of the students. The college campus was filled with buzz that the National Conference ‘s flag would be unfurl in the programme. Thus, the delegation of Students National Association, had gone to meet the Principal, Premnath Kazi and requested not to unfurl any political party’s flag. It was a delicate and awkward situation for the college management as Shaikh Abdullah was invited as the Chief Guest for the event and it was the Government ‘s order to unfurl the National Conference’s flag. Disobedience of the order could cause him suspension from the job!!!

The students in the march past would give salute to the flag. Initially, the Bharatiya Tiranga was unfurled but later, it was replaced by National Conference’s flag, as the flag design of the new state had not been finalised  It was most inappropriate to unfurl a political party’s flag in the Government programme and hence, few of the students as well as the common citizen, opposed and protested against such idiosyncrasies.

The students were asked to salute the flag of the National Conference during the March Past. When they refused to obey the order for this, they were forcefully removed  by the police.  Within sometime, they again reached,  sloganeering against the State Government and the National Conference. The police arrested the general secretary of the S.N.A – Yash Bhasin and Six others.

On the disciplinary pretext, the University administration, evicted Student National Association ‘s president – Ved Mitra and general secretary – Yash Bhasin from the University, whereas Ved Mitra was not even at the site of the protest!!!

Later, the suspension order was revoked but they were charged with Rs 400/- as fine!!! The students were fuming with anger.  In spite of it,  the administration remained unaffected towards the injustice incurred to the students.

Eventually, to fight this unfair unjustness, the National Students Association (NSA – Later it was merged into Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in 1954) took a call to initiate a hunger strike. This hunger strike was prolonged for forty long days.

Shaikh Abdullah Government ‘s approach towards Jammu and its people had always remained inimical. The Government was conspiring to demolish the political, cultural and social identity of Jammu. The hunger strike was also the reaction against the machiavellian scheming of dismantling the patriotic pride of people of Jammu. It’s exceptionally significant to note that this riposte was not a battle of individual humiliation but a collective backlash against the assault on Jammu’s integrity with Bharat.

The National Students Association raised two questions regarding this issue. Firstly, the state of Kashmir has always had a Red and Saffron flag. Now, Shaikh Abdullah, is not just aspiring to acquire another flag for the state but is also projecting his party’s flag as the state flag.

Thus, does Jammu – Kashmir require another flag than one they already have? Secondly, Can the government compel any student to unfurl any political party’s flag?

By the beginning of February 1952, the students’ protest was gaining more and more momentum. The students were adamant to fight against the injustice and the National Conference Government remained immovable towards students sentiments. Eventually, unable to resolve the issue and the strike, the principal of the University appealed to the Government to shut the institution for an indefinite period.

The Shaikh Government’s dogmatism towards the students’ demand, began turning the strike into a mass movement. If the Government had expressed regret over insistence for unfurling the National Conference flag and refrained from ordering action against the students, it would not have turned into massive agitation. The magistrate of Jammu high court appealed to leaders of Praja Parishad to intervene. The Praja Parishad’s intervention almost resolved the issue but Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, the deputy Prime Minister of the state, did not obdurate conduct, and kept the issue unresolved. He insisted on complete submission of the students.

Such a callous response humiliated the Jammu citizens and more and more people began extending their support to the student’s movement. The girl students were also participating in the protest. The state police, unable to control the simmering fury of the students, began doing Lathi charge. But, the students did not budge. The  Government used the Kashmiri Militia to suppress the agitation but it only angered the students more.

The Government, instead of communicating with the students, adopted the course of force over them. It appeared that they did not wish to interact and come to an amicable solution but had designed to hedge the Praja Parishad and attribute  the charges of mayhem on them.

Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad publicly stated that “Parishad wished to contest the authority of the government and hence, had instigated the students to create chaos.” On the 8th of February 1952, Seventy two hour curfew was imposed in Jammu. On the same day, president of Praja Parishad – Pandit Premnath Dogra, along with the other members, Shivraj Gupta and Chaudhary Gyanchand were arrested.

Sources of Information :

हमारी भूलोका स्मारक : धर्मांतरित कश्मीर

नरेन्द्र सहगल

कश्मीर : दहकते अंगारे

जगमोहन जी

जम्मू कश्मीर की अनकही कहानियां

कुलदीप चंद अग्निहोत्री

Kashmir : Behind The Vale

M J Akbar

My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir 

Jagmohan ji