The intention behind formation of Praja Parishad was not to create an opposition against the National Conference. Now that Bharat was independent and was declared a democracy, the existence of Princely states was almost on verge of being extinguished. The motive of democracy was set on establishment of political outfits with different political ideology.

The National Conference was already established in the Kashmir valley but they hardly had any presence in the Jammu region. Moreover, the National Conference had its own ideological base and all those who were not in agreement with its ideology and had different set of beliefs, needed a political party based on their own political ideologue. In the absence of different political doctrine, there was a probability of a single party supremacy, which could prove dangerous to preserve democratic values of citizens who had different political beliefs.

There may be dissimilarity and disagreement on basic political ideology of parties but certain issues regarding well being of the state remained of common interest to one and all and all political parties can work together on those issues. Hence, Praja Parishad did not oppose Shaikh Abdullah ‘s visit to Jammu, after he attained power. Infact, they welcomed him with open arms. Premnath Dogra had remarked that Shaikh could not enter Jammu, till he received affirmative support from him.

This evidence portrayed Praja Parishad as a political party based on the idea of nation first. As mentioned by Mulkraj Saraf, the prominent journalist of Jammu Kashmir, Premnath Dogra agreed to be the president of the committee formed for effective and efficient administration in the state. This shows his humbleness and love for the nation. But, unfortunately Shaikh was blindfolded with self goals and unable to walk on the path of national interests.

The need of the hour was to walk, along with all the other political outfits, irrespective of their ideology. The National Conference, which did not really have its footfall in the region of Jammu, adopted the immoral ways to establish its base there. Few of the fanatic and unpopular Muslims, became close confidants of the administration. All those who entered the National Conference, post 26th October 1947, were communal minded Muslims, who strategically snatched the reins of governance in their hands and removed the Hindu officers from prominent posts. Some of the important posts were handed over to Co. Adalat Khan and M A Shahmiri etc. This created chaos in Jammu and especially the Dogras began feeling defeated. They were being challenged and humiliated on their own soil. On the contrary, Shaikh and his political counterparts should have won them over and created cordial relations with them.But, nothing of the sort ever happened.

The people of Jammu and Ladakh region were emotionally connected with Bharat and they were deeply patriotic. They were determined to be part of Bharat, no matter what. Thus, respecting their dedication towards national integrity, they should have been awarded with autonomous status. This would have been the most appropriate solution, within the democratic set up. Such an honour and confidence in them, would have instilled their deep rooted bonding with the National Conference.

But, that was not to be… Shaikh’s  repeatedly accused that Muslims were murdered in the Jammu region and put the blame for it on the Praja Parishad. This was again, his political move.  During the partition, the assassination of  Hindus and Sikhs in West Punjab had begun on huge scale.  Multan, Rawalpindi, Atak and Jehlam were facing this atrocity since than. When the attacks began more frequently, post Redcliffe division, the Hindus and Sikhs of border areas of Jammu were largely victimised. The people residing in border areas took shelter in the internal areas of Jammu and their horrid stories of the brutality conferred upon them, made the blood of fellow Bharatiya boil in rage.

Eventually,  the  reaction to the act of  barbarousness by Muslims resulted in distancing from the Muslims. It all began with continuous excoriation of killing  Muslims, imposed on Hindu and Sikhs,  by Shaikh. He conveniently prefered to forgo the heinous crimes by Muslims. The Udhampur district was the second most important region, other than Jammu. It had a huge Hindu population. Shaikh Abdullah played the communal card as soon as he gained power and decided to divide Udhampur. He amalgamated the Muslim populated areas of Udhampur into the newly formed Doda district. This new development also had other drastic consequences. Udhampur was connected with the hilly Ladakh region. After the formation of Doda with Muslim majority, the connectivity of Ladakh with  the rest of Kashmir was paralysed.

It became evident that Shaikh Abdullah had the intention of merging the Doda region into the Kashmir valley, in the future.  He also further divided the rest of the Hindu majority areas of Udhampur and merged some areas into Poonch district and rest in Udhampur district. Certain areas of Chainani were also amalgamated in the Doda district. This communal conduct of Shaikh  enraged the people of Jammu.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had promoted inspiring nationalism across the nation and Praja Parishad received the fruits of sown seeds. The RSS Swayamsevaks took the message and information about Praja Parishad all around Jammu. As the Praja Parishad was representing the sentiments of people of Jammu, the people too welcomed it and soon, it was established as the powerful political outfit. In a few months of its establishment, its president Hari Vazir was commissioned in the army. Hari Vazir was martyred while fighting the invasion by Pakistani attackers in the Baramulla sector. 

The journey of Praja Parishad began with sacrificing for the integrity of the nation. Lala Roopchand Nanda, a well-known lawyer, was appointed as the new president in his place. The news of growing discontent in the Jammu sector, reached the capital city Delhi and to investigate the scenario, few members of the constituent assembly came over to Jammu in February 1949. Acharya Raghuveer, Mihir lal Chattopadhyay, Khadilkar and the refugee leader from Mirpur – Kaviraj Vishnu Gupta accompanied him.

The group of citizens of Jammu region met with the delegation, under the leadership of Premnath Dogra and threw light on the worsening condition of Jammu under Shaikh’s administration.  As soon as the delegation was back in Delhi, around Fifteenth of February, Premnath Dogra was arrested. The Shaikh Government imposed the castigation of the Pogrom of Muslims on him. The other leaders of Praja Parishad – Maslan Shivram Gupta, Shyamlal Sharma, Diwan Shivnath Nanda and Dhanvantar Singh were also put behind bars. The atmosphere in Jammu was extremely tense and people of the region felt humiliated with this betrayal. The entire Jammu observed strike.  In response, the imprisoned leaders of Praja Parishad were shifted to Central Prison in Srinagar. The Praja Parishad wanted to unveil the differentiation incurred towards the people of Jammu and expose the undemocratic methods to annihilate the Praja Parishad.

But, they were denied permission for a public meeting in the entire Jammu by the administration. Eventually, the Parishad held the meeting outside the city under the presidency of Mir Baksh Gujjar. He and Praja Parishad president – Roopchand Nanda criticised the Shaikh Abdullah Government that they were creating obstacles in the simple political movement of Praja Parishad. Additionally, they put forward the demand for release of Premnath Dogra.

But, the Government instead of giving an ear to the complaints by the people of Jammu, began arresting more and more supporters of Parishad. The Jammu residents stood up alongside the Praja Parishad, in protest. When the Government realised that the fire of agitation was spreading quickly, they found no other option than giving the consolation of release of Premnath Dogra and all the other leaders and  bringing solution to their dissatisfaction.

The Parishad took their word for granted and put a stop to the agitation. But, their so-called promise was just a facade and they really had no intention of fulfilling the promise. The discontent and abhorrence in Ladakh region was also growing. Chevang Ringjin, the president of Ladakh Buddhist Sangha gave a memorandum to Jawaharlal Nehru, It clearly mentioned that Ladakh is not compelled by any plebiscite through which the Muslim population of the region can take a decision of joining Pakistan. The citizens of the region are wishing for direct rule of Bharat over them. In case if that is not viable or possible, the people of the region would want Ladakh, along with Jammu, to be designated as a separate state or they are amalgamated in the state of West Punjab.

Praja Parishad had stopped the agitation as they were promised that their leaders – Premnath Dogra and many more would be evicted, but the Shaikh Government had no intention of fulfilling the promise. Parishad continued the democratic measures for their demand. They repeatedly send the memorandums to both, State and Central Governments. The delegation of Praja Parishad sought a meeting with the Government. But, nothing had any impact on the Shaikh Government. Again in the month of June 1949, Shaikh Government released warrants to arrest more karyakartas of Parishad.

Now, all the other routes of solution through communication were getting rejected. The people of Jammu extended their hand of support towards the Shaikh Government but it was jilted away. Hence, with no other solution in sight, the Praja Parishad decided to call for peaceful and nonviolent demonstration for drawing the attention, for injustice incurred to  Jammu citizens.

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