By the later part of the Sixteenth Century the Mughals had settled in Bharat and relentlessly spread their Empire.
Mirza Nasir-Ud-Din had ascended to the throne of Agra in 1530. He remained in power till 1540 and then, he was defeated by Sher Shah Suri in repetitive battles at Chausa and Kanauj. He remained in exile for Fifteen years and strike back in 1555 and regained back the power of Delhi and Agra. The constant turmoil cost him his life and he died in 1556. By then his regime had extended from current East Afghanistan, West Pakistan, Northern Bharat, and east till Bangladesh. But, the region of Kashmir was still independent.
Kashmir was then ruled by Chakk tribe. Yusuf Shah (Chakk) and Zoon (Habba Khatoon) had carried the royal fortunes but unfortunately, his uncle, Abdal Chakk claimed the inheritance to the kingdom. Yusuf Chak defeated and killed him in the battle of Nawhatta and ultimately proclaimed himself as Sultan Nasiruddin Muhammad Yusuf Badshah Ghazi But, his inclination towards Poetry and Literature, instead of Governance, proved to be a costly affair and within months, he was attacked and defeated by Saiyyad Mubarak Baihaqi.
Winning the war is one thing but governing and protecting the kingdom is another matter. The incompetent Baihaqi proved to be as purposeless as indolent Yusuf Chakk and in a month and a half, he was replaced by Lohar Chakk.
This anarchy in the Kashmiri administration turned out to be issuing of an invitation to the giant at the imperial fortress city at Fatehpur Sikri in Agra, Emperor Akbar.
Post Emperor Humayun’s death in 1556, his heir Akbar had come to power. Born in 1542 in Umerkot, current Pakistan, Akbar was just Fourteen, when Humayun expired and he was guided and skilled under Regent Bairam Khan. Emperor Akbar’s imperialistic ambitions embellished him towards Kashmir, which had turned into an epicenter of disruption.
Yusuf Shah Chakk, who was ruling Kashmir then, and some of his opponents, within Kashmir, ignited Raja Man Singh, Governor of Lahore to take advantage of mobocracy and capture Kashmir. It revoked the unfulfilled dream of ruling Kashmir, in heart of Emperor Akber and he instructed Raja Bhagwan Das to direct an army movement.
Meanwhile, the political disorders in Kashmir had created chaos and Yusuf Shah Chakk was beaten by the opponent. Unable to reconcile himself to defeat, he surrendered to Akbar’s army in 1580.
Emperor Akbar ordered Raja Mansingh and Mirza Yusuf Chakk to march toward Kashmir. The indignant Kashmiri commanders supported Yakub Chakk and coronated him as Sultan.
(There is a deep-rooted discrepancy regarding Yakub Chakk. Some historian texts refer to him as Yusuf Chakks’ son and few others believe him to be a rebellion commander.)
Joining hands with Emperor Akbar’s army was the most fatal mistake committed by Yusuf Khan Chakk and by the time they reached Lahore, this fact began sinking in his mind. At that moment, the chaotic Kashmir was being ruled by Lohar Chakk, who was frightened to face the massive Mughal army and hence offered a deal to Yusuf Shah Chakk. He offered him to return to the throne if he came without Mughal troops. Yusuf Shah Chakk was lured by this offer and betrayed the Mughals.
But Lohar Chakk turned out to be untrustworthy.
Surprisingly Yusuf Shah Chakk was far more powerful minus even the Mughals and beat Lohar Chakk in November 1580 at Sopore. This time, he did not let his artistic, soft temperament rule over his political actions. Lohar Chakk was driven into the prison, with his eyes gouged out.
Emperor Akbar did not perceive the subterfuge by Yusuf Chakk, too kindly. After returning from Kabul, in 1581, he turned his attention to Kashmir and opened his political expedition. Yusuf Chakk, was by now, well aware of the consequences and acknowledged the dominance of the Mughal lord. Of course, these changing sentiments in Yusuf Chakk did not go well with some of the Kashmiri nobles, who were clinging to the idea of independence. Ignoring their resistance Yusuf Khan began walking on the path of surrender.
By December 1585 CE, a strong Mughal force of 5000, under the command of Raja Bhagwan Das, Mirza Shah Rukh, and Shah Quli Muharram marched towards Kashmir through a track called Pakhlii in Hazara via Muzaffarabad. The battle was fought at Kuarmast Pass but the extreme climate condition during severe winter delayed the decisive victory for the Mughals. Eventually, Yusuf Shah Chakk had to abdicate at Buliyasa in February 1586 and was presented before Emperor Akbar by Raja Bhagwan Das. on the 28th of March, he accepted the Mughal sovereignty.
That day, marked the absolute end of Kashmir’s independence.
Since the time of Sultan Shahmeer, in around the 1350s, Kashmir’s reins had been taken over by the outsiders, most of whom fanatically spread Islam. Yet, Kashmir had remained an independent state. Yusuf Chakk’s defeat changed the scenario as well as the equation.
In Srinagar, the khutba was read and coins were issued in Akbar’s name, the two significant symbols of sovereignty. Under the terms of the peace treaty, the department of Mint, Hunting, Saffron, and Shawl production, all major economic activities, came under the imperial monopoly, directing political control through the economic key.
Yusuf Khan Chakk was imprisoned by Raja Todarmal and after the stabilization of Mughal rule in Kashmir, he was pensioned off with an annual income of mere 3,600 rupees ans a modest jagir in Bihar.
Yakub Khan Chakk, who appeared as a strong opponent to the treaty by Yusuf Chakk, was a fanatic Islam follower. With the downfall of Yusuf Chakk, he began becoming more and more powerful. His fanatic frenzy ignited the communal disturbances. The famous Jama Masjid in Srinagar became the hotspot for the Jihadi movement. As per historian Muhammad Faque, Yakub Chakk was a devoted Shia Muslim and the Sunni Muslims became his initial targets. He enforced change in religious systems followed by Sunni Muslims and demolished their Mosques as well as killed their Kazi, hence this Shia – Sunni uprising polluted the atmosphere in Kashmir.
His demonic hunger for Islamisation was not satiated and his atrocity turned towards Kashmiri Hindus. He began slaughtering Hindu women after ill-treating them physically. The Kashmiri Hindu clan was aghast with terror. They were being forced to convert but a large number of Kashmiri Hindus committed suicide before converting. This angered Yakub Khan Chakk and he began burning houses of Hindus.
Agitated, the group of Kashmiri Hindus and Sunni Muslims approached Akber’s court under the leadership of Baba Dawood Khaki and Shaikh Sharif. This turned out to be a Golden chance for Emperor Akber, to ‘win’ over and take hold of Kashmir’s original inhabitants – Kashmiri Hindus.
He “assured” them that the Mughal administration would not interfere with the religious customs of the Kashmiri people and would eliminate the interference of officers appointed by previous Sultans. As the atmosphere conducive to ruling Kashmir was created, Emperor Akber instructed Qasim Khan Mir Bahr in June 1586 to march to annex Kashmir.
He defeated Yakub Khan Chakk at Hastivanj in October 1586 and on the 10th of October, Srinagar became Mughal Cantonment. The “Charming Garden” – Kashmir was much more than the serene picturesque locals for Emperor Akber.
Along with its impressive economic configuration of thriving agro production of Saffron, Dryfruits, and Fruits as well as Shawl and Carpet making, it provided direct access to Afghanistan. Akber was certain about not repeating his father Humayun’s mistakes of keeping the borders of Kashmir out of his direct control. Thus, it was imperative to bring it under the subjugation of the Mughal empire.
The saga of the decline of Kashmir portrays a clear picture of the solo fact.
Whenever, the region faced communal disharmony, the indigenous natives of the land – Kashmiri Hindus became its prey.
Sources of Information :
हमारी भूलोका स्मारक : धर्मांतरित कश्मीर
नरेंद्र सहगल
Kashmir: Behind The Vale
M J Akbar
My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir
Jagmohan ji.
Madhvi Bhuta is the National Executive of BJP Mahila Morcha and a Columnist on various Forums.