We celebrate November Fourteenth, as Children’s day in memory of Pandit Nehru’s birthday, but we have conveniently overlooked a foremost occurrence that had marked the beginning of an unmatched journey of patriotism. In 1952, on the fourteenth November, the Praja Parishad commenced the agitation against the unjust conduct of National Conference and Shaikh Abdullah. The Jammu region had been transferred into a battlefield.

By then, people of Jammu and Ladakh had managed to swallow the bitter pill that Shaikh Abdullah did not have empathy towards them and his idea and welfare for the state was restricted till Kashmir valley and mainly the Muslim population residing there. But, they were extremely confound and rather pained by the conduct of Karn Sinh, whom they had esteemed as their Yuvraj Bahadur.

Their distress was neither for seeing only, Maharaja HariSinh as their Constitutional head nor were they agonised for fighting to save Maharaja’s legacy. If that was the sole cause, than it would not remain a debatable issue, as Shaikh was proposing to appoint Yuvraj Karn Sinh as the Constitutional head. That was exactly the tradition in the monarchy. The Praja Parishad’s antipathy and struggle was to diminish the skirmish that was causing impediment in implementation of Democracy in the state, by Shaikh.

The era of Monarchy was on the verge of conclusion and  Bharat was stepping on to the new era of Democracy. Praja Parishad had been battling for this democratic values as Shaikh Abdullah was withholding from granting the democratic rights to the people of Jammu and Ladakh. The State Government had prohibited all the processions, public meetings and public display of disagreement by imposing section 50 of Jammu-Kashmir Security policy, in order to combat the agitation.

The Satyagrahis were being arrested from the districts and Taluka headquarters. The entire Jammu was roaring in one voice – “एक देशमें दो विधान, दो प्रधान, दो निशान – नही चलेंगे, नही चलेंगे।” On the 17th November, Karn Sinh was elected and took oath on the post of Sadar-e-Riyasat. Srinagar extended many congratulations to him. The National Militia gave him “Guard of Honour” and was welcomed with firing the gun as soon as he stepped in the Polo ground. Pandit Nehru also sent a congratulatory message- “The people of Jammu Kashmir have honoured You, by electing You as the Sadar-e-Riyasat. I too, congratulate You.”

Amidst these expositions of esteemed honour, Karn Sinh knew in his heart the trauma his action had generated. In his own words, “I had an inkling that my father would not forgive me easily, for accepting this post. I had sensated that Shaikh has been an egregious foe of our family and by accepting this title, I have left myself at his mercy. I also very much knew the possible reaction of my people, the Dogras of Jammu.”

“Tiger” as the Karn Sinh ji was known, did sense the agony endured by his people, the Jummuites, who had always stood by the royal family, in any good or bad hour and today, for the first time, when they were in need of his support, he was standing with Shaikh Abdullah… Praja Parishad declared the day of their Tiger’s oath ceremony, as the “Black Day”and the entire Jammu observed complete ban.

The actual challenge was to take place at the Bahu Fort and Jammu Sachivalaya. The state Government had announced that as soon as the Sadar-e-Riyasat would take oath, both these significant structures would unfurl the Jammu-Kashmir state’s   Red coloured “national” flag with plough.

Praja Parishad had announced that under any circumstances, this would not happen. they would not let this happen. The huge number of police force had been deployed around the Bahu Fort and it was difficult for even a sparrow could reach there but the dedication of Praja Parishad’s karyakartas was enormous. They were determined to give behooving reply to the arrogant willifulness of National Conference and hence, they reached the spot, through the river route. They swam and crossed through the Tawi river and successfully reached the fort. It was amply onerous to disembark the newly unfurled flag but reaching out there crossing the impenetrable police force was a step towards victory.

Above all, their reaching out, created such a furore that the state Government was unable to unfurl the flag at the Jammu Sachivalaya. The entire Jammu observed a strike. The people of Jammu came out on roads. The processions were taken out to protest against the “Do Vidhaan, Do Pradhaan and Do Nishan” and eventually it turned into massive public meeting. The people had travelled from far and wide to participate in the procession at Jammu. The entire atmosphere was filled with slogans and chants. The police force had been called from Srinagar, too to control the huge population gathered but the entire protest, conducted by Praja Parishad was done in peaceful yet tenacious manner. Kathua, Udhampur and many other towns observed bandh and people unfurled Tiranga on their homes.

On the 24th of November 1952,  following the tradition, Karn Sinh was to visit Jammu after being appointed as the Sadar-e-Riyasat. Praja Parishad had given a call of priscription. The furious people of Jammu demolished the embellished structures, devised by the National Conference to  welcome him.

In Karn Sinh Ji’s own words, “I arrived in Jammu on the 24th of November by the Indian Airlines flight. Earlier, on my return from USA as well as on the occasion of my wedding, whenever I had reached Jammu, the people of Jammu had given me exceptionally warm reception and welcomed me  very warmly. But, this time people’s attitude was changed. They were scowling, shouting sarcastic slogans. The entire route from the airport to the gates of the palace, in the city appeared, as an ocean of black flags.

I was in the open Jeep along with Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad. Though the National Conference attempted to do a Welcome programme but their endeavour was crushed under the mammoth dissent and demonstration of Dogras.” On the 24th November, Praja Parishad took out a procession, led by Pandit Premnath Dogras. As he could have been arrested any moment, he had asked Parishad’s General secretary Durgadas Verma to take the responsibility of being the in-charge.

Pandit Premnath Dogra said in no uncertain terms – ” We are clearly indicating for Ten Lakh times, that Praja Parishad’s demand is of infinite accession of Kashmir in Bharat. Those who would put their steps forward in fulfilling this demand, We are with them. Those who are against this demand, We are also  against them. We are absolutely certain that Kashmiri people are with us.”

The Jammu City had been uproar with commotion and outcry but for Praja Parishad and people of Jammu, it was now or never. They were emotionally, spiritually, culturally and socially closely connected with Bharat and they could not imagine themselves as being associated with any other country. They continued their protest through incessant processions. Four Satyagrahis would lead the procession with Tiranga in their hands along with a picture of Dr. Rajendra Prasad (President of Bharat).

Jammu had indicated pellucid picture of their  conviction in annexation with Bharat but Shaikh Abdullah was not ready to budge from his decisions. When the question arose of unfurling the flag on the Jammu Sachivalaya and the new flag was that of National Conference, the new Sadar-e-Riyasat put forward a suggestion, to unfurl the Bharatiya flag along with the new state flag. But, Shaikh Abdullah turned down the suggestion, vehemently.