Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukharjee’s prolong initiative for amicable dialogue between the Praja Parishad and Shaikh Abdullah and Pandit Nehru, turned into a futile exercise as even after his extensive correspondence, neither the central government nor the state government of Jammu-Kashmir, showed any keenness, to walk a step further. In such obstinate situations, Bharatiya Jansangh took a call to stand by Praja Parishad and lead the agitation across the nation in support of its cause.

The solo demand of Praja Parishad was to solve the uncertainty regarding the infinite annexation of Jammu-Kashmir in Bharat. Every hope had been defunct. The intervention by United Nations too, could not reinforce any aspiration.

As far as Bharatiya ethos (except Pandit Nehru and his staunch followers and surely not all Congressmen)  was concerned, they never ever wished to submit the issue of Jammu-Kashmir’s annexation to the United Nations. Infact, their paramount objection was that of attack on Bharatiya union’s inextricable part – Jammu-Kashmir by Pakistan. The instrument of accession signed by the the then ruler of state of Jammu-Kashmir, did not have a single word or any mention of plebiscite, in it. Yet, Shaikh Abdullah Government repeatedly mentioned that the future of Kashmir would be decided by the plebiscite!!!

It was clear mandate of the Jansangh’s national Executive that the question of plebiscite could be solved through a resolution passed by the Jammu-Kashmir Vidhan Sabha, as it contained representation of the people of the state.

This way, the prevailing impugn, in the heart and mind of people of Jammu, would also get solace. The national executive specifically added that the question of accession, has to be resolved by Bharat and Jammu-Kashmir and neither the United Nations nor Pakistan, certainly had anything to do with it.

The second noteworthy point that Praja Parishad had stressed upon, was regarding implementation of Bharatiya constitution in administration of state of Jammu-Kashmir.

Shaikh Abdullah had been abetting the patronage of Article 370 of the constitution, to forfeit the infinite implementation of Bharatiya constitution, which facilitated implementation of all the administrative issues as sanctioned by the Jammu-Kashmir Vidhansabha except the matters related to  External Affair relations, Defence and Communication.

But, this provision was restricted for the transition period.

The Delhi police raided Bharatiya Jansangh’s general secretary Pandit Mauli Chandra Sharma’s home. He was not at home as had gone to Mumbai and hence the police, declared him as absconding!!!

Quoting his own words, “The manner in which I had been declared as absconding as well as the police locked mine and my family member’s wealth, has raised many questions on the design and intention of the Government and requires a clarification publicly. No warrant had been presented to me. I had been alleged through the Sheriff’s legislation, which is not applicable in this issue. When I was reachable and was within the Bharatiya territory, one order from the Magistrate could have reached me. Declaring me absconding and sealing my property and wealth, does not serve any purpose except the intention was to create harrasment to me and my family members and humiliate me.”

Amidst this, two members of Hindu Mahasabha – Umashankar Trivedi and Vishnu Ghanshyam Deshpande decided to reach Jammu Kashmir, via Punjab but the Punjab police extended an arrest warrant in Jalandhar in the press conference and imprisoned them.

The Satyagrahis getting arrested in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, were kept in Gurudaspur jail but as soon as the Satyagrahi’s count was steadily rising, they began transferring many to the Yole camp, near Dharamshala in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. This jail was built during the second world war, to imprison prisoners from Italy and Germany by the British Government. 

One can imagine the condition of the jail, from the perspective it was built for. The conduct with the prisoners was worse than one would do with the worst enemy.

By the end of April, the patience of the Satyagrahis reached its optimum and they protested against such inhuman condition. In order to crush the dissent, the police did the Lathi charge inside the jail.

In the words of Satyagrahi Bhai Mahaveer, who later became the Governor of Madhya Pradesh – “When the Satyagrahis were transferred to the Yole camp, they were made to face an extremely inhuman and barbaric treatment. They were not provided with a pot for drinking water. In the heat of Summer, only single iron pot was given to fill drinking water. The basic amenities like  medicines were denied. Food was inedible and insufficient. The Satyagrahis were not allowed to receive Money orders and parcels. 

When they revolted against such pathetic conditions and put forward just demands,  they were answered with Lathi charge by the police, which injured Fourteen.”

The agitation was becoming widespread each day and with the announcement of Dr. Shyamaprasad Mukherjee visiting the state of Jammu-Kashmir,the enthusiasm among the Satyagrahis were multiplied.

On this, the Sanyukta Sangharsh Samiti changed the epicentre for agitation from Delhi to Jammu. The entire Delhi, was resonating with the sound of “Chalo Jammu”.

There was a single roadway to reach Jammu from Punjab. This route passed by the bridge on the river Ravi in Madhopur of Punjab connecting Jaamu from Lakhanpur.

In Madhopur and on the bridge, the strict patrolling by the Punjab police and Jammu-Kashmir police made it almost impossible for any Satyagrahi to enter Jammu. Thus, the Satyagrahis chose to reach Hiranagar town of Jammu, passing through the river Ravi from Dinanagar town of Punjab. Similarly, the Satyagrahis managed to reach Kathua in Jammu on foot,  hiding themselves and offer arrest.

The first batch from out of state Satyagrahis and mainly from the central region of the country, were led by Gokuldas Agrawal. Out of them, the group of Eleven led by Giriraj Kapot reached Delhi railway station in last week of May. Four of them including Giriraj Kapoor were arrested there and then, thus the rest Seven reached Jammu. They were arrested and kept in Jammu jail for two months.

Jammu jail consisted of Satyagrahis from across the nation and most of the regions.

They had vanquished the Permit system and managed to enter Jammu through the mountainous route, skipping the Madhopur check post.

The Satyagrahis were undergoing the court case under the Section 50, they repeatedly appealed to the authority to add the case for ‘Vanquishing the permit system” but their repeated appeal met with deaf ears as the Government knew that the imposed Permit system was illegal.

As We have seen earlier, the food, drinking water and the medical facilities were in pathetic state and when the Satyagrahis opposed the provisions and went on hunger strike for two days, Colonel Chopra from Srinagar intervened and consoled them to improve the condition. The agitation comprised of child of Twelve to aged of Ninety years.

The twelve years old child, Tilak was arrested for unfurling the Tiranga in school premises. The police searched him for five long months and at the end, police force of thirty two policemen finally succeeded in imprisoning him. The police imposed various sections including that of Anti – national conduct on him. After two months of imprisonment, the judge asked the child to get himself bail and they would free him. To it, Tilak replied that he hadn’t come there out of his own will and hence he would not manage  and get bail. If he (judge) wished, he should free him.

The Judge freed him after two days.

There were ample of Satyagrahis with numerous wounds on their body. The Satyagrahi named Dhyanchand, had twenty six wounds on him. Extremely poor and old but he had amazing enthusiasm to dedicate himself for nation’s cause. He would say, that after completing the penalizing, he would again do the Satyagrah…

The significant personalities participating in the agitation  were Shanta Kumar from Himachal Pradesh, BhairoSinh Shekhawat from Rajasthan and Virendra Kumar Saklecha from Madhya Pradesh. All three of them became Chief Ministers of their respective states, in later years.

The police raids at the Hindu Mahasabha as well as on Bharatiya Jansangh’s karyalay turned into a regular routine. The Government wished to arrest them in Delhi itself, and prevent them travelling further.

As the atrocities ascended, the passion within the Satyagrahis multiplied manifolds. They took to travelling through the hilly and unknown terrain on foot.  The solders of National Militia constantly wandered in search of the Satyagrahi groups but could not locate many as they were given shelter by the communities residing in the forest. The Satyagrahi from any state of the nation,  simply me mentioning the cause for their travel, would get a warm welcome and needed aid by the tribals.

The general secretary of the Bharatiya Jansangh revealed on the 8th of June, in a press conference that totally there were 10,866 Satyagrahis been imprisoned in the last Six months. Kut of them 4,316 were arrested in Delhi and 5500 in Jammu. 1,050 belonged to different parts of the nation.

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