July 13 1932 was the day when British Supported Sheikh Abdullah’s Communal Agenda to Undermine the Hindu Dogra Maharaja of Kashmir and made Kashmir a living hell for Hindus.
Let's see how British Divide & Rule policy led to Hindu Genocide in 1931 & later.+ #KashmirFiles
Let's see how British Divide & Rule policy led to Hindu Genocide in 1931 & later.+ #KashmirFiles
In many ways the events of July13 '31 proved to be a watershed in the recent history of Kashmir. It pitchforked Sheikh Abdullah to the forefront of anti-Dogra protest at a crucial point in Kashmir’s history, turning him gradually into a rallying point of a mass movement of sorts+
Second, the British got a golden opportunity to use the events to weaken the Dogra Maharaja to such an extent that he felt compelled to hand over Gilgit agency to the British on a long-term lease, with disastrous consequences for India,
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seen later on at the time of country’s partition in 1947. Third, Sheikh Abdullah succeeded in projecting a purely communal movement as a revolt by the oppressed against the feudal Maharaja. This appealed to the stalwarts of the Freedom Movement in India +
who, thereafter, supported Sheikh Abdullah politically, overlooking his essentially communal agenda. Fourth, Kashmiri Pandits & other non-Muslims who bore the brunt of the Muslim fury that broke out after the happenings at the Central Jail on July 13 '31 were left high and dry, +
something that became a norm, eventually leading to their ethnic cleansing in 1989-90. Lastly, the British, having tasted blood would now onwards play increasingly partisan role to tie the Maharaja’s hands to serve their own strategic interests at a crucial time.
The events of July 13 '31, did not take place in isolation nor were they sudden. Actually, these were preceded by untoward happenings with communal overtones within the state at many places. But their deft handling by the state administration prevented matters getting out of hand
However, the British were determined to teach the Maharaja a lesson after he had delivered two bold and fiery speeches in favour of India deciding its own destiny during the first round table conference in London in late 1930. +
British could not have left the Maharaja’s stand, which sent shivers down the Crown to go unchallenged.
In 1930, Sheikh Abdullah and his colleague's returned to Srinagar after completing their studies at AMU where they had come into close contact with rab!d Musl!m communalists. +
In 1930, Sheikh Abdullah and his colleague's returned to Srinagar after completing their studies at AMU where they had come into close contact with rab!d Musl!m communalists. +
As their activities increased, conflict soon arose with Ahmad Ullah, Mirwaiz of Kashmir, who was not in favour of opposing Maharaja. After death of Ahmad Ullah, the mantle of Mirwaiz fell on Yousuf Shah, who had received his religious education at theological College, Deobandh.+
In Sheikh Abdullah, Wakefield (British Member in Council of Ministers of Maharaja Hari Singh) found a promising candidate who could be used to undermine the Dogra King and consequently, strengthen the British leverage to achieve their own strategic aims. +
It was, however, Sheikh Abdullah’s speeches that kept the atmosphere charged for the most significant event, which occurred on July 13, 1931. The immediate cause for the violence perpetrated on the hapless Kashmiri Pandits on 13 July 1931, was the rabble-rousing speech delivered
In meeting (attended by two Mir Waizes), by Abdul Qadir, a cook of a European visitor, inciting hate and violence. He said, “We should end Hindu Raj & the time has come when we should meet force by greater force to put an end to the tyranny &brutalities to which you are subjected
Subsequently, he was apprehended in Khanqa-e-Maula Mosque and charged with offences under Section 124 A (Treason) and 153 A (creating hatred between two communities). Sheikh Abdullah delivered a fiery speech in a meeting organized by the Reading Room Party at Jama Masjid +
in which he exhorted the people to be ready to make any sacrifice for Islam. Justice of High Court ordered trial of Abdul Qadir held inside Central Jail. When Wakefield received this confidential order for compliance, he leaked it to the leaders of the Reading Room Party.+
On July 13, 1931, when the Sessions Judge entered the Jail premises, he found a mammoth crowd trying to force an entry into the jail premises. The defense counsels of the accused (Muslims) too appealed to the crowd to calm down and disperse, but to no avail.+
the violent crowd rushed to the outer gate & overpowered the guard. crowds started pelting stones & brickbats on the officials and succeeded in freeing these four arrested persons. They, then, cut the telephone lines and set the quarters of the jail guard on fire. +
police fired for effect, which claimed 21 lives, with 42 people sustaining injuries. The violent mobs then proceeded towards Maharajganj, the business hub, & looted the shops & business establishments of the Hindus. In an extensive area from Bohri Kadal to Alikadal & Safakadal,+
all Hindu shops were looted & burnt & Hindus molested. Similarly, an orgy of violence & mayhem ws let loose on Vicharnag/Chhatabal. At Vicharnag, a predominantly Pandit locality, the violence continued for 3 hrs, till Col. Jung reached Vicharnag with contingent of Palace Guards.
He later confirmed untold atrocities committed on Pandits here, turning them into paupers, while their women had to undergo the worst possible cruelties. Forcible conversions of Hindus too were reported from some towns. The rioters also cut the telephone lines at Banihal..+
and burnt the Sangam Bridge, approximately 23 miles from Srinagar. Nine members of a Pandit family in Kanikoot, in Budgam district, which had a sizeable Kashmiri Pandit population, were axed to death by Muslims of a neighboring village. +
The lone survivor was a young boy who was not sleeping in the house during the night when it was attacked.
The Maharaja appointed a Commission of Enquiry into these happenings on 14 July 1931, and gave an opportunity to everyone to present their grievances to him personally.+
The Maharaja appointed a Commission of Enquiry into these happenings on 14 July 1931, and gave an opportunity to everyone to present their grievances to him personally.+
On 5 August 1931, the Kashmiri Pandits, having suffered the worst, presented their grievances through Prem Nath Bazaz, the President of the Sanatan Dharam Young Men’s Association of Kashmir. The enquiry report submitted to the Maharaja on September 24, 1931, +
revealed that these events were a result of a conspiracy hatched by the British Political Department, headed by Wakefield and the Muslim Reading Room Party, headed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, to discredit Maharaja’s government. +
With too many fingers pointing towards Wakefield as the main conspirator of these events, Hari Singh removed him from the Council of Ministers. But Wakefield continued to finance and direct the activities of the Reading Room Party even after his removal and relocation to Murree.
Correction : Read as July 13' *1931 and not 1932 in first tweet.
Till 2018 July 13 was a state holiday observed as #KashmirMartyrsDay in remembrance of 21 Muslim protesters killed on 13 July 1931 by Dogra forces of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
No one remembers the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus which ensued from same day.
No one remembers the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus which ensued from same day.
This article was taken from @indianaga Tez Kumar Tikoo (Indian Army) FB account.
I got to know his twitter account today and so crediting him for this historical writeup on Kashmir Genocide. 🙏
I got to know his twitter account today and so crediting him for this historical writeup on Kashmir Genocide. 🙏
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