By Zaman Bajwa
75 years ago, a resolution was passed under the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim
Conference with an agenda to vindicate the voices of Kashmiris in front of the Maharaja. The
Kashmiris came to the conclusion that they wanted to endorse into the state of Pakistan rather
than India. The unanimous decision made by the Kashmiris is presented in history under these
golden words, “This convention of Muslim Conference has reached the conclusion that
geographical conditions, 80 percent Muslim population, important rivers of Punjab passing
through the state, language, cultural, ethnic and economic relations and contiguity of the
state with Pakistan make it imperative to merge with Pakistan.”
Going decades back to the Partition of the Sub-continent, the 3 rd June 1947 plan
presented by the then viceroy of India Lord Mountbatten was flawed in its inception. It did not
resolve the issue of dividing assets between the two new-born states where one was
undoubtedly more powerful than the other in every respect that a sane human mind can
perceive. The biggest issue was that of the princely states where the rules regarding the right of
accession were vague and there was no clear path if any country resorted to violence to
achieve its political aims.
By 1947 around all of 564 princely states of British India had decided their fate either in
favor of India or Pakistan with the exception of one. That one princely state was ruled by
Maharaja Hari Singh of the Dogra Raj at that time of partition. The main impediment behind
this exception was the over-ambitious desires of the Maharaja to carve out independence for
his princely state namely Jammu and Kashmir but soon he realized it was a mere utopia to
aspire for independence at that juncture. After the realization, Maharaja’s biases were
attracted by Congress leadership with whom he had some personal relationships too, pawing a
path for India’s enforced occupation of the territory without inquiring about the will of the
people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Maharaja, on the behalf of the people, signed an instrument of annexation with the
Indian government which accorded Kashmiri some space to breathe. Fortunately enough, not
the whole of Kashmir fell into Indian jaws as Muslims residing in the west of Jammu revolted
against the Maharaja led to the most prominent Poonch uprisings which were backed by
Pashtun fighters from Pakistan who stepped in to aid their fellow Muslim brethren leaving this
land to be liberated falling under Pakistan’s management until the whole conflict was resolved
through the will of the people.
On the other hand, UN intervention established the temporary cease-fire line between
both parties to the conflict and acknowledged Kashmir as a multi-lateral issue, and UN
Commission on Pakistan and India on August 13 1948 proposed UNSC Resolution 47 and
established the fact that the fate of Kashmir would be decided by a plebiscite in which the
Kashmiris will self-determine their faith. Then in July 1949, an UN-brokered agreement led to
the acceptance of the currently established line as a cease-fire line; not legally but
operationally. Moving forward various dialogues occurred between the two states but none
resulted in any substantial breakthrough.
Apart from many geopolitical and geographical factors which support the thesis that
Kashmir shares more connectedness with Pakistan as compared to India. These lines of
commonalities are found ranging from religion, social, cultural, and linguistic factors. This
beautiful valley is home to many famous Holy mosques and ancient shrines like Hamdan
mosque, Hazratbal mosque, and Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Wali’s Charar-e-Sharif which
depicts the faith in the very foundation of this heaven on Earth. The majority of practicing
Muslims in Kashmir belonging to both sects of Islam, Sunni and Shia offer their religious rituals
despite the aggression of Indian forces.
Linguistic factor plays a key role in the projection of one’s ideas and desires. Like
Pakistan, Urdu, Shina, Balti, Potohari, and Pahari are spoken languages in Kashmir along with
their mother language Kashmiri’. Shina and Balti connect the people of Kashmir with the
Northern part of Pakistan and Potohari and Pahari link Kashmir with the Punjab belt of Pakistan.
The culturally rich Kashmir is famous for its healthy appetite Bakar-Khani and Red beans which
are also cooked in many parts of Pakistan. Moreover, Korma serves with dry fruits and kulcha is
special cuisine that connects both regions. Not to miss, the Pink tea of Kashmir is a special
addition to appetite, especially in winters in both regions Kashmir and Pakistan.
In particular, both areas share a similar traditional garment which is the Shalwar
kameez. Kashmir still retains the legacy of its pure Kashmiri Pashmina Shawls dating from the
16 th century which is sold and worn by women and men across Pakistan and Kashmir. Apart
from that hospitality is very common among the people and for which they are considered very
good hosts. Traditional gatherings of families and communities add beauty to their simple lives.
The majority of Kashmiri students are enrolled in Pakistani-known universities and colleges.
They aim to return and prosper in their homeland with academic knowledge.
July 19 is celebrated as a reminiscence of those majority voices of Kashmiris which were
suppressed by the interested based vision of Maharaja and rising fascist Hindutva, extremist
Hindu ideology. Those Kashmiris oriented their fate towards a state born for Muslims as both
of them share more commonalities. Kashmiris hold the desire to be part of greater Pakistan
which was shattered and ended up in years of struggle for freedom and manumission. It’s the
75 th anniversary of that decision and desire for Kashmir Accession to Pakistan, More than ninety
thousand Kashmiris sacrificed their lives for this cause. We should keep these struggles alive by
acknowledging their sacrifices and continuing their dream of a state of Kashmir free of Indian
aggression and barbarianism.
In the words of Faiz Ahmed Faiz,
Bohot Hai Zulm Kay Dast-e-Bahana Joo Kay Liye
Jo Chand Ahl-e-Junoon Tera Naam Lewa hain
(-Writer is Islamabad based freelance journalist and Executive
director of YFK International Kashmir lobby Group)
