Having finished reading Sheikh Abdullah's biography, two things become apparent.
a) There was never any `Kashmiriyat'. For Abdullah, KPs were a problem to be managed [at best]. His definition of Kashmiri identity left no place for them, and they knew it too.
b) He loathed KPs.
a) There was never any `Kashmiriyat'. For Abdullah, KPs were a problem to be managed [at best]. His definition of Kashmiri identity left no place for them, and they knew it too.
b) He loathed KPs.
KPs were staunchly opposed to Sheikh Abdullah and knowing his fanatic hatred of them, they undermined him at every instance they could. Chief of these were Durga Prasad Dhar and his colleagues [for which no one has ever thanked them, BTW]. Right from 1930s, they undermined him.
Abdullah's view of KPs ``The Mughal rulers of India won over the loyalty of the Kashmiri Pandits and used them as informers and spies against the Muslim nobility. Emperor Akbar participated in their festivals and gifted jagirs
to them. Even Aurangzeb continued this policy.''
to them. Even Aurangzeb continued this policy.''
More bizarre, Sheikh Abdullah says this about Afghan period: ``The Afghan period in the eighteenth century, (the
Afghans invaded Kashmir under Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1753) was the darkest in the history of Kashmir. As usual, the Kashmiri Pandits sided with the oppressive rulers.''
Afghans invaded Kashmir under Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1753) was the darkest in the history of Kashmir. As usual, the Kashmiri Pandits sided with the oppressive rulers.''
Seeing Sheikh Abdullah's fanaticism, the KPs had petitioned Maharaja Hari Singh for a separate self-administered homeland in the Kulgam region. They knew they had no chance of living under Abdullah. And now we are told that the KPs were subscribing to the Kashmiriyat syndrome!
Sheikh Abdullah on KPs, ``Pandit Nehru personally visited Sheetal Nag, the meeting place for Kashmiri Pandits, and tried to reason with them. He asked them to join the ranks of the National Conference, but it was a wasted effort.''
KPs, as can be seen, had no illusions.
KPs, as can be seen, had no illusions.
KP role in the Quit Kashmir movement. ``In 1945, the Maharaja appointed Ram Chandra Kak as Prime Minister. This emboldened the Pandits and they bitterly opposed the ’Quit Kashmir’ movement against the Maharaja.''
In short, the KPs did NOT want the Maharaja to leave J&K.
In short, the KPs did NOT want the Maharaja to leave J&K.
Abdullah on KP role in 1947, ``In 1947, when Jawaharlal Nehru visited Kohala to support the Kashmiri people’s cause, the Pandits, along with a band of Maulvi Yusuf Shah’s men, and the Hindu Mahasabha volunteers from Jammu, obstructed his path and raised the slogan ’go back’.''
What this tells me is that the KPs were never ever under any delusions, demonstrated against the pro-Jihadi policies. Now, we have a bunch of KP-baiters, who are ignoring the KP history to claim KPs as aloof and secular, when KPs have had no illusions and been staunchly Hindu.
cc @atom_handoo Sorry forgot to include in the above. Probably nothing new to you, but still.
