Sheikh Abdullah - The Lion of Kashmir. Legacy.....
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah (5th Dec 1905 – 8th Sep 1982), popularly known as The Lion of Kashmir, was an Indian politician who played a central role in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir.
He was the founding leader of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (later renamed Jammu and Kashmir National Conference) and the 1st elected Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after its accession to India.
Abdullah was born in Soura, a village on the outskirts of Srinagar, in a middle-class family. He was educated at the Prince of Wales College (Jammu) and the Islamia College (Lahore; now in Pakistan) and received a master's degree in physics from Aligarh Muslim University in 1930.
Abdullah was inspired by the Indian Independence Movement and the Muslim League's struggle for Independence. However, he was critical of the Muslim League's two-nation theory and believed that Jammu and Kashmir should be a secular state.
In 1932, Abdullah founded the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, a political party that aimed to fight for the rights of the Muslim majority in the Kashmir region. The Party was renamed the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference in 1939.
Abdullah was imprisoned by the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir on several occasions for his political activities. He was released from prison in 1946, after the end of World War II.
Following the partition of India in 1947, Jammu and Kashmir was invaded by Pakistani tribesmen. The Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir appealed to India for help, and India sent its troops to Kashmir. In October 1947, the Maharaja signed the Instrument of Accession, which merged Jammu and Kashmir with India.
Abdullah was appointed the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 1948. He implemented a number of reforms, including land reforms and the Abolition of the Zamindari System. He also played a key role in drafting the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, which was adopted in 1956.
Abdullah was dismissed as Prime Minister in 1953 by the then Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad. Abdullah was imprisoned and remained in detention for over a decade. He was released from prison in 1964, after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru.
In 1965, Abdullah signed the Delhi Agreement with the Indian government, which restored the Autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir to some extent. However, Abdullah continued to demand greater autonomy for the state.
In 1975, Abdullah was appointed the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian government. He remained in office until his death in 1982.
Sheikh Sahib was a complex and enigmatic figure. He was a charismatic leader who enjoyed unparalleled support of the Kashmiri people....
Note-
When I was shooting my Campaign in Kashmir I learnt that many people believed that Pakistan waited for the passing of "The Lion of Kashmir" in 1982 to foment trouble in Kashmir … the guiding light & wise man of Kashmir ….not there to counter the misleading narrative that was flooded into The Valley and has misled so many….
© Rohit Singh Negi / Dr.Reshmi Nair
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