Kashmir esp POJK Is the blind spot of our National Discourse when it should be the prime Focus

POJK  and POTL (pak occupied territory of Ladakh) Are the blind spots of our National Discourse when they should be the prime Focus 

In this Piece I will Argue how Kashmir,esp POJK ,POTL,has been shaping and influencing India’s Foreign Policy to a large extent,but sadly has been missing from the public discourse.

Not a day passes when Kashmir is not in news, the Kashmir that is mostly in news is the Part of Kashmir under India’s control. Large Tracts of Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and some by China had been effectively blocked out by the Media and political classes for nearly 70 years,it took PM Modi mention of POK,Gilgit Baltistan and Balochistan to bring this area into national discourse .Recently PM Modi again highlighted the importance of POJK ,blaming the faulty policies of Nehru in depriving India of its strategic territory .

Kashmir was always a very strategic area since ancient times,the most important part being the area of Gilgit ,now occupied by Pakistan. Every Emperor secured this area to secure his Empire starting with the great Kashmiri King Lalitaditya .In Modern times Maharaja Ranjit Singh and then The Dogra Kings had this very strategic area in their Kingdoms. 

The importance of Gilgit is that it touches six Nations -India,Afghanistan,Tazakistan ,China and Tibet 

It was in the centre of the ancient trade route and facilitated India becoming a ‘sone ki chidhiya’( golden bird) .

In the past,as recently pre Independence,Kayastha traders from Multan had offices in St Petersburg and many Soviet ports .

British games in Kashmir

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British understood the Importance of Gilgit . Jammu and Kashmir was the largest princely state ruled by the Dogra King Maharaja Hari Singh . In the round table conference in London ,much to the dismay of British,Maharaja Hari Singh supported Independence of India. Kashmir was very important for the British for access to Afghanistan,Central Asia and as a counter to Soviet Union .

From 1931 onwards protests and stone pelting started in Kashmir. Sheikh Abdullah gave inciting speeches in mosques and emerged as a counter leader to Maharaja Hari Singh. Protestors came in from British ruled areas of Punjab. In 1935 ,Soviet forces occupied Tazakistan. The area of Gilgit became very important for British and the Maharaja was forced to sign an agreement with the British to lease the area of Gilgit to the British for 60 years .The British named this area Agency of Gilgit and a force called the Gilgit Scouts was raised to Administer it. Pre Independence,In 1947 ,Gilgit was returned to Maharaja Hari Singh .Maharaja Hari Singh signed an agreement with Major W.A. Brown of Gilgit Scouts to work under Maharaja Hari Singh’s Government . Documents attest to the fact that three months prior to Independence ,ration supplies to Gilgit Scouts were not made inspite of repeated requests by Major Brown by the Resident of Jammu and Kashmir .

Pre Partition ,Lord Mountbatten kept on advising Maharaja Hari Singh to remain independent or join Pakistan . Maharaja Hari Singh signed a standstill agreement with Pakistan pending his decision ,but post independence ,On 21 October ,1947 Kashmir was attacked by Pakistani Army in the disguise of Kabilas or tribals. Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to India on 26 Oct 1947 and Indian Army began fighting with Pakistani Invaders.

On 1 Nov, the Gilgit Scouts Mutinied and on 2 Nov Pakistani Flag was hoisted in Gilgit and Gilgit was occupied by Pakistan . 

The Indian Army ,about to reach Gilgit ,was stopped as Nehru had approached UN against the aggression of Pakistan into its territory and a Cease fire was announced on midnight 31 Dec 1948. 

 Kashmir as a very important factor in India’s foreign policy——————————————————————————-

The first Foreign policy decision taken by Nehru was to approach the UN against Aggression by Pakistan . This had a very long term effect on India. A ceasefire was announced,Both Pakistani Army and Indian Army were asked to retreat to pre 1 August 1947 positions in JK . The political compulsions and IOC block ensured that a resolution was passed in UN advising India to have a plebiscite in Kashmir once the conditions of ceasefire and return to pre 1 Aug 1947 positions were fulfilled.The plebiscite advise  was pushed through based on an letter written by Lord Mountbatten to Maharaja Hari Singh to take the wishes of his citizens in mind post accession to India. This letter had no legal sanctity .

Pakistan has since then used the third recommendation as a ploy to push India into a defensive position on Kashmir and provided a speaking point to its separatists in India held Kashmir ,while blocking out POJK entirely on International forums. 

Post 1962 Pakistan moved closer to China.In 1963 Pakistan signed away Shaksgam Valley In Baltistan to China via a treaty. This area was a part of India occupied by Pakistan. India Protested Feebly and failed to make it either a domestic or International issue . 

Domestic vote bank considerations and coalition politics ensured that POJK remained a blind spot in Foreign policy discussions and remained a forgotten issue in Domestic politics .

On 22 February ,1994,the parliament of India passed a resolution Stating  that POJK was a part of India,but after that resolution ,POJK went back to its blind spot.

Strategic Importance of Gilgit and POJK to India

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POJK was the access to Afghanistan for India. India has been forced to use a sea route via Chabahar in Iran and road route via Iran to reach Afghanistan to send it food supplies.

Access to vitally important Central Asia is Via POJK 

At the present the only connection to Central Asia is via Air which is very poor with no direct flights from India to any Central Asian nations 

Gilgit is the region which opens up Road access to Central Asia,Russia, Middle East and Europe 

The Northern Light Infantary brigade of Pakistan occupied the heights of Kargil in 1999 through LOC via POJK 

China Footprint in POJK and POTL 

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CPEC runs through Indian areas occupied by Pakistan in Gilgit and Baltistan .

China has invested about 65000 crore in POJK 

China has deployed about 11000 troops in POJK 

China has signed mining and projects of two large dams in POJK 

Conclusion 

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POJK is a very Important territory of India occupied by Pakistan and strategically occupied by China too. For decades POJK has been a blind spot in India. Need is to bring it into National focus. School books should carry chapters on POJK. At every international forum India must bring up illegal occupation of its territory by Pakistan and China .

A strong Domestic Voice has to be built up within India and POJK issues have to become the prime focus in national debates.

Foreign policy is often shaped by Domestic concerns,let us all lend our voice to make POJK a burning issue and bring it centerstage.

‘Azaad Kashmir’  is area occupied by Pakistan in the first Kashmir war in sept-oct 1947 pre ceasefire , Consisting of districts of Mirpur Muzaffarabad ,pat of UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

Gilgit Baltistan was under Gilgit Scouts,handed over to Pakistan on 2 Nov 1947. It is part of Leh district, union territory of Ladakh 

Shaksgam Valley was gifted to China by Pakistan in 1963 ,also a part of Pak occupied Ladakh .

Sources - JKSC publications , Jammukashmirnow.org ,news reports 

Exodus Day - recapping the 7 Kashmiri Hindu exodus

       Exodus Day - My Shame as an Indian,Hindu and An Educated person 

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19 January 1990 passed me by- I was a student in IHM Goa,doing my internship in Leela kempenski in Mumbai. I heard NOTHING, read NOTHING while 5 lakh plus of my Hindu Brothers and sisters were forced out by threats of Death,Convert or leave - at gunpoint literally ,while the Indian Government I had faith in just abdicated all its responsibility. The conspiracy of silence was Continued by the ecosystem while we Hindus went about our lives unaware that a death blow had been delivered to the fountainhead of our civilisation -Kashmir-the land where my Ancestors -hailed from. The land of Goddess Saraswati,the land where the Ancient Sharda Peeth stood,where Adi Shankaracharya visited all the way from Kerala,and opened the Dakshin Dwar 

The word Kashmir always stirred a slight guilt in my conscious - lulled as I was by Macaulised education and the high decibel media narrative of us Hindus and Indians forcibly occupying a piece of paradise where we had no rights.

It took Social Media and a chance encounter with Jammu kashmir study center lecture to open my eyes and shake me out of slumber. Later I heard Sushil Pandit talk on Kashmir and I realised how ignorant we Hindus were of our own culture and history.

On this day let me recount the seven exodus Kashmiri Hindus and sikhs had to endure 

Yes 7 Exodus ,three of them in 20 th century!

2 of them in Independent  India 

The First Exodus (1389-1413)

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Till 1339 Kashmir was a Hindu state,it was a paradise of sorts,with great learning centres,great books being written,women were highly educated and Sanskrit was spoken along with Sharada.

In 1389 Sikander Butshikan decided to uproot every weed of Hindu and Buddhist religion from Kashmir- forcible conversions started with demolishing of Temples.The Magnificent Martand Sun Temple took Six Months to raze 

One lakh Kashmiri Pandits were drowned,nearly 40 thousand converted 

7 mounds of Janeu were burnt

Sacred books burnt or thrown in Rivers

This exodus forced Kashmiri Pandits to settle in Kishtwar,Badharwah and other such places

Still 11 Kashmiri Pandits families braved all and stayed in Rainawari where the janeu mounds were burnt .

One must understand ,the slogans “leave,Convert or die” for non Muslims continue to the present day !

The Second Exodus (1506-1585)

Slowly the Tortures lessened and Kashmiri Pandits returned . But more torture and conversions were in store . 

Dr. M.L. Kapoor observes that it took Islam almost six centuries to secure a strong foothold in Kashmir. Subsequently with a jet speed it galloped through and within next one hundred years over shadowed Hinduism and claimed a majorty. 

Chaks Dynasty which comprised of Shias recruited by Shah Alam took over power of Kashmir.The Chaks belonged to Dardistan. They made conversion of Kashmiri Pandits a state policy and legalised it under Maliganeem.

Moosa  Raina let loose a reign of terror.24000 Brahmin families were converted,suspecting that they may reconvert the men were forcibly circumcised,beef fed to them.1000 cows were slaughtered. When Pandits rallied behind Pandit Nirmal Kanth ,untold tortures were inflicted on them. Tax which prevented sustenance was imposed on unconverted Hindus,thus forcing them to exile .

The Third Exodus under the Moghuls (1585-1753)

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Akbar Conquered Kashmir and rolled back the black Jaziya tax. His policies encouraged Pandits to return to their Homes .But this respite was short lived .

Jehangir reverted back to imposing Jaziya . He demolished temples . He ruled that Hindu men could not marry Muslim women but Hindu fathers were forced to Marry their daughters to Mughal officials residing in Kashmir. Shah Jahan went further and the third Exile of Kashmiri Pandits to Sitaram bazaar area of Delhi took place .

It was during the reign of Aurangzeb that 500 Kashmiri Pandits under Pandit Kripal Sharma approached Guru Tegh Bahadur to protect them.Guru Tegh Bahadur along with three Disciples made the supreme sacrifice .

The Fourth Exodus (1753)

After the Mughal Rule Kashmir passed into the Hands of Afghans . The forced conversions, marriages,Jaziya continued unabated forcing the fourth exodus. The Kashmiri Pandits approached Maharaja Ranjit Singh who invaded and captured Kashmir. During the Sikh rule and the Subsequent Dogra Rule,Kashmiri Pandits returned and rebuilt their lives along with temples . 

The Fifth Exodus -13 July 1931 

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Sheikh Abdullah returned to Kashmir after completing his graduation from Aligarh Muslim University. Maharaja Hari Singh had supported Independence from the British in the London Round table conference. Sheikh Abdullah began giving inciting speeches in Srinagar Mosques and provoked stone pelting and riots against Hindus . On 13 July 1931, Mobs overran the central prison in Srinagar to free one Qadir who was on trial for sedition. An orgy of violence was let loose against Hindus in Kashmir and even areas in Jammu. The shops of Hindus were looted,Many were killed,Scores were converted. The violence that began on 13 July 1931 continued for months. The gruesome details are preserved in the British Archives.

The Sixth Exodus -20 February 1986 

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Gul Shah ‘Padsa’ the estranged brother-in-law of Farooq Abdullah was the architect of this Exodus which strangely finds no mention in any narrative. Gul Shah was the Chief Minister for 20 months. He planned the building of Shah mosque within the precincts of an Ancient Temple in the new secretariat building. When the Hindus esp in Jammu region opposed it his Hoodlums evicted Kashmiri Pandits from their homes. Temples were burnt and razed and an anti Kashmiri Pandit atmosphere was created by Mufti in south Kashmir and by Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar.

The seventh Exodus -19 January 1990——-

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5 lakh Kashmiri Pandits left their homes under Violent threats Of ‘leave,convert or die’ 

They are still waiting to Return

In Independent India 

Will the Land of their ancestors be safe for their return 

Journey of My De Macaulisation- How Somnath Mandir Catalysed it

                  Journey of my De-Macaulisation

How Somnath Temple sowed the seeds of my Sanghanfication 

I am not Ashamed to admit ,I was quite a Macaulay putri in School and college,extending up to reign of PVNR .This is how majority of middle class families,who enrolled their children in convent schools were. Indira Gandhi was worshipped,Nehruvian secularism was held aloft. My school Sophia Girls School Meerut was an excellent Institution. It opened my mind as a student and prevented my total brainwashing into a Macaulay putri. The School was an aspirational escape for small town families-it opened international vistas for us,we had socials and fetes,got introduced to Beatles,ABBA,Carpenters,Love story was a cult. But being great institutions of learning we were exposed to our Indian roots,classical music,dances were respected and annual functions and sports days saw us learning Folk songs and dances .

The Library was a treasure house and it had a great collection of Hindi books. We were encouraged to read Hindi classics . In my 9 class I got my hands on ‘Jai Somnath’ by Kanhaiya Lal Manik Lal Munshi -KM Munshi as he is known. We were allowed to take 3 books for vacations and I took Jai Somnath and Lopa Mudra.

Jai Somnath shook me deeply. I realised the history we were taught was deficient . The book was fascinating,the scene describing the pujari doing Arti till the moment his head was chopped off was etched in my memory.

The times were not politically correct- we could ask about Somnath in history class and be told that yes, it was destroyed by Ghazni,who was not glorified and told how it was rebuilt. We were taught by our teachers that yes,we had a great culture . 

Somewhere the pain of Somnath and the destruction of my civilisation stayed embedded in my consciousness .

Then life moved on,I was comfortable in my macaulayan world of middle class smugness and reverence of the Gandhi dynasty, 1984 was explained off by Rajiv Gandhi,Shah Bano case did not impact us as the young Rajiv showed us teens international dreams which we aspired for. He was assassinated and I lost interest in politics. Liberalisation bought us closer to our Macaulay dreams of international standards.

Then one fine morning in dec,we woke up to the news of Babri Mandir demolition . I had married and was mother of a baby girl. Didn’t we cringe in shame in our macaulayan etopia? The first time I really heard about Ram mandir was after Babri masjid demolition-before that it was some vague movement being carried out by vague people who we felt were shaming India. I remember the talks being of building a school,hospital,building both a mandir and a mosque and throw a church in too-in our etopia of Nehruvian secularism. I remember arguing with a mandir supporter that Ram would have never fought for a Mandir,did he not give up his kingdom?

Slowly life moved on and Ram mandir issue kept in my periphery. Slowly I began to know more about Ayodhaya and Ram mandir and began changing my view.

Then one fine day my husband got posted to Porbunder. I visited him as it was a non family station. People told me that Somnath Temple was a couple of hours away. 

My School girl dream of visiting Somnath resurfaced. The hidden pain at its destruction came alive again. I dressed up in a Sari,much to the surprise of everyone.But it was a destination I had waited decades to visit and I would as a true devotee.

The whole way I kept on wondering how my Hindu ancestors would have felt at repeated invasions,some would have been converted,some killed,some would have hidden themselves.

Somnath temple is OverWhelming. I just cried on seeing its Magnificence. Then I realised the vision of KM Munshi and Sardar Patel. Rebuilding the temple healed generational wounds of Hindu psyche. A feeling of pride replaced that of wretchedness and pain a Hindu goes through visiting demolished cities and monuments and temples. 

Then the feeling came -if Somnath can be rebuilt so can Ram Mandir.

Yes, For civilisational healing and for re energising Hinduism we have to get back Ram Mandir

Ram Mandir needs to be built to heal divisions in society .

Seeing a grand Somnath temple, one feels that finally Ghazni was defeated, the Temple stands testimony to that .

Imagine what rebuilding Ram Mandir can do for National pride and future Generations.

From the precincts of Somnath my Sanghanfication started.

Yes -Mandir Wahin Banayege !

Without blood shed!

Without resentment!

But with a Dharmic conviction-

Ram Mandir will stand where it did for Yugs 

Today I feel a sense of spiritual upliftment that Ram Mandir is being built .

Ram entered my soul and made me realise the greatness of my Dharma 

Jai Sri Ram 

Vande Matram and Cow Slaughter

       Vande Matram, cow slaughter -echoes of Muslim league and partition
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Of late Media has been full of debates and outrage on two issues1) unwillingness of certain Muslim outfits,Muslims to sing/pay respect to Vandematram 2) outrage on Ban on cow slaughter 
Every hour shrill anchors Harangue those supporting singing and paying respect to Vandematram while those walking out during Vande Matram recitation citing it is unislamic are supported by the usual suspects like congressis, SP, Owassi, communists,BSP etc and 'activists like John dayal , kavita krishnan etc . In this article I argue that the call to legitimise cow slaughter and allow disrespect to Vande Matram has its roots in partition movement and is dangerous for India's sovereignty and unity 
Muslim league under Jinnah had put up 14 points on 28 march 1929 to safeguard Muslim interests in self governing India, which were called ridiculous by Nehru and Round table talks ensued-in 1938 Demands of Jinnah came to surface via Nehru's letter to Jinnah . These are 
1) 14 points formulated by Muslim league in 1929 
2) Congress shd withdraw communal award and not describe it as a negation of Nationalism 
3) share of Muslims in state services shd be fixed in constitution by statutory enactment
4) Muslim personal law and culture shd be guaranteed by Statute
5) Congress should take in hand the agitation of Shahidganj Mosque to get it handed back to Muslims 
6) Muslim's right to call Azaan and perform their religious ceremonies shd not be fettered in any way
7) MUSLIM Shd have right to perform Cow Slaughter 
8)Muslim majorities in provinces where they exist should not be affected by territorial re distributions 
9) Bande Matram song shd be given up
10)Muslims want Urdu to be national language of India and statutory guarantees for safety of Urdu
11)Muslim representation in local bodies shd be governed by communal award-I.e separate electorates and population strength 
12)Tricolor shd be changed or alternately Muslim league should be given equal Importance
13)recognition of Muslim league as the final Authority of Indian Muslims
14) Coalition ministries shd be Formed
By 1939 Muslim league had added one more demand -50% share in everything
These Demands were rejected by the Congress as this demand would reduce Majority to minority
Finally Pakistan was created as a permanent settlement 
But we find similar demands erupting now and then within independent India
Time and again political parties like SP,BSP ,Congress propose reservation for Muslims which is not given in constitution
Time and again we find Muslim outfits opposing singing Jan Gan Man as it is in Sanskrit and they recognise only Urdu as Islamic 
In Kashmir we find Urdu is the state language and the points of Muslim league in respect to maintaining a second flag and Muslim Majority is being implemented vis Art 35A and Art 370
The opposition of Bande Matram and the recent controversies where Muslim corporators,MLAs,MPs walk out when Vande Matram is being played is an echo of Muslim league and should be opposed tooth and nail 
Similarly , the outrage against cow beef ban and 'my freedom to eat cow beef' should be seen in the light of the Muslim league Demands
I'm many debates we hear those supporting boycott of Vande Matram say that Netaji Subhas chandra Bose never accepted Vande Matram -well he had accepted Vandematram as song of INA and his radio station in Singapore often played it 
On many debates I hear that Rabindranath Tagore opposed Vandematram --well Tagore had sung Vande Matram in 1986 in Calcutta congress session
In many debates I hear Muslims and those opposing Vande Matram saying that they will sing Iqbal's Sare jahan se Accha -- one must not forget that Iqbal was the philosophical Father of Pakistan -he never followed what he wrote in the song Sare jahan se Accha-so how can we put Iqbal over Vande Matram? 
But due to its Appeasement politics Congress did not support Vande Matram as it shd have, it even adopted  Sare jahan se Accha as an associate national anthem
Every Indian should know on 24 jan 1950, dr Rajendra prasad accepted Jan gan man as National Anthem while giving equal status to national song Vande Matram 
So, this boycott and opposition of Vande Matram is an insidious plot of anti nationals out to weaken india
( sources--vijayvani.com, Pakistan or partition of India, BR ambedkar ) 




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