THE DESOLATED PARADISE: KASHMMIR

In the world of noble creatures, there would be rarely any person who won't want to be in paradise. It will be a dream for every human being who believe in afterlife, to be in a place in hereafter which is irenic than the dissonance of the earth. So, in the race of stepping in the paradise, many people use shortcuts and many people believe in devising the place, a piece of earth where they are living, a paradise!

But what if they get ready-to-live paradise on earth? It sounds funnily but its reality! There are many places on earth which are regarded paradise on earth. Pacifist to live, full of greenery and blessed with the cold swings of air. But there is one unfortunate paradise on earth which was baronial example of such ready to live heavens on the globe but unluckily that is demolished and desolated by the conflict of opinions, some filthy religious thoughts and by some egocentric attitudes! That paradise is called Kashmir!

It was 1947,  the most agonizing and conundrum year and very cardinal part of history, when subcontinent was cut into pieces. After the War of Independence against British Rule in 1857, The Hindus and Muslims of India, living togther for nearly 800 years, became more bond with each other to eliminate British Rule from India. The struggle came along many years until it was bodged by some ifs and buts. Muslim leaders lost their faith on hindus as they felt that Hindus are being served by British to be on their side. Muslims stucked into the tornado of dubiety about their on-field colleagues. Afterwards, that dubiousness created space for uncertainty that led Muslims separating their ways from combined struggle to self determination of their group. Congress, that was center point of freedom movement, aggregated political platform for both Hindus and Muslims rolled into two groups as Muslims formed their own political party named All India Muslim League in 1906 in the leadership of Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, a young political worker and others.

The objective of Muslim League was not assorted from Congress. It was assonant as of Congress to fight against British rule to get them run out of India. Along with that, Struggling for the rights of Muslims was also primary cause of Muslim League,  It was where it differed from Congress.

On the other side, Congress leaders including Gandhi, Rajnaath Tagore, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Moulana Abu al Kalaam Azad were also busy in engaging people into the struggle. Gandhi's non-violence ideology was urging people to endure the extreme brutality of English Personnel. He was visiting the whole country in order to bring Hindus and Muslims and other people of different castes and religious groups on one page in order to acquire more success against British Rule. He gave his very best to keep Hindus and Muslims amalgamated with each other till his last breath but unfortunately he couldn't make his dream come true.

The 'Quit India' struggle against british rule saw enourmously excruciating moments during the period. Never ending egoistic behavior of British Empire headed them towards bloodshed. Englishmen crossed all the lines in defending their rule. There are many chronic stories of people of India who take bullets on their chest but never put their feet back from their demand to quit india.

Regrettably, Hindus and Muslims could'nt move along under the flag of Quit India Struggle. Muslim leaders parted
 their ways from Congress. They set out their own political political party All India Muslim League. The objective of Muslim League remained same until 1930's, after that, party moved onto the ideology of two nation theory which demanded a separate state for muslims.


The banging trouble between rebels induced Muslims demanding for a separate state and after doughy bloodshed, a new born country named Pakistan emerged on the map of the world.

The hassles had not ended yet, In fact it evidenced to be the start of rough-and-tumble fight between two arch-rivals.
Both countries from the day of independence, ordinarily come face to face, maltreat each other and sometimes cause heavy damage to one another. Both nations have a long history of going against each other on many occasions and on many platforms. Arch-rivals till now, have not been able to unriddle the dispute and puzzle out the bone of contention, the actual cause of all matter, KASHMIR!

Kashmir is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, it denotes a larger area that includes the Indian-administered territory of Jammu and Kashmir (subdivided into Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh divisions), the Pakistani-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, and Chinese-administered territories of Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram

In the first half of the 1st millennium, the Kashmir region became an important centre of Hinduism and later of Buddhism; later still, in the ninth century, Kashmir Shaivism arose. In 1339, Shah Mir became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the Salatin-i-Kashmir or Shah Mir dynasty. Kashmir was part of the Mughal Empire from 1586 to 1751 and thereafter, until 1820, of the Afghan Durrani Empire.That year, the Sikhs, under Ranjit Singh, annexed Kashmir. In 1846, after the Sikh defeat in the First Anglo-Sikh War, and upon the purchase of the region from the British under the Treaty of Amritsar, the Raja of Jammu, Gulab Singh, became the new ruler of Kashmir. The rule of his descendants, under the paramountcy (or tutelage) of the British Crown, lasted until the partition of India in 1947, when the former princely state of the British Raj's claimed by both Pakistan and India. It is currently a disputed territory, administered by three countries: India, Pakistan and China.

Kashmir was held princely state at the time of division. Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir was given a choice to choose whether he wants to go with India or Pakistan or wants to remain indepedent. While the decision was yet to be made, Pakistan allegedly sent his troops and some pashtun tribesmen to Kashmir which was, according to India, a plan to invade Kashmir. Maharaja Hari Singh also dreaded from this move of Pakistan so he wrote a letter to Governor General Lord Mountbatten in which he showed his concerns over appearance of troops and army trucks of Pakistan and asked Lord Mountbatten to help him out from this state of affairs. He also shewed his agreeableness to join India and seeked help from Indians as well. Lord Mount Batten wrote back a letter in the reply of Maharaja's missive. Mountbatten took notice of Pakistan's move and showcased his support to Maharaja if he wants to go with India, But Mountbatten put one condition before Maharaja. Mountbatten indited Maharaja Hari Singh that he will have to held plebiscite to acknowledge public opinion.

After getting a positive reply from Mountbatten, Maharaja, because of any attack from Pakistan, signed Instrument of Accession with India without holding any plebiscite and recognizing the public opinion which was prescribed by Lord Mountbatten. He forked out Governmental powers to India. Afterwards, Kashmir became official part of India.

The junction of India and Kashmir heated up the borders and sparked the ongoing dispute between India and Pakistan. Pakistan could not digest the Instrument of Accession and hence it waged a war between two newly independent countries. India airlifted its army in Srinagar to help Hari Singh. Pakistani troops reached Srinagar but they could not take the hold of it and was only able to capture one third part of Kashmir (Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan) While Indian Army and State Forces of Jammu and Rest of the Kashmir successfully defended the attack.

The war is known as First Kashmir War out of Four wars in Indo-Pak History. The result of war was inconclusive because of UNO intervention which forced both sides to come to ceasefire. UNO pull a line between India and Pakistan known as 'Ceasefire line' which later became Line of Control in Simla Conference. From that time, Kashmir, a heaven like place on earth, has not seen a dovish day. The result of war was inconclusive but it gave birth to many other troubles. Pakistan's day and night moral support to Kashmiri muslims to head towards their actual destination, a muslim state, bucked Kashmiri youth up to architect their way to glory which resulted in formation of many rebel groups throughout Kashmir. Different rebel groups carries out attacks on imposed indian army and force to push them back. Indian Army retaliate stronger by conducting operations against rebel groups in Kashmir.

The recent unrest in Indian administered kashmir after the assassination of Hizb ul Mujahedeen Commander Burhan Wani 9th July 2016 is an axenic example of Indian army retaliation. Burhan Wani, a young kashmiri, undesirably decided to take weapons in hand when he was beaten by Indian Army at the age of 9 when he was going to his home with his friend. Since then, he made up his mind to join rebel groups in time to come. He became part of Hizb ul Mujahideen at the age of 16 and soon became essential part of it. He hold the ground on social media and started sharing the stuff including video messages and other literature about indian occupation in Kashmir. He was an inspiration for kashmiri youth, he was involved for bringing in many teenagers in the rebel group. He was assassinated by Indian Army in an encounter on 8th July. His assassination upraised the violence in the valley. Since his death, Kashmir has not seen any day without curfew, protest or dead body!

Indian army is still busy in calming down the fury in the valley. They are trying out every step to chill out the ferocity even by putting ban on offering friday prayers in Jammia Mosque Srinagar and also in other mosques, Stopping people from offering Eid prayers, Putting ban on internet in the valley and also by house arresting the kashmiri leaders but Indian Army still seems to be failed in that.


 India, now claims that Kashmir is officially their part as Maharaja Hari Singh had signed it to them. While, Pakistan visualise it from Religious aspect. Pakistan claims that it was decided at the time of division that areas with muslim majority will go with Pakistan.


Along with that, Kashmir geographically suits Pakistan as well. Pakistan objects that Maharaja Hari Singh had not held any plebiscite to recognise the voice of the people of Kashmir which was dictated by Lord Mounttbaten so the Instrument of Accession was nothing but india's plan to occupy Kashmir. Pakistan believes that people of Kashmir want to be with Pakistan as Pakistan is their ideal state because of their religion. Pakistan conceives indian administrative activities as 'occupation' of India and consider Indian Kashmir as Indian Occupied Kashmir (IoK). Pakistan has been supporting Kashmiri rebel groups from the day they came into being. Pakistan constantly describe UNO resolutions over Kashmir issue in which UN has forced both countries to take back their armies from Kashmir and let the UNO delegation visit Kashmir and helding a refrendum to acknowledge public opinion but unfortunately both countries are not ready to execute it. Arch rivals are not acting upon  the resolutions of UNO.

India and Pakistan are in dispute for really a long time. Both Countries have fought a total of 4 wars against each other including the war which took away East Pakistan (Bangladesh) from Pakistan. Both nations have suffered exceedingly traumatic time but it is also a acrimonious reality that somewhere between expanding the boundaries and defeating the enemy, both arch rivals have grinded the people of Kashmir!

A heaven like place on earth which could be the chief visiting point for visitors from all over the world is facing curfew from nearly an year. The paradise, Kashmir is only considered a 'war-zone' at present. That credit also goes to egoistic attitude of both countries. If India and Pakistan truly want to unriddle the puzzle of Kashmir, they will have to come on table talk despite of only pretending to do so. They should come together to work out earnestly on the resolutions of United Nations to let the people sigh in peace. Putting an end to blame game, both countries should take back their armies from occupied parts and let the United Nations do its job. If the recommended measures are not taken, it will take no time in turning the paradise into the hell and it will be the hazardous nightmare for the rest of the world!