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MUSLIM CONFERENCE
( 1932)
II. FORM ATION O F MUSLIM CONFERENCE ( 1 9 3 2 )
the autocratic nature of the Dogra rule and the poverty of the political consciousness
of the Muslim community of Kashmir together with the absence of any solid support
from any power outside, the Muslims, for a long time, failed to put up an organized
struggle to free themselves from the shackles of the Dogra Raj. True, when the
oppression touched limits, they did show not only passive reaction 1 but also
sometimes raised open revolts like the Shawlbaf revolt o f 1865, but these reactions
lacked organized character. It was in the twenties of the present century that the signs
of political consciousness showed visible indications. This was obviously the result
of growing literacy rate among the Muslims of Kashmir particularly the attainment of
higher education by many of them from different Indian Universities which were
pronounced with the beginning of the twenties of the present century. The silk
prominent Muslims of Kashmir to Lord Reading, the Indian Viceroy, (in which they
demanded the redressal of social, economic and political grievances), were the
obvious fall outs of this perceptible consciousness among the educated section of the
112
Muslim community. However, instead of perceiving the emergence of growing
resentment among the Muslims, particularly among the educated youth, and
providing a healing touch to them, the Maharaja tightened screws of oppressive and
autocratic rule, when he exiled the memorialists and severely punished silk factory
workers. There was no source of expression2 and even ban was imposed on the entry
of Indian Muslim press in Kashmir3. This suffocating situation moved even some
high officials who were having a humanistic bent of mind. Among them Sir Albion
Banerji, a Bengali Brahman who was a Senior Minister of the Executive Council of
the Maharaja will remain memorable in the histoiy of Kashmir. While not tolerating
the inhuman attitude meted out to Kashmiri Muslims, he resigned and explaining the
oppressive and autocratic rule4. His Statement was published in English press on
15th March, 1929 creating havoc5. This fearless criticism of the Dogra Raj by its own
Senior Minister while shaking the Maharajas autocratic rule also encouraged the
educated Muslim Youth of the Valley to come out for putting up an organized fight
against the policies of the Dogra Raj6. The itch for freedom had become so strong
that the persecuting measures of the rulers' and their policy to launch a
vainly prove their rule as the most enlightened one could not succeed in averting it8.
the India - returned Muslim educated youth formed what is known as the Reading
Room Party ,9 in the garb of which they wanted a platform to bring all the educated
youth together for devising ways and means to fight out the injustice done to the
113
Reading Room members succeeded in attracting a large number of
educated Muslim youth., consequent upon this a committee was constituted to run the
Reading Room Party on a solid basis. The President and General Secretary of this
Committee included Hakim Ali Peerzada, Ghulam Rasool, Pir Ahmad Shah Fazli,
Hakim Ghulam Murtaza and Mufti Jalal-ud-Din11. In the initial days, the Reading
Room Party focussed its attention to publish the horrifying tale of Kashmiri Muslims
10
through Indian and foreign press .
the memorandum and invited the leaders of the Party for discussion14. Though the
Muslims, yet the latter felt encouraged by making their presentation before the
council15. The Government was also impressed by the arguments put forth by the
Reading Room Party members. Wakefield had even expressed it which subsequently
The Reading Room Party continued its press campaign against the
policies of the Maharaja with the help of Punjabi Muslim intellectuals and editors17.
The communal attitude of the Maharaja against the Muslim community particularly
in its recruitment policy, which was highlighted through the press by the Reading
Room Party, not only made the latter most popular among the people but also
114
The leaders of the Party also organized secret public meetings in which
they exhorted the people to cultivate a spirit of sacrifice without which freedom
would be a distant dream. For example, in one of his speeches, Shaikh, in his attempt
I said that the only alternative to get rid of this deplorable situation is that Muslims
shall have to remain ready for any kind of sacrifice. As long as the fear of jail torture
and persecution will cultivate cowardliness among the people, till then there is no
hope for the redressal of the problems of Kashmiri Muslims. I also said that for test I
will offer myself in the first instance and God willing, I shall be ready to face any kind
of sacrifice.
developments took place one after another helping it to mobilize masses openly for
which it had been waiting anxiously since its inception. These events were: ban on
the chance to cash it for mobilizing the people against the Raj24.
Jammu, the Reading Room Party distributed the posters published by the former,
25
exhorting the Muslims to take out processions and to observe hartals . This naturally
incurred the wrath of the Government and a worker of the Party Muhammad Ismail
was arrested26. The arrest created a strong reaction among the masses who had
already grown sentimental because of the Jammu incidents. The Muslim leaders came
27
out openly and delivered fierce speeches against the Government . When the
Government failed to persuade the leaders, it let loose its reign of persecution. One of
its victims was S.M.Abdullah who was suspended from Government service28. This
115
further increased the popularity of the Shaikh and other leaders of the Reading Room
Party among the masses who too got a sense of sacrifice by these incidents29.
thousands of people30. It may not be out of place to mention here that in this
One such big gathering was on 21 June, 1931 which was organized at
historic gathering that a representative body of the Muslims of Kashmir was elected.
Hassan Shah Jalali, Khawaja Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, S.M.Abdullah and Shahab-
ud-Din33.
Government34. He was arrested by the police the next day and ordered to be tried in
Central Jail. On 13th July, 1931, before the trial started, a large crowd gathered
outside the prison walls. When the Session Judge and other officials arrived, the mob
became uncontrollable and some of the Muslims forced their way into the outer
compound of the jail. The District Magistrate who had also come by this time,
116
ordered the arrest of some of the ring leaders of the mob. The arrests highly excited
the crowd who demanded the release of their leaders, and when the demand was not
met, the crowd became restive and threw stones. The Magistrate on duty ordered to
open fire which resulted into the cold-blooded massacre of twenty two Muslims and
35 •
scores of demonstrators received bullet injuries . This caused great uproar in the
Valley. One of the unfortunate fall-outs of the 13th July public reaction was the
occurrence of communal riots which further widened the gulf between the Hindus
the most important day in the annals of contemporary Kashmir. From this day the
struggle for independence and freedom in the most modern sense started openly37”.
The incident of 13th July shook the whole State including the administration. It
unnerved the Maharaja38. The arrest of the Muslim representatives soon after the jail
incident added fuel to the fire; wild excitement held the people in its grip. 13 July,
The publication of the 13 July news in the Lahore Muslim press sent a
wave of indignation all over Muslim India resulting in protest meetings and
processions in almost every city, town and important village, expressing sympathy
and solidarity with the Muslims of Kashmir and calling upon the British Government
to dispose off Hari Singh and take the State under its direct administration. Press
Statements were issued by all prominent Muslim leaders condemning the outrage and
40
assuring Kashmiri Muslims of their full support .
117
In order to coordinate these activities in various parts of India, M irz:
convened a meeting of some leading Muslims at Simla on 25th July, 1931 to consider
the situation41. It was in this historic meeting that the foundation of All India Kashmir
Committee was laid which later on played a dynamic role in Kashmir politics42.
was celebrated both within and outside the Valley on August 14, 1931. On this day,
complete hartal was observed in the Valley and a procession was held at Martyrs,
children43. S.M.Abdullah in his address paid tributes to the martyrs of 13th July and
directed the masses to follow their path with patience and courage. He started his
it sought the support of Punjabi Muslims for the restoration of peace in the Valley. It
was at the request of Kashmir Darbar that Syed Mehar Shah, a prominent Punjabi
118
Muslim came to Kashmir and it was due to his efforts that an accord was signed
between the Government and Muslim representatives45. The accord and the
consequent truce was used by the Muslim leaders to strengthen the roots of the
movement among the masses as they under-took extensive tours of the Valley during
this period46.
disinformation movement against the Muslim representatives that they had been
tremendous resentment among the people47, which, besides other things, speaks, in
unmistakable terms of the consciousness that had developed at the gross-root level, so
much so, that the Muslim leaders became obliged to convene a public meeting at
Jamai Masjid on 29th August, 1931, to convince the people about their pro-people
Shawl and Khawaja Ghulam Ahamad Ashai visited Baramullah, Sopore and
Islamabad. During these tours, peace committees were framed which later on helped
It was during this period that the preparations for the annual session of
the task of collecting funds from the people for this purpose50. In the garb of raising
funds the Shaikh organised public meetings in which he criticized the policies of the
this S.M.Abdullah was again arrested on 21 December, 193151. The arrest of the
Shaikh (who had by now become a popular leader of the Muslim masses) evoked
widespread resentment among the people of the Valley. Processions were taken out
119
and hartals observed in every nook and comer of Kashmir . In order to maintain the
spirit of the movement, a war council was formed under the Dictatorship of Mufti
* 53 • •
Jalal-ud-Din . However, no sooner did the public gathering which elected the war
council came out of Khanqah Maula, than Mufti Jalal-ud-Din was arrested and the
public was fired upon, which resulted in four deaths of innocent Muslims. In reaction
to this, people took to the streets at Gaw Kadal and Basant Bagh. They too were fired
upon by the Dogra army causing eight causalties. The reactions to the atrocities
committed by the Dogra army were felt far and wide in the Valley. Public
demonstrations were held at different places and sadly enough the mob was charged
The open revolt of the people continued unabated though no stone was
left unturned by the Government to suppress it. Maulvi Yousuf Shah, the Mirwaiz of
Kashmir, gave a call for Jehad which evoked a tremendous response. The people
came out with axes, swords, daggers, and as a matter of fact with whatever tools
that were available to them in their respective homes. The ‘armed’ demonstrators
assembled at Khanyar55. The mood of the people unnerved the Government. Good
sense prevailed upon the Government when it restrained its forces from taking any
action against the demonstrators which would have otherwise resulted in mass
massacre56.
enjoyed beyond their expectations, it was considered timely to launch the movement
Kashmir Committee who assured their full cooperation in this regard58. Immediately
120
a sub-committee of Muslim leaders was constituted to frame the draft of the
1932. The convention, while ratifying the draft constitution, also suggested and
approved the name of All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference for the new
The Kashmiris^ who were considered a dead nation for three centuries have risen
again and are today a living nation. During the last year, they have offered great
sacrifices in their struggle for people’s demands. The whole world is amazed to see
that a nation which had fallen in the cave of slumber for centuries and the nation
which was considered uncivilized has again obtained its place in the community of
nations. Today, the hoisting of the green flag with crescent opens a new chapter in
the history of Kashmir. As such, it is the duty of the Kashmiris to see that it remains
hoisted always. This flag of the conference is the harbinger of love, peace and
brotherhood among all the communities living in the State and it is the guarantor of
peace, progress and happiness for all subjects of the Maharaja.
121
REFERENCES
I. For instance, the peasantry refused to pay the heavy tax and tocultivate the
land. For further details, see Lawrence, Valley o f Kashmir, pp. 404- 420.
6. Ibid. p. 46.
10. “In fact, the establishment of the Reading Room Parly' was an excuse. The
basic purpose was that under its garb we could get together and an opportunity
of discussing different matters would emerge. This did happen and we held
discussions on the problems of government services and the conditions
prevailing in the country. We would burst into tears while thinking over the
conditions prevailing in Kashmir”, see S.M.Abdullah, Atash-i-Chinar, p. 48.
122
13. Ibid. p. 51.
20. On April 29, 1931, when the Muslims were busy in a prayer meeting on the
Eid-Day, a sub-inspector of police Babu Khem Chand, tried to stop the Imam
from reading out the Khutba. The sub-inspector warned the Imam that he
should stop delivering a political speech. The Sub-Inspector’s behaviour was
taken as an affront by the Muslims and a hue and cry was raised throughout
the State against the incident. The Kashmiri Musalman, Lahore, weekly, May
10, 1931; P.N.Bazaz, The Histoiy o f Struggle For Freedom in Kashmir, p.
152; S.M.Abdullah, Atash-i-Chinar, p. 67.
21. It so happened that on the morning of July 4, 1934 atan hour when according
to the standing orders all bedding should have been rolled up and put away by
the constables of the jail guards at the Central Jail, Jammu, a Muslim
constable. Fazeldin was found sitting on his bedding, reading the holy Quran.
The Head constable, Lakha Ram, remonstrated with him about rolling up his
bedding. When he threw the bedding on his box, the Punjsura fell upon the
ground. The Indian Nation, Patna, July, 4,1931; S. M. Abdullah, Atash-i-
Chinar, pp. 67-68.
22. Another incident occurred at Dogre in Sambha Tehsil about 15 miles from
Jammu. A water tank there, was jointly used by Hindu Brahmins and the
Muslim weavers. In order to offer their Eid-prayrs, the Muslims began to draw
water from the tank, as had been their practice earlier for performing the
ablutions. When the Hindus saw the Muslims using the water, they came out
123
of their houses withsticks in theirhands toprevent theMuslims from doing
so. The police ondutyintervened, and madeenquiries into“theprevious
practice, finding that all Muslims used to perform their ablutions at the tank”.
G. R. Raghavan. The Warning in Kashmir, Op. Cit; p. 72.
26. Ibid.
29. It was during these days that the daily Inqilab published from Lahore attached
the name of Sher-i-Kashmir with S. M. Abdullah, Ibid. pp. 77-78.
32. Ibid. p 82
124
36. S.M.Abdullah, Atash-i-Chinar, p. 9292; P.N.Bazaz, The History o f Struggle
fo r Freedom in Kashmir, p. 154.
39. Ibid.
About seven thousand to eight thousand protest telegrams were sent to the
Maharaja by Muslim individuals and organizations from all over India.
Thousands of telegrams were also addressed to the Viceroy urging him for
immediate intervention, Inqilab, Lahore, 23 August, 1931.
43. Ibid.
To undo the propaganda launched by the pro-Dogra elements for eroding the
image of the leaders who signed the accord, Shaikh Abdullah said in the
125
meeting, “was it not a victory for them (Muslim representatives) that an
autocratic government came down to sign an accord with the Muslim
representatives”.
52. Ibid.
53. Ibid.
59. S.M.Abdullah, Op. Cit; p. 156; Taseer, Op. Cit; Vol. I, pp. 245-246.
60. S.M.Abdullah, Op. Cit; p. 157, Saraf, Op. Cit; p. 482; Bazaz, Inside Kashmir,
p. 183.
61. Speech of Wali Ullah Zain-ul-Abidin, a Punjabi Muslim leader, onthe flag
hoisting ceremony of Muslim Conference, at Srinagar,dated October 15,
1932.
126