Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:12 24 October 2016 Jammu and Kashmir

Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:12 24 October 2016 Jammu and Kashmir This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the complex confl ict situation in Kashmir. Through an internal perspective, it charts the shift in the Kashmiri response towards the Centre and offers a detailed examination of the background in which separatist politics took roots in Kashmir, and the way it changed its nature in the militancy and post-militancy period. The volume shows how separatism and armed militancy, as manifest in the Valley in the late 1980s (though augmented by external factors), have been internal responses to the changing nature of Kashmiri identity politics. It explores how the ideas central to Indian nationalist politics – especially democracy and secularism – echoed in Kashmir and were instrumental in dismantling the feudal structure and negotiating an autonomous space within the framework of asymmetrical federalism. Seamlessly blending facts and incisive analyses, this book raises new questions about the nature of confl ict and contestation in the region. It will be of great interest to researchers and scholars of Indian politics, especially on Jammu and Kashmir, and sociology, as well as government bodies, think tanks and the interested general reader. Rekha Chowdhary is former Professor of Political Science at the Uni- versity of Jammu, India. Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:12 24 October 2016 This page intentionally left blank Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:12 24 October 2016 Jammu and Kashmir Politics of identity and separatism Rekha Chowdhary Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:12 24 October 2016 First published 2016 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2016 Rekha Chowdhary The right of Rekha Chowdhary to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record has been requested for this book. ISBN: 978-1-138-92195-5 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-68607-3 (ebk) Typeset in Goudy by Apex CoVantage, LLC Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:12 24 October 2016 Contents Foreword by Manoranjan Mohanty vii Introduction xii PART I Conflict in Kashmir: background factors 1 1 Identity politics of Kashmir 3 2 Background to armed militancy and separatism: failure of democratic politics in Kashmir 28 3 Federal logic, nationalism and Kashmir confl ict 49 4 Political economy of Kashmiri identity politics 71 PART II Militancy and the politics of separatism 89 5 Separatist space and politics of separatism before 1989 91 6 Militancy and separatism 105 Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:12 24 October 2016 7 Democracy in the context of separatism 128 vi Contents PART III Locating conflict in Kashmir within the larger context of Jammu and Kashmir 159 8 Beyond Kashmir: social diversity and political divergence in Jammu and Kashmir 161 9 Jammu as a factor in Kashmir confl ict 172 10 Multiple dimensions of confl ict 196 PART IV Conflict resolution 211 11 Peace process 213 2014 Assembly election: a postscript 232 References 239 Index 250 Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:12 24 October 2016 Foreword In this work by one of India’s best-known scholars on Jammu and Kash- mir (J&K), we get a fresh perspective that boldly shifts the focus from the much-publicised external dimensions of the Kashmir problem to the history of internal dynamics of the state. In spelling out what the author, Rekha Chowdhary, calls the ‘internal perspective’, she explains in great detail how the pluralistic and anti-feudal basis of Kashmiri nationalism was subverted from time to time and operation of democratic politics was not allowed. There lay the explanations for the rise of separatism and militancy and the alienation of people of Kashmir from India. Most commentators have presented reductionist analysis of the Kashmir situation, exclusively highlighting religious differences, devel- opmental failure, the Pakistan dimension or international factors for explaining the outbreak of violence and crisis in J&K. In this book, we fi nd, instead, a nuanced and multidimensional analysis of the interplay of religion and region, economic, social and political rights with people’s urge for autonomy and self-government placed at the centre. Here is a treatise on ethnic identity that breaks ranks with other identity stud- ies that miss the links between identity and other social and political dimensions. As an explanatory account of the rise of separatism, this work draws attention to issues of democratic rights rather than only to externally sponsored networks of terrorism. The author shows how such networks found local support only when democratic rights were denied Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:12 24 October 2016 to people. The policy implications of this work are immense. They focus on fi nding innovative methods to enable people to exercise rights to self-governance and restore a pluralistic community, which remained at the heart of Kashmiri nationalism. They entail a framework of regional autonomy that reassured regions of their dignity without threatening the unity of the J&K state. viii Foreword The author’s account of the evolution of Kashmir nationalism in the fi rst half of the twentieth century emphasises a point that has been for- gotten in the contemporary discussion of the Kashmir situation. It is how the agenda of the Muslim Conference was replaced by a progressive democratic programme by the National Conference (NC), which was founded in 1939. The NC opened its membership to all communities and affi rmed its commitment to address the problems of the peasantry and artisans, thus giving not only a multidimensional ethnic orienta- tion but also wider a socio-economic base to Kashmiri nationalism. The Naya Kashmir slogan embodied in the manifesto of NC in 1944 refl ected this perspective. The critical signifi cance of recalling this background of Kashmir nationalism is relevant today because most people have forgot- ten why NC under Sheikh Abdullah’s leadership preferred Accession to India rather than joining Pakistan in 1947. For the Sheikh, Pan-Islamic politics was not an attraction for India under Gandhi, and Nehru presented a democratic and multi-ethnic framework, which would allow Kashmir to protect its identity. Secondly, as Rekha Chowdhary points out, the Sheikh was afraid that Pakistan dominated by Punjabi land- lords would frustrate his dream of building a Naya Kashmir that gave ‘land to the tillers’ and promoted egalitarian policies. It was the promise of autonomy for a multi-ethnic society in J&K and democratic politics with a progressive agenda of social transformation, which prompted Sheikh Abdullah to opt for India. The author points out with much evidence how the Accession to India was not merely a Hindu ruler’s decision, but was backed by the leading political party with a wide popular base. She shows how this was different from the case of Hyderabad where military force was deployed and other princely states where various kinds of pressures were resorted to. The popular backing of Kashmir’s Accession to India was based on the assurance that identity of Muslim-majority Kashmir will be adequately protected in a Hindu-majority India. That was why Article 370 was made a part of the Indian Constitution. After a series of negotiations between Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah, the Delhi Agree- ment was signed in July 1952, spelling out the modality of adminis- Downloaded by [New York University] at 12:12 24 October 2016 tering J&K and the nature of relationship with the Centre. Rekha Chowdhary shows how a well-worked-out framework guaranteeing autonomy and self-governance of a multi-ethnic state was broken into pieces with the arrest of the principal symbol of Kashmir nationalism, namely Sheikh Abdullah, in 1953. She demonstrates in course of her close scrutiny of the subsequent periods that it is the denial of autonomy and freedom and space for democratic politics, which ultimately gave Foreword ix rise to separatism and militancy. She points out with enormous data that whenever democratic politics was allowed, forces of separatism and militancy were weakened. There is an extremely valuable discussion on separatism and militancy in this book. The author distinguishes separatism from militancy, as the latter involved armed actions while the former may or may not. Separatists included those who either believed in an independent J&K like the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) or merger with Pakistan. The interesting point that emerges from this work is that both these phenomena have to be contexualised and they referred to a wide range of meanings. This questions the oversimplifi ed usage of these terms, which prevented understanding of the actual situation. Separat- ism as a trend emerged when the commitment to Kashmir’s autonomy was violated with the arrest of Sheikh Abdullah fi rst in 1953 and the Plebiscite Front represented this sentiment.

Load more