Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Kashmir problem is much older than the accession issue which
cropped up in 1947. Ever since the British imperialists sold the valley to
Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1846, the problem has presented itself in one shape or
another. For over eighty years the Dogra Hindu rulers could contrive to conceal
the hideous truth that their subjects, predominant majority of whom was Muslim,
were unhappy under their harsh rule. But when in 1931 the Kashmiris rose in
open rebellion against the despotism the problem was posed in public for the
first time. After independence the issue has in essence remained unchanged,
namely the scope of freedom for the State Muslims under majority Hindu rule.
In the long period of over thirty-four years I have had
exchange of views on the vexing issue with leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and
Jawahar Lal Nehru as also a large number of Kashmiri politicians and patriots.
From time to time I expressed my views in State affairs in the context of
Kashmiri’s historical background and a rising wave of democracy. I tried to
elicit the opinions of the great leaders which they stated,at times with
candour, in their letters. Those with disagreement with me in Kashmir have
subjected my views to a close scrutiny thereby presenting other aspects of the
problem with by me. Since this correspondence (comprising selected letters from
a big bunch) throws revealing light on the theme of the book, I have decided it
as appendices at the end.
In the preparation of this volume I have heavily drawn on
the writings of several authors, ancient and modern. I owe a debt of gratitude
to all of them.
Prem Nath Bajaj was born in July 1905 at Srinagar. Educated
in S.P. College, he took his degree from Punjab University and entered public
life in August 1930 by joining the Women’s Welfare Trust. In 1931 he was
elected President of the S.D. Yuvat Sabha that year the Maharaja nominated him
as a non- official member of the Grievances Enquiry Commission and the Constitutional
Reforms Conference. He started the daily Vitasta in 1932 to advocate the cause
of Secularism, Democracy and Freedom.
Bazaz is the author of several books including Inside
Kashmir (1942), Azad Kashmir (1951) and The History of Struggle for Freedom in
Kashmir (1954). He has written a number of treaties and booklets in English and
Urdu on Economic, Political, Cultural and social problems of Kashmir.
Book: Kashmir in Crucible
Author: Prem Nath Bazaz
ISBN: 81-8339-024-2
Number of Pages: XIV + 318
Language: English
Price: INR 725/ USD $ 47.99 (Shipping/Courier Charges Extra)
Author: Prem Nath Bazaz
ISBN: 81-8339-024-2
Number of Pages: XIV + 318
Language: English
Price: INR 725/ USD $ 47.99 (Shipping/Courier Charges Extra)
For order contact - Utpal Kaul (Please SMS -
+91-9818447636)
Email: utpalpublications@gmail.com
