SHEIKH MOHAMMAD ABDULLAH – TRAGIC HERO OF KASHMIR BY AJIT BHATTACHARJEA

Posted by : Utpal Publications Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah: Tragic Hero of Kashmir is the first comprehensive, well- documented account of the life of the charismatic leader, the Lion of Kashmir, who contributed crucially to the making of modern India in terms of territory and more importantly to its founding ideology of secularism.

Kashmir was the scene of a distinctive political transformation in the late 1930’s. In contrast to the rise of Muslim League in much of the subcontinent – which was to lead to Partition – the most popular party in the valley turned away from communal politics and embraced secularism. On 11 June 1939, Sheikh Abdullah was successful in changing the name of the party he was leading from Kashmir Muslim conference to National Conference.

The author traces the historic developments that followed this unique commitment to secularism inspired by Sheikh Abdullah. It also paved the way for Jammu and Kashmir to accede to India and resist aggression from Pakistan.

Backed by Nehru’s friendship, Abdullah rose to become the first popular prime minister of the state, but also the target of conservative and communal forces in India. His demand that pledge of special status for the state in the accession documents be honored was described as anti – national, even pro – Pakistani.

The intrigue that led to Abdullah’s downfall and arrest on 08 August 1953 is well documented as is the role of the Home Ministry’s Intelligence Bureau. The elaborate conspiracy case it built up was belatedly rejected by Nehru himself. Drawing upon a wide range of sources, the author takes us through Abdullah’s long, tragic periods of detention until he was persuaded to return to Jammu & Kashmir as chief minister. He demonstrated his continuing popularity by winning an election before his death in 1982.

A veteran journalist and former editor of the Hindustan Times and the Indian Express, Ajit Bhattacharjea has covered Kashmir since 1947. He has authored several books including Dateline Bangladesh; Kashmir: The Wounded Valley; Countdown to Partition; and Unfinished revolution: A political Biography of Jayaprakash Narayan.