logo
As Martyrs' Day triggers a political row in Kashmir, why it remains a flashpoint nearly a century later

As Martyrs' Day triggers a political row in Kashmir, why it remains a flashpoint nearly a century later

Indian Express3 days ago
On July 13, the Jammu and Kashmir Police – which falls under Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha – placed political leaders, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, under house arrest to prevent them from observing 'Martyrs' Day', by paying tributes to the the 22 people killed by the then Dogra regime's forces in 1931. Before J&K's special status was revoked in 2019, July 13 was officially commemorated as Martyrs' Day with a state-wide public holiday.
However, J&K's two regions – the Muslim-dominated Kashmir and the Hindu heartland in Jammu – have always viewed the day differently.
So what happened on that day, nearly a century ago?
Before 22 people were shot and killed outside the Srinagar Central Jail on July 13, 1931, anger had been building up in Kashmir against Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh's forces.
On April 21, a police officer was accused of preventing a cleric from delivering the Khutbah – a customary sermon – after Eid prayers in Jammu. In another incident that day, the police and some upper-caste Hindus were reported to have prevented Muslims from using a ground and a water tank, which were in the 'joint possession' of the two communities, for Eid prayers.
A few days later, a head constable allegedly desecrated a colleague's Quran.
With tempers running high in Kashmir, Hari Singh's political affairs minister, G E C Wakefield, advised him to invite a delegation of Muslims to submit their grievances. Leaders in Kashmir organised a meeting at a shrine in Srinagar to choose their representatives. There, Abdul Qadeer Khan, who worked as a cook for a British military officer, delivered a fiery speech.
In his book Kashmir: Exposing the Myth behind the Narrative, historian Khalid Bashir Ahmad writes, 'A protest meeting was held at Khanqah-i-Mualla on June 21, 1931, where tens of thousands of Muslims assembled. The meeting resulted in the formation of a collective leadership… As the meeting was about to close, Abdul Qadeer Khan appeared on the stage and made a speech.'
In his autobiography Aatish-e-Chinar (Flames of Chinar), National Conference (NC) founder Sheikh Abdullah said Khan delivered his speech later, at another location. 'After the meeting, the organisers and elected representatives proceeded for tea to Hamdania Middle School. There, one Abdul Qadeer made sparks fly,' Abdullah writes.
According to Ahmad's book, Khan said, 'Muslim brethren! The time has now come when we should meet force by greater force to put an end to tyrannies and brutalities to which you are subjected.' Pointing towards the Maharaja's palace, Khan said, 'Raze it to the ground.'
Khan was arrested and charged with sedition.
On the day his trial got underway at a sessions court, thousands gathered in solidarity. Sensing trouble, the Dogra regime decided to shift the trial to the Srinagar Central Jail, where Khan was lodged.
On July 13, 1931, as the trial was about to start, thousands gathered outside the jail, with some forcing their way inside.
Prem Nath Bazaz, in his book Inside Kashmir, says there was a confidential order to keep the trial closed to the public. 'But the matter did not remain a secret and within a few minutes it was well known that the trial would be held at the jail. Large crowds gathered before noon on July 13, and when the time of trial came, the crowd had swelled to about 7,000,' Bazaz writes.
'No one realised the significance of Abdul Qadeer's outspokenness. The incident that was to occur on July 13, 1931, had the same impact on our movement that the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre had on the Indian independence movement,' Abdullah writes. 'We pleaded with the people to keep away from the Central Jail… Despite our pleas, hordes of people tried to force their way into the jail.'
There are different narratives about what happened before the police opened fire, killing 22 people. Bazaz says 'the mob became uncontrollable and some forced their way into the outer compound (of the jail)', with the District Magistrate ordering the arrest of the mob's 'ring leaders'. But no one tried to pacify or warn the protesters.
Prof Ghulam Hassan Khan, in his book Freedom Movement In Kashmir 1931-1940, says around 200 people were peacefully sitting inside the jail premises. 'By 12.30 pm, the muezzin gave a call to prayer… A little later, the District Magistrate, City Munsiff, Superintendent of Police, and Assistant Superintendent of Police arrived. No sooner did they come out of their vehicles than the people began shouting slogans,' Khan writes.
'Of all the officials present… not even one went forward to the crowd to reason with it and pacify it. The official Enquiry Commission, which investigated the affair, deplored this attitude and recorded its opinion that the crowd ought at least to have been told by the District Magistrate that it was a criminal gathering and ran the great risk of a clash with authorities,' Bazaz writes.
'The arrests highly excited the crowd, who demanded the release of their leaders… (The crowd) became infuriated and threw stones. Telephone lines were shaken and subsequently cut. Attempts were made to set fire to the Police Lines… At this stage, the firing was ordered. According to the official report, 10 men were killed and several wounded. It was found on July 26 that 21 persons died as a result of the jail incident,' Bazaz writes.
Khan writes: 'Finding that the people were resolute and determined, authorities suddenly stopped firing and the police disappeared. People rushed into the jail compound. They took out bedsteads from the quarters of the jail guards, placed on them the dead and injured, and carried them to the Jamia Masjid.'
In his autobiography, Abdullah writes, 'I was sitting quietly when a terrified young man burst into my house and told me of the firing. He said the dead were being brought in a procession towards the city. I was mortified at what this may trigger… Rioting and plundering had started at Zainakadal and Bahorikadal… I learnt that some Muslims, who were taking a dead body to his home, had asked Hindu shopkeepers to pull down their shutters as a mark of respect. They refused. This provided the pretext for anti-social elements to go on a rampage. After the situation had limped back to normal, the police managed to recover property stolen from Hindu shops.'
Bazaz, however, has another version. 'The jail firing created great resentment in the mob against Hindus. So when the procession reached Maharaj Gunj, a busy trade centre of the city, Hindu shops that had been closed after the jail incident were broken open and looted,' Bazaz writes. 'Serious rioting followed… Hundreds of Hindu houses and shops were denuded of their contents… Three Hindus were murdered and 163 wounded.'
In his book, Ahmad argues that the findings of the Enquiry Commission, set up by the Maharaja, were biased. 'It (the Commission) appeared to be at pains to absolve the men and officers of the government responsible for the killing of unarmed people and throw mud of culpability on the victims. The bias against Muslims freely flowed through the report,' Ahmad writes. 'When Mrs Thakur Das, a Hindu lady, testified through a written statement that 'the sepoys fired without a cause' … her statement was dismissed as a possible outcome of a 'grudge against the government'.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

AIADMK's Palaniswami Sparks Controversy With Temple Land Ownership Promise For Delta Residents
AIADMK's Palaniswami Sparks Controversy With Temple Land Ownership Promise For Delta Residents

Hans India

time4 minutes ago

  • Hans India

AIADMK's Palaniswami Sparks Controversy With Temple Land Ownership Promise For Delta Residents

Tamil Nadu's opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami has ignited a fresh political controversy by pledging to grant formal land ownership rights to families residing on temple properties across the state's delta region, should his AIADMK party regain power. The promise has drawn sharp criticism from political commentators and sparked renewed debate over temple land management. Palaniswami defended his proposal by highlighting the long-term residence of numerous families on temple-owned land, arguing that his previous administration had initiated steps toward regularizing their occupancy. During his tenure as Chief Minister, he had announced a comprehensive scheme whereby the government would conduct land assessments, compensate temples appropriately, and subsequently issue ownership documents to current residents. The former Chief Minister acknowledged that legal challenges had previously derailed the initiative, with court interventions resulting in stay orders that prevented implementation. He expressed confidence that a future AIADMK government would successfully navigate these legal obstacles and complete the ownership transfer process for affected families. However, the proposal has faced immediate pushback from political analysts who question both its legality and appropriateness. Sumanth Raman, a prominent political commentator, strongly condemned the plan through social media, emphasizing that temple lands remain outside government ownership and cannot be arbitrarily redistributed. He characterized Palaniswami's promise as fundamentally flawed and politically irresponsible. The controversy extends beyond land ownership issues to broader questions about temple administration and fund utilization. During his ongoing statewide campaign, Palaniswami has consistently attacked the ruling DMK government's approach to temple management, accusing them of misappropriating religious institution funds for secular purposes. Palaniswami has specifically criticized the DMK's practice of using temple revenues to establish educational institutions, arguing that such expenditures represent improper diversion of religious funds. He contends that the state government should finance educational infrastructure through its own budget rather than utilizing temple resources designated for religious purposes. The DMK leadership has responded forcefully to these accusations, citing existing legal frameworks that explicitly permit such fund utilization. The HR&CE Act provides clear authorization for temple institutions to allocate surplus funds toward educational and charitable activities, making Palaniswami's criticism legally questionable. Chief Minister MK Stalin has characterized Palaniswami's position as reflecting BJP ideological influence rather than traditional AIADMK policies. This accusation suggests that the opposition leader has shifted toward more religiously conservative positions that align with national BJP narratives about temple autonomy and Hindu religious rights. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin escalated the political rhetoric by labeling Palaniswami a "Sanghi," implying ideological alignment with RSS-BJP thinking rather than authentic AIADMK principles. This characterization represents an attempt to portray the opposition leader as abandoning his party's historical positions in favor of external ideological influences. The temple land ownership promise reflects broader political calculations about rural constituency appeals and religious sentiment mobilization. Palaniswami's strategy appears designed to attract support from families currently residing on temple properties while simultaneously positioning his party as protective of religious institutions against alleged DMK mismanagement.

‘Stay strong': Trump aide meets Imran Khan's sons, takes a jibe at Pakistani establishment
‘Stay strong': Trump aide meets Imran Khan's sons, takes a jibe at Pakistani establishment

First Post

time4 minutes ago

  • First Post

‘Stay strong': Trump aide meets Imran Khan's sons, takes a jibe at Pakistani establishment

Richard Grenell, a key ally of US President Donald Trump, posted a photo with the sons of jailed former prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and declared: 'You are not alone' read more Richard Grenell, a close aide of US President Donald Trump, met with the sons of jailed Pakistani leader Imran Khan in California Richard Grenell, a key ally of US President Donald Trump, on Tuesday (July 22) met with the sons of jailed former prime minister of Pakistan Imran Khan in California. Grenell, who served as Trump's special envoy and US ambassador to Germany, posted a photo with the brothers, Sulaiman Isa Khan and Kasim Khan, on social media. Grenell wrote on X: 'Welcome to California, my friends. I loved hanging out with you today. Sulaiman and @Kasim_Khan1999, you must stay strong. There are millions of people around the world who are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Welcome to California, my friends. I loved hanging out with you today. Sulaiman and @Kasim_Khan_1999, you must stay strong. There are millions of people around the world who are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone. #freeimrankhan — Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) July 22, 2025 The meeting has spotlighted Khan's ongoing imprisonment, who has been detained since August 2023. Human rights groups and Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), claim his detention is politically driven. Concerns about Khan's conditions in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, are growing globally. Reports indicate he is held in solitary confinement, cut off from newspapers, books, and television. This isn't Grenell's first show of support for Khan. Grenell previously backed Khan during Trump's 2024 campaign. On Newsmax, he praised Khan's leadership and criticised Pakistan's current government, saying, 'We had a much better relationship with Pakistan during the Trump administration when a guy named Imran Khan was the leader.' He called Khan a 'political outsider with common-sense views.' Grenell also compared Khan's legal battles in Pakistan to Trump's in the US, stating, 'He's currently in prison, facing many of the same allegations as President Trump,' and called for the former cricketer's release. The meeting with Khan's sons is viewed as another clear sign of support from Trump's inner circle. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD

You are a child, know nothing: Nitish Kumar vs Tejashwi Yadav over poll revision
You are a child, know nothing: Nitish Kumar vs Tejashwi Yadav over poll revision

India Today

time4 minutes ago

  • India Today

You are a child, know nothing: Nitish Kumar vs Tejashwi Yadav over poll revision

A debate over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the Bihar elections turned into an ugly face-off between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav in the Assembly, with the former calling the RJD leader "a child" when it came to the conduct of the poll body's exercise."You are a child. You know nothing about matters like these. Only three days are left in this last session of the House. Let it conduct legislative business. Whatever rubbish you want to speak, you may do so to your heart's content during the elections," Nitish Kumar said on the floor of the Assembly Tejashwi Yadav was speaking about the central poll body's SIR drive, Nitish Kumar intervened and questioned his former ally about what they had done for the state. "When his (Yadav's) parents were chief ministers, they did nothing, neither for the women, nor for Muslims, nor any other section of society. The only woman who got something was his mother," the Bihar Chief Minister the impartiality of the poll body, Tejashwi was speaking about the timing of the while exercise, asking: "In 2003, it took one and a half years to complete a similar S.I.R. drive. This process could have been conducted after the Lok Sabha elections. It's the monsoon season in Bihar—how will people fill out the forms?"Stating that the Constitution granted everyone the equal right to vote, Tejashwi further asked why the Election Commission was not allowing voters to submit ration and aadhaar cards during the verification drive."Why isn't Aadhaar being linked? Why isn't the ration card being linked? The Election Commission's job is to conduct elections impartially," he is when the Chief Minister, visibly upset with the discussion being allowed on the issue, chose to butt the time Kumar got seated, several of the opposition members were on their feet, and those on the ruling side engaged in a shouting Bhai Virendra, an RJD MLA, used an unparliamentary expression, the Speaker looked told the leader of the opposition, "I have allowed you to make a statement. I am letting others on your side also speak, but you must first make Bhai Virendra apologise".Turning towards the ruling side, the Speaker reacted with horror when he saw Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, a senior BJP leader and a former Speaker himself, screaming at the top of his Speaker said, "It is disgusting that you are behaving in this fashion, despite being a deputy CM", before adjourning the proceedings till lunch.- EndsInputs from PTI

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store