Srinagar, Dec 04(KNS): Paying tribute to the late Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on his 119th birth anniversary, Jammu Kashmir Awami National Conference President Begum Khalida Shah highlighted his pivotal role in shaping the political and social landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.
She recalled that 93 years ago, Sher-e-Kashmir spearheaded a revolutionary movement against autocratic rule when the people of J&K were grappling with extreme poverty and misery.
The movement launched by the National Conference faced immense challenges during a time of global political upheaval. Unfortunately, many associates of Sher-e-Kashmir who endured those struggles and sacrifices are no longer alive. This has allowed misconceptions and misrepresentations about his legacy to sway the new generation of J&K.
Begum Khalida Shah clarified that when Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to India on October 27, 1947, on the conditions of defense, communication, and external affairs, Sheikh Abdullah held no government position.
It was Mehar Chand Mahajan who served as the Prime Minister of J&K at the time. Sheikh Sahib became "Nazim-e-Aala" in 1947 and later the Prime Minister in 1948. Political commentators of that era noted that Sheikh Abdullah, while terming the Instrument of Accession as temporary and conditional, signed it as a witness, asserting that it would become permanent only after the approval of the people of the state.
In 1946, Sheikh Abdullah had presented the "Naya Kashmir" manifesto to Maharaja Hari Singh, followed by the "Quit Kashmir" movement. The manifesto was not merely an appeal to public sentiment but a direct challenge to the economic, social, and political exploitation of the time.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelIt played a key role in dismantling the feudal system in J&K, which was against the interests of the Maharaja and his rule.
When the Constitution of India was being drafted, the issue of J&K's constitutional relationship with India came to the forefront. Sheikh Abdullah, alongside Mirza Muhammad Afzal Beigh and Moulana Muhammad Saeed Masoodi, represented Jammu and Kashmir in the Indian Constituent Assembly. Initially presented as Article 306-A, the draft was rejected by the National Conference working committee because it was deemed temporary and undermined the fundamental rights of J&K's citizens.
Sheikh Abdullah proposed an alternative draft, which led to intense deliberations. Sir Gopalaswami Ayyangar complained to Sardar Patel on October 15, 1949, about the amendments proposed by Sheikh Abdullah. In his response, Patel rejected the amendments. However, Sheikh Abdullah stood firm, threatening to resign from the Constituent Assembly. Eventually, his amendments were accepted, and Article 306-A evolved into Article 370.
Under Article 370, the constitutional relationship between J&K and the Union of India was defined. It was agreed that a separate Constituent Assembly would decide which Indian constitutional provisions would apply to the state. The Delhi Agreement of 1952 further formalized this understanding, rooted in the mass acceptance of the "Naya Kashmir" manifesto.
Begum Khalida Shah emphasized that the social vision of her late father, Sheikh Abdullah, surpassed his political foresight and defined his lifelong struggle. She firmly stated that had Sher-e-Kashmir been alive today, no one would have dared to propose the abrogation of Articles 35-A and 370.(KNS).