golden day in the history of beautiful Kashmir - no more Article 370

What a historic day for the Nation ! – 5^th Aug 2019 will remain a gold lettered day in the annals of Indian Nation.

Nothing mattered .. .. Sensex ended at 36,699.84 , down 418.38 points, or 1.13 per cent. The Nifty50 settled at 10,862.60, down 134.75 or 1.23 per cent.  Monday’s selloff was to an extent a reaction to the selloff seen in Asian markets, after trade war concerns sent the Chinese yuan below a politically sensitive 7 a dollar level and PMI readings showed deeper weakness in the Chinese economy. .. everything else was dwarfed by a simple news of strong Govt will – “All the provisions of the Constitution shall apply in relation to the state of Jammu and Kashmir."  For the purpose, a clause 4 has been added to Article 367 which will introduced four changes.

Bernier,  the first European to enter Kashmir, wrote  in 1665  : " In truth, the kingdom surpasses in beauty all that my warmest imagination had anticipated." This impression is not universally felt, for one of the very latest writers on Kashmir speaks of it as overrated, and calls the contour of the mountains commonplace and comparable to a second-rate Tyrolean valley

The most important document -  the Instrument of Accession is a legal document executed by Maharaja Hari Singh, ruler of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, on 26 October 1947. By executing this document under the provisions of the Indian Independence Act 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh agreed to accede to the Dominion of India.   .. .. sadly within few decades, it showed an ugly face to the World when the exodus started in Sept 1989, leaving only a few thousand of them behind in the Valley and about seven and a half lakh Kashmiri Pandits were left to live the life of refugees in their own country.  The act of losing something can ensure that you elicit great wisdom. For the hapless Pandit, this wisdom translates into pain.

First Kashmir, it not what it has all along been  portrayed it to be ~  it has a glorious history .. ..  Utpala dynasty, a Kashmiri Hindu kingdom, ruled over the Kashmir region from 8th to 10th century CE. The kingdom was established by Avanti Varman, ending the rule of Karkota dynasty in 855 CE.  The cities of Avantipur and Suyapur were founded during the reign and many Hindu temples dedicated to both Vishnu and Shiva.  Sadly the same Kashmir towards the end of last century became barren and devoid as Kashmiri pundits were driven out in pogrom.

Article 370 of the Indian constitution is an article that gives special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The article was drafted in Part XXI of the Constitution: Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions.  This article along with Article 35(A) defined that the J&K state's residents lived under a separate set of laws, including those related to citizenship, ownership of property, and fundamental rights, as compared to resident of other Indian states. As a result of this provision, Indian citizens from other states were not allowed to  purchase land or property in Jammu & Kashmir.  .. .. all that is to change with new Presidential Order   revoking the 1954 Order, and making all the provisions of the Indian Constitution applicable to the State. The home minister  Shri Amit Shah today  introduced a Bill in the Upper House of the Parliament seeking to reorganise the state with Jammu and Kashmir serving as a Union Territory and Ladakh region to be separated as a separate union territory.  That is a great tactical move of Shri Modiji Govt – revoking   key constitutional provisions — Article 370 and Article 35(A) — that give the state of Jammu & Kashmir a host of special rights.

Not only Imran Khan but even Shahid Afridi were rattled and were voicing insanely .. Our neighbouring country has been trading propaganda war on Kashmir ~ a few years earlier in  UN Conference, then Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while addressing the United Nations General Assembly session, said Pakistan wants peace with India but maintained it is "not possible without resolving the Kashmir issue".   Highlighting Kashmir as an international flashpoint especially after US president Donald Trump surprised everyone by offering to mediate between India and Pakistan. Ensuring that the LoC remains “active" helps pin international attention on the Kashmir dispute, which has for many reasons receded from global focus and does not occupy mind space as it used to in the 1990s. According to analysts, Islamabad must be hoping that the more the intensity of firing and shelling between India and Pakistan along the LoC, the more it will attract the attention of someone like Trump, who has offered to mediate.

India has a chequered history .. when when Lord Curzon arrived in India, in 1899, the Government had successfully brought to a conclusion a series of punitive expeditions against widespread and violent tribal risings.  The new viceroy found more than 10,000 troops cantoned across the administrative border, in the Khyber, on the Samaria range, in Waziristan, and in the Malakand area. Not only were these advanced positions many miles from a base, but they were also entirely unconnected by lateral communications, and were consequently in constant  danger of being overpowered.  By 1904 the new system was in operation along the whole frontier from Chitral to Baluchistan. All regular troops had been withdrawn from Gilgit, and the protection of that isolated position left in the hands of the Kashmir Imperial Service troops. All along British played politics – the creation of the North-West Frontier Province was the consummation of all Curzon's frontier policy.

British and later Pakistan have burnt mid-night oil to make false propaganda and keep Kashmir burning, the valley restless and people fight against India.  All that is felled now with the master stroke of the day that came after 72 years annulling the special provisions which were meant to be temporary. 

Kashmir is associated with Adhi Sankarar.  He  wrote  ‘Saundarya Lahari’, in praise of Shakti, at the top of the hill, known till then as Gopadari Hill.  The Shankaracharya Temple is situated on the top of the Shankaracharya hill, also called Gopadari Hill,  in the Zabarwan Mountain in Srinagar, Kashmir. The temple is on the summit of the same name at a height of 1,000 feet (300 m) above the plain and overlooks the city of Srinagar.  

Nearly a thousand year ago, our Acaryar Sri Ramanujar on a pilgrimmage visited Srinagar searching for manuscript of Bodhayana-vritti, a commentary  on the Brahmasutra by Bodhyana.  His ardent disciple Kuresar was able to memorise it in one glance; the commentary of Udayavar is known as Sri Bashyam ~ Goddess of learning Saraswathi approving Sri Bashyam conferred the title  ‘Bashyakara’ on Sri Ramanujar.  Thus was fulfilled the main desire of Alavandhar – writing of an authoritative and illuminating commentary on Brahma sutra.

Oct 26 has all along been an important day  – ‘Accession Day ‘  commemorating the day when the last Dogra ruler of Jammu and Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession in 1947. The agreement made the former independent princely state of J&K join the Union of India.  Today 5^th Aug 2019  is perhaps more important day that every other day.  After Kashmir's special status is gone, people from anywhere in India be able to buy property and permanently settle in the state. A separate Union Territory is to be  created for Jammu & Kashmir with legislature,  Under the new  notificaiton, the Ladakh region is also being given the status of a Union Terrority, without legislature. Following Amit Shah's proposal, President Ram Nath Kovind promulgated Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019 that is set to change the fortunes of the Nation.   The Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019 comes into force "at once", and shall "supersede the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954".  The presidential promulgation says: "All the provisions of the Constitution shall apply in relation to the state of Jammu and Kashmir." i.e., unification with the great Maha Bharat India.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

5^th Aug 2019.