The Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, popularly known as Youme Shuhada-e-Kashmir is observed on July 13 every year not only on both sides of the Line of Control but also all over the world by the Kashmiris to pay homage to 22 Kashmiris who were martyred in 1931 to free Kashmir from the brutalities of despotic Dogra rulers. The tragic day is the milestone in the history of Kashmiri struggle against foreign occupation which still continues under the Indian alien rule.
The history of Dogra rule (1846-1947) in Kashmir is replete with brutal treatment, perpetrated on the Kashmiri Muslims by Dogra forces. Under their rule, the life was made so terrible and miserable for the Muslims that it was difficult to differentiate them from beasts. Slave labour, heavy taxes, capital punishment for cow slaughter, and living under constant state-terror was order of the day.
Sufferings of the Kashmiri people could be judged from the observation of Yousaf Saraf who in his book, ‘Kashmiris fight for freedom’ calls it “free forced labour” and he writes: “instead of donkeys and horses, Kashmiri Muslims were used for transportation of goods across the far-flung areas”. While describing the atrocities of the Dogra regime and pathetic picture of the Kashmiris, Sir Walter Lawrence in his renowned book, ‘The India we served’, wrote: “army was employed in forcing the villagers to plough and sow, and worse still…the soldiers came at harvest time and when the share of the state had been seized” and “there was very little grain to tide the unfortunate peasants over the cruel winter.” However, under the tyrannical regime, political rights had no place; even the religious rights had been denied to the Muslims of the state.
In Srinagar, people gathered in Jamia Masjid to denounce this blasphemy. One such congregation was held in Khankah-e-Muella Srinagar, which was addressed by prominent Kashmiris. When the meeting was concluded, a youth, Abdul Qadeer, pointing his finger to the Maharaja’s palace, raised slogans “destroy its every brick”. With the accusation of sedition, he was arrested. Abdul Qadir was to be tried in the court but due to large public resentment, the court was shifted to Central Jail, Srinagar.
On July 13, 1931, thousands of people crowded the Central Jail, Srinagar, to witness the in-camera trial of Abdul Qadeer. As the time for obligatory prayer approached, a young Kashmiri stood for azan. The Dogra Governor, Ray Zada Tartilok Chand ordered soldiers to open fire at him. When he got martyred, another young man took his place and started azan. He was also shot dead. In this way, 22 Kashmiris embraced martyrdom in their efforts to complete the azan.
The people carried the dead and paraded through the streets of Srinagar, chanting slogans against Dogra brutalities. Complete strike was observed in the city, which was followed by weeklong mourning. This tragic incident shook the whole state and the traffic from Srinagar to Rawalpindi and Srinagar to Jammu came to halt from July 13 to 26, 1931. The 22 martyrs are buried in Martyrs’ Graveyard at Khawaja Bazar, Srinagar.
The atrocities against the Kashmiri Muslims did not stop even after the partition of India. The human rights record of Indian government in the occupied Kashmir has been terrible and is characterized by arbitrary arrests, torture, rape and extrajudicial killings.
Since 1989 when liberation of Kashmir entered a new phase, Indian military troops have been using all inhuman tactics of ethnic cleansing to disturb the majority population of the Kashmiris.
Today’s Kashmir presents the worst possible case of state terrorism where Indian forces threaten to eliminate entire masses engaged in demanding implementation of the UN resolutions. Various methods of state terrorism such as breaking the leg, burning of a village, custodial killings, etc., are mercilessly used against the innocent Kashmirirs, demanding their legitimate right of freedom. More than half million people have been massacred by the Indian military troops and security agencies so far.
The current phase of Kashmir struggle began on August 12, 2008 when Indian forces killed Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz along with five other persons who were protesting against the government decision to give land to the trust that runs Amarnath, a shrine of Hindus. On the same day, more than 200,000 Kashmiris marched towards the Martyrs Graveyard to participate in the funeral of Abdul Aziz. The police killed 18 innocent Muslims by firing. While extremist Hindus who favoured the decision of the government, but due to its revocation, started violent protests and economic blockade of the Muslims, emulating the Israeli siege of Gaza which resulted in starvation of thousands of innocent Palestinians.
Unlike the past, this time Indian-held Kashmir has become a special focus of world’s attention including India itself.
In this regard, The Washington Post wrote on August 28, 2008, “Despite the government’s use of force, many Muslims in Indian controlled Kashmir seem determined to find peaceful ways to voice their aspirations as the nonviolent movement by the unarmed protesters flourishes, especially among the young”. Notably, recently, US and UK have started their efforts for the settlement of Kashmir dispute. It is of particular attention that like the past, this time so-called elections were held in the Indian-held Kashmir at gunpoint, while all the Kashmiri leaders were arrested and detained. Nevertheless, under the new puppet regime, Indian similar brutalities which have no difference from those of the Dogra rule continue in the Valley. Difference may be in the tactics of state terrorism which has been refined by the Indian security forces and intelligence agency RAW. It could be assessed from the discovery of nearly 1,000 graves of the unmarked Muslims in the 18 villages of Indian controlled Kashmir in 2008. This tragedy surprised the international community, displaying new evidence regarding New Delhi’s state terrorism there. Besides, for the last few days, aggrieved Kashmiris have been protesting against the rape of two women who were, later on, tortured to death by the Indian military troops.
It is mentionable that ‘composite dialogue’ between India and Pakistan took place on a number of occasions, but produced no outcome, prolonging the agony of the subjugated people of the occupied Kashmir due to Indian intransigence.
Nonetheless, observance of Kashmiris’ freedom struggle on the Kashmir Martyrs’ Day on July 13, every year is reaffirmation of the fact that Kashmiris will continue to fight against Indian illegitimate occupation. In this connection, Youme Shuhada-e-Kashmir is an ideal day for Kashmiri people to seek inspiration to carry their struggle for freedom to its logical end. At this time of distress, the people of Pakistan side with the oppressed ones in sharing the grief of Kashmiri freedom lovers. Pakistan also observes Youme Shudaha-e-Kashmir, launching a protest against the oppressive policies of Indian occupation, which keep on going against the hapless Kashmiris. The day is also a message for Indians that if the people of Kashmir did not bow down their heads before the tyranny of Dogra rule, as to how they will succumb to the despotic Indian rule.
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