Kashmiris all over the world as well as on both sides of the line of control are going to observe 13th July as martyrs day or Youm-e-Shohda, in a way reaffirming their undeterred resolve to continue their struggle for liberation and freedom until and unless it reaches its logical end, which started way back in 1931 on 13th July.
It was on 13th of July 1931, that the Dogra forces callously shot at and martyred 22 sons of the soil in a row. These people had gathered along with thousands of others to witness the court proceedings of Abdul Qadeer, a stalwart son of the soil who triggered the defiance against the despotic and tyrant rule and in a way father of revolution against occupant government continuing till date.
The dissent with the despotic Dogra rule which had been long boiling in the hearts of Kashmiris started erupting and spilling out with the event of 19 April 1931 when the Dogra king banned the Eid sermon (Khutba-e-Eid) infuriating the fellow Muslims who came out in strong protest in Jammu as well in Kashmir against this irrational and anti Muslim fiat. Their anger and agony was further exacerbated by the alleged desecration of the Holy Qur’an by the tyrant Dogra Forces.
In Srinagar people gathered in large numbers in Jamia Masjid and Khankah-e-maulla to object and denounce this insane act of the forces. In this event a youth viz: Abdul Qadeer was charged on the counts of dissent and arrested forthwith. People protested against the arrest of Abdul Qadeer strongly and in large numbers and on the grounds of security his court proceedings were shifted to central jail Srinagar and on 13th July 1931 thousands of Muslim brothers thronged the central jail Srinagar to witness the in-camera trial of Abdul Qadeer. One young man amongst the gathering got up to say Adhan (Azaan) and call for prayers but was unfortunately shot at by the Dogra forces and martyred on the orders of Governor (Ray Zada Tartilok Chand) and subsequently 22 men who stood up for Adhan were shot at in the same manner one by one in their holy and pious effort to complete the Adhan and offer prayers, they were later on buried at Martyrs Graveyard Khawaja Bazar (may Allah accept their martyrdom and give them the highest place in Jannah).
The fateful day/event marked the beginning of a revolution against the despotic Dogra rule and freedom of Kashmir and has been relentlessly continuing till date. The leadership of Kashmir (main stream as well as off-stream) have miserably failed to uphold this pious cause and take concrete steps, make sincere and viable efforts to realise/materialise this long cherished dream of the Kashmiri Nation, which has given millions of its blossoming buds for this holy cause and still remains unsatiated. Unfortunately there have been some leaders who have made fortunes out of the emotions of innocent Kashmiris doing tremendous and irreparable damage to the holy cause.
The leadership now needs a paradigm shift and become more sincere and just to the cause in the truest of their spirits and emotions. It will have to realise that mere sloganeering, emotional discourses and conferences won’t help resolve the long pending ailment. Instead more viable and practical initiatives must be undertaken like tripartite versatile dialogue process involving all the 5 geographic zones of Kashmir, other CBM’s already in line by both GOI and GOP respectively, demilitarization of both parts of Kashmir and subsequent establishment of a single interim government and overall supervision of a neutral and acceptable international agency until a substantial and acceptable conclusion is reached at. It should also be taken into consideration that in such a conclusion Kashmiris ought to be the main stake holders and their say should have the highest value and stake. For a viable conclusion the issue of South Sudan right from its independence from Anglo Egyptian control in 1960’s to the recent creation of independent nation (South Sudan), may be analogised and also Indian Independence Act 1947, UN Resolutions and various treaties and agreements may also be taken into consideration.Â