Ghulam Rasool Azad’s Kashmir Policy

Kashmir issue is neither “Hamara Androoni

Mamla” nor “Our integral part” as such, nor
terrorism sponsored by neither Pakistan nor
can the two nation theory of 1930, 1940 or
1947 be applied to the Kashmir of 1993”.

By Sadaket Malik

The history of the state lacks absurdly the evidence of viewpoints

made by majority of unsung heroes of the state on the trouble torn
Kashmir. Their Kashmir policy, handling the situation of
communal disharmony over time, the pages of history are absurdly
lacking the mention of such epitomes of peace who played acted as
a catalyst for the cementing Hindu Muslim amity during a course
of time.
Ghulam Rasool Azad was very sensitive over the issue on
Kashmir. As a freedom fighter, he pleaded the cause of minority
community and shouted for Hindu Muslim relations. The fact
reveals that he is not in the history owing to his belonging from
improvised Jammu region. Even sheikh sahib himself once that if
Kashmir region can produce leaders like Azad, like of Jammu
region, it may go a long way to help in achieving the slogan of
Naya Kashmir.
Azad opposed the prevalent Propaganda of heartedness
disseminated by the political forces of that time.
Moreover his policy on Kashmir was quite clear that he
advocated that that the issue should not be put in isolation.
Azad being a renowned journalist wrote in his owned weekly
“Dahr” where he opposed the foreign imperialism and the
atrocities and discrimination meted by the Muslim minority. He
opined that Kashmir is a commodity discovered from where? Is it
discovered from Aligarh to Jamsheedpur to Ranchi, Ahmedabad
to Kanpur or Jabulpur to Sagar or Nagpur, from Indore and
samba ?
As per his analysis, the issue has been discovered from the
central departments and military, department of posts and
Railways and Banks and has finally discovered here in Jammu and
Kashmir where the Muslim minority is being harassed and there is
of late discrimination meted to them, Azad pointed in his weekly
“The Dehr”. He was sensitive over the central government’s faith
towards the minority of Bihar, UP, Delhi, Bangal, Maharashtra,
Gujrat and Orrisa and suggested the centre for Justice with the
community. He was of the opinion that be it the central
government or the stations of chauvinism, these be stopped and
ultimately the Kashmir issue will be stopped.
However, such an ideology of Azad, was endorsed by the
BJP leader Sh. L.K Advani on 21st of June 1990 in Calcutta during
his speech like this:
“ Over the years, instead of looking upon the Muslims as
part of Indian masses, the congress by its actions, has segregated
the community and turned it into an instrument of electoral
politics by talking about the so called “Muslim Voters”.
Mr. Advani appealed the community in Calcutta to consider
the Muslim as Part of Indian nation.

Azad’s Perception of Kashmir Problem:

1. He advocated that Kashmir issue should not be taken
in isolation. It is deeply connected with the insecurity
and deprivation of the muslims of India who are most
deprived, the most discriminated and the most
oppressed and suppressed community in the country.
2. Military in Kashmir is the symbol of the assertion of
Muslim Identity in India. It should be recognized and
dealt with as such.
Azad asserted the elimination of internal factors responsible
for the problem, the problem actually was a discrimination and
injustice confronted to the minority community. He advocated
that the external factors like of Pakistan’s interference can be
ended only if the Government of India can take care of the
internal factors responsible for the Kashmir issue. Azad
viewed that even if all the militants are wiped from the valley
and there is no militancy left in the state, the Kashmir problem
will still remain with ferociousness on account of the
unprecedented sacrifices made by kashmiri’s till a just political
solution is arrived at and stopping the bullet for bullet policy
adopted by Militants and Indian soldiers.
In a letter to Ghulam Nabi Azad on 30th August 1992,
Azad wrote:
“We are all sick. The most painful events
and aweful situation in the state have made us
all sick and most miserable and every one
longs for a solution of the Kashmir problem, an
honorable and Just Political solution”.
It was a time when former Governor of the state, Dr.
Karan Singh and his wife visited the spot at Hazratbal
Kashmir where forty day’s encounter ended between Militants
and Indian Soldiers. Azad endorsed the former Governor for
this visit, while endorsing Dr. Karan Singh for his visit to
Hazratbal, Azad writes on 3rd November 1993 to him as like
this:
“Kashmir issue is neither “Hamara Androoni Mamla” or
“Our integral part” as such, nor terrorism sponsored by
Pakistan nor can the two nation theory of 1930, 1940 or 1947
be applied to the Kashmir of 1993”.
Azad further writes,” Kashmir is neither Punjab nor
Afghanistan, It is Kashmir” (Jammu and Kashmir only).

(Sadaket Malik is a researcher and a writer and can be contacted at

sadaketmalik@rediffmail.com)