Maulana Maududi and Kashmir Issue

Kashmir is a state trapped in between three nuclear powers and its conflict is considered to be one of the most perplexed issues in the world with no immediate possible solution acceptable to the warring parties. While reading Moulana Maududi’s Mas’alai Kashmir aur us ka Hal (Kashmir Issue and its Solution), a reader can quite easily conclude that Kashmir Issue is not an Imbroglio but rather an occupation where Kashmir remains unsettled and unresolved only due to arrogant, hypocritical & expansionist policies of India.

One of the most prominent and influential Muslim Scholars of 20^th century C.E., Moulana Maududi’s booklet is essentially a collection of various essays, lectures and discussions providing a concise but comprehensive outline of Kashmir Issue, its history and possible solutions in lucid, erudite and unambiguous manner. It highlights India’s deceitful role in the genesis of Kashmir Dispute which, in fact, is the main theme of the booklet. Though compiled in 1988, it may seem contemporarily outdated, but it stands fairly enough relevant even today and is essentially very important in respect that its narrative is free from propaganda and intricacies that were deliberately attached to Kashmir Issue by ‘Hijackers of History’ to confuse the masses.

According to author, Treaty of Amritsar and IOA were Dual British colonial permits of slavery for Kashmir and thus British dishonest role in the genesis of Kashmir Issue should not be forgotten.

The author, while exposing the role of British colonial empire in the genesis of Kashmir Issue, writes that it first enslaved Kashmir by executing the TREATY OF AMRITSAR IN 1846 by virtue of which it sold the entire nation— majorly dominated by Muslims— for a few lac rupees to a non-native Hindu Dogra King, who had no legal and moral authority to rule over the land it had bought. And then again, when the whole Sub-continent was witnessing the dawn of freedom after centuries of colonial rule, it cunningly helped India to occupy Kashmir under the farce of Maharaja’s IOA in favor of India. According to author, Treaty of Amritsar and IOA were Dual British colonial permits of slavery for Kashmir and thus British dishonest role in the genesis of Kashmir Issue should not be forgotten.

In simplifying the complex Kashmir Issue, the author writes that the genesis of the problem lies in the partition of the sub-continent and its solution lies in the same historical perspective. The author introduces Kashmir Issue in the following historical perspective: during the partition of Indian sub-continent, Kashmir, according to the principle of partition, was bound to accede to Pakistan, but, India, a more powerful nation with the help of Britain, forcefully snatched (occupied) Kashmir through the farce of IOA from a weak newly-born Pakistan. It was only on the basis of military muscle that India seized Kashmir which otherwise had geographical, religious, political, historical proximity with NWFP and Muslim dominated Punjab (now both in Pakistan).

Emphasizing on the illegitimacy of IOA in the chapter titled “Initiatives to solve Kashmir and India’s shameless Kashmir policy”, the author describes that Instrument of Accession (IOA) was signed by a fleeing powerless Dogra ruler who was facing a mass resistance movement from local population since 1931 and had been already dethroned by the very population by October 1947, and therefore, his IOA was illegal and unacceptable to the local population. He further explains that even IOA was a provisional arrangement wherein it was stated that after normalcy, which was disrupted by the partition, Kashmir ought to be settled with reference to the local population.

But, India had seized Kashmir with an intention of occupation and used all political tricks to prolong it. When UN and world at large questioned IOA, India, to disguise the world, accepted to settle the issue with reference to the people through an impartial Plebiscite. But, India purposefully never full-filled the pre-requisites for Plebiscite, instead it consolidated its occupation on Kashmir. After 1965 war, when world was busy with the ongoing Cold War, India, backed by Russia, succeeded in portraying Kashmir as a bilateral issue between India & Pakistan. After 1971 war, with Pakistan licking the wounds of defeat, India through yet another flip introduced its ‘Atoot-ang’ (integral part) theory and has continued with same till date. India twists and twirls its Kashmir policy (fabrications and lies) to consolidate and legitimize its Kashmir occupation on one hand and mug the international community on other. The booklet thrives in making it obvious and evident that the Indian rule on Kashmir is illegitimate and its policy on Kashmir is based on lies, propaganda, deceit and dishonesty.

…the author further writes that since India rejects every initiative to settle Kashmir through peaceful means like dialogue, compromise or third-party mediation, it rather tunes them for its benefits. Therefore, military might and struggle (Jihad), is the only way Kashmir can be liberated from India.

After unveiling India’s hegemonic role in Kashmir dispute, the author further writes that since India rejects every initiative to settle Kashmir through peaceful means like dialogue, compromise or third-party mediation, it rather tunes them for its benefits. Therefore, military might and struggle (Jihad), is the only way Kashmir can be liberated from India.

Though there is scope of disagreement with author regarding the solution of Kashmir Issue, but his unambiguous introduction of genesis of Kashmir Issue and India’s cunning role in its creation leaves no scope of disagreement with the fact that Kashmir is lingering and suffering only due to India’s occupational mindset and policies.

The booklet also succeeds in exposing the hoax of democratic India which according to author is in reality a Hindu Fundamentalist State disguised in a secular mold and is deliberately on course of confrontation with Pakistan and against its own Muslim minority to fulfill its 1000 year old dream of a Hindu Rashtra, and Muslims are the only bottleneck in path of this Brahmin colonial project.

The booklet is overall an interesting read to understand at least few underlying pins about Kashmir. The narrative is lucid and clear, and I would recommend it to everybody anxious to understand Kashmir Issue in its historical perspective.