An Independent Kashmir can either be the historical Kashmir as it existed for centuries in the ancient times, the land of the Kashmiri speaking people consisting of the valley and its peripheral areas or it can be the entire erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir created by the Dogra Maharajas. From the earliest times till sixteenth century Kashmir used to be an Independent Sovereign State. The heart of the Nation State was always the valley of Kashmir. In fact, the valley had most of the time been an independent country, with some smaller peripheral mountain Kingdoms like “Kashtavatta”, and “Parontsa” etc. owing allegiance to it. There were some other principalities between Chamba and Badarwah. However, throughout its history even under foreign rulers the main seat of power was in Srinagar, in Kashmir valley. Most of the famous Greek and Chinese historians of those ancient times refer to Kashmir as an Independent country located among high Himalayan mountains. Even Kalhana, the great Kashmiri historian of twelfth century in Rajtarangni, the earliest book of recorded history in sub-continent, refers to Kashmir as a country which cannot be conquered by the force of arms! The Kingdom of Kashmir has been expanding and contracting from time to time depending upon the rulers. However, the valley has always continued to be the centre of the Kingdom. Sir Aurel Stein in the second part of his translation of Kalhana’s Raj Tarangni has given a detailed memoir on the ancient geography of Kashmir. It makes a wonderful reading and transports one mentally to the glory that Kashmir was! Kashmir has specifically been mentioned in Greek sources. The Ptolemy’s geography which has preserved the references to Kashmir, calls the region KASPEIRA which is supposed to enclose a large portion of land including parts of Punjab, North-West Provinces, and Central India. This may be related to the period when the power of the dynasty ruling Kashmir extended much beyond its borders. The importance of this reference lies in the name of the territory as it is a phonetic derivative between Kasmira, the ancient Sanskrit name of Kashmir, and the present day Kashmir or Kashir. Another curious notice is in the poem Bassarika of Dionysius of Samos. It mentions about KASPEIROI, a tribe famous among all Indians for their fast feet. Even Alberuni has mentioned about Kashmiris being good pedestrians. It is but natural that people living in high alpine valleys would have habit of long foot marches. Rajtarangni has given many examples of very respectable marching performances of ancient Kashmiris. The flight of King Bhoja across the peaks and glaciers of Haramukh range is a classic example of this marching prowess. Even Herodotus, who is known as the “father of history”, mentions KASPATYROS which is taken by some as a reference to Kashmir. In the Chinese chronicles of Tang dynasty Kashmir is described as a country “enveloped on all sides like a precious jewel by the snowy mountains, with a valley in the south which leads up to it and serves as a gate of the Kingdom”. Hieun Tsang describes Kashmir which he calls Kia-shi-mi-lo as a country surrounded on all sides by very high mountains which have very narrow and contracted passes for entry. According to him these natural bulwarks have protected the country from its neighbours who have never succeeded in subduing it.

All this ancient glory was brought to a tragic end when Mughals annexed Kashmir to their empire in 1586 by the triumphal entrance of the armies of Akbar the Great into Kashmir. The last Kashmiri ruler Yusuf Shah Chak who had defeated Mughal armies twice had been earlier treacherously imprisoned in Lahore after being called there for peace negotiations. This loss of freedom and independence is rooted deeply in the psyche of every Kashmiri. After Mughals came Afghans, then Sikhs and finally the Dogras. Kashmiris have failed to regain this lost sovereignty for last four centuries in spite of many attempts to over throw the shackles of external occupiers of their land. It was finally with the universal awaking in the beginning of the twentieth century that Kashmiris developed a new and heightened urge to regain the lost freedom. Ostensibly the upheaval was against the autocratic rule but the underlying urge was for ultimate freedom and for regaining the lost glory of ancient times. Unfortunately, the leadership due to their human weaknesses got confused in the turbulent events of 1947 in the sub-continent and landed the people in a worse situation than the one in which they were even in the autocratic times. For last 62 years people are entangled in a mesh out of which there seems no escape.

During the Dogra rule the ancient Kingdom of Kashmir had once again expanded and came to be known as the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The concept of a united J & K State which was the erstwhile princely state is not more than 150 years old. The princely state was clobbered together by the Dogra Maharajas after the British sold them the valley of Kashmir under the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846. They had also annexed Ladakh to their Kingdom through the adventurous expeditions and forays of General Zorawar Singh. Thus the state has not come into being by a natural evolutionary process of the voluntary coming together of the peoples of different ethnic and geographical regions. They have been brought together by an outside force. Any combination or merger brought under force sustains only as long as the force is there. Once the force dilutes or goes away, these units have an automatic tendency to drift apart unless they develop a stake in the unity on a voluntary basis. This has been the case of the erstwhile Soviet Union whose break up no one could even imagine. It was supposed to be the most impregnable solid block. It completely disintegrated in less than 24 hours! Almost all the politicians of various hues and shades as well as the members of civil society in Jammu & Kashmir always lay stress on maintaining the integrity and the unity of the state. A composite state representing a unity in diversity is essential for the integrity of India as well as Pakistan. This may be debatable as no geographical entity can be taken to be totally sacrosanct. Both India and Pakistan were created by dividing a country in two parts which have now been further divided into three and present turmoil in Pakistan may result in more divisions!

Historically, the concept of “Nation States” came from Europe. Quite often these “Nation States” were at logger heads with each other. In fact, in the recent times Europe has seen two of the greatest wars in the history of mankind. These wars apart from taking a very heavy toll in human lives also completely shattered these countries. Following the Second World War they entered into a Cold War thereby again wasting their precious resources because of each others’ suspicion. After getting tired of the senseless violence and total mistrust, they have now opted for all practical purposes to be virtually a single country. This is because of the fact that these countries have developed a common economic stake. This pursuit of a common economic goal has been made possible by their unity on a totally voluntary basis. Even though the countries are maintaining their cultural and ethnic individuality, yet the physical borders have almost disappeared and they have a common currency. This change has been brought about by the emancipation of these people. They have finally overcome their centuries old prejudices and biases and have ushered in a new dawn of enlightenment. It is now our turn to do the same both in the sub-continent and within the state itself if genuine peace is to return here!

(……to be continued)