Resume of the Satyagraha movement 1952-53

Following is the full text of the Presidential address delivered by Pandit Prem Nath Ji Dogra, in the meeting of the general council of all Jammu & Kashmir Praja Parishad on 6-9-1953.

We are meeting after about year of momentous events, it was on the 8th of August last year that we met here in convention to chalk out our course of action checkmate the policies of separatism which were tending to make Jammu & Kashmir an independent with Separate flag, separate constitution and a separate head. We pointed out the danger of that policy end pleaded with the government of India to put a stop to it, which, we warned them, will spell disaster both for the state and the rest of India.

On the occasion we had the privilege of having with us that noblest and bravest of the sons of mother India who has since made the supreme sacrifice by laying down his life for our cause which he had the foresight to realise was the cause of India’s Unity. How we wish that he had been with us today here to guide our deliberations. Our hearts are heavy with grief. But we have to go ahead to complete his mission and that alone will be our real tribute to that great martyr.

Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee on that occasion counselled us Patience and the promised us that he would use his good offices to make the Government of India see the dangers of their policy in Kashmir. He made heroic and persistent efforts to do so. We too made further efforts to catch the ears of powers that be in Delhi. We Implore them to give at least a hearing. But could not rise above his prejudices and he was ill advised to treat us, who cure his compatriots and country man, as worse than political untouchables.

In those circumstances wore forced to take resort to the path of self-sacrifice through peaceful non-violence Satyagraha to reuse the conscience of the Indian people and the government and also of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir with a view to make them conscious of the dangers of Sheikh Abdullah's Policy of unbridled separatism and to persuade them to change it in the wider interests of the people state and the unity of India.

THE SATYAGRAH: -

Our satyagraha which began on the 17th November 1952 continued without break till 7th July, 1953 when it was withdrawn. During these 8 months terrible engines of suppression were let loose against us by the government of Kashmir with the help of the government of India.

Most virulent kind propaganda campaign was also started against us within and outside the state. Not the courage, forbearance restraint in the face of gravest provocation and above

all faith in the justice of our cause shown by the people of Jammu proved too much for the might of both the governments. Their bullets, lathis, gas bombs were also their systematic campaign of looting, harassing, dishonouring the women in the most barbaric manner and of humiliating the people in various others was against the spirit of people. Ultimately the oppressor had to admit his defeat. His failure to bow us down has become as patent as the indication of the cause which we struggled.

TRIBUTE TO MARTYRS: -

I take this opportunity to pay you on your behalf and my behalf our humble tribute to all those martyrs and fighters known, who responded unknown, who responded to the call of

the Parishad and laid down their lives or suffered in other ways. Their sacrifices and sufferings have not gone in vain. They have put new life in our people and created confidence in them. They have ensured our existence as a free and honourable people in our own homeland as an integral part of India.

THANK TO THE PEOPLE OF INDIA--

The role played by the people of India in our struggle which in its ultimate analysis was the struggle for the unity of India has been equally glorious, Under the leadership of Dr. Shayma Prasad Mookerjee the Bhartiya Jan Sangh, the Hindu Mahasabha and the Ram Rajya Parishad extended their active support to us. They made our cause their own, shared our sufferings end grief and thereby proved that unity of India is a living faith in the hearts of the Indian people. Even those who did not actively help us had a word of Sympathy for us. In fact, it will not be an exaggeration to say that the Congress rulers of India stood isolated in the policy they pursued toward us. The country was with us and it made the greatest sacrifice in the death of Dr. Mookerjee for our cause.

I take this opportunity to thank my countrymen outside the State on behalf of the people of the state for their deep and Continued sympathy and interest in us.

OUR STAND VINDICATED: -

The hollowness of the propaganda made against us by both the governments and those who take their clue from the men in power has been thoroughly exposed by now. The events have proved that we were right and that our critics were either misinformed or their judgement had been clouded by prejudices and party spirit. Our demand for abolition of customs, protection of the Supreme Court etc. was as much for the good of the people of Kashmir as of Jammu. In fact, the people of Kashmir stood to gain much more than the people of Jammu by the economic and other reforms demanded by the Parishad.

The Wazir Committee which consisted entirely of the Official and therefore could not be suspected of partiality for the Parishad has in it report substantially vindicated the stand of the Parishad about land reforms and other economic matters. It is a pity that this report has not been made public so far.

But the real success of our movement lies in the fact that the Government of India as also majority of the ruling group of Kashmir ultimately realised the dangers of the separatist Policies of Sheikh internal matter of the party in power in the state yet the fact remains that he has been dismissed mainly on those grounds tor which he was opposed by the Parishad. But for our movement he might have continued to deceive the people of Kashmir and of the whole country and might have succeeded in his deep-laid conspiracies with foreign powers, there cannot be a surer vindication of the stand of any movement than the one provided by the recent course of events in Kashmir for our movement.

THE CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT: -

But the change of the Government in itself is not of much significance. So far as the Parishad is concerned, Ghulam Mohammad and two of his Cabinet colleagues were members of Abdullah’s Government as well, and they too must share the flame for his anti-national policies. They cannot shield themselves by saying that they were not heard and that Sheikh Abdullah had become a dictator. What did the so-called representative of Jammu in Abdullah Government do when in human torture and repression was being perpetrated on the people of Jammu? What did they do to save the life of our great leader, Dr. Mookerjee, whose life was a national trust in their hands? One of them even tried to defend Sheikh Abdullah by issuing the statement which gave entirely wrong facts about Dr. Mookerjee’s death,

NO CAUSE FOR JUBILATION: -

There is no question of our jubilation over the change. We had no grudge on the person of Sheikh Abdullah. We were opposed to his policies which, as is now admitted at all hands, have proved, ruinous to the state, Our attitude towards the new Government will depend on the policies it pursues, If it will honestly work for the betterment of the lot of the people and for bridging the gulf that Sheikh Abdullah Government had created between the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the one side and between the state anal the rest of India on the other, it will have our cooperation in the fullest measure We did "Offer our co-operation to Sheikh Abdullah as well when he took over the administration of the state he rat spurned it on had he cared to listen those who did not agree with him the situation today might have been quite I hope that Bakhshi Ghulam Mohammad will not follow in the footsteps of Sheikh Abdullah in this respect. No doubt, he ho-a begun very well, But so did Sheikh Abdullah, it is for him to prove by his actions that he is a different man. Let us hope that he will do so in that case he will find we are his best friends.

OUR CO-OPERATION: -

Our co-operation however will be the cooperation of equals and not of a subordinate with master. We want the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to live and prosper as equal partners in the discharge of duties and responsibilities that have fallen their Shoulders, We want different parts of the state to remain united in the bonds of freedom and mutual trust unmitigated by any feelings domination of one part over the other so that the state as a whole may grow as indivisible part of India, the common motherland of us all.

ACCESSION & PLEBISCITE: -

As regards the fundamental question of Staters futy, affiliation Praja Parishad has made its stand clear. We consider the accession of the Jammu & Kashmir state to India as final and irrevocable. There may be differences of opinions about the degree, of cohesion but we do not think any loyal citizen of the state can ever question the factum of accession.

HARMFUL AND UNCALLED FOR: -

It is why consider the talk of plebiscite to decide the future of the state as wholly harmful and uncalled for Jammu & Kashmir state has since times immemorial been an integral part of India geographically, culturally as well as economically as It became legally and constitutionally a part of India when the Maharaja signed the instrument" of. The common sufferings of the people of the state and the rest of the state in the defence of the state against Pakistani aggressors during the last six years have cemented with the blood the age-old ties binding us with the rest of India. The supreme sacrifice of the greatest son of India, has further strengthened these ties. It is impossible for us today even to entertain to remain anymore which might tend to break or weaken these ties. We are determined to remain an indivisible part of mother India and no power on earth can deflect our resolve. We will resist the last man any effort to cut ourselves as under from India, plebiscite or no plebiscite.

PAKISTAN HAS NO LOCUS STANDI: -

We cannot understand the insistence of Pakistan about plebiscite. In the first place Pakistan has no business to interfere in the internal matters of state and India's offer of ascertaining the will of the people was made by the Government of India to the people of the state if so, decided by them. Secondly Pakistan cannot talk about plebiscite which is essentially a path of peace, as long as she continues to keep in aggressive occupation of one this part of state and so long as her press and radio continue to cry for war Jehad.

She must know that cries of war and plebiscite cannot go together. She must make up her mind as to what she really wants. Pakistan is mistaken if she thinks that her threats can bow down the people who have a foretaste of what Pakistan means during the Pakistani invasion in 1947, Furthermore to allow Pakistan to be to plebiscite in the state is to create the religious frenzy in the state which has become the hallmark of Pakistan today. India and the people of the state cannot allow the poison of religious fanaticism to be injected into the body politic of the state once again. We therefore call upon the Government of India not to give any encouragement to by entering into pacts about plebiscite with her. The people of the state do not want it, because they are convinced that it cannot serve a useful purpose and will only disturb the peace of the state and vitiate. The Praja Parishad cannot be a party to it.

NEED OF VIGILANCE:

We also want the government to be more vigilant about the development in the state. It cannot be absolved from the responsibilities for the policies of Abdullah government which had jeopardized the very existence of the state. The government must also take immediate steps to stop the mechanicians and intrigue of the agents of foreign being active in the valley.

REFUGES TO BE REHABILITATED:

The condition of the refugees from the Pakistan occupied areas of the state also demands immediate intervention of the government, many of them are still wandering in other parts of the country. They yearn to be back into the state. Those who are in the state have not yet been rehabilitated. The previous government had been very callous towards them. We expect the Bakhshi government to take immediate steps to resettle them so that their misery will be ended.

OUR DUTY:

While it is our duty to press the government to take Steps to improve the condition of people, we ourselves cannot afford to sit idle. During the last six years of its existence the Praja Parishad had to launch satyagraha movements a number of times to make the voice of the people heard by those in authority. It has been a period of continuous struggle or preparation for struggle Our people have suffered a lot during this period. Many of them have been utterly ruined. They deserved our first attention. We should set up a committee to enquire into cases of repression and hardship. It will have to move in the illegal, collect evidence and submit its report the Parishad. We will have to do whatever little we can to help then. I also expect the Kashmir government to take immediate steps to compensate them. That is the least it can do to expiate for its sins of omission and commission. It is also necessary for creation of an atmosphere of goodwill and cordiality in the state.

MEMORIAL TO DR. MOKEREJEE: -

It is also our duty to do something to perpetuate the memory of those who have laid down their lives for our cause. The greatest of them was Dr. Shyma Prasad Mookerjee, it is our duty to set up a befitting memorial to him and other martyrs. For that purpose, we should set up a “Dr. Mookerjee memorial and Jammu martyrs memorial committee” to collect funds for raising the memorial. I hope the people of the state will contribute liberally towards the memorial funds.

ENQUIRY INTO DR. MOOKERJEE’S DEATH: -

It is a matter of deep pain that the circumstances of the death of Dr. Mookerjee still remains shrouded in mystery and grave doubts have been expressed about the events leading to it.

We should reiterate our demand which is also the demand of 370 million people of India that the government should institute an impartial commission consisting of the judges of Supreme Court to enquire into this matter. Otherwise those doubts will turn into confirmed beliefs which would not be in the interest of the government and will also shake the foundation of democracy in the country.

COMPLETE THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE: -

We have also to address ourselves to the organisational work. A draft constitution is being placed before you. I hope you Will pass it. It will be our duty to organise the countryside on the basis of this constitution in the shortest possible period. A timetable for this purpose will soon be announced, The Praja Parishad is an Organisation of the masses and workers and it has received the fullest support of all sections of societies. It is for us now to harness this universal support and give us a permanent standing by speeding out the work of our organisation to the remotest villages.

THREE-FOLD CONSTRUCTIVE PROGRAMME: -

At the same time, we have to turn to constructive activities. Attention so far attention energies were mainly concentrated on struggle the struggle had its advantages besides creating awakening in the people it has brought into to the forefront persons who can mark ok Royal servants of the people and who have ability E and statesmanship to carry their cause to success but now that we have got some respite from the struggle we must turn our attention to equally important work of internal reconstruction there is large field and scope for it are people are backward and neglected they need our guidance and help the constructive activities can take many forms I recommend the following three fold program for your consideration

1 Aaj is a land of villages have been the centre of socio economic as well cultural life of a people there can be no improvement and in the life of people so long as the villagers Navin neglected and President of educated people moving out of the villages two towns and cities continuous I'd like you to to improve the life of villagers through the construction of link roads planning and lining of village streets opening of schools and reading rooms and taking in your hand such other things as can be accomplished by voluntarily effort of the local people many of the villagers have some families of ex-servicemen they can give the benefit of the experience for the improvement of village life efforts should also be made to start cottage industries in the villages wherever possible.

2. Many of our people are illiterate and absolutely ignorant about ordinary rules of health as a result the General Health of the people is far is fast falling the Parishad workers metric in their hands the work of educating the people particular in respect of rules of health something must also be done to check the growing evil of drink

3. Though many of the evils of casteism and bardism have been removed and the people of Jammu have been working as one man under the removed and the people of Jammu have been working as one man under the leadership of Parishad yet some more effort is needed to create social cohesion in our society. We must pay particular attention to the backward section of our society and create in them a sense of confidence and oneness with the rest of the community through our behaviour. Attention must also be paid to our Muslim Brothern who must be made to feel that they are one of us. The Muslim of the state have the same blood and inheritors of the same culture as the Hindu. It is the duty of the Parishad workers to rekindle in their hearts love for that heritage and also of the common northern land through development of social relation with them.

The speeches of our new Premier Bakhshi Ghulam Mohammad have created hopes in the minds of the people. They show an insight into the real problem of the state. But it is essential that the hopes created are speedily fulfilled. I am happy to note that I have already taken some steps in the right direction. But much however remains to be accomplished. I trust that his enthusiasm in this respect will continue unabated till the economic rehabilitation of the people of the state is achieved.

THE GOAL YET TO BE ACHIEVED: -

But even more important for us is the question of the unity of our state with the rest of India. We have already made some progress toward the achievement of this goal, but much still remains to be done. For that we will have to be active and vigilant. I hope that state government has by now realised the intensity of the feeling of the people on this, question and it will take speedy step to bring about financial integration of the state with India and do such other things as are necessary to bring the state into the position in which like other acceding states or will be entitled to claim all those benefits which other states derive from the centre and without which it will not be possible to develop the resources of the state and it will not prove the economic conditions of its people.