Kashmir Unbound: A New Dawn After Article 370

The removal of the rule that deprived Kashmiri women of inheritance rights when they married outside Kashmir is a decisive step towards women's empowerment. Additionally, 150,000 families displaced from Pakistan—including Valmiki, Scheduled Caste, and Scheduled Tribe refugees—have now gained full citizenship rights.

- SHIV PRAKASH

Following Operation Sindoor, during the "Pak Benakaab" mission led by Mr. Sanjay Jha in Indonesia, senior Congress leader and former Foreign Minister, Mr. Salman Khurshid, said, "Abolishing Article 370 from Kashmir was the right move by the Modi government."

He further stated that "removal of Article 370 has brought democratic progress and economic prosperity to Kashmir."

Abrogation of Article 370 on August 05, 2019 by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was a historic and bold decision that affirms the unity of the country and is proving to be a milestone in the development of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to ancient beliefs, Kashmir is the land of Maharshi Kashyap and Mata Sati. During the reign of Emperor Ashoka and the Kushan dynasty, Buddhism had a significant influence in Kashmir.

Under the rule of Emperor Lalitaditya, Kashmir expanded and the Sanskrit language received great honour. The Shankaracharya temple near Srinagar still commemorates the spiritual victory (digvijaya) of Jagadguru Shankaracharya.

Over time, due to conversions by Muslim invaders, the Muslim population in Kashmir increased.

At the time of independence, like other princely states, the Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, merged the state of Kashmir with Bharat by signing the Instrument of Accession.

However, under pressure from Sheikh Abdullah, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru made a shortsighted decision to enforce Article 370 in Kashmir—an action that created divisions in the unity and integrity of the country.

Many leaders, including Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, opposed Nehru's move.

Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, then national president of the Bhartiya Jana Sangh, led a nationwide movement under the slogan "Ek Desh mein Do Vidhaan, Do Pradhaan, Do Nishaan nahin Chalenge."

Under this situation, Dr. Mukherjee sacrificed his life under mysterious circumstances in June 23, 1953.