1920's
A picture of Maharaja Hari Singh with a child.
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1925 - Maharaja Hari Singh succeeds to the throne of the princely state of Kashmir. He is part of a Hindu Dogra dynasty, empowered by the British, ruling over a majority Muslim state. Kashmir has a long history of Hindus (in Jammu and the Valley) Muslims (in the Valley but also throughout Kashmir) and Buddhists (in Ladakh) coexisting. Hari Singh's coronation costs millions.
1927 - Hereditary State Subject law passed. The law forbids employment of non-state subjects in public services and from purchasing land. Posts are mostly filled by Dogra Rajputs from Jammu, and later Kashmiri Pandits (also Hindus), creating inequality between Hindus and Muslims in the public services.
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1940's
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1940 - In India, the Muslim League adopts the Lahore Resolution that Muslim majority areas become independent, sovereign states. One proposal for this was a 1933 proposal for Punjab, Northwest Frontier Province, Kashmir, Sind, and Baluchistan to become Pakistan. (To see a map, click here.)Congress foresees a united, federal India. The Congress wants all princely states, of which there are hundreds, to eventually accede to this India. The Muslim League's position on princely states is one of non-interference in their internal affairs.
1941 - The Muslim Conference is revived as a rival to Abdullah's National Conference, and takes the position of the Muslim League, seeking Kashmir's accession to Pakistan.
1944 - The National Conference adopts the 'Naya Kashmir' manifesto: a constitution featuring secularism, women's equality, and socialist programmes. This is opposed by right-wing Hindus and Muslims.
1946 - Abdullah launches the Quit Kashmir movement. The state is placed under martial law. Abdullah is imprisoned. The Muslim Conference leads a campaign of action and its leadership is also imprisoned.
1947 - Spring - A revolt is launched in Poonch. The Maharaja suppresses it ruthlessly. Tribesmen from the Northwest Frontier Province or NWFP (ethnic Pashtuns, from what was then called Afghan Province, the state bordering Afghanistan) join the revolt.
August 15 - Independence from British colonialism, and simultaneous partition into India and Pakistan. The revolt in Poonch continues as does infiltration from NWFP, as does repression by the Maharaja.
September - Abdullah is released. He supports union with India, but thinks the people of Kashmir should decide (and not the Maharaja).
October 27 - Large numbers of raiders cross from NWFP in Pakistan to Kashmir. Hari Singh asks for help from India in putting down the revolt and accedes to India. Indian troops arrive and fight. Basically, Kashmir becomes part of India.
January 1948 - India and Pakistan go to war over Kashmir.
1948 - Abdullah becomes prime minister of Kashmir. Problems ensue between him and the Maharaja. Abdullah contemplates independence and talks about it with foreign powers. Kashmir has a special status in the Indian constitution.
1949 - Ceasfire imposed, brokered by the United Nations. The parties (India and Pakistan) agree to a plebescite, to withdraw all troops behind a mutually agreed ceasefire line, later known as the Line of Control. The ceasefire leaves Pakistan in control of part of Kashmir, and India in control of most of the valley, as well as Jammu and Ladakh.
India claims possession of Kashmir by the accession of the Maharaja and sees its action as a repulsion of an invasion of India's territory.
Pakistan claims the accession was illegal, that India has no legitimate claim, the rebellion is indigenous to the valley, and Pakistan is merely supporting it.
The Maharaja leaves Kashmir at India's urging, never to return. Top
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