Kashmir has long been called "Heaven on Earth". Nestled amongst the Himalayan Mountain range, the scenic views, abundant lakes, and mild climates have attracted visitors from around the world. Its people are ethnically diverse and have cultural ties to both the Indian subcontinent and to nearby Tibet.  Kashmir has an ancient history and was long a center of Brahman and Buddhist learning and teachings. Islam in the 13th century made a graceful transition to the people of these region, and Kashmir became became a major center of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam. When the Mughals ruled in the Indian subcontinent, many kings chose to vacation in Kashmir. This is a testament to the beauty of this region, where Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Sikhs had lived peacefully for centuries. 

British India before Partition

After the last remnants of the Mughal Empire were defeated in 1857, the British governed the entire subcontinent. The desire for home rule of the Indian subcontinent originated in the early 20th century, with influential leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Muhammed Ali Jinnah spearheading the movement for Indian independence.  The original plan was to have an independent India with both Hindus and Muslims living and governing together. There was however a growing voice among certain Muslims that an independent India would alienate the Muslim minority. The idea of Pakistan, which translates into "land of the pure", was born. The partition plan called for the majority Muslim provinces (including Punjab, Sindh, and Bengal) to be Pakistan and the rest to be India. There were of course many Muslim communities all across India, and these people would have the option to either migrate to Pakistan or stay with India.  

 

Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Mahatma Gandhi, 1944

In 1947, August 14th marked independence day for Pakistan and August 15th for India. Yet in places such as the Punjab and Sindh, a population and demographic shift occurred unlike any in history. The end result was nearly one million dead as a result of religious violence. Many Hindus and Muslims were forced to evacuate their ancestral homelands due to their faith for fear of death. The end result was that nearly all of newly created Pakistan was Muslim. While the newly created India remained largely Hindu, many Muslims stayed behind in India.

Kashmir Divided

It was assumed that the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, which was predominantly Muslim, would become a part of Pakistan. Yet the leader of the princely state was indecisive at the time. Tribal leaders supported by Pakistan guerillas then invaded the region of Kashmir in 1947 resulting in the first of three full scale wars between India and Pakistan. At this time the leader of princely state at the request of the British government ceded all of Kashmir to India. After war ended in 1948, the end result was that nearly half of Kashmir was controlled by India, a third by Pakistan, and the rest by China. A UN resolution in 1948 mandated a plebiscite for the people of Kashmir, which would give them the right to decide their own future. This vote however never took place. A second war over Kashmir was fought in 1965 with no change in the disputed territories. The areas controlled by Pakistan include 'Azad Kashmir' and the sparsely populated 'Northern Areas'.  India controls the state of Jammu (largely Hindu), the Kashmiri Valley (largely Muslim), and Ladakh (significant Buddhist community).

Kashmir Militants vs. Indian Army

After East Pakistan became Bangladesh in 1971, there was a relative calm in Kashmir up until about 1989 where separatists in Indian-controlled Kashmir began their struggle for independence. Many of these separatists  originated or were inspired from the mujahadeen struggle against Soviets in Afghanistan. Some of the separatist groups advocated for an independent Kashmir while others advocated to join Pakistan. These groups were supported by the then Pakistani government as part of a symbolic struggle.  The Kashmiri Pandits, a Brahmin Hindu group native to the Kashmiri valley region for centuries, were forced to leave.The Indian army reacted quickly to suppress the violence but in a very brutal fashion. The end result has been a guerilla war that has to some extent continued to this day.  In recent years however violence in Kashmir has been subdued. Despite the presence of some radical and hateful elements, many Kashmiris are advocating for peace.  Some are also asking for expelled Pandits to return back to their homeland. The struggle for independence is still active and has largely been peaceful. Yet the overwhelming sense among Kashmiris is to return to a land of peace, in tune with pleasant climate, the majestic mountain tops, and the pristine lakes.