Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The desire for an independent Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is an old aspiration. After being independent for 72 days in 1947, J&K's ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, and the state's leading politician, Sheikh Abdullah, wanted this international status to continue for J&K. While neither had the acumen, nor, in Abdullah's case, the physical freedom, to pursue independence, the aspiration remained alive. In 1988, disenchanted Kashmiri Muslims instigated an anti-India uprising seeking azadi (independence; freedom) for Kashmir. However, in a rare India-Pakistan agreement, they concur that neither J&K, nor any part of it, can be independent. Nevertheless, the aspiration continues. Independent Kashmir examines what Singh, Abdullah and Kashmiris have done to secure independence for J&K or for their region in this disputed entity. In doing so, it provides a focused, in-depth history of J&K from around the mid-1920s to the present.
Synopsis
Many disenchanted Kashmiris continue to demand independence or freedom from India. Written by a leading authority on Kashmir's troubled past, this book revisits the topic of independence for the region (also known as Jammu and Kashmir, or J&K), and explores exactly why this aspiration has never been fulfilled. In a rare India-Pakistan agreement, they concur that neither J&K, nor any part of it, can be independent. Charting a complex history and intense geo-political rivalry from Maharaja Hari Singh's leadership in the mid-1920s to the present, this book offers an essential insight into the disputes that have shaped the region. As tensions continue to rise following government-imposed COVID-19 lockdowns, Snedden asks a vital question: what might independence look like and just how realistic is this aspiration?
Synopsis
This book examines the pursuit of independence for Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 by Maharaja Hari Singh, Sheikh Abdullah and pro-independence Muslims in the Kashmir region of this disputed entity. It comprehensively explains why this long-held aspiration remains undiminished, but incomplete.