The Kashmir Martyrs’ Day: Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir is observed on July 13 every year not only on both sides of the Line of Control but also all over the world by the Kashmiris to pay homage to 22 Kashmiris who were martyred in 1931 to free Kashmir from the brutalities of despotic Dogra rulers. The tragic day is the milestone in the history of Kashmiri struggle against foreign occupation. It was revolt against atrocities on July 13, 1931 when people rose against the autocratic Dogra rule and protested against the prosecution of sympathizer of Kashmir struggle, Abdul Qadeer Khan Ghazi.

What Happened on the Day

On July 13, 1931 thousands of Kashmiris had flocked to Central Jail, Srinagar to witness the trial of Abdul Qadeer. As the time for obligatory prayer approached one Kashmiri stood up to deliver Adhan. The Dogra Governor Ray Zada Tartilok Chand ordered his soldiers to open fire on him. When he was killed another Kashmiri stood up to continue the Adhanfrom the verse where the Adhan had been broken. He too was killed. A total of 22 Kashmiris were killed trying to complete delivering the Adhan

Who was Abdul Kadeer :

Abdul Qadeer Khan, a follower of Islamic ideologue Maulana Jamaluddin Afghani, delivered a speech at Khankahi Moula Shrine, asking people to revolt against the cruel policies of Dogra Maharaja. On that day, the Youngmen Muslim Association had convened a public meeting at Khankah-i-Moula. In this meeting Khawaja Saad-ud-din Shawl, Mirwaiz Moulvi Yusuf Shah, Mirwaiz Mujahid Hamdani, Chaudary Ghulam Abbas, Agha Sayyid Hussian Shah Jalali, Khawaja Ghulam Ahmad Ashai. Munshi Shahab-ud-din, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Sardar Gohar Rehman were elected as representatives of the Kashmiri Muslims.
In his speech, Sheikh Abdullah, asked all Muslims to join together and demand their rights. He also appealed to the Pandits to join hands with Muslims for redress of grievances as well as for independence. At the conclusion of the meeting, a well-built Pathan, about 36-40 years old, rose up and delivered an inspiring speech. (Gk March 14 2015) . Abdul Qadeer who was being tried on the charges of terrorism and inciting the public against the Maharaja of Kashmir. His trial soon drew huge attention of the common Kashmiris and on the day of judgment thousands of people gathered outside the Srinagar Court premises to lodge their protest against the likely outcome of the case. Considering the congregation as an unlawful gathering, the Dogra state machinery sprang into action by first resorting to baton-charge and later opening a straight fire on the agitated Kashmiris killing scores on the spot and injuring hundreds of them.
According to Wikipedia and Some books important incidents, which occurred quick succession, sparked the revolt. These causes are :
In the FIRST CASE leading land-holder in Udhampur Jammu had converted to Islam. The Hindu Tehsildar sanctioned a fresh mutation of his lands, eliminated his name and mutated the same in the name of his brother. He filed a suit that was dismissed with the remarks that unless he re-entered Hindu faith, he was not entitled to any property. This was done in accordance with a decree issued by the Dogra Government on 31 December 1882.
A young man Mir Hussain Bakhsh stood up to defy the ban and addressing the people, told them the Government had been guilty of interference in their religion. The congregation marched to the city’s main Masjid where brief meeting was held condemning the incident. It was resolved to hold a protest meeting in the evening. One of the biggest ever gatherings in the city, it was presided over by Mir Hussain Bakhsh. The Muslims felt deeply hurt, politically suppressed and economically strangulated. The interference in their religious observations aroused deep hatred against the rulers and protest meetings became quite frequent. The Muslims brought a complaint in the court of "Additional District Magistrate" under section 296 Ranbir Penal Code against the Hindu inspector for disturbing a religious assembly, which was dismissed because the Hindu Magistrate held that Khutba was not a part of the prayers. A large crowd of Hindus in the court premises shouted slogans.
This took place on 4 June in the Central Jail Jammu. According to daily “Inquilab” dated 1/7/1931, Fazal Dad Khan, a police constable from Mirpur, was sitting on a cot when a Head Warder, Balak Ram, reprimanded him for being late on duty. In the meantime, Labhu Ram, a Sub-Inspector, threw away Khan's bedding in a fit of recklessness. It contained a copy of Panjsurah (five chapters from the Quran). Fazal Dad approached the Young Men’s Muslim Association.

Third Incident

This took place in Srinagar on 20 June 1931 when leaves of the Quran were found in a public latrine. Moulvi Muhammad Yousuf Shah at a public meeting held at Hazratbal said: "If we are arrested there is nothing for you to fear. If ten of us are arrested, the other ten must be prepared to take our places". In his work "Inside Kashmir" (1941), Prem Nath Bazaz writes: "The driving force behind the mass agitation till the 13th July was the discontent among the rank and file of the Muslims. The attack on the jail was in no way directed against the Hindus, and those who laid down their lives at the jail gate did so fighting against an unsympathetic government … It was a fight of the tyrannized against their tyrants, of the oppressed against the oppressors".

(TO be continued....)

Writer is working as Jr Research associate fellow at Design innovation centre CUK ,darjaveed305@gmail.com