The Emergence and Development of the Muslim Political Identity in Kashmir 1846-1947

Abstract

The century long Dogra rule in Kashmir was tyranted and undemocratic that provoked resentment among the Muslim subjects. During this rule, the socio-economic conditions of the Muslims became unsympathetic which finally led to the political consciousness among them. The Muslims in the state started organizing themselves to raise their demands for reforms in education, employment, the structure of taxation, and constitutional changes among various other things. Eventually, the state witnessed the politicization of the Muslim community in the form of a series of protest against the Dogra rule from 1930 to 1947. As a result, Kashmir during Dogra rule saw the emergence and development of the Muslim political identity. This paper attempts to trace the formation of the sense of political identity of the Muslim community and the emergence and role of the religio-political groups in sharpening the political identity of the Muslims in Kashmir. The present Kashmir crisis lies in the hundred years before when Kashmir was ruled by the succession of Hindu Dogra rulers.