The proposal to partition British India along religious lines was put forward as early as 1940. The resulting constitutional provision endured until 2019.
By Dr. Madhuri Karak
Cultural Anthropologist
Two months ago, the Indian government imposed an indefinite lockdown in the Kashmir Valley. A presidential decree revoked Kashmir’s special status, granted under Article 370 of the Indian constitution. That status had been in place since India declared independence from British colonial rule, in 1947. Under this agreement, Kashmiris were entitled to their own constitution and to full legislative autonomy, except on matters of defense, foreign affairs, and communications. Beginning August 5, 2019, Indian troops oversaw internet suspension and arbitrarily arrested democratically elected leaders, creating a humanitarian crisis that continues to escalate. But what is the history of the Kashmir conflict, now in its seventy-second year?
The proposal to partition British India along religious lines was put forward as early as 1940. Eleven provinces were divided into Hindu-majority and Muslim-majority areas. The former would remain with India, and the latter become part of the new nation of Pakistan. 560 kingdoms, who had thus far enjoyed internal autonomy while recognizing British paramountcy, were left to make their own decisions.