The History and the Conflict of Kashmir

How Kashmir, a place of Hindu Kashmiri Pandit was transformed into a Muslim Majority State

 In the year 1320 Renchana, a Ladakhi prince became the King of Kashmir. He requested prominent Kashmiri Brahmins for his conversion to Hinduism but his wish was impolitely turned down. This was the heinous and unpardonable mistake committed by the Kashmiri Brahmins. The King Renchana embraced Islam and assumed the name Sultan Sadar-ud-din. He lived only for 3 years. The history said in 1339 Shah Mir, by treachery became king under title Sultan Shamas-ud-din. In 1389 Sultan Sikander sat on the throne of Kashmir. His reign heralded the darkest period for Kashmiri Hindus. He started a terror of forcible conversion of Hindus to Islam religion. He never hesitated to take the sword of killings, destruction of temples and extinguish monuments in the case of resistance. Mass migrations of Hindus were the distinguishing features of his Rule, even his soldiers sought the opportunity to kill the escaping Hindus. It was during the reign of Sultan Sikandar that Hazrat Shah Hamdaan arrived in Kashmir with 700 Sayyads. The persecution of Kasmiri Pandits almost mitigated during the reign of Zain-ul-abidin (1420-70) who left no stone unturned to rehabilitate all the Pandits. This change was wrought in him by Shri Bhat, a learned Brahmin and physician, who cured the king of a deadly disease. The king desired the Brahmin to ask for something precious for the service rendered. Shri Bhat told the king that he had no need for anything except that his brethren devastated, killed and scattered be rehabilitated and allowed to preach and practice their religion without any hitch or hindrance. The king granted his wish and was true to his word.

The most ruthless Ruler

After Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin a most obnoxious period of conspiracies prevailed in Kashmir which ended with the rule of intolerant Shia regimes.  Forty thousand Kashmiri Pandits were forcefully converted to Shiaism on a mass scale at Idgah ground in Srinagar. Almost every Shiatie Muslim in Kashmir is a descendant of a forcibly converted Kashmiri Pandit. In 1576-78, Kashmir came under the grip of a terrible famine when half of the population died. Akbar, the Great annexed Kashmir to his empire in 1589 by a deceitful military adventure. During 120 years of Mughal Rule Kashmiri Hindus were suffered severely more or less depending upon the disposition of the Mughal Governor. During 1671-75 persecution of Brahmins by Governor Iftikar Khan makes a woeful tale. But unlike other Muslim Rulers, the Mughal allowed the Kashmiri Hindus to migrate to the planes of Hindustan instead of being slaughtered. Mughal Rule was followed by Afgan occupation for a period of about 67 years. This period was the most tormenting period for the Kashmiris. During governorship of Lal Khan Khattak, Faqir Ullah, Haji Karim Dad Khan and Assad Khan the sufferings of the Kashmiris reached climax. Assad Khan was followed by Atta Moh’d Khan whose lust for beautiful Kashmiri women knew no bounds. Kashmiri Pandits were the worst suffers. They fled to jungles and passed their days in hiding to save their women folk from molestation. He was followed by another terror Afghan Ruler Sirdar Azim Khan who ruled for 6 years. It was during his reign that nobleman Pt.Birbal Dhar along with his son Raj Kak Dhar left Kashmir in disguise for Lahore to pray to Maharaja Ranjit Singh to send his army for taking over Kashmir so that Kashmiri Pandits were saved from inhuman torture. Hearing the news Sirdar Azim Khan ordered Birbal’s wife and daughter-in-law, who were in hiding to be produced before him. Ultimately Birbal Dhar’s wife committed suicide but his daughter-in-law was caught and molested and putted into a harem.