Abhinav Gupta

The Story of Jammu and Kashmir and Interpretation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India

The paper examines and analyses the history of Jammu and Kashmir (after this J&K) and the Article 370 of the Constitution of India in light of recent changes brought about in Article 370 by the Government of India. The paper discusses the story of present J&K, which began in 1846 with the signing of the ‘Treaty of Amritsar’ between the British Government and Maharajah Gulab Singh. The paper reflects upon the effect of Treaty and despotic rule of Dogra rulers in J&K. The paper also elaborates the political situation of J&K in the 1930s and briefly discusses the role of Sheikh Abdullah in the conception of the idea of ‘Naya Kashmir’ (1944) and ‘Quit Kashmir’ movement (1946). Next, the paper focuses on the Independence of Pakistan and India (August 1947). By this time almost all major Princely States except Hyderabad, J&K, Junagarh and Khanate of Kalat acceded either to Pakistan or India. Subsequently, the paper deals with the invasion of J&K by the Pashtun Tribes, which occasioned the accession of J&K to India (October 1947).