BOOK REVIEW
Iftikhar Gilani
Book: Colonizing Kashmir: State-building Under Indian Occupation
Author: Hafsa Kanjwal
Pages: 384
Publishers: Stanford University Press, California
In her recently published 384-page book, “Colonizing Kashmir: State-building Under Indian Occupation,” historian Hafsa Kanjwal delves into the intricate dynamics of Kashmir’s modern history, shedding light on the impact of the rule of Bakshi Ghulam Mohamad, the region’s second Prime Minister.
Bakshi dislodged Kashmir’s popular leader and first Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah in 1953 to rule the state for a decade.
Kanjwal’s research explores how the Indian government, through Bakshi, sought to integrate Kashmir into the Indian mainstream and solidify its control.
Considering recent developments, such as the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, and the development thereafter, in the region, Kanjwal’s research shows that all these tactics have been employed in the past as well. There is nothing new that the Centre is employing in Kashmir currently right now, from not allowing a popular government to take the reins to maintaining surveillance, silencing the critics, and detaining dissidents.
The book says that Bakshi also tried generosity, from offering cheap rice to often writing appointment orders on matchboxes and slips of paper to ensure fast execution.
He was seen as being generous even to opponents, including members of the various pro-plebiscite or pro-Pakistan groups, whom he had detained, by taking care of the economic and social needs of their families.
But despite all that largesse, he is considered a greater “sellout” in popular memory.
The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the events and policies that unfolded in Kashmir during this critical period, offering insights into the complex relationship between the Indian state and the region.
It challenges prevailing narratives and examines the nuances of state-building, normalization, and economic development as strategies employed to entrench India’s colonial occupation.
A Fate Written on Matchboxes: State-Building in Kashmir Under India, Hafsa Kanjwal, Navayana Publishing. (Indian Edition)
"/>
Kanjwal’s research draws from a diverse range of sources, including bureaucratic documents, propaganda materials, memoirs, literary sources, and interviews conducted in multiple languages.
By doing so, she presents a holistic view of Kashmir’s history, transcending conventional boundaries and focusing on the narratives of the people affected by the occupation.
One of the central themes explored in the book is the politics of life, which shaped the day-to-day concerns of Kashmiri residents, including issues related to employment, food, education, and basic services. These concerns were juxtaposed against questions of self-determination and political freedom, creating a complex and often contradictory landscape for the people of Kashmir.
Kanjwal also delves into the ways in which the term “secular” was employed to further India’s control in Kashmir. It highlights the erasure of Muslim histories and the promotion of a “good” Muslim and “bad” Muslim binary, which aimed to justify control over the region.
The book challenges traditional binaries of colonial and postcolonial nation formation, emphasizing the need to recognize and address south-to-south colonialisms. It calls for a historiography that acknowledges the struggles of region’s denied self-determination and sovereignty.
“Colonizing Kashmir” is a significant addition to the body of work on Kashmir’s history and the ongoing political dispute involving the region. It raises crucial questions about the narratives surrounding Kashmir and provides a fresh perspective on the complexities of its modern history.
It is also an eye-opener and highlights that Jammu and Kashmir needs some innovative measures, not the time-tested measures that have failed to bring any solace in the long term. All the measures currently being employed were taken by Bakshi but succeeded only in keeping the lid on a cooker rather than bringing any long-term solution. It is high time to learn lessons from the past and devise a concrete strategy to bring lasting peace to the region, not the peace of a graveyard.
—–
Have you liked the news article?