Why article 370 Had To Go’ is strikingly original in thought and expression. Sheikh Khalid Jehangir delves deep into the web of complex political realities and wades through such complexities and comes out with straight and precise commentary on the current affairs in which Kashmir finds itself today. The book traverses an interesting path from the author’s childhood to his growing-up years. It talks about the author’s experiences of living multiple identities all at the same time and his ideological affiliations with India. The book is different in analysis, and interesting in thought because it goes deep into the abstruse academic details and brings out a crystal clear image of things.
The book talks about how Jammu and Kashmir had a special status granted under Article 370 and Article 35A (created through a Presidential Order) of the Constitution. The abrogation of Article 370 to end the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was a long-standing demand of the BJP and its precursor, the Jan Sangh, whose leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee died in custody in Jammu and Kashmir while leading an agitation against the provision. Jehangir discusses how this move has integrated Kashmir fully with the rest of India and stopped the politics of victimhood practiced by the two regional parties in Kashmir. He also talks about how it had become of paramount importance because of the complex security challenges that the two parties had brought up without caring for the security of the nation. Barely two months after the BJP’s successive victories in the Lok Sabha election, the Narendra Modi government had drawn curtains to constitutional provisions that accorded Jammu and Kashmir a special status and carved out the Union Territory of Ladakh apparently to insulate the strategically significant region from political compulsions of the Kashmir Valley. Khalid terrifically justifies the Prime Minister’s vision and strategy and thus shows how it is in the long-term interest of Kashmir and India.
Khalid talks about how the constitutional changes and reorganization of the erstwhile State of Jammu Kashmir have been fully integrated into the mainstream of the nation. As a result, all the rights enshrined in the Constitution of India and benefits of all the Central Laws that were being enjoyed by other citizens of the country are now available to the people of Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh.
The change has brought about socio-economic development in both the new union territories i.e. UT of Jammu-Kashmir and the UT of Ladakh. Empowerment of people, removal of unjust laws, bringing in equity and fairness to those discriminated against for ages. Those people are now getting their due along with the comprehensive development that is taking place. These are a few of the important changes that are ushering both the new Union Territories towards the path of peace and progress.
With the conduct of elections of Panchayati Raj Institutions such as Panches and Sarpanches, Block Development Councils, and District Development Councils, the 3-tier system of grassroots level democracy has now been established in Jammu and Kashmir.
Khalid also cuts through the din of propaganda that had clouded the decision of August 5 and examines in detail what ramifications such a decision will have in the long term. He looks into the security dimension as to how it will create a positive impact on the overall security architecture. He also talks about how the extension of the constitution over Jammu and Kashmir will enhance governance mechanisms and will eventually play out to the advantage of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Khalid, also discusses that people sitting in the national capital should realize that the mindset of a young Kashmiri has changed and they don’t consider much of the traditional politicians, who fed them with hollow slogans like autonomy. The partition mindset of leaders needs to change, the poison they have been feeding the young brains needs to be stopped. Average Kashmiris, like other Indians, want their children to study in the best school, get a good job and live a progressive life. But even today, Kashmiris are held in social captivity by politicians, especially by the mainstream leaders. While their role should have been to connect and integrate Kashmiris with the rest of the country, they all have, instead, focused on continuing their dynastic rule and received ‘blessings’ from New Delhi in the past.
‘Why article 370 Had To Go’ is a first-of-its-kind book that is away from propaganda and rhetoric and engages meaningfully with the issues that seem genuine and logical. It has a perfect historical backing with facts and offers a version of Kashmir that is sufficiently imaginable.
