BLUNT BUTCHER
MARTYRS’ DAY OR BLACK DAY
JAMMU: Kashmir is boiling over death of terrorist Burhan Wani. In all probability, the restricted movement, due to disturbances in the wake of 30 deaths post violent demonstrations by Burhan mourners, may restrain heavily escorted mainstream leaders to pay floral tributes to 1931 ‘martyrs’ in Mazar-e-Shuhada, Srinagar. However, they have issued statements, paying tributes to ‘martyrs’. The Governor, being constitutional head of the State, has also joined in the ritual but except for nine-word half sentence (in the 93-word text of the message) ‘ …In his message on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day…’ , he has nowhere mentioned who the ‘martyrs’ were and why they achieved ‘martyrdom’. In a way, he is right in being cautious in his customary ritual. The ‘1931 martyrdom’ has a definite context, which many in Jammu don’t want to know, especially those aligned as extensions of Kashmir centric ‘mainstream parties’. They have never dared to defy diktats of their masters from the Valley, despite knowing what the day is all about.
Officially ‘Martyrs’ Day’ is observed as a holiday to remember the martyrs of 1931.
On this day every year, the main wreath laying ceremony is held at Khawaja Bazar Grave yard in Srinagar where ‘victims’ of 13th July are buried. Generally, the Chief Minister (whichsoever party he or she belongs to) leads the people to pay floral tributes to the martyrs, which they perceive, as a beginning of the struggle of the people against the autocratic rule of Dogras. Last year, as also this year, the BJP, which is partnering the government, has not made public its take on ‘Martyrs Day’. It is different that separatists are now questioning the so-called mainstream leaders’ ‘moral right’ in observing this day, as they dub them as puppets. A few years back Omar Abdullah, in his capacity as Chief Minister had to make quick retreat when separatists subject his entourage to hooliganism.
On the eve of this day, both mainstream and separatists issue statements, eulogizing the ‘martyrs’, who they say, fought for just cause of the people. However, nobody says whether it was a struggle of the people of Kashmir alone, or the people of Jammu and Kashmir regions also against the autocratic rule of the Maharaja.
Contrary to Kashmiri leaders, their Jammu based extensions don’t know whether they are paying tributes to martyrs or condemning their Maharaja or his Dogra Rule.
Of late, this day has assumed wider dimensions with Kashmiri separatists remaining in the forefront to pay tributes to the martyrs, not only of 1931 but who have ‘sacrificed’ their lives till date for the freedom struggle of Kashmir. For them the 1931 sacrifices were not against the autocratic rule or fighting for the people’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir but it was the beginning of the freedom movement to seek ‘liberation from the clutches of foreign occupation’. How they perceive the martyr’s day is reflected from the theme being disseminated by the the All Party’s Hurriyat Conference, ‘Azad’ Kashmir, saying, “As many as 21 Kashmiris sacrificed their lives for the supreme cause of freedom for Kashmir from the foreign occupation on this particular day. The APHC pays tributes to them and reiterates the pledge to continue the struggle till the goal of liberation is achieved’. The same is the theme line of the APHC on this side of Kashmir.
There are different versions on what happened on 13th July in Kashmir but the central point remains generally the same as has been exaggerated in by a Kashmiri centric author in a write up, which reads: “In Srinagar, people gathered in Jamia Masjid to denounce this incident. One such get-together was held in Khankah-e-Muella Srinagar, which was addressed by prominent Kashmiris. When the meeting concluded, a youth, Abdul Qadeer, pointing his finger to the Maharaja’s palace, raised slogans “destroy its every brick”. With the accusation of sedition, he was arrested forthwith. Abdul Qadir was to be tried in the court but due to large public resentment, the court was shifted to Central Jail Srinagar. On July 12, 1931, in response to the shifting of court, intense public protests were held throughout the city. The next day, on July 13, 1931, thousands of people thronged the Central Jail Srinagar to witness the in-camera trial of Abdul Qadeer. As the time for obligatory prayer approached, a young Kashmiri stood for Azan. The Dogra Governor, Ray Zada Tartilok Chand ordered soldiers to open fire at him. When he got ‘martyred’, another young man took his place and started Azan. He was also shot dead. In this way, 22 Kashmiris were killed in their efforts to complete the Azan. The people carried the dead and paraded through the streets of Srinagar, chanting slogans against Dogra brutalities”. This is more a fiction than fact.
Interestingly, 13th July is also being observed by Kashmiri Hindus, belonging to Muzaffarabad, Punjab and Jammu apart from Kashmiri Pandits, as Black Day, as they feel that this day in 1931 marks the beginning of the first organized genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir. Besides performing Tarpan at and observing Shradh in memory of those killed in 1931 July, the survivors and witnesses of the1 931-massacre keep narrating the horror tales of this day in village Kanikote in Budgam, Maharajganj and Vicharnag in Srinagar. With Kashmir almost shut, it will be interesting to watch how Jammu (which has all along taken pride in its Maharajas) responses to Martyrs’ Day.
