What is the History of Kashmir?

Hello

The modern state of Jammu and Kashmir covered an area of 86024 square miles (prior to 1947) extendingfrom 32deg 78' to 36deg 58' N and from 73deg 27' to 80deg 72' E.

The entirestate included, beside the Jammu region, Ladakh, Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Punial,and Yasin.

The tiny state of Chitral, located towards the north-western side ofGilgit, used to pay tribute to Kashmir ruler.

It was due to the untiring effortsof Maharaja Gulab Singh Ji (the founder of Dogra Hindu dynasty in Kashmir) that the State took its present shape and form in the 2nd half of the 19th century.

A lot has been said about what is happening in Jammu and Kashmir today. What peeves me though is that none of the frontline newspapers or the news channels has tried to put it in its proper historical perspective.

History Of Kashmir before 1947:br /> Cradled in the lapof the majestic Himalayas, Kashmir is the arguably most beautiful place in the world. Kashmir is the only region of India to have a historical record of itsdistant past

When India and Pakistan gained independence, many of the Princely States had the rights to decide which country they would want to merge with.

Maharaj Hari Singh, the ruler of Kashmir wanted to retain his kingdom free of either India or Pakistan.

Such is not the case with the other parts of India which led tothe 11th century,

Chief among them is Kalhan, the author of Rajatarangini. Bilhana wasanother Sanskrit historian who was born in Kashmir. The court poet at Kalyanain the South India,

Soon after independence though, the so called Kabailis (you may take this roughly to mean tribal people) attacked Kashmir and began advancing. It is said that it was actually Pakistani Army that was behind the attack and only the garb was Kabaili.

he authored Vikramankadeva-charita to celebrate the reignof Vikramaditya VI, the Chalukya king of Kalyana.

Whatever be the real case, Maharaj Hari Singh Panicked. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, the astute Home Minister, took advantage of the situation and made Hari Singh sign the instrument of accession in favor of India.

Indian army was then deployed against the so called Kabailis and was successful in pushing them back.

Kashmir, if literally translated, means land desiccated from water:"ka" (the water) and shimeera (to desiccate).

It was while the action was going on and Indian army was winning the battle that Jawaharlal Nehru rushed to the UN and internationalized the issue. Sardar Patel pleaded for time so that the Kabailis could be forced back all the way. General Cariappa and Major General Thimayya both pleaded with Nehru to allow more time since they felt certain that they can push back the Kabailis all the way in a short time. But Nehru kept his own counsel and appealed to the UN.

Tradition says that Kashmir was originally a lake that was drained by the great saint of ancientIndia Kashyap.

Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) is called Azad Kashmir in Pakistan. This topic has been an apple of discord between India and Pakistan since 1947. In this article, we have explained many interesting facts related to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir; such as the means of livelihood of the people here, judiciary, population, area, language and economic situation etc.

UN asked for an immediate ceasefire. By that time the Indian forces had been able to push back the Kabailis till Muzaffarabad and so the line of control was drawn there and India lost all territory beyond Muzaffarabad to the so called Kabailis.

It was included in the empire of Ashoka Maurya who is creditedwith the foundation of the city of Srinagar around the year 250 BC.

The POK is administratively divided into two parts, which are called Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in official languages. 'Azad Jammu and Kashmir' in Pakistan is also called Azad Kashmir.

During this period Buddhism spread in Kashmir and flourished under theKushans. During the reign of Kanishka,

The Kabailis established the so called Azad Kashmir in the territory that they had retained. However, it is a known fact that this part is not Azad at all. It is a puppet in the hands of Pakistan. Therefore the alternative name – Pak Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The chief of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is the President while the Prime Minister is the Chief Executive Officer supported by a Council of Ministers.