Ever since Kashmir was sold by the British to Maharaja Ghulab Singh in 1846, through the Treaty of Amritsar, the people of Kashmir never accepted this sale. Soon after the treaty’s execution, the people rose in rebellion and fought valiantly against Ghulab Singh’s army. Under the leadership of Imam-ud-Din, the last governor of Sikh rule, a battle took place near Sheikh Bagh, resulting in the defeat of the Dogra forces. The army retreated, and for several months, Kashmir remained free from foreign rule. The martyrs of this resistance were buried at Shaheed Gunj, formerly known as Maidanpora.
Maharaja Ghulab Singh eventually regained control of Kashmir with the help of the British army. The next significant act of resistance came from the shawl weavers, who staged a protest on 29th April 1865 outside the house of Raj Kak Dhar in Zaldagar, against oppressive taxation. Dhar ordered a brutal police crackdown on the unarmed protestors, leading to the death of 28 weavers.
In 1925, workers of the Silk Factory revolted against Maharaja Hari Singh. Although their agitation was short-lived, it ignited the spirit of resistance in the new generation.
What makes the 1931 uprising historically significant is that this time, the resistance was not localized—it was statewide. It began in Jammu in protest against the desecration of the Quran by Hari Singh’s soldiers and culminated in mass protests in Srinagar. Initially, these protests demanded justice against those responsible for the blasphemy. But soon, a powerful voice gave them new direction—Abdul Qadeer, a follower of Jamal-ud-Din Afghani and an advocate of pan-Islamism. Disguised as a cook, Qadeer called on the people to recognize the root cause of their oppression: the despotic rule of Hari Singh.
His words ignited a societal transformation. When he was arrested, people demanded a public trial. The regime responded with brutal force, opening fire on demonstrators. Many were martyred, and others injured. The wounded and the dead were taken in a procession to Jamia Masjid. One injured protestor, before his death, whispered: “We have completed our mission. Now it is your duty to carry it forward.” These words continue to echo in the hearts and minds of Kashmiris, becoming a generational call to uphold the spirit of resistance.
As a response to the uprising, the Maharaja permitted the formation of political parties. The Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, the first political party in the region, was formed. It was later monopolized by Sheikh Abdullah and converted into the National Conference to make it inclusive of all communities. Eventually, it became a proxy for the Indian National Congress and played a key role in the state’s annexation to the Indian Union.
The uprising of 1931 also led to significant political reforms, including the establishment of the Glancy Commission and the enactment of the Constitution Acts of 1934 and 1939. These acts provided a limited constitutional framework, modeled after the Government of India Act of 1935, including separate electorates. They remained in force until 1957.
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