*Kashmir Martyrs’ Day*

The struggle chapter starts from 1846 when Sikh rule ended and the British sold Kashmir to Dogra Maharaja Gulab Singh under the Treaty of Amritsar at a cost of 750,000 Nanak Shahi. Since then Kashmir has been in a state of trouble and torment.

The 100 year span of Dogra rule is completely bleak and dark part of history of miseries to the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the most agonizing period. Since all these long years, Kashmiris have been engaged in a genuine freedom struggle.

13th of July 1931

 *The Kashmir Martyrs’ Day: Youm-e-Shuhada-e-Kashmir* is observed on July 13 every year not only on both sides of the Line of Control but also all over the world by the Kashmiris to pay homage to 22 Kashmiris who were martyred in 1931 to free Kashmir from the brutalities of despotic Dogra rulers. The tragic day is the milestone in the history of Kashmiri struggle against foreign occupation. It was revolt against atrocities on July 13, 1931 when people rose against the autocratic Dogra rule and protested against the prosecution of sympathizer of Kashmir struggle, Abdul Qadeer Khan Ghazi.

Five important incidents which took place at the time in quick succession provided the spark needed to kindle the flames of revolt. These five causes area as:

 *In the first case:* A leading land-holder in Udhampur Jammu embraced Islam. The Hindu Tehsildar sanctioned a fresh mutation of his lands, eliminated his name and mutated the same in the name of his brother. He filed a suit which was dismissed with the remarks that unless he re-entered Hindu faith, he was not entitled to any property. This was done in accordance with a decree issued by the Dogra Government on 31st December, 1882.

 *The second incident* took place on 29th April 1931, in Jammu city. The Muslims offered their Eid Prayers in a garden maintained by the Municipal Committee .The prayers were led by Mufti Mohmmad Ishaque. After prayers, he read a few verses from the Holy Quran relating to Pharaoh and Moses and explained its historical significance in his Khutba. A police sub- inspector, Babu Khem Chand, was on duty along with a posse of policemen.

 *The third incident* took place on 4th June in the Central Jail Jammu. According to daily “Inquilab” dated 1/7/1931, one Fazal Dad Khan, a police constable from Mirpur, was sitting on a cot when a Head Warder, Balak Ram, reprimanded him for being late on duty. In the meantime came one Labhu Ram Sub-Inspector who threw away his bedding in a fit of recklessness. It contained a copy of Panjsurah (five chapters from Holy Quran). Fazal Dad approached the Young Men’s Muslim Association.

 *The fourth incident* took place in Srinagar on 20th June 1931 when leaves of the Holy Quran were found in a public latrine. No Muslim could ever dare do that.

Moulvi Muhammad Yousuf Shah at a public meeting held at Hazratbal said: “If we are arrested there is nothing for you to fear. If ten of us are arrested, the other ten must be prepared to take our places”.

In his work: “Inside Kashmir” (1941), Prem Nath Bazaz writes:

“The driving force behind the mass agitation till the 13th July was the discontent among the rank and file of the Muslims. The attack on the jail was in no way directed against the Hindus, and those who laid down their lives at the jail gate did so fighting against an unsympathetic government… It was a fight of the tyrannized against their tyrants, of the oppressed against the oppressors”.

 *The fifth one* was On 13th July 1931, while Abdul Qadir was being tried in Central Jail. Finally, Khan’s trial was started in Srinagar Jail premises. In order to provide protection to the Magistrate, all extra preparation had been made. The Deputy Inspector of Police came to the site of the trial with one Inspector, 2 Sub Inspectors, 5 Head Constables and 44 Policemen. Out of this force 22 policemen were armed with rifles and the rest with hand clubs, while the Inspectors had revolvers. Besides the above, the Jail forces consisted of 119 policemen armed with dandas and 19 policemen with rifles. The thousands of Muslims assembled outside the Central Jail. After the entry of the session Judge, they demanded permission to enter the compound.

 *Kashmiri Women Warriors*

In Kashmir valley, women also made a notable contribution to the movement. In Shopian Miss Sajida Bano aged 25 received a bullet wound in military firing. She was pregnant and died along with the child on the spot. The second woman to die was Miss Jan Begam, widow of Abel Lone, aged 35, resident of Nowshahra Srinagar, was killed in police firing. The 3rd female martyr is Miss Freechi, widow of Razaq Joo, resident of Jalal Saeb Baramullah, died of a bullet wound received in a military firing. She hurled at face of a police officer in course of a procession of women which disfigured him permanently. The 4th woman to die was Miss Fazli who was killed on 24th September 1931, when the military opened fire.

 **Martyrs of 13th July 1931*

1. Khaliq Shora

2. Akbar Dar

3. Ghulam Ahmad Rather

4. Usman Misgar

5. Ghulam Ahmad Bhat

6. Ghulam M Halwai

7. Ghulam Nabi Kalwal

8. Ghulam Ahmad Naqash

9. Ghulam Rasool Durra

10. Ameer-ud-Din Makayi

11. Subhan Makayi

12. Ghulam Qadir Khan

13. Ramzan Chola

14. Ghulam Mohammad Sofi

15. Naseer-ud-Din

16. Ameer-ud-Din Jandgaru

17. Mohammad Subhan Khan

18. Mohammad Sultan Khan

19. Abdul Salam

20. Ghulam Mohammad Teli

21. Fakeer Ali

22. Ghulam Ahmad Dar

23. Mughli

24. Abdullah Ahanger*

Muslims all over the world will always remember this day and will continue to pay homage to the martyrs of Kashmir. Kashmir belongs to Kashmiri Muslims only and the movement will continue till freedom from Tyrant Indian Occupation.