by S Mir
T
Related posts
he events of July 13, 1931, stand as one of the most tragic episodes in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, marking the beginning of a wave of anti-Hindu violence that would have long-term consequences for the region. While often portrayed as a movement against the Dogra rule, the reality of the events paints a different picture—one of targeted communal aggression against the Hindu minority, which culminated in violence, destruction, and loss of innocent lives.
The seeds of this tragedy were sown on June 21, 1931, when the Reading Room Party held a meeting at the Khanqahi-Mualla shrine in Srinagar. The gathering was significant, as it united various sects in opposition to the Dogra rulers. Seven leaders were elected to spearhead the movement, including Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah, and Khawaja Ghulam Ahmed Ashai. However, the atmosphere turned hostile when an unknown Pashtun, Abdul Qadir, seized the moment to deliver an incendiary speech. His words were not merely anti-Dogra but explicitly anti-Hindu, as he openly called for rebellion against the Hindu Maharaja and his administration. This speech served as a rallying cry for those who harbored resentment against the Hindu community.
Recognizing the danger posed by Qadir’s inflammatory rhetoric, the Dogra authorities swiftly arrested him, setting his trial between July 6 and 9, 1931. However, his arrest only exacerbated tensions, as radical elements within the community saw him as a martyr. Protests erupted outside the court, with mobs blocking roads and clashing with security forces. As unrest grew, the authorities moved Qadir’s trial to the Central Jail in Srinagar, a decision that would prove fatal.
On July 13, 1931, as word spread about Qadir’s secret trial, thousands of Muslim protestors gathered outside the jail. The crowd, swelling to over 7,000, demanded his release. Soon, the protests turned violent, with demonstrators pelting stones at security forces and breaking barricades. In response, the police in its defence opened fire. However, what followed was not just an outburst against the authorities—it was a calculated attack on the Hindu community of Srinagar.
Riots spread rapidly throughout the city, targeting Hindu-owned businesses, homes, and places of worship. Hindu shopkeepers were dragged out and attacked, their stores looted and burned. Hindu families, fearing for their lives, barricaded themselves inside their homes, but many could not escape the wrath of the mobs. Three Hindus lost their lives in the carnage, and over 163 were injured. The violence was not random—it was directed specifically at the Hindu minority, reflecting deep-seated communal hatred that had been simmering beneath the surface.
The aftermath of July 13, 1931, marked a turning point in the history of Kashmir. The violence cemented communal divisions, with Kashmiri Muslims viewing the events as a struggle against Hindu oppression, while the Hindu community saw it as an assault on their very existence. This massacre paved the way for the formation of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference in 1932, led by Sheikh Abdullah, which later evolved into the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference. However, the underlying communal animosity never faded, setting the stage for further polarization in the region.
Pakistani journalist Arif Jamal, in his book ‘Shadow War – The Untold Story of Jihad in Kashmir,‘ highlights how the events of July 13, 1931, were instrumental in shaping the communal trajectory of Kashmiri politics. The anti-Hindu sentiment that emerged from this period was systematically exploited by political and religious factions. The political dissent that began as opposition to Dogra rule quickly morphed into an agenda that sought to marginalize and intimidate the Hindu community.
The tragedy of July 13, 1931, is not just a historical event but a stark reminder of how communal hatred can be weaponized to serve political ambitions. The victims of that day were not just those who perished in the immediate violence but also the generations of Hindus who would go on to face discrimination, hostility, and eventual exodus from the valley. What happened in 1931 was not just a revolt—it was a deliberate, targeted assault on the Hindu community of Kashmir, the consequences of which are still felt today.
Book Excerpt (‘Shadow War – The Untold Story of Jihad in Kashmir’)
Author is a Columnist
Discussion about this post