1931 Kashmir agitation

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In 1931, Jammu and Kashmir saw a major protest against the Dogra rulers. The spark was a deadly incident during a trial at Srinagar Central Jail on 13 July 1931. As the Zuhr prayer began, a Kashmiri man tried to give the call to prayer from the crowd. The Dogra governor ordered soldiers to open fire, killing 22 Muslims. The crowd carried the dead through the streets, and protests spread. Riot and violence followed, with some Hindu shopkeepers jeering mourners, leading to further clashes. By the end, 25 people had died (22 Muslims and 3 Hindus), and about 500 soldiers were sent to restore order.

The government set up a commission to investigate, and calls for political reforms grew, including the idea of a legislative assembly called the Jammu and Kashmir Praja Sabha. The agitation helped rise Sheikh Abdullah as a leader and deepened tensions with the Maharaja Hari Singh. Muslim leaders accused state officials of wrongdoing, and the Maharaja refused to dismiss his prime minister. On 26 August, after talks, the leaders and the government agreed to end the agitation.

The unrest caused a week of mourning, halted traffic between Srinagar, Rawalpindi, and Jammu, and even led to the burning of Sangam Bridge. Outside Kashmir, Muslim sympathisers observed Kashmir Day in support of the protests. In the aftermath, reforms and greater political participation for Kashmiris were pursued, and Abdullah’s leadership would shape the region’s politics for years to come.