Bizarre Borders -Kashmir & Jammu 

Samanyu Ram

January 27, 2023

The British occupied India in the 19th century and constructed a system of government through regional tyrants. Due to this, the formation of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir occurred. Maharaja Hari Singh, a Hindu ruler, ruled over it. In 1947, as the British left India, Pakistan and India were created as separate countries. These two regions had many feuds involving land, culture, and religion. Both claimed Kashmir and Jammu, but the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India in 1947. Filled with rage, Pakistan rejected this, and a war between the two nations ensued.

A cease-fire was announced in 1949 after the United Nations intervened, and a line of control split the area between India and Pakistan, which marked the official border. Numerous ongoing demonstrations and clashes between the Indian military and civilians in Jammu and Kashmir have persisted. Pakistan has backed regional separatist organizations and asserts that India has been transgressing local human rights laws.

Jammu and Kashmir were granted special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution in 2019. In 2019, the Modi government of India repealed this provision and divided Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Its complicated history is characterized by centuries of rule by many emperors and kingdoms, as well as more recent conflicts between India and Pakistan. Human rights abuses and continuous violence have also occurred in the area.

Today, the region spans a vast area of about 16,000 square miles, boasting a population of about 12 million inhabitants. It is truly a hidden beauty in the enormous country of India, as it consists of plains, foothills, and mountain ranges. Kashmir and Jammu feature the endangered Kashmir Stag and Markhors. The international community must continue to monitor the region's delicate situation and endeavor to find a peaceful resolution.

Jammu and Kashmir's history is long and complex, characterized by centuries of authority by different empires and kingdoms as well as more recent clashes between India and Pakistan. The area is still tense, so it's critical to keep safety apparent for the good of the world community.