Naya Kashmir document used to inspire me in my school days. It was a chapter in one of the books.
The National Conference defined Kashmir as “the cradle of the Kashmiri nation [characterised by] homogeneity of its language, culture and tradition and its common history of suffering…” in the memorandum presented to the British Cabinet Mission in 1946.
The popular politics of Kashmir and Kashmiri identity that was evolving to become inclusive of the entire state became fractured and started to be reduced back to the Valley. Leadership of Muslim Conference from Jammu, particularly the Sudhans, thus saw no role for themselves in politics of the state in alliance with the National Conference.
Muslims of Jammu realised as early as 1946. But people of rest of the state became aware of hollowness of Naya Kashmir much later. Sheikh became administrator of the state after Hari Singh's exit. Sheikh got all nomination papers of non National Conference candidates rejected in 1951.
The demand for literature in Urdu is not an innocent one when it was loaded with political overtones The literature should be published in local language. However, I hasten to add that Kashmiri is the language of Kashmir valley not Urdu.
This is an old controversy. I wrote an article on this subject:
Script that rocked Kashmir in 1940s
You refers may like to know about the following comments by Nehru:
On 7 August 1940 at a meeting held at Shitalnath (Srinagar) Nehru told the gathering of Kashmiri Pandit youths:
"If non-Musllms want to live In Kashmir, they should join the National Conference or bid good-bye to the country. The National Conference is the real national organisation and even if a single Hindu does not become its member, it will continue to be so. If Pandits do not join It, no safeguards and weightage will protect them."
I don't know the context. Or did he foresee the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990.
The purpose of this reply is to set the record straight and emphasis that things are not as they look.
With regards to all the members who are striving for a change and becoming voice of the have nots.