Development of Socio-Religious Reform Movements and their role in Political awakening in Jammu and Kashmir

Kashmir under Dogra's has seen exploitation and oppression of worst kind. The Dogras had taken the Kashmiris as purchased slaves by the Treaty of Amritsar 1846. For a Dogra ruler, the state was a Hindu state. To make it more Hinduistic, he reorganised various institutions of the state after Hindu names. The Dogra rule followed the discriminatory policies against their Muslim subjects. These discriminations were clearly reflected in the fields of State services, social spheres, education, justice, etc. If all classes of people in the valley were discontented with the Dogras in 1930 A.D., the Muslims had added reasons for becoming sullen comments Prem Nath Bazaz. The start of socio-economic organization helped to develop a collective thinking within the Kashmiri community. In other words, there were many factors and causes, both positive and negative which generated political awakening among the people of the state during the Dogra rule. This paper will help us to understand how the Associations formed during Dogra rule help in generating the consciousness of their rights among the people of Jammu and Kashmir against the repressive policies of their ruler.