A historical analysis of Kashmir issue: Genesis to present

This paper is an attempt to understand the whole issue of Kashmir from its origin to its present status. It analyses that how different political parties, political leaders, religious leaders and pressure groups played role in the then (1930’s) situation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) which has made this issue as an endless problem for the Indian society as a whole. Being the northern most state of the country, J&K is a disputed territory among Pakistan, China and India, even today. Many historical policies of the state and the country did not solve the problem rather they gave it a new set of issues for prolonging conflicts and crisis. Hence, the paper very analytically highlights the chain of events in the country and in J&K which had a close tie up with the so called the Kashmir issue. The paper also focuses on how from time to time, religion became important for the political mobilization of the people of the state of J&K and therefore, the state and its people got caught up in the identity politics.