Honouring Sacrifice Amid Political Drama
I Ahmed Wani
Every year on July 13, the Kashmir Valley pauses to remember the brave souls of 1931 who lost their lives in a tragic event that shaped the region’s history. On that day, 22 Kashmiri Muslims were killed by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh outside Srinagar’s Central Jail. They were protesting the trial of Abdul Qadeer, a man who had spoken out against the Maharaja’s harsh rule just days earlier. Known as Kashmir Martyrs’ Day, this moment is etched in the hearts of Kashmiris as a symbol of courage against injustice. But over time, this day has been caught up in political and religious debates, especially after the scrapping of Article 370 in 2019. Let us look back to see the history of Martyrs’ Day, how it’s being used by politicians today, and what leaders like Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah, and Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami are saying about it, based on their recent posts on X.
What Happened on July 13, 1931?
Back in 1931, Jammu and Kashmir was ruled by Maharaja Hari Singh, the last king of the Dogra dynasty. The people, especially Kashmiri Muslims, were unhappy with his strict rule. They faced heavy taxes, forced labour, and restrictions on religious practices. Things came to a head when Abdul Qadeer, a cook working for a British officer, gave a bold speech at Khanqah-i-Maula in Srinagar, calling for people to stand up against the Maharaja’s palace and end his unjust rule. Qadeer was arrested for sedition, and his trial drew a huge crowd to the Central Jail.
On July 13, as people gathered to watch the trial, the situation turned ugly. The Dogra governor, Raizada Trilok Chand, ordered the police to fire on the crowd during the call to prayer, killing 22 protesters. These martyrs were laid to rest with respect at the Mazar-e-Shuhada, a graveyard near the Naqshbandi shrine in Srinagar. This tragedy, often compared to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, sparked a major movement against the Maharaja’s rule. It led to the formation of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, led by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, which later became the National Conference to include people of all faiths.
Importantly, this wasn’t a fight between Muslims and Hindus. It was a struggle against a king’s unfair rule, much like how the rest of India was fighting against British-installed rulers. As historian Prem Nath Bazaz wrote, “July 13, 1931, was a turning point for Kashmir. It marked the start of a modern fight for freedom and justice.”
A Divided Story
Sadly, the story of July 13 has been twisted over time. In the Kashmir Valley, where most people are Muslim, the martyrs are seen as heroes who fought for their rights. Their sacrifice was celebrated as a state holiday until 2019. But in Hindu-majority Jammu, some groups, especially the BJP, see the 1931 uprising as a communal clash. They praise Maharaja Hari Singh’s rule as a “golden era” and call the martyrs “rioters.” This divide came into focus recently when BJP leader Sunil Sharma, in the 2025 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, called the martyrs “traitors,” leading to protests and a walkout by opposition parties.
The scrapping of Article 370 in 2019, which took away Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and split it into two Union Territories (Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh), made things worse. The Lieutenant Governor’s administration removed July 13 as a public holiday in 2020 and replaced it with September 23, the Maharaja’s birthday. Many Kashmiris, including leaders like Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, felt this was an attempt to erase their history. Tarigami posted on X, “You can’t wipe out the memory of 1931. It’s a story of people standing up against unfair rule.”
Locked Gates and Political Games in 2025
Before 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir had its own elected government and Article 370 was in place, Martyrs’ Day was a big event. The Chief Minister would lead official ceremonies to honour the martyrs. But after Article 370 was removed, the central government took control of law and order, and things changed. July 13 is no longer a state holiday, and leaders who try to visit Mazar-e-Shuhada often find themselves stopped by police.
On July 13, 2025, social media was full of pictures showing locked gates and police outside the homes of leaders like Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, and NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq. They claimed they were under house arrest to stop them from paying respects at the martyrs’ graveyard.
Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister, wrote on X, “July 13 is like our Jallianwala Bagh. Those who died were fighting against British-backed rule, not Hindus. It’s sad that these heroes are called villains just because they were Muslims. Locking us up to stop us from honouring them is wrong and undemocratic.”
Mehbooba Mufti, head of the PDP, shared photos of her locked gate and posted, “If we can respect India’s heroes like Gandhi and Bhagat Singh, why can’t India honour our martyrs? Forgetting July 13 isn’t just about erasing history—it’s a betrayal of their sacrifice. They may lock our gates, but they can’t lock their memory in our hearts.”
Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, a CPI(M) leader, also shared his frustration on X, saying, “My gate is padlocked, and I’m under house arrest, stopped from paying tribute to the July 13 martyrs. This day reminds us of those who gave their lives for democracy and a better future.”
These posts show how upset Kashmiri leaders are, feeling that the government is trying to silence their history. Interestingly, before 2019, when parties like NC and PDP were in power, they used to restrict separatist groups like the Hurriyat Conference on Martyrs’ Day to prevent protests or violence. Now, these same mainstream leaders are facing similar restrictions, showing how the tables have turned. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of the Hurriyat also commented on X, “The martyrs’ sacrifice lives on in every Kashmiri’s heart, no matter how many restrictions you impose.”
Using Martyrs for Politics
The restrictions on July 13, 2025, highlight a bigger problem: the way Martyrs’ Day is used for political gain. Before 2019, Hurriyat leaders often called for strikes on this day, using the martyrs’ legacy to push their anti-India agenda. Some even reportedly worked with local police to stage “house arrests” for publicity, issuing statements to look like victims. Now, mainstream leaders like those in NC and PDP are doing something similar, using the day to rally support and show themselves as defenders of Kashmiri identity against central control.
For example, Mehbooba Mufti recently called out the NC for “only paying lip service” to the martyrs after the NC-led Assembly rejected a PDP proposal to bring back July 13 as a holiday. Meanwhile, the BJP pushes its own narrative, painting the 1931 uprising as a communal issue. This back-and-forth shows how the martyrs’ sacrifice is being used to score political points, instead of uniting people.
Honouring the True Spirit of July 13
The martyrs of 1931 didn’t die for Hindu-Muslim fights. They stood up against a king’s unfair rule, just like Indians across the country fought against British-backed rulers. Their sacrifice was about justice and dignity—values everyone can relate to. Today, as Kashmir deals with the changes after Article 370, we need to honour these martyrs by remembering what they truly fought for, not twisting their story for votes or power.
The locked gates and house arrests of 2025 are more than just physical barriers—they’re signs of a deeper struggle over Kashmir’s history. As Mehbooba Mufti said, if India can embrace Kashmir’s heroes like Kashmiris embrace India’s, the “distance of hearts” can shrink. Let’s pay tribute to the July 13 martyrs by keeping their memory alive as a call for unity, not division, and by calling out those who use their sacrifice for cheap politics.
