Sheikh (pronounced  /ˈʃiːk/ SHEEK or /ˈʃeɪk/ SHAYK; Arabic: شيخ‎ šayḫ, mostly pronounced [ʃeːx], plural شيوخ šuyūḫ) — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor". It is commonly used to designate the front man of a tribe who got this title after his father, or an Islamic scholar who got this title after graduating from the basic Islamic school. Sheikha is the female equivalent, although these are uncommon in the Arabic world. A sheikh who is wise is called ḥakīm adjective (wise) حكيم‎, ḥākim noun (governor) حاكم‎, yaḥkum verb (govern) يحكم‎; and can govern. The scholar sheikh here can govern but cannot lead directly because the leader is the imam which is based upon the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah; on the other hand the family sheikh can always lead but cannot govern unless he is wise. Although the title generally refers to a male, a very small number of female sheikhs have also existed.^{[citation needed]}

It also refers generally to a man over forty^[1] or fifty^[2] years of age. While even a new Muslim can be called a sheikh if he is diligent in seeking the knowledge of Islam based upon the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah, he can be referred to as such by those he teaches. Usually, a person is known as a sheikh when he has completed his undergraduate university studies in Islamic studies and is trained in giving lectures.^[1] The word sheikh under this meaning is a synonym of Alim, pl. Ulama (a learned person in Islam, a scholar),^[3] Mawlawi, Mawlānā, Muhaddith, Faqīh, Qadi, Mufti, Hadhrat or Hafiz.

Etymology and meaning[link]

The classical image of a 'sheikh': Sheikh Sattam de Haddadin of Palmyra, by Russian painter Alexandr Evgenievich Yacovleff.

The word in Arabic stems from a triliteral root connected with age and ageing: ش-ي-خ, shīn-yā'-khā'. The term literally means a man of old age, and it is used in that sense of all men in Qur'anic Arabic. Later it came to be a title meaning leader, elder, or noble, especially in the Arabian Peninsula, where shaikh became a traditional title of a Bedouin tribal leader in recent centuries. Due to the cultural impact of Arab civilization, and especially through the spread of Islam, the word has gained currency as a religious term or general honorific in many other parts of the world as well, notably in Muslim cultures in Africa and Asia.

While the title can be used religiously by Muslims to designate a learned person, as an Arabic word it is essentially independent of religion. It is notably used by Druze for their religious men, but also by Arab Christians for elder men of stature. Its usage and meaning is similar to the Latin senex meaning "old [man]", from which the Latin (and English) "senator" is derived. Accordingly, the Arabic term for most legislative bodies termed Senate (e.g. the United States Senate) is majlis al-shuyūkh, literally meaning "Council of Senators."

As a secular honorific[link]

The title is sometimes more informally used to people who have a certain financial or political influence, but especially in relation to royalty and other nobility.

In the Arabian Peninsula region[link]

In the Arabian Peninsula, the title is used for men of stature, whether they are managers in high posts, wealthy business owners, or local rulers. For example, it was the term used in the West to refer to the leaders of Kuwait's ruling al-Sabah dynasty, even though the monarchic style was actually Hakim (Arabic 'ruler') until June 19, 1961, when Kuwait joined the Arab League, and the title Emir was adopted. The same applied to Bahrain and Qatar. The term is used by almost every male member of all the Gulf royal houses with the exception of Saudi Arabia and Oman.

In the Maghreb region[link]

During the Almohad dynasty, the Caliph was also counciled by a body of Shaykhs, representing all the different tribes under their rules, including Berbers, Arabs, Bedouins and Andalusians, they were also responsible for mobilizing their kinsmen in the event of war.^[4]

Turkey[link]

In the Turkish language, the form Şeyh is used. Means religious leader of a tariqah branch.

Lebanon[link]

In Lebanon, the noble title of Sheikh was introduced in the beginning of the 16th century, when the Ottomans invaded the region and set a Prince for Lebanon (Fakhr-al-Din al-Maani was the first Prince of Lebanon), and Sheikhs replaced the previous noble title: Moukaddam, the known nobles before the 16th century. The Sheikh title was commonly used when addressing mainly the members of the traditional noble Maronite Christians families (Al-Daher in Akkar, Al-Khazen in Kesserwan, Al Khoury in Rechmaya El Metn, Al Dahdah in Jbeil, Hobeich in Ftouh Kesserwan, Tarabay in Jurd El Batroun, Gemayel in Bekfaya El Metn, Germanos in Jurd Jbeil, Al Hachem in Akoura, Al Doueihy in Zgharta, Al Saad in Aley...) but also Druzes in the southern part of Mount Lebanon (Joumblatt, Talhouk, Abd El Malek) and Shiites (Hamadeh in Jbeil). The term Sheikh was bestowed by the Emir (Prince) of Lebanon in a "Faramen of Mashiakha" allowing the persons in charge to represent the Emir in respective geographic parts of the Old Lebanon (the actual Mount Lebanon, and North Lebanon, excepting Tripoli city), their official duty was to collect the Mireh (Tax that was collected and offered to the Ottomans). Sheikhs were also considered as the political representatives and allies of the Prince, they recruited soldiers in times of war and commanded sections of the Prince army; their prestigious titles allowed them also to own large pieces of lands in the areas they represented. However, it was notable that ordinary people in the Emirate did have the right to land ownership and therefore economical autonomy, while many worked in the large lands of the Sheikhs. This title was naturally inherited, unless the Prince seize it and nominates another person from the same or other family, this situation happened few times in history when a new Prince takes over power. The Sheikhs official title became obsolete when the Prince effective ruling was vanished by the Ottomans in 1840 and the executive ruling was replaced by the Kaamakamiatein system of ruling. After this date, the name remained just as a honorable title. In the modern Lebanon, four presidents of the Republic are descendants from these traditional families: Sheikh Habib Pacha Es-Saad (was also a prime minister during the french Mandate), Sheikh Bechara El Khoury, Sheikh Bachir Gemayel and Sheikh Amine Gemayel. Also political leaders such as Walid Jumblatt, or Parliament previous or actual members such as: Estephane El Doueihi in Zgharta, Rushayd el Khazen Farid Haykal El Khazen Dr Farid El Khazen in Keserwan, Gabriel Germanos Nohad Germanos Soueid in Jbeil, Maurice Gemayel Pierre Gemayel Sami Gemayel in Metn, Fawzi Hobeich Hadi Hobeich in Akkar, Fouad Saad in Aley, and many others not listed here.

South Asia[link]

In Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and other parts of South Asia, the title Sheikh signifies Arab descent and comes under high caste of society but majority are the local brahmins, rajput or gujjar communities who used the title of Sheikh after conversion to Islam. In Delhi it was used by the Persian Magi descendants who migrate from Persia because of Safavid persecution in 16th century. The Muslims of the Middle East and Central Asia have historically, travelled to South Asia as Sufis during the Islamic Sultanates and Mughal Empire and settled permanently and assumed Shaikh status.

Pakistan[link]

In Pakistan the title is used for a caste (Community) well reputed and respected, mainly involved in business. Many of the popular personalities in Pakistan have been Sheikhs. The title Sheikh signifies Arab descent and comes under high caste of society. People who are Khawaja are Syeds by family.

Religious usage[link]

The term is often used by Muslims to address learned men of various Islamic sciences, such as faqihs, muftis, and muhaddiths, and more generally to convey respect for religious authorities.

The term is and/or was also used in certain Islamic parts of Africa, as in imperial Ethiopia by the hereditary Muslim rulers of Bela Shangul, and by certain Muslim notables of Wollo, Tigray and Eritrea. In Somalia it revers to all learned men, in relegious way, mostly do they have also political might in their town/city or clan.

For women[link]

A daughter or wife of a shaykh is sometimes called shaykhah (Arabic: شيخة‎). Currently, the term shaykhah is commonly used for females of rich families, especially ruling families, in Arab countries.

Surname[link]

In Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, "Sheikh" is a common surname among Muslims, and generally indicates Arab ancestry

See also[link]

• Kashmiri Shaikh
• Khawaja Shaikh
• Punjabi Shaikh
• Qallu
• Qanungoh Shaikh
• Quraishi
• Shaikh (caste)
• Siddiqui
• Sindhi Shaikh

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Shaikh Siddiqui
• Shaikportal.com
• History of El Douaihy
• History of the Maronites and Lebanon
• "History of Lebanon" by Kamal Salibi

Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah शेख़ मुहम्मद अब्‍दुल्‍ला شيخ محمد عبدالله
Sheikh Abdullah addressing crowd at Lal Chowk Sringar in 1975
Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
In office 5 March 1948 – 9 August 1953
Preceded by	Mehr Chand Mahajan
Succeeded by	Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad
Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
In office 25 February 1975 – 26 March 1977
Preceded by	Syed Mir Qasim
Succeeded by	President's Rule
In office 9 July 1977 – 8 September 1982
Preceded by	President's Rule
Succeeded by	Farooq Abdullah
Personal details
Born	(1905-12-05)5 December 1905 Soura, Kashmir, British India
Died	8 September 1982(1982-09-08) (aged 76) Srinagar, Kashmir, India
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Spouse(s)	Begum Akbar Jahan Abdullah
Children	Farooq Abdullah
Alma mater	Islamia College Lahore, Aligarh Muslim University
Religion	Islam

Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah (Kashmiri: शेख़ मुहम्मद अब्‍दुल्‍ला (Devanagari), شيخ محمد عبدالله (Nastaleeq)), Sher-e-Kashmir (the Lion of Kashmir) (December 5, 1905, Soura, Kashmir – September 8, 1982, Srinagar), was the leader of the National Conference, Kashmir's largest political party, and one of the most important political figures in the modern history of Jammu and Kashmir. In 1933 he married Akbar Jahan, the daughter of Michael Harry Nedou, the eldest son of the European proprietor of a chain of hotels in India including Nedous Hotel in Srinagar, and his Kashmiri wife Mirjan. Michael Harry Nedou was himself the proprietor of a hotel at the tourist resort of Gulmarg^[1] (The writer Tariq Ali claims that Akbar Jehan was previously married in 1928 to an Arab Karam Shah who disappeared after a Calcutta newspaper Liberty reported that he was actually T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)^[2] a British Intelligence officer. He claims that Akbar Jehan was divorced by her first husband in 1929.)^[3] He agitated against the rule of the Maharaja Hari Singh, and urged self-rule for Kashmir. He was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir State after its provisional accession to India in 1947, and was later jailed and exiled. He again became the Chief Minister of the state following the 1974 Indira-Sheikh accord and remained in the top slot till his death on September 8, 1982.

Early life[link]

The most important source of Sheikh Abdullah's early life is his official biography Atish e Chinar He was born in Soura, a village on the outskirts of Srinagar, eleven days after the death of his father Sheikh Mohammed Ibrahim, a middle class manufacturer and trader of Kashmir shawls. Sheikh Ibrahim was the descendant of a Hindu Kashmiri Pandit named Ragho Ram Koul who was converted to Islam in 1890 by the saint Rashid Balkhi and after conversion changed his name to Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah. Thus Sheikh Abdullah was the namesake of the progenitor of his family branch.

According to Sheikh Abdullah, his step brother mistreated his mother and his early childhood was marked by utter poverty. His mother was keen that her children should receive proper education and so as a child he was first admitted to a traditional school or Maktab where he learnt the recitation of the Koran and some basic Persian texts like Gulistan of Sa'di, Bostan, Padshanama, etc. Then in 1911 he was admitted to a primary school where he studied for about two years. His elder step brothers then stopped his further education and he was first set to work in the family workshop embroidering shawls and later asked to sit on a grocers shop as a sales boy.

However, their family barber Mohammed Ramzan prevailed upon his uncle to send him back to school. He had to walk the distance of ten miles to school and back on foot but in his own words the joy of being allowed to obtain a school education made it seem a light work. He passed his Matriculation examination from Punjab University in 1922.^[4]

Higher studies[link]

After matriculation he obtained admission in Sri Partap College the leading college of Kashmir. Because of extreme poverty he had to walk the distance of about fifteen miles from Soura to S.P.College and back and so developed Cardiomegaly (perhaps an early sign of beriberi brought about by malnutrition and severe exercise.) He was admitted to the Mission Hospital where under the treatment of the famous Neve brothers he recovered completely. His elder brother Sheikh Maqbool was moved by his illness and agreed to pay for his stay in the college hostel from where he passed his intermediate(F.Sc.) examination.

He obtained admission in Islamia College Lahore from where he completed his B.Sc.Degree. After that he obtained admission to the M.Sc. Chemistry course in Aligarh Muslim University and obtained Masters degree in Chemistry on 12 April 1930. He was the first Kashmiri Muslim to have obtained a Master's degree in Chemistry.

Political career[link]

Kashmiri polymath and lawyer Molvi Abdullah. His lectures motivated Sheikh Abdullah and other educated Muslim youth to struggle for justice and fundamental rights

As a student at Aligarh Muslim University he came in contact with and was influenced by persons with liberal and progressive ideas. He became convinced that the feudal system was responsible for the miseries of the Kashmiris and like all progressive nations of the world Kashmir too should have a democratically elected government.

Muslim Conference formed[link]

Sheikh Abdullah and his colleagues were greatly influenced by the lectures of a Kashmiri polymath and lawyer Molvi Abdullah.^[5]

Molvi Abdullah's son Molvi Abdul Rahim, Sheikh Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Gilkar were the first three educated Kashmiri youth to be arrested during the public agitation of 1931.^[6]

Sheikh Abdullah with other leaders of 1931 agitation.Sitting R to L: Sardar Gohar Rehman,Mistri Yaqoob Ali,Sheikh Abdullah,Chaudhary Ghulam Abbas.Standing. R:Molvi Abdul Rahim,L:Ghulam Nabi Gilkar

Kashmir's first political party the Muslim Conference with Sheikh Abdullah as President, Chaudhary Ghulam Abbas as General Secretary, and Molvi Abdul Rahim as Secretary was formed on 16 October 1932. In his presidential address Sheikh Abdullah categorically stated that the Muslim Conference had come into existence to struggle for the rights of all oppressed sections of the society and not Muslims alone. It was not a communal party and would struggle for the rights of the oppressed, whether Hindu, Muslim or Sikh, with the same fervor. He reasserted that the struggle of Kashmiris was not a communal struggle.^[7]

In March 1933 the Muslim Conference constituted a committee which included Molvi Abdullah and nine other members for the purpose of establishing contacts with non-Muslim parties and exploring the possibility of forming a joint organisation. According to Sheikh Abdullah this effort was not successful because of the unfavourable reception of the idea by the non-Muslim parties.^[8] Sheikh Abdullah campaigned to change the name of the Muslim Conference to National Conference, under the influence of among others Jawaharlal Nehru.After a prolonged and vigorous campaign a special session of the Muslim Conference held in June 1939 voted to change the name of the party to National Conference.Of the one hundred and seventy six members attending the session one hundred and seventy two members voted in favour of the resolution...^[9] According to Sheikh Abdullah the support of Chaudhary Ghulam Abbas of Jammu was very important in motivating the members to vote for this change .^[10]

Formation of Praja Sabha (Legislative Assembly)[link]

As a result of the 1931 agitation the Maharajah appointed a Grievances Commission with an Englishman B.J. Glancy as President which submitted its report in March 1932.^[11] Subsequently a Constitutional Reforms Conference also presided over by B.J. Glancy recommended the setting up of an elected Legislative Assembly (Praja Sabha). Consequently a Praja Sabha with 33 elected and 42 nominated members elected on the basis of separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims was established in 1934.^[12] Women and illiterate men without sufficient property, or title, or annual income of less than Rupees four hundred did not have the right to vote. Roughly less than 10% (according to Justice Anand only 3%) of the population were enfranchised.^[13]

Even after the formation of Praja Sabha in 1934 as recommended by the Commission real power continued to remain in the hands of the Maharajah.^[14]

Seventeen years later in 1951, the government of Kashmir with Sheikh Abdullah as Prime Minister held elections to a Constituent Assembly on the basis of universal adult suffrage. Sheikh Abdullah's Government had been accused of rigging in these elections to the Constituent Assembly.^[15] Nonetheless, due consideration should be given to the quantum leap in moving from elections with 10% of enfranchised population to universal adult suffrage and that too just after a cease fire from an active war.

Meeting with Nehru[link]

Sheikh Abdullah with Nehru and Badshah Khan(Centre) at Nishat Garden in 1945

Sheikh Abdullah was introduced to Jawaharlal Nehru in 1937 and as he too as a leader of the Indian National Congress was demanding similar rights for people of British India^[16] and had formed The All India States Peoples Conference^[17] for supporting the people of Princely States in their struggle for a representative government the two became friends and political allies.

Muslim Conference renamed as National Conference[link]

He introduced a resolution in the working committee of the Muslim Conference for changing its name to National Conference on 24 June 1938 to allow people from all communities to join the struggle against the autocratic rule of the Maharaja.^[18] Meanwhile he along with his liberal progressive friends, many of whom were not Muslim like Kashyap Bandhu, Jia Lal Kilam, Pandit Sudama Sidha, Prem Nath Bazaz and Sardar Budh Singh drafted the National Demands^[19] the forerunner of the famous Naya Kashmir (New Kashmir) Manifesto (which was a charter of demands for granting a democratic constitution committed to the welfare of the common people of Kashmir)^[20]

He presented these demands to the Maharajah in a speech on 28 August 1938.^[21] The Maharajah of course was not willing to accept these demands and so he along with many of his companions was arrested for defying prohibitory orders and sentenced to six months imprisonment and a fine. His arrest provoked a public agitation in which volunteers called Dictators (so called because they had the authority to defy laws that was forbidden for normal law abiding party members) courted arrest.This agitation was called off on the appeal of Mahatama Gandhi. He was released after serving his sentence on 24 February 1939 and accorded a grand reception by the people of Srinagar on his return. Speeches were made at the reception stressing the importance of unity among Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.^[22] Subsequently the resolution for changing the name of Muslim Conference to National Conference was ratified with an overwhelming majority by the General Council of the Muslim Conference on 11 June 1939 and from that date Muslim Conference became National Conference.^[23]

Quit Kashmir Agitation[link]

In May 1946 Sheikh Abdullah launched the Quit Kashmir agitation against the Maharajah Hari Singh and was arrested and sentenced to three years imprisonment but was released only sixteen months later on 29 September 1947^[24]

(See Tehreek e Hurriyat e Kashmir By Rashid Taseer (Urdu) volume 2 page 29 for "National Demands" discussion and see Chapter 12 page 310-313 regarding presentation of "Naya Kashmir" Manifesto to Maharaja Hari Singh. Full text of "Naya Kashmir" manifesto is given from page 314 -383.English translation of this text is available at Wikisource. Also see relevant chapters from Atish e Chinar regarding 1931 agitation (Chapters 9, 10 and 11) Glancy Commission (Chapter 15) formation of Muslim Conference (Chapter 18) meeting with Nehru (Chapter 23), reasons for change in name of Muslim Conference to National Conference (Chapter 24) and becoming president of All India States Peoples Conference (Chapter 31). His arrest and subsequent release following the Quit Kashmir agitation is discussed in Chapter 34 page 372-389.)

Head of emergency administration[link]

Sheik Mohammed Abdullah (right), chosen to head interim government in Indian-occupied sector, confers with Sardar Patel, deputy premier

Hari Singh appealed to Lord Mountbatten of Burma the Governor-General of India for Indian military aid. In his Accession Offer dated October 26, 1947 which accompanied The Instrument of Accession duly signed by him, the Maharaja Hari Singh wrote "I may also inform your Excellency's Government that it is my intention at once to set up an interim Government and ask Shaikh Abdullah to carry the responsibilities in this emergency with my Prime Minister."

Lord Mountbatten accepted the accession after a meeting of the Defence Committee on October 26, 1947. In accepting the accession unconditionally he wrote "I do hereby accept this Instrument of Accession. Dated this twenty seventh day of October, nineteen hundred and forty seven".^[25] In the covering letter to Hari Singh. he wrote "In consistence with their policy that in the case of any State where the issue of accession has been the subject of dispute, the question of accession should be decided in accordance with the wishes of the people of the State, it is my Government's wish that, as soon as law and order have been restored in Kashmir and its soil cleared of the invader, the question of the State's accession should be settled by a reference to the people".^[26] Also in his letter to the Maharaja Lord Mountbatten wrote "My Government and I note with satisfaction that your Highness has decided to invite Sheikh Abdullah to form an Interim Government to work with your Prime Minister. The support of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru the Prime Minister of India was a key factor in getting Sheikh Abdullah appointed as Head of the emergency administration by the Maharaja.^[27]

As a consequence, Sheikh Abdullah was appointed head of an emergency administration by an order issued by the Maharaja which was undated except for the mention October 1947 in place of the date. He took charge as Head of the Emergency Administration on 30 October 1947.^[28] After assuming the charge of the Head of the emergency administration, he addressing his first meeting with the government officers said "Pakistan is not our enemy and we have the same respect for Mr Jinnah that we had previously. We want the Kashmir issue to be settled by Dialog and if for this purpose I have to go to Karachi to meet Mr Jinnah I am willing to go there".^[29]

He raised a force of local Kashmiri volunteers to patrol Srinagar and take control of administration after the flight of the Maharaja along with his family and Prime Minister Meher Chand Mahajan to Jammu even before the Indian troops had landed. This group of volunteers would serve as the nucleus for the subsequent formation of Jammu and Kashmir Militia.^[30] This Sheikh Abdullah hoped would take over the defence of Kashmir after the Indian army was withdrawn. This was articulated in his letter to Sardar Patel dated 7 October 1948 in which he wrote, "With the taking over of the State forces by the Indian Government, it was agreed that steps would be taken to reorganise and rebuild our army so that when the present emergency is over and the Indian forces are withdrawn the State will be left with a proper organised army of its own to fall back upon."^[31] (Sheikh Abdullah has alleged that most of the Muslim soldiers of the Militia were either discharged or imprisoned before his arrest in 1953.^[32] The Militia (dubbed as Dagan Brigade) was converted from a State Militia to a regular unit of the Indian Army on 2 December 1972 and re designated the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry)^[33]

The UN Security Council brokered a ceasefire among the warring parties(which came into effect before midnight 1 January 1949)^[34] having passed a resolution demanding settlement of the question of Kashmir's accession to India or Pakistan by a plebiscite to be held under the auspices of the United Nations (Resolution 47 dated 21 April 1948 and UNCIP resolution dated 13 August 1948).^[35]

However, because of wrangling between India and Pakistan, this resolution remains unimplemented.

Prime Minister[link]

Sheikh Abdullah took oath as Prime Minister of Kashmir on March 17, 1948.^[36]

Pakistani view[link]

The government of Pakistan in 1947 viewed Abdullah and his party as agents of Nehru and did not recognise his leadership of Kashmir.^[37] However there was a change in Pakistan's viewpoint with the passage of time. When he visited Pakistan in 1964 he was awarded a tumultuous welcome by the people of Pakistan. Among the persons who received him was Chaudhary Ghulam Abbas his once colleague and later bitter political enemy who earlier in his book Kashmakash had denounced Sheikh Abdullah as a turncoat and traitor. Chaudhary Ghulam Abbas embraced him and in his speech described him as one of the greatest leaders of the subcontinent and a great benefactor of the Muslims of the subcontinent.^[38][39] President Ayub Khan and his then Foreign minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto discussed the Kashmir problem with him. The government of Pakistan treated him as a state guest.^[40] Sheikh Abdullah had the rare distinction of having poems in his praise written by three major Pakistani Urdu poets namely Hafeez Jullundhri, Josh and Faiz Ahmed Faiz who admired his lifelong struggle against injustice and for democratic rights of the common man.^[41]

Arrest and release[link]

On 8 August 1953 he was dismissed as Prime Minister by the then Sadr-i-Riyasat (Constitutional Head of State) Dr. Karan Singh son of the erstwhile Maharajah Hari Singh on the charge that he had lost the confidence of his cabinet (not the house)^[42] He was denied the opportunity to prove his majority on the floor of the house.^[43] and his dissident cabinet minister Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed was appointed as Prime Minister.^[44] Sheikh Abdullah was immediately arrested and later jailed for eleven years, accused of conspiracy against the State in the infamous "Kashmir Conspiracy Case".^[45]

According to Sheikh Abdullah his dismissal and arrest were engineered by the central government headed by Prime Minister Nehru.^[46] He has quoted B.N. Mullicks' statements in his book "My Years with Nehru"^[47] in support of his statement.^[46] A.G.Noorani writing in Frontline supports this view,as according to him Nehru himself ordered the arrest.^[48] On 8 April 1964 the State Government dropped all charges in the so called "Kashmir Conspiracy Case".^[49] Sheikh Abdullah was released and returned to Srinagar where he was accorded an unprecedented welcome by the people of the valley".^[50]

After his release he was reconciled with Nehru. Nehru requested Sheikh Abdullah to act as a bridge between India and Pakistan and make President Ayub to agree to come to New Delhi for talks for a final solution of the Kashmir problem. President Ayub Khan also sent telegrams to Nehru and Sheikh Abdullah with the message that as Pakistan too was a party to the Kashmir dispute any resolution of the conflict without its participation would not be acceptable to Pakistan. This paved the way for Sheikh Abdullah's visit to Pakistan to help broker a solution to the Kashmir problem.^[51]

Sheikh Abdullah went to Pakistan in spring of 1964. President Ayub Khan of Pakistan held extensive talks with him to explore various avenues for solving the Kashmir problem and agreed to come to Delhi in mid June for talks with Nehru as suggested by him. Even the date of his proposed visit was fixed and communicated to New Delhi.^[52] On 27 May while he was en route to Muzaffarabad in Pakistani Administered Kashmir news came of the sudden death of Nehru and the Sheikh after addressing a public rally at Muzaffarabad returned to Delhi.^[53] On his suggestion President Ayub Khan sent a high level Pakistani delegation led by his Foreign Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto along with him to take part in the last rites of Jawaharlal Nehru.^[54]

After Nehru's death in 1964, he was interned from 1965 to 1968 and exiled from Kashmir in 1971 for 18 months. The Plebiscite Front was also banned. This was allegedly done to prevent him and the Plebiscite Front which was supported by him from taking part in elections in Kashmir.^[55]

After Indo Pakistan war and creation of Bangladesh[link]

In 1971 an insurrection broke out in erstwhile East Pakistan, and subsequently war broke out between India and Pakistan which ended in the creation of Bangladesh. Sheikh Abdullah watching the alarming turn of events in the subcontinent realized that for the survival of this region there was an urgent need to stop pursuing confrontational politics and promoting solution of issues by a process of reconciliation and dialogue rather than confrontation.

If this was not done there was imminent danger of the breakup and balkanisation of both India and Pakistan with disastrous consequences for the people of this region. Realizing this he started talks with the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for normalizing the situation in the region and came to an accord called 1974 Indira-Sheikh accord with Indira Gandhi, then India's Prime Minister, by giving up the demand for a plebiscite in lieu of the people being given the right to self rule by a democratically elected Government (as envisaged under article 370 of the Constitution of India) rather than the puppet government which till then ruled the State.^[56]

Chief Minister[link]

Sheikh Abdullahs funeral procession was miles long and the largest in living memory.In this clip the President of India is offering his tribute

He assumed the position of Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Unfortunately the Central Government and the ruling Congress Party withdrew its support so that the State Assembly had to be dissolved and mid term elections called.^[57]

The National Conference won an overwhelming majority in the subsequent elections and reelected Sheikh Abdullah as Chief Minister.^[58] He remained as Chief Minister till his death in 1982.

Painting depicting funeral procession of Sheikh Abdullah.The Kashmiri artist Aslam was in Ladakh when Sheikh Abdullah died.He saw the funeral procession on television and the sight inspired this painting.The amazing detail of the expressions on the faces of the mourners is remarkable.It is an example of a type of miniature painting used by kashmiri artists for decorating paper machie objects.

Abdullah, described as a six feet four inches (1.93m)^[59][60][61] to six feet six inches (1.98m) tall man,^[62] was fluent in both Kashmiri and Urdu. His biography in Urdu entitled Atish-e-Chinar was written by the noted Kashmiri author M.Y.Taing and published after Sheikh Abdullah's death. It is often referred to as his autobiography as Taing claimed that he only acted as an amanuensis.^[63] It is based on extensive interviews that Taing had with Sheikh Abdullah and provides valuable information on Sheikh Abdullah's family background, early life, ringside glimpses of happenings in Kashmir at a crucial juncture in its history, and his viewpoint about the political events in Kashmir in which he himself played a central role.

After his death his eldest son Dr. Farooq Abdullah was elected as the Chief Minister of the State. Omar Abdullah who is the son of Farooq Abdullah has also emerged as an important political leader of the National Conference. He is the present chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

Notes[link]

See also[link]

• Discussion
• List of Kashmiris
• History of Jammu and Kashmir
• Kashmir conflict
• Instrument of Accession (Jammu and Kashmir)
• Kashmiriyat - a socio-cultural ethos of religious harmony and Kashmiri consciousness.
• Political Parties in Kashmir in 1947
• List of topics on the land and the people of "Jammu and Kashmir"
• Kashmir Conspiracy Case
• List of political families

References[link]

• A.G. Noorani (2000), "Article370: Law and Politics". Frontline Volume 17 - Issue 19, September 16–29, (Discusses illegality of Central Govt and Parliament's Actions in amending Article 370 without concurrence of Constituent Assembly of Kashmir)
• A.G. Noorani (2006), "Nehru's legacy in foreign affairs". Frontline Volume Volume 23 - Issue 15 :: July 29 August 11, 2006 (Discusses Nehru's role in arrest of Sheikh Abdullah and erosion of Article 370)
• B.N.Mullick (1972): My Years with Nehru (Provides evidence of Nehru's role in dismissal and arrest of Sheikh Abdullah.B.N.Mullick was head of Indian Intelligence Bureau at the time of his arrest)
• Justice A.S. Anand (2006) The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. Universal Law Publishing Co. ISBN 81-7534-520-9
• Mubashir Hassan (2008-07-18), "The Nedous and Lawrence of Arabia", The Nation (Pakistan), http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Lahore/18-Jul-2008/The-Nedous-and-Lawrence-of-Arabia, retrieved 2008-07-22 
• Rasheed Taseer (1973): Tareekh e Hurriyat e Kashmir (URDU). Muhafiz Publications Srinagar Volume 2 gives an account of evnts in Kashmir from 1932 to 1946 as seen by a local journalist.
• Sandeep Bamzai (2006): Bonfire of Kashmiryat Rupa & Co. New Delhi. ISBN 81-291-1060-1
• Sheikh Abdullah; M.Y.Taing (1985) Atish-e-Chinar (URDU). Shaukat Publications Srinagar (Often referred to as his autobiography. It has not been copyrighted in deference to Sheikh Abdullah's wishes)
• Tariq Ali (2003): The Clash of Fundamentalism. Verso Books. London.ISBN 978 1 85984 457 1
• Syed Taffazull Hussain (2008): Sheikh Abdullah - A biography. Wordclay. Indianapolis.IN. ISBN 978-1-60481-309-8
• APHC: White Paper On Elections in Kashmir (undated): (retrieved on 5 Nov 2008)
• Hussain Haqqani (2005): Pakistan Between Mosque and Military. Vanguard Books. Lahore. ISBN 969-402-498-6
• Baba Pyare Lal Bedi, Freda Marie (Houlston) Bedi (1949): Sheikh Abdullah: his life and ideals

[edit] New York Times reports

The New York Times published a total of 132 reports regarding Sheikh Abdullah from 1947 till his death in 1982. Some of the more important reports covering important events in his career are listed below.

• "OFFENSIVE IS FORECAST", (1948) The New York Times January 11, 1948
• " KASHMIR CHIEF HITS PAKISTAN IN U.N.; Moslem Sheikh Abdullah in Speech to Security Unit Holds Hitler soul transmigrated to Pakistan" (1948), The New York Times February 6
• "KASHMIR SETS UP A 'POPULAR' REGIME; Ruler Names Sheikh Abdullah Premier, Nehru Reports – Democratic Rule Pledged" (1948) The New York Times March 6
• "ISSUE OF RELIGION VITAL IN KASHMIR; Moslem Public Would Vote for Pakistan – Their Pro-Indian Leader Is Losing Ground" (1948) The New York Times August 25
• "PRIME MINISTER OF KASHMIR HERE" (1949) The New York Times December 16
• "KASHMIR ASSEMBLY POLL CALLED IRREGULAR AS PRO-INDIANS GAIN 58 SEATS BY DEFAULT" (1951) The New York Times September 28
• "KASHMIR FATE HELD UP TO LEGISLATURE; Accession Choice of Srinagar Congress, Not of U. N., Pakistan or India, Party Chief Says People to Decide Future Hold Matter of Prestige" (1951) The New York Times November 1
• "KIDNAP PLOT LAID TO PAKISTANI" (1951) The New York Times November 19
• "KASHMIR MAHARAJAH STRIPPED OF POWERS" (1951) The New York Times November 22
• KASHMIR CONFISCATES ALL LARGE ESTATES (1952) The New York Times April 1
• "CLAIM BY KASHMIR UPSETS NEW DELHI; Assertions of Sovereignty by Premier Seen Set to Coincide with Report by Graham" (1952)The New York Times April 12
• A CENTURY OF MAHARAJAHS COMES TO AN END IN KASHMIR (1952) The New York Times August 22
• NEHRU SAYS INDIAN EXTREMISTS SPUR RIOTING IN JAMMU IN SUBVERSIVE MOVE AGAINST SHEIKH (1952) The New York Times December 13
• ABDULLAH'S FOES RIOT AT KASHMIR ASSEMBLY (1953) The New York Times March 26
• KASHMIR'S REGIME SPLIT ON INDIA TIE; Premier, Once a Firm Backer of Accession, Voices Doubts – Rifts With Nehru Reported (1953) The New York Times August 3
• ABDULLAH OUSTED AS KASHMIR CHIEF; Formerly Pro-Indian Premier Is Dismissed Over New View on New Delhi Control (1953) The New York Times August 9
• JAILED KASHMIRI DENOUNCES INDIA; Sheikh Abdullah in Letter to U.N. Charges New Delhi With Repression Indians Warn of 'Plant' (1957) The New York Times August January 16
• SHEIKH ABDULLAH FREED IN KASHMIR; Sheikh Abdullah, 'Kashmir Lion,' Is Freed After 4¹⁄₂ Years in Jail; Former Leader, Imprisoned for Suspected Shift From India, Emerges Strong (1958) The New York Times January 9
• ABDULLAH TERMS PLEBISCITE VITAL; Tells Kashmiris It Is Up to Them to Decide to Join India or Pakistan (1958) The New York Times January 14
• KASHMIRI EX-LEADER BACKS PAKISTANI TIE (1958) The New York Times February 1
• SHEIKH ABDULLAH IS BACK IN PRISON; Sheikh Abdullah Is Rearrested By Kashmir Police as 'Hazard'; Former Prime Minister Held Without Charge – Warns Nehru on Indian Role The New York Times May 1
• Kashmir's "Lion" on Trial (1958) The New York Times October 26
• MOHAMMAD ABDULLAH DIES; LED INDIA'S STATE OF KASHMIR (1982) The New York Times September 9

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sheikh Abdullah

• Proclamation of May 1, 1951 on Jammu & Kashmir Constituent Assembly by Yuvraj (Crown Prince) Karan Singh from the Official website of Government of Jammu and Kashmir, India
• Conflict in Kashmir: Selected Internet Resources by the Library, University of California, Berkeley, USA; University of California at Berkeley Library Bibliographies and Web-Bibliographies list
• English Daily from Kashmir
• More than hundred and fifty historical documents on Kashmir
• / Historical documents on Jammu and Kashmir collection of Prof. Vincent Ferraro, Mt. Holyoke College
• Eyewitness account of events in Jammu in 1947 which led to removal of Meher Chand Mahajan as Prime Minister and his replacement by Sheikh Abdullah.
• Report in The Nation giving details of Akbar Jehans family and first marriage purportedly with Lawrence of Arabia
• http://books.google.com/books?id=CWjLtfi-ssIC&pg=PA321&lpg=PA321&dq=heavily+guarded+sheikh+abdullahs+grave&source=web&ots=_vrjSk02Iy&sig=YsUfSMVzG5lAm-lowkO2PtSMVMc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result
• http://www.chowk.com/articles/5304
• http://www.ummah.net/kashmir/docs/ody7.htm
• Chowdhary, Rekha. "Electoral Politics in the Context of Separatism and Political Divergence: An Analysis of 2009 Parliamentary elections in Jammu & Kashmir". South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal, 3, 2009.