The regional aspiration of Jammu and Kashmir after independence is related to-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Maharaja Hari Singh wanted to have an independent status for the state.
Option (1) Maharaja Hari Singh wanted to have an independent status for the state. — Correct. The ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, did not want to merge with either India or Pakistan but wanted an independent status for his state.
Option (2) Sheikh Abdullah of the National Conference wanted to merge with Pakistan. — Incorrect. The popular movement led by Sheikh Abdullah wanted to get rid of the Maharaja but was against joining Pakistan; the National Conference was a secular organisation close to the Congress.
Option (3) The people of Kashmir region thought that they belonged to Pakistan and were ‘Pakistani’ above all. — Incorrect. It was the Pakistani leaders who thought Kashmir ‘belonged’ to Pakistan because most of its people were Muslim. The people themselves thought of themselves as Kashmiris above all.
Option (4) The issue of regional aspiration of the state of Jammu and Kashmir is known as Hurriyat. — Incorrect. This regional aspiration is known as Kashmiriyat. The Hurriyat Conference is a political group that led disturbances in the state in later years; it is not the name of this aspiration.
NCERT (2025-26): “Roots of the Problem … Before 1947, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was a Princely State. Its ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh did not want to merge either with India or Pakistan but to have an independent status for his state. The Pakistani leaders thought that Kashmir region ‘belonged’ to Pakistan, since the majority population of the State was Muslim. But this is not how the people of the state themselves saw it— they thought of themselves as Kashmiris above all. This issue of regional aspiration is known as Kashmiriyat. The popular movement in the State, led by Sheikh Abdullah of the National Conference, wanted to get rid of the Maharaja, but was against joining Pakistan.…” |