Walter Lawrence’s ‘The Valley of Kashmir’ and Exploitation of the Kashmiris.

Abstract

Kashmiris, the poorest of the poor, throughout ages, have greatly been oppressed, suppressed, subjugated and marginalized. The pages of history document the inhumane and barbaric treatment that the Kashmiris have received from their maters/rulers. The sale of Kashmir by the British to Gulab Singh in 75 lakhs, is a seminal exemplification of the fact that the Kashmiris were not even considered/ consulted while taking this significant, drastic and disastrous decision. The sale deed itself implies that it was not only the territory of Kashmir that was sold but, the people/ citizens/residents of Kashmir were also sold to, and thereby, inherited, like other insignificant things and animals, by another master.