International Journal of Kashmir Studies (IJKS)

Abstract: Subnational autonomy arrangements within federal and quasi-federal state structures frequently serve as institutional mechanisms for managing deeply contested regional identities and ethnic federal disputes. This article undertakes a rigorous comparative institutional analysis of the constitutional bargaining dynamics between the central government and the subnational administration of Jammu and Kashmir. By examining legislative enactments, executive protocols, constituent assembly debates, and subsequent presidential orders issued between 1950 and 2016, we explore how the scope of regional autonomy underwent progressive erosion and procedural modification. The study evaluates the theoretical frameworks of asymmetric federalism, demonstrating that asymmetric arrangements, while initially conceived to accommodate distinct regional sovereignty pacts, often become subjects of intense legal contestation and political friction. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the domestic political repercussions of center-periphery legislative frictions on electoral legitimacy, regional party positioning, and public trust in democratic institutions. We argue that sustainable federal stability requires transparent institutional safeguards, genuine consultative mechanisms, and strict adherence to the original constitutional compact. The study concludes with theoretical insights relevant to federations managing protracted subnational identity conflicts globally.

Abstract: The late colonial period in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir was characterized by profound socio-economic distress, heavy land revenue exactions, debt bondage, and acute agrarian stratification. This historical study investigates the genesis, organizational structure, and ideological trajectory of early peasant uprisings and labor movements against feudal landlordism and arbitrary taxation between 1925 and 1947. Utilizing archival records from state revenue departments, British residency reports, vernacular pamphlets, and oral narratives, the research reconstructs the conditions of rural cultivators in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu province. We examine how economic grievances catalyzed broader anti-feudal political mobilization, eventually intersecting with the national liberation struggle and culminating in radical land reform initiatives in the post-independence era. The study highlights the instrumental role played by agrarian leagues and progressive intellectuals in articulating peasant rights and challenging entrenched social hierarchies. Ultimately, the paper demonstrates how the legacy of pre-independence peasant mobilization fundamentally reshaped rural property relations and political loyalties in modern Kashmir.

Abstract: Traditional artisanal crafts, including pashmina shawl weaving, paper-mâché, wood carving, and carpet weaving, form a cornerstone of Kashmir’s non-agricultural economy, supporting hundreds of traditional artisan families. However, globalization, intermediary exploitation, counterfeit machine-made products, and recurring civil disruptions pose severe threats to the sustainability of these craft communities. This empirical research evaluates the socio-economic efficacy of cooperative societies, fair-trade networks, and government artisan welfare schemes in protecting traditional livelihoods and improving wage distribution. Drawing on a survey of 500 weavers and craftsmen across Srinagar and Budgam districts conducted in 2016–2017, the authors analyze household income vulnerability, access to institutional credit, and supply chain bottlenecks. The findings indicate that while cooperative frameworks offer some degree of protection against exploitative middlemen, structural inefficiencies, lack of modern design adaptation, and digital marketing gaps severely hinder global export potential. We recommend establishing decentralized artisan guilds, Geographical Indication (GI) enforcement cells, and direct digital e-commerce platforms to secure fair compensation and preserve intangible craft heritage.

Abstract: Universities and colleges operating within prolonged conflict environments occupy a complex dual position as sanctuaries of critical thought and focal points of political polarization and state surveillance. This paper examines the state of academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and student political activism across higher educational institutions in Kashmir, including the University of Kashmir and the National Institute of Technology. Through qualitative interviews with faculty members, university administrators, and student leaders conducted in 2017, the study analyzes the impact of campus militarization, recurring session suspensions, internet restrictions, and administrative interventions on scholarly discourse and pedagogical delivery. We explore how student bodies navigate political dissent, negotiate campus civic spaces, and articulate collective identity claims amidst intense security scrutiny. The authors argue that suppressing academic freedom undermines the intellectual vitality and long-term socio-economic development of the region. The paper concludes by advocating for institutional reforms that safeguard university autonomy, protect student expression, and foster open, democratic dialogue within academic spaces.

Abstract: Preventive detention legislation, particularly state-specific public safety statutes and national security enactments, has been extensively utilized by executive authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to detain individuals without trial on subjective satisfaction grounds. This legal study provides a critical jurisprudential assessment of preventive detention frameworks, procedural safeguards, and habeas corpus petitions adjudicated by the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and the Supreme Court of India up to 2017. Analyzing hundreds of reported and unreported habeas corpus judgments, the authors investigate judicial scrutiny standards concerning procedural compliance, grounds of detention communication, stale allegations, and executive arbitrariness. The study reveals a recurring institutional tension between executive claims of public order maintenance and judicial mandates protecting personal liberty and due process rights. We argue that broad discretionary executive detention powers, combined with inadequate independent review mechanisms, create systemic vulnerabilities for civil liberties. The paper proposes strict statutory amendments, mandatory judicial oversight, and adherence to international human rights standards regarding detention review.

Abstract: Language functions as a vital vehicle of ethnic identity, cultural heritage, and literary expression. The Kashmiri language (Koshur), despite boasting a rich classical and modern literary lineage, faces severe institutional and sociological challenges regarding script standardization, educational inclusion, and intergenerational transmission. This study investigates the current sociolinguistic status of Kashmiri across educational curricula, mass media, administration, and domestic domains. Drawing upon linguistic surveys, interviews with educators, and curriculum audits conducted in 2017, the authors examine the consequences of official language policies, medium-of-instruction practices, and the dominance of English and Urdu in public institutions. The research highlights the urgent need for comprehensive digital linguistic documentation, dialectal mapping across regional variants, and robust mother-tongue primary education pedagogy. We contend that state-sponsored institutional patronage and community-driven literary initiatives are essential to safeguard the linguistic vitality and cultural dignity of the Kashmiri-speaking populace in contemporary South Asia.

Abstract: The Line of Control (LoC) dividing Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan represents one of the most heavily militarized de facto borders globally. This geographical and sociological study examines the everyday spatial experiences, socio-economic vulnerabilities, and coping strategies of rural communities residing in border villages across Poonch, Rajouri, Kupwara, and Uri. Utilizing spatial mapping, focus group discussions, and household surveys conducted in 2016–2017, the research investigates the impact of artillery shelling, landmine contamination, restricted mobility, fencing installations, and economic isolation on civilian livelihoods. The authors apply geopolitical theories of borderlands to analyze how state security infrastructure profoundly restructures local agrarian routines, access to health and educational facilities, and familial ties across the dividing line. The study emphasizes the humanitarian imperative of establishing institutional safety protocols, compensation mechanisms for border residents, and localized confidence-building measures to alleviate civilian suffering in militarized border zones.

Abstract: International media representation plays a crucial role in shaping global public perception, diplomatic priorities, and normative frameworks regarding protracted regional conflicts. This article presents a comparative framing analysis of international news coverage of the Kashmir dispute across prominent Western, South Asian, and Middle Eastern print and broadcast media outlets from 2010 to 2016. Analyzing a corpus of over 1,200 news reports, editorials, and opinion columns, the study identifies dominant journalistic frames, including the security-terrorism frame, the bilateral geopolitical dispute frame, the human rights violation frame, and the humanitarian crisis frame. The empirical findings indicate significant editorial divergences: Western media outlets frequently prioritize terrorism and bilateral nuclear deterrence paradigms, whereas regional South Asian media reflect state-centric national security narratives. The authors argue that narrow episodic framing tends to obscure the historical depth and socio-political complexities of the conflict. The study advocates for more nuanced, conflict-sensitive journalism that incorporates local voices and structural root causes.