Article 370: Evolving Clarity beyond the Conundrum; Edited by P Kumar; Publisher : Mewar University Press P 224, Rs. 490
Strategic location of the J&K in the Asian continent has created many vested interest internationally that led to the conspiracies of fabricating the crucial facts about the State.
Article 370, which is related to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, often becomes the point of discussion in the news rooms. In the absence of legally and logically correct information even big names in the media end up becoming the part of misinformation and propagandas related to J&K. Amongst misinformation and politicisation, a proper understanding of this Article 370 becomes very essential. This book is indeed a laudable effort to help people understand Article 370 properly.
The book Article 370: Evolving Clarity beyond the Conundrum is a compilation of researched articles by the experts on the various aspects related to the Article 370 of the Constitution of India. A temporary Article (Article 370) and a UN resolution are some of the unique things which are related to only one State of India, i.e., Jammu and Kashmir. Further, strategic location of the State in the Asian continent has created many vested interest internationally that led to the conspiracies of fabricating the crucial facts about the State. Central Asian Region and Russia have raised the western interests in Jammu and Kashmir. English thought that keeping the region of J&K disputed could serve their long term interests somehow. Islamic fanatics also consider J&K very crucial for the holy war of Islam called “Ghazwa-e-Hind”. Islamic fundamentalists in association with Pakistani policy makers worked on the policy of thousands wounds for the same region. All these have spread/created the misinformation about various issues related to Jammu and Kashmir as their tool just to confuse and confound the masses.
Correct information can only cease the misinformation. Articles in the book are concluded/supported by the researches of experts, all of which has made this a ‘must have’ book for anyone curious about the issues related to Article 370 of Constitution of India. This book can prove beneficial for lawyers and researcher also.
Priced at Rs 490, the book Article 370: Evolving Clarity beyond the Conundrum is a publication of Mewar University press in association with Adhivakta Parishad and Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC). Book has been edited by P Kumar, an assistant professor of law at Mewar Law Institute, Ghaziabad, who himself is also a research scholar on Article 370. Necessery references put in the footnote leave no ambiguity in mind.
The book has twelve chapters in which the expert authors have covered issues like Article 370 and UN resolution. The authors are mostly lawyers and academicians. Among them are celebrated lecturers, authors of many books on Jammu and Kashmir.
One thing about the book that everyone would notice is the language used to explain the legal aspects related to the Article 370. All the concepts and logics are easily understandable whereas the legal subjects are known for the complicacy of the language in their texts. Most readers would find chapter eleven very interesting as it presents many unheard facts about Jammu and Kashmir; rightly named as “101 socking facts about Jammu and Kashmir (Advocate JL DSouza)”. Comprehensive is the second chapter presented by Prof KL Bhatia, who is a professor of Law in National Law University and DAAD and MAX-PLANCK FELLOW, on the utility and relevance of United Nations Security Council Resolution related to Jammu and Kashmir in the present scenario. The articles by senior lawyer and former law minister Jagdeep Dhankad and Daya Sagar are also very informative.
The successive chapters contributed by the expert authors have explained the circumstances and political climate prevalent in 1949, which gave birth to interim Article 370. Undoubtedly, the book could be a comprehensive guide to understand the reality of Article 370.
Arvind
(The reviewer is researcher in J&K Study Centre)
