The National Museum Institute, Kashmir has decided to hold a two-day event to document, reconstruct and bring the historic narrative of the hostile Kabali aggression that took place on October 22, 1947. The two days National Symposium will be focusing on memories of October 22, 1947 (Black Day).
“A two-day symposium on ‘Memories of October 22, 1947 proposed to be organised in Kashmir by the National Museum Institute will bring forth the historical narrative of October 22, 1947. The symposium proposes to outline shapes and contours of a future exhibition/museum on the proposed theme,” said an official statement of the organisers of the symposium.
“A museum or an exhibition will become one of the platforms to document, reconstruct and to bring alive the historic narrative of October 22, 1947. Remembering the violence and atrocity of the invaders and the valour displayed in overcoming this challenge will be a tribute to the people who laid down their lives in the first battle of independent India. The said exhibition or memorial will be the first of its kind in this direction,” the statement reads.
The statement said that at its birth as a young independent nation in 1947, India faced multiple challenges, one of the prominent amongst which was the choice given to the erstwhile Maharajas of India to be an independent country, or to be a part of India or to be a part of Pakistan.
“On October 22, 1947, Pakistan invaded Kashmir and brought in its wake horrifying stories of mass plunder and vandalism. Thousands of men, women and children were mercilessly killed. On October 26, 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession merging his state with India. Following the accession of the state to India, Indian troops were airlifted to Srinagar, the state capital to repel the tribal invasion,” the statement further said.
“October 22, 1947, marks the beginning of the first Indo-Pak war. The consequences of this water-shed event are still affecting the country,” it added.
The aim of celebrating black day is to bring about awareness among the people about this phase of history. It will help in remembering how the country fought with kabali invaders and saved Kashmir.
The statement further said that it is necessary to portray such a historic narrative in order to create a dialogue among the people.
“Such an initiative would be to bring about awareness among the people about this phase of our history. It will help in remembering how the country fought in the very first conflict faced by India,” it said.
It is to be noted that on October 26, 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with India and the Indian army started a rescue plan to save Jammu Kashmir from Pakistan Invaders.
(With inputs from ANI)
