Why Ashoka emblem inside Hazratbal Shrine risks disturbing the fragile peace in Kashmir
Hazratbal Shrine, Kashmir’s most revered religious site, has once again become the centre of political and religious tensions. The fresh trigger is the installation of a plaque bearing the Ashoka emblem inside the shrine complex on September 5 by Jammu and Kashmir Wakf Board. For many in the Valley, the incident instantly recalls the traumatic memory of 1963, when the holy relic, believed to be a strand of hair of Prophet Muhammad, went missing from Hazratbal, triggering massive protests, forcing the then prime minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru to address the nation, appealing for calm and ordering an investigation into the disappearance of the relic.
The relic was brought to Kashmir in the 17th century by Syed Abdullah Madai, a descendant of the Prophet. Eventually, the relic came into the possession of Inayat Begum, daughter of Khwaja Nur-ud-Din Eshai, who safeguarded it at Hazratbal.
Enraged worshippers accused Waqk Board of hurting their religious sentiments, and even damaged the plaque.
For many Kashmiris, the shrine embodies both their spiritual devotion and their collective memory of resistance. Unless addressed with sensitivity, it risks disturbing the fragile peace restored in the region after the abrogation of Article 370
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the installation of the emblem "deeply insensitive." “The national emblem is meant for government buildings and functions, not for shrines or mosques,” Abdullah said. "By placing it at Hazratbal, the board has hurt the sentiments of thousands of worshippers. At the very least, they should have apologised instead of threatening the people.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said the Waqk Board’s act amounts to blasphemy and demanded legal action. Instead of threatening the worshippers, an FIR under Section 295-A should be filed against those responsible for installing the emblem, she said.
Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi said the inauguration plaque was not a religious symbol inside the shrine. “Those who defaced it have broken the law and must face action,” she said. “The Public Safety Act is an appropriate deterrent against such acts of vandalism.”
The police have detained 25 people for questioning, but are acting cautiously to avoid sparking any wider demonstrations. The security at the shrine has been strengthened.
Because of the holy relic, Hazratbal has been at the heart of Kashmir’s religious and political awakening. When the relic went missing in December 1963, large-scale protests rocked Kashmir. Tensions spread to West Bengal and East Pakistan( now Bangladesh).
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Nehru addressed the nation and ordered the CBI to investigate the disappearance of the relic. The relic was recovered in January 1964 and placed back in the shrine after its authenticity was confirmed by top clerics.
The episode is remembered as the Holy Relic Movement, which altered Kashmiri politics and deepened the emotional bond between people and Hazratbal.
Decades later, in 1993, a stand-off between security forces and militants who took refuge inside sparked protests, bringing Kashmir on edge. The situation became tense as some civilians were also trapped with militants inside the shrine. Tensions escalated after 40 protesters were killed outside in security force’s firing in two incidents, including 37 at Bijbehara in Anantnag. The militants were eventually provided a safe passage after long negotiations with the authorities. Three years later, militants again moved into the shrine as cover. After the negotiations, they left the shrine and moved to a nearby building. Within days, security forces launched an assault and killed 22 militants. Two buildings near the shrine were destroyed.
India