Srinagar, Dec 5, KNT: As the National Conference observes the 120th birth anniversary of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, several historical accounts recall episodes from the 1940s and 1950s that his contemporaries viewed as examples of political arrogance or overconfidence during critical phases of Jammu and Kashmir’s early politics. Historical accounts from the 1940s and 1950s document several occasions when Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah asserted his authority in ways that contemporaries later recalled as signs of political overconfidence. These incidents, preserved in memoirs and commentaries of the period, illustrate how his leadership style generated both admiration and criticism during Kashmir’s formative decades.
One of the most referenced episodes relates to his confrontation with Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad in the early 1950s. According to historical accounts, Bakshi attempted to raise administrative concerns during a closed-door meeting. Sheikh Abdullah, however, reportedly responded sharply and told him that he alone understood the correct path for Kashmir’s politics. Witnesses described the exchange as unusually tense, and later writings note that the incident deepened the internal rift that preceded the 1953 split in the party.
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Historical writings also mention his reluctance to accept internal advice during the autonomy debates of 1952 and 1953. Political commentators including Mir Qasim, Ghulam Ahmad Ashai and Prem Nath Bazaz wrote that Sheikh Abdullah often dismissed alternative viewpoints, maintaining that his interpretation of Kashmir’s political future was the only correct one. These accounts suggest that several of his colleagues felt increasingly sidelined as discussions with New Delhi became more complex.
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Journalists of that era recorded further instances during public gatherings where Sheikh Abdullah responded firmly to critical questions from the audience. Witnesses recalled occasions where he told individuals they lacked understanding of broader political realities and should refrain from questioning his decisions. While his supporters viewed such responses as strong leadership, others interpreted them as impatience with dissent.
Another set of incidents cited in political literature concerns his interactions with certain religious leaders who disagreed with his positions. Several clerics wrote that Sheikh Abdullah advised them to remain focused on religious matters and avoid political interference. These remarks, delivered at a time of shifting political identities, were interpreted by some as dismissive.
Historians argue that these episodes reflect the pressures and volatility of the period rather than a single consistent pattern. Nevertheless, they remain part of documented recollections that portray Sheikh Abdullah as an assertive and sometimes uncompromising figure whose leadership style shaped, and at times strained, his relationships with colleagues, critics and religious circles during Kashmir’s early political transition. [KNT]
