Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781849043427)

In 1846, the British created the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) - popularly called "Kashmir" - and then quickly sold this prized region to the wily and powerful Raja, Gulab Singh. Intriguingly, had they retained it, the India-Pakistan dispute over possession of the state may never have arisen, but Britain's concerns lay elsewhere -- expansionist Russia, beguiling Tibet and unstable China "circling" J&K -- and their agents played the 'Great Game' in Afghanistan and 'Turkistan'.

Snedden contextualizes the geo-strategic and historical circumstances surrounding the British decision to relinquish prestigious 'Kashmir', and explains how they and four Dogra maharajas consolidated and controlled J&K subsequently. He details what comprised this diverse princely state with distant borders and disunified peoples and explains the Maharaja of J&K's controversial accession to India on 26 October 1947 - and its unintended consequences.

Snedden weaves a compelling narrative that frames the Kashmir dispute, explains why it continues, and assesses what it means politically and administratively for the divided peoples of J&K and their undecided futures.

Author: Christopher Snedden
ISBN-10: 1849043426
ISBN-13: 9781849043427
Publisher: Hurst & Co.
Language: English
Published: 09/15/2015
Pages: 288
Format: Paperback
Weight: 1.15lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.40w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 04/01/2016