Kashmiri Pandit Activist Demands July 13 Be Declared Black Day

Srinagar: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and prominent Kashmiri Pandit activist Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo has made a strong appeal to the administration to officially declare July 13 as 'Black Day'. Chrungoo emphasized that this move is essential to recognize the historical suffering and persecution of the minority Kashmiri Pandit community, which he traces back to the events of July 13, 1931.

To understand the gravity of the demand, it is crucial to examine the historical context of July 13 in Jammu and Kashmir. For decades, the day was officially observed as 'Martyrs Day' in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir to commemorate the 22 Kashmiri Muslims who were killed by the police of the Dogra ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, during an uprising in 1931. While mainstream regional political parties historically viewed these individuals as freedom fighters who stood up against an autocratic regime, Kashmiri Pandits and nationalist groups have long held a contrasting perspective. They argue that the events of July 13, 1931, marked the onset of communal violence, looting, and targeted attacks against the minority Hindu community in the Kashmir Valley.

Speaking on the matter, Chrungoo stated that July 13, 1931, represents a dark chapter in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. According to him, the violence unleashed on that day laid the groundwork for future communal polarization and the eventual forced displacement of Kashmiri Pandits in 1989-1990. He urged the Union Territory administration and the Central Government to officially document these events and declare July 13 as 'Black Day' to honor the victims of the communal riots that erupted during the 1931 agitation.

The political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir underwent a monumental shift on August 5, 2019, when the Government of India abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Following this transition, the newly formed Union Territory administration revised the official holiday calendar. In late 2019, the government decided to scrap 'Martyrs Day' on July 13 and the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah on December 5 from the list of public holidays. Instead, October 26, celebrated as 'Accession Day'—marking the day Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession to join India in 1947—was declared a public holiday.

Chrungoo's demand for 'Black Day' status is a continuation of this ideological shift. By officially designating July 13 as a day of mourning or remembrance of communal violence, the administration would formally validate the grievances of the Kashmiri Pandit community. The activist argued that recognizing the historical truth is a necessary step toward justice and reconciliation for the displaced community. He also called upon intellectual circles, civil society, and historians to re-evaluate the events of 1931 through an objective lens, free from the political narratives of the past.