Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh’s breathtaking landscapes, serene valleys, and majestic mountains have captivated the hearts of poets, artists and adventurers for generations. It is a place where the sublime meets the extraordinary, where the Himalayas reach for the sky, and the pristine waters of its lakes and rivers mirror the heavens. But, for the last seven decades, these places have witnessed the worst forms of violence and instability, something which the wonderful people never deserved.
Unfortunately, due to centuries of colonisation, most notably economic and mental subjugation, we became a confused society of sorts. Rather than taking a clear position on basic things, we allowed duality, leading to confusion. Sadly, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) became a victim of such a mindset. At the time of independence, we had a choice of making a fresh start for national integration. Instead, we decided to continue with the confused approach even if it meant ignoring the long-term national interests.
I had the opportunity of being associated with the Jammu and Kashmir Andolan from early in my life. I belong to an ideological framework where J&K was not merely a political issue — it was about addressing the aspirations of society. Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee held an important portfolio in the Nehru Cabinet and could have remained in government for a long time. Yet, he quit over the Kashmir issue and chose the tougher road even if it meant paying with his life. His efforts and sacrifice led to crores of Indians becoming emotionally attached with the Kashmir issue. Years later, Atal ji, at a public meeting in Srinagar gave the powerful message of “Insaniyat”, “Jamhooriyat” and “Kashmiriyat”, which has also been a source of great inspiration.
It was always my firm belief that what had happened in J&K was a great betrayal — of our nation and of the people living there. It was also my strong desire to do whatever I can to remove this blot, this injustice done to the people. I have always wanted to work to alleviate the suffering of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In very basic words, Articles 370 and 35 (A) were major obstacles, and those suffering as a result were the poor and downtrodden. They ensured that the people of J&K never got the rights and development that the rest of their fellow Indians did. Due to these Articles, a distance was created between people belonging to the same nation. As a result, many people who wanted to work to solve the problems of J&K were unable to even if they felt the pain of the people there.
As a Karyakarta who has seen the issue closely over the last several decades, I had a nuanced understanding of the specifics and complexities involved. Yet, I was crystal clear about one thing: The people of J&K want development and they want to contribute to the development of India based on their strengths and skills. They also want a better quality of life for their children — free from violence and uncertainty. Thus, while serving the people of J&K, we gave primacy to three pillars — understanding citizens’ concerns, building trust through supportive actions, and prioritising development, development and more development.
In 2014, just after we assumed office, deadly floods struck and caused a lot of damage in the Kashmir Valley. In September 2014, I went to Srinagar to assess the situation and announced Rs 1,000 crore as special assistance for rehabilitation, signalling our government’s commitment to supporting the people during crises. I had the opportunity to meet people from different walks of life and there was one common thread in these interactions — the people not only wanted development, but they also wanted freedom from the rampant corruption prevailing for decades. The same year, I decided not to mark Diwali in remembrance of those we lost in J&K and decided to be there on Diwali day.
In order to further strengthen J&K’s development journey, we decided that our government’s ministers would frequently go there and interact with people directly. These frequent visits also played a crucial role in building goodwill. From May 2014 to March 2019, over 150 ministerial visits took place. This is a record in itself. The special package of 2015 was a significant step in addressing the developmental needs of Jammu and Kashmir. It contained initiatives for infrastructure development, job creation, tourism promotion and support to the handicraft industry.
We harnessed the power of sports in recognising its potential to ignite the dreams of the youth. Through sporting initiatives, we witnessed the transformational impact of athletic pursuits on their aspirations and futures. Sporting venues were upgraded, training programmes were organised and coaches were made available. One of the most unique things was to encourage the setting up of local football clubs. The results were outstanding. The name of the talented footballer Afshan Ashiq comes to my mind: In December 2014, she was part of a stone-pelting group in Srinagar but with the right encouragement she turned to football, was sent for training and excelled in the game. I recall interacting with her in one of the Fit India Dialogues where I said it’s time for “Bend it like Beckham” to move over because it is now “Ace it like Afshan”. Other youngsters began to shine in kickboxing, Karate and more.
The Panchayat polls were also a watershed moment in the region’s quest for all-round development. Once again, we faced the choice of either remaining in power or standing by our principles — the choice was never tough and we let go of a government for our ideals. The aspirations of the people of J&K were given priority. The success of Panchayat polls indicated the democratic nature of the people of J&K. My mind went back to an interaction I had with Pradhans from the villages. Among other issues, I made a request to them — at no point must schools be burnt and that must be ensured. I was delighted to see that this was adhered to. After all, if schools are burnt, the biggest sufferers are children.
August 5, 2019, is etched in the hearts and minds of every Indian. Parliament passed the historic decision to abrogate Article 370. Since then, much has changed in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The judicial verdict came in December 2023 but seeing the wave of development across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, the people’s court has given a resounding thumbs up to Parliament’s decision of abolishing Articles 370 and 35(A) for four years now.
At a political level, the last four years have been marked with a renewed faith in grassroots democracy. Women, SCs, STs and marginalised sections of society were not getting their due. At the same time, the aspirations of Ladakh were ignored. August 5, 2019, changed all that. All central laws now apply without fear or favour. Representation is also more widespread — a three-tier Panchayati Raj system is in place, BDC elections have been held, and refugee communities who were all but forgotten have begun to enjoy the fruits of development.
Key central government schemes have attained saturation levels, thus covering all sections of society. These include Saubhagya and Ujjwala schemes. Strides have been made in housing, tap water connections and financial inclusion. Healthcare, otherwise a major challenge, has witnessed an upgrade of infrastructure. All the villages achieved ODF Plus stats. Government vacancies, which were a den of corruption and favouritism, have been filled in a transparent and process-driven manner. Other indicators like IMR have improved. The boost to infrastructure and tourism is for everyone to see. The credit for this naturally goes to the resilience of the people of J&K, who have shown time and again that they want only development and are willing to be drivers of this positive change. Earlier, there was a question mark on the status of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Now, there are only exclamation marks about record growth, development and tourist inflows.
In its verdict on December 11, the Supreme Court has strengthened the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”. It has reminded us that what define us are bonds of unity and a shared commitment to good governance. Today, every child in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh is born with a clean canvas, where he or she can paint a future full of vibrant aspirations. Today, the dreams of the people are no longer prisoners of the past but about possibilities for the future. After all, development, democracy and dignity have replaced disillusionment, disappointment and despondency.
The writer is prime minister of India
Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh’s breathtaking landscapes, serene valleys, and majestic mountains have captivated the hearts of poets, artists and adventurers for generations. But, for the last seven decades, these places have witnessed the worst forms of violence and instability. (Illustration by CR Sasikumar) 
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