On 26 January 1950, the Constitution of India came into force with a unique provision—Article 370. The special status accorded to the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the article meant that its people lived under a different set of laws while being part of the Indian Union. Alternating deftly between history and politics, A.G. Noorani examines a wide range of documents pertaining to Article 370. He incisively analyses the implications and consequences of the article for the constitutional democracy of the state and the nation. From Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India in 1947 to the various negotiations thereafter; Sheikh Abdullah's arrest to the framing of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and the replacement of Sadar-i-Riyasat, this book impeccably documents the little-known constitutional history of the state. Noorani underscores the politics behind the gradual erosion of Article 370 and the need for restoration of autonomy. Critically analysing the various judgments relating to this constitutional arrangement, he suggests a framework for resolving the 'Kashmir problem'. Collecting together rare, often unseen and unnoticed, letters, memoranda, white papers, proclamations, and amendments, this book will be an indispensable resource on Kashmir.

The nullification of Article 370 and enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, had been landmark legislative actions in 2019. Author Sanjay Dixit delves deep into the past and traces the events, actions and their repercussions that finally led to the Union of India introducing these two measures. He looks at these events from all perspectives-historical, social and political. For Article 370, he traces the entire history of Kashmir from its pre-Islamic past and to the events that unfolded at the time of the Partition of India, leading to the initial inclusion of Article 370 in the Constitution of India. Dixit also studies in detail the legal and constitutional labyrinths, discussing the various Presidential Orders and case laws from the Constitutional Bench jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. For CAA, Dixit traces the constitutional history of India from the time of the partition of Bengal in 1905 to the unfortunate events of the Partition in 1947. His study relies heavily on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's analysis of the reasons for the Partition and the theology of a 'separate nation' that prevailed during the period. The author contends that this same theology has been staging a comeback now in the form of mazhabi pehchan which forms the crux of the anti-CAA protests. The informed position of the author, his lucidity of language and directness of approach lend clarity to his arguments and make this an accessible and important read.

The events in the book, give the reader a fair idea of how the 'system' used to work when Article 370 was in place and Jammu and Kashmir was a state. The book also helps explains how hybrid warfare is not just military in nature but has multiple dimensions. The book has special reference as to how the media operates in conflict zones. A must read for all those who aspire to be soldiers, work in administrative services or wish to be journalists.

Article 370 of the Constitution of India relating to special status of the State of Jammu and Kashmir is now sixty-nine years old. It is the only state in the Union of India which negotiated the terms of its membership with the Union. The state acceded to India under ‘unique circumstances’ and the ‘unique problems’ existing within the state require a ‘unique solution’. One such problem is the impact of Article 370 on its capable economy. Kashmir’s tourism is an under developed sector which nevertheless fuels its economy. It is abundantly rich in natural resources including fertile lands, rivers, and various other resources which otherwise would have contributed towards a flourishing economy. Despite this, the economy of the state has not been able to grow at an expected pace. The authors argue that it is because of the presence of Article 370 and the resulting socio political conditions, the economy is in a sorry state. The constitutional provision giving special status ensures that no outsider can buy land or start any business, which makes it difficult to invest in the state. Also, the provision gives a limited space to the central government in the economic domain and in consequence to pool substantial resources for consolidating the economy. The authors’ idea is to bring forth how this politico-legal provision has shaped the economy of the state and how the functioning is to be changed for a better future.

Provocative, insightful and passionately argued, this book brings a unique perspective to an increasingly polarized debate on the dilution of Article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution and subsequent bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories.

The book is a comprehensive study on human rights in Kashmir in relation to the dynamics of Indo-Pakistani policies, providing a structured and interdisciplinary approach to the subject. Whilst surveying some of the most appalling case studies of human rights abuses, the book offers a methodical analysis of the structural and structured human rights violations in the divided Kashmir and placing them in a much broader context of South Asian politics. The book examines root causes responsible for a human rights violations-prone environment and climate of impunity in which the actors perpetrate their crimes unpunished, unwrapping legal and extralegal nexus behind the crimes. Human Rights Violations in Kashmir will appeal to students and scholars of peace and conflict studies, international relations, human rights studies and South Asian studies.