By True Roots Editorial Team
Before BJP, Before Article 370—There Was Praja Parishad
In the crowded narrative of Article 370’s abrogation, one name rarely makes headlines—Praja Parishad, the little-known political outfit from Jammu whose ideological fight began decades before the BJP even existed. Today, on 5 August, as we reflect on J&K’s modern history, True Roots Media revisits the grassroots battle led by the Praja Parishad Party, whose story is one of forgotten arrests, ignored sacrifices, and deep national conviction.
A Movement Born in Turbulence
The Praja Parishad Party was formed in November 1947, shortly after Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession. Its founding figures—Hari Wazir, Hansraj Pangotra, and ideologues like Balraj Madhok and Prem Nath Dogra—believed Jammu and Kashmir must be integrated into India completely, without any special status or dual-symbol identity.
On 14 November 1952, the party launched its first formal satyagraha demanding:
- One Constitution
- One Prime Minister
- One National Flag for India—including J&K
Trivia : JPP also managed their finance indepenedantly to the extent of launching their own currency systems, which didn't last longer though.
This call gave rise to the now-iconic slogan:
🗣️ “Ek desh mein do vidhan, do pradhan, do nishan—nahi chalenge, nahi chalenge!”
Blood on the Flag: Sacrifices That Shaped History
The agitation was relentless and met with brutal force. Protestors tried hoisting the Indian flag in state government offices—and were jailed, lathi-charged, and even fired upon.
- 26 Nov 1952: Party president Prem Nath Dogra was arrested during a peaceful protest.
- Dec 1952: Police firing in Udhampur injured over 300 satyagrahis.
- Jan 1953: Mela Ram became the first martyr of the movement while attempting to hoist the tricolour in Chamb.
- In the following months, dozens were killed in Sunderbani, Ramvan, and Hiranagar, while thousands were detained.
The state responded with repression; the nation mostly remained silent.
From Jammu to Delhi: The Movement Goes National
The Praja Parishad soon found unlikely allies. In late 1952, they reached out to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, who was moved by their cause.
In May 1953, Dr. Mookerjee himself entered Jammu & Kashmir in defiance of state restrictions, was arrested, and died in custody on 23 June 1953 under mysterious circumstances. His death sent shockwaves across India—and made the Praja Parishad’s mission a national issue.
This led to a temporary pause of the agitation, but the movement never lost momentum.
Legacy: A Straight Line from Parishad to Parliament
The Bharatiya Jana Sangh, and later the BJP, absorbed both the Praja Parishad’s cause and many of its leaders. The demand for abrogation of Article 370 became core to BJP’s national agenda, culminating in its removal on 5 August 2019—nearly seven decades after the first satyagraha.
The sacrifices of Mela Ram, Prem Nath Dogra, and hundreds of unsung heroes laid the foundation for this constitutional shift, even if history textbooks seldom remember them.
Why True Roots Media Is Telling This Story Now
We believe that J&K’s political journey deserves to be told from the ground up—not top-down. This isn’t just a tale of policy change, but of ordinary citizens who believed in unity, made extraordinary sacrifices, and changed history with their grit.
As we launch True Roots Media on 5 August, we commit to continuing this legacy of truthful, bold, and ground-informed journalism.
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