Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Hari Singh Birthday Holiday Deepens Jammu and Kashmir Divide
Jammu and Kashmir has a public holiday for Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday.
Many people in Jammu celebrated with marches, colorful clothes and tributes.
The National Conference says Hari Singh’s rule was harsh and wants the holiday for Sheikh Abdullah’s birthday restored.
The BJP says Hari Singh helped the region and should be remembered.
The two parties argued about this in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
Some legislators also want July 13, Martyrs’ Day, to become a holiday again.
That day remembers 22 people killed during a 1931 uprising against the Dogra monarchy.
The disagreement shows that different groups in the region remember its history in different ways.
Jammu Dogras celebrated Maharaja Hari Singh’s 131st birth anniversary with processions, slogans and public tributes.
The holiday on September 23 was introduced after the holiday for Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s birth anniversary was cancelled.
The National Conference called Hari Singh’s rule repressive and demanded restoration of Sheikh Abdullah’s holiday.
The BJP defended the holiday, praising Hari Singh’s reforms and contributions to Jammu and Kashmir.
The dispute triggered competing slogans in the Assembly, while legislators also sought restoration of Martyrs’ Day on July 13.
- Who
- The Jammu and Kashmir government, the National Conference, the Bharatiya Janata Party, Dogra groups and other legislators, including members of the Peoples Democratic Party, are involved.
- What
- A public holiday for Maharaja Hari Singh’s birth anniversary has sparked a political and regional dispute, including demands to restore holidays for Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Martyrs’ Day.
- When
- Hari Singh’s birth anniversary was celebrated on Wednesday; the Assembly confrontation took place on Tuesday. The holiday is observed on September 23.
- Where
- The dispute centers on Jammu and Kashmir, with major celebrations in Jammu and contrasting reactions in the Kashmir Valley; events were also held in Srinagar.
- Why
- The disagreement reflects opposing views of Hari Singh’s rule and legacy, Sheikh Abdullah’s role in the region’s history, and the commemoration of those killed in the 1931 uprising.
National Conference and Holiday Restoration Supporters
Bharatiya Janata Party and Hari Singh Supporters
Assessment of Hari Singh’s rule
National Conference and Holiday Restoration Supporters
The National Conference describes Hari Singh’s reign as repressive and says celebrating his birthday while removing Sheikh Abdullah’s holiday is historically contradictory.
Bharatiya Janata Party and Hari Singh Supporters
The BJP portrays Hari Singh as an enlightened and progressive statesman whose reforms and contributions to Jammu and Kashmir should be remembered.
Which holidays should be observed
National Conference and Holiday Restoration Supporters
The National Conference demands that Sheikh Abdullah’s anniversary holiday be restored and has said the Hari Singh holiday should be dropped if that does not happen. Several legislators also seek the return of Martyrs’ Day.
Bharatiya Janata Party and Hari Singh Supporters
The BJP opposes cancelling the Hari Singh holiday and says it was introduced after a prolonged campaign led by the Yuva Rajput Sabha.
Historical legacy
National Conference and Holiday Restoration Supporters
National Conference legislators describe Sheikh Abdullah as a democratic leader who opposed autocratic rule and secured rights for the people.
Bharatiya Janata Party and Hari Singh Supporters
Hari Singh supporters emphasize his identity as the last Dogra ruler and commemorate him through processions, floral tributes, slogans and public functions.
- Holiday date
- September 23, Maharaja Hari Singh’s birth anniversary
- Anniversary celebrated
- Hari Singh’s 131st birth anniversary
- Holiday controversy
- The holiday for Hari Singh was introduced after the holiday for Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s birth anniversary was cancelled
- Martyrs’ Day
- July 13 commemorated 22 people killed during the 1931 uprising against the Dogra monarchy
- 2019 change
- Martyrs’ Day was removed from the public-holiday list after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the former state into two Union Territories
- Assembly dispute
- National Conference members sought restoration of Sheikh Abdullah’s holiday, while BJP members defended the Hari Singh holiday
- Historical reforms
- The unrest following the 1931 killings led to limited political reforms, and the first Assembly elections were held in 1934
