In 1931, when Kashmir erupted against Dogra rule after the killing of 22 protesters outside the Srinagar Central Jail, the British Resident in Kashmir strongly advocated for a commission to probe Muslim grievances.

Under pressure, Maharaja Hari Singh set up the Glancy Commission, headed by British official B J Glancy. The panel recommended the creation of a Praja Sabha or People’s Assembly, consisting of 75 seats: 33 elected, 30 nominated, and 12 official members. Of the 33 elected seats, 10 were reserved for Hindus, two for Sikhs, and 21 for Muslims. Ladakh, then a district, was allotted only two nominated seats.

It was Pandit Sridhar Kaul, a Kashmiri Hindu from Rainawari in Srinagar who, while serving as an Education Officer in Leh, led the formation of the Young Men’s Buddhist Associa

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