The Impacts of Iran’s Islamic Revolution on the Indian Subcontinent: Observations from Kashmir

Introduction:

The revolutionary ideology of Imam Khomeini is retrieved from the true Islamic teachings which led to the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution and caused the emergence of an awakening wave based on the pure Islam of Prophet Muhammad, the ideology of seeking independence, pursuing justice and fighting against oppression throughout the world. This wave along with hope and a consistent hopeful look into the future, in the countries under oppression or the so-called ‘third world countries,’ is more impressive and dynamic and increasing amongst the Muslim countries. Today, the Islamic Awakening that we are witnessing in different Muslim countries is the result of this great, divine and luminous movement. One of the Islamic territories, where these impacts can be evidently seen, is Kashmir in the Indian subcontinent, a place that has been acknowledged as the ancestral land of Imam Khomeini.

Imam Khomeini, the revolution and the Shi’ahs of Kashmir

According to what we have witnessed, the impacts of Imam Khomeini and Iran’s Islamic Revolution in Kashmir are clearly evident. Although the Islamic revolution and the movement of Imam Khomeini achieved victory and led to the fall of the oppressive Pahlavi regime in the limited geographical boundaries of Iran and replaced it with an Islamic system, however, its influence exceeded the boundaries and managed to have deep impacts on the Muslims and the Shi’ahs of Kashmir. Seeking independence, pursuing liberation, fighting against oppression and imperialism were among the political slogans of Iran’s Islamic Revolution which attracted the attention of all the people that were seeking independence. Kashmir was deeply influenced by Iran’s Islamic Revolution and even more so by the great personality, method and character of Imam Khomeini. At a time when there was no independent Shi’ah country and all the countries were either under the influence of the Western or Eastern countries, the people of Kashmir chose Imam Khomeini as their epitome. They promoted the Iranian and Shi’ah cultures by conducting religious and revolutionary assemblies and ceremonies.

Before the revolution, Imam Khomeini was in Najaf al-Ashraf and taught a series of lessons on Islamic government which was later compiled and published as ‘Guardianship of the Jurisprudent’ (wilayat al-faqih). The late Sayyid Muhammad Husayn, the grandson of the daughter of Ayatollah Sayyid Yusuf al-Musawi who was among the Kashmiri scholars living in Iraq, sent that book from Najaf to the people of Kashmir.

Before Imam Khomeini, the people of Kashmir used to follow the verdicts of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhsin al-Hakim and when he passed away in 1970, Ayatollah Sayyid Yusuf al-Musawi translated the practical treatise (risalah al-amaliyyah) of Imam Khomeini into the Kashmir language which was entitled ‘Sarmayeh Nejat’ and sent it to the Imam. After he had verified it, he published that book and distributed it amongst the people of Kashmir. Likewise, after the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, this great news reached the people of Kashmir through the al-Musawi family and the Muslims of Kashmir held celebrations in solidarity with the people of Iran. After the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, religious and political delegates were sent to Kashmir by Imam Khomeini who were generally guests of Ayatollah Sayyid Yusuf al-Musawi as they stayed at his house. Among the prominent figures that were sent to Kashmir to represent Imam Khomeini, is the current Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Sayyed Ali Khamenei and Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi-Kani.

The Muslims of Kashmir always tried to keep in line with dignified policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran: for example, the time that Imam Khomeini prohibited Iranians from going for pilgrimage due to the unfavourable situation and the inhuman treatment by the government of Saudi Arabia, the people of Kashmir also supported them by not participating in the hajj rites. Likewise, for the first time, the Friday congregational prayer was conducted in Kashmir under the order of Imam Khomeini.

With the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, the freedom movement of Kashmir considered this revolution as an epitome. The prominent figures of that movement used to explicitly state in a press conference: “Just like Imam Khomeini, we want to carry out a revolution. If he removed the oppressive Shah from the country, we also want to chase away the Indian occupiers.” From that time until now, the slogans used by the Kashmiri youths are: “Neither the East nor the West, Islam is the best.” God is Great, Khomeini is the leader,” “The only government is the government of Mustafa (s).” The Iranian slogans are mostly used in that country and the residents of the Kashmir Valley are great supporters of Iran’s Islamic Revolution. Iran too has always condemned the Indian oppression against the Muslims of this country.

Likewise, the impacts of Iran’s Islamic Revolution upon them in choosing the mosques as their bases of resistance were clearly evident. Imam Khomeini and his luminous revolution had such a great impact on the people of Kashmir that there was a picture of Imam Khomeini in every house and mosque. This matter even attracted the attention of the Western media; as the BBC Urdu reported: “There is no electricity in some houses of Kashmir, however, the picture of Imam Khomeini is present in all the houses.”

Just as it can be seen, the youths of Kashmir are fond of the books of Imam Khomeini and abundantly use his expressions and statements. Likewise, they also use his statements in their own articles.

In general, the presence of strong factors of cooperation between Iran and the people of Kashmir such as religion, denomination, culture, language, geography and so on are and have been in some way dominant and attractive fields for the impacts of Iran’s Islamic Revolution upon the oppressed people of Kashmir.

The Shi’ah Religious Community of Kashmir

Among the lasting impacts of Imam Khomeini and Iran’s Islamic Revolution upon Kashmir, is reviving the religious bases and specifically the Islamic seminaries which is the hope for the present and future generations.

Among the religious bases of Kashmir is the ‘Shi’ah Religious Community of Kashmir’ which we shall elaborate in summary as follows:

The Shi’ah Religious Community of Kashmir is a historical, religious and political Shi’ah party in Kashmir that normally plays an active and vital role in scientific, educational, political and cultural aspects and has dedicated itself to serve the school, the people and the martyrs.

The Scientific Educational Institution of the Association

One of the most obvious entities of this party is the scientific-educational institution (Bab al-Ilm). Bab al-Ilm is the first and only Islamic seminary whereby the graduates from this school can get their official qualifications from the University of Kashmir. Likewise, one of the features of this Islamic seminary is that it has ties with al-Mustafa International University in Qom, Iran.

The activities of Bab al-Ilm in Kashmir

Right now, Bab al-Ilm, a scientific-educational institution of the Shi’ah Religious Community of Kashmir, carries out the following activities in the form of an educational centre for the Shi’ahs of Kashmir:

1. Holding morning sessions for the noble Quranic teachings.
2. Holding night sessions for the noble Quranic teachings.
3. Bab al-Ilm Kindergarten.
4. Bab al-Ilm Elementary School.
5. Bab al-Ilm High School.
6. Bab al-Ilm Pre-University.
7. Bab al-Ilm College for Oriental Languages.
8. Bab al-Ilm Islamic Seminary for Men.
9. Maktabat al-Zahra Islamic Seminary for Women.

Among the classic and Islamic seminaries of Bab al-Ilm, the Bab al-Ilm Islamic Seminary is the most significant educational centre of the association. It consists of the Bab al-Ilm Islamic Seminary for men and Maktabat al-Zahra Islamic Seminary (a woman’s seminary which includes an elementary school during the morning session) and elementary schools (in the evening session) throughout the Kashmir Valley.

The Propagation of the Shi’ah Denomination in Kashmir through Magazines

The magazine al-Irshad which is the only Islamic magazine in Kashmir is distributed to all the Muslims in Kashmir. The writers of this magazine are not from the same social classes. Apart from the theoretical articles, they also write regarding current affairs. Nevertheless, due to the lack of financial power, its publications and dissemination have presently reduced.

The teachers of the Islamic seminaries of Kashmir

Thanks be to God, there are prominent and experienced teachers who are currently teaching these Islamic seminaries. Most of them are native and graduates from the Islamic Seminary of Qom and Jami’at al-Zahra (a). It is worth noting that there are only 30 male and female teachers in the Islamic Seminary.

The students of the Islamic seminaries of Kashmir

At Bab al-Ilm Islamic Seminary, there are 100 male students and 50 female students at Maktabat al-Zahra, who are studying and undergoing self-purification. Most of these students use the dormitory facilities.

The staff of the Islamic seminaries of Kashmir

It is surprising to what extent the people of Kashmir love the Ahl al-Bayt (a) that they perform the religious duties and propagation despite having a small income. Around 15 people work day and night in this educational and Islamic seminary.

The propagation of the religion is considered to be the main agenda of the Shi’ah Religious Community of Kashmir. Other than this, the judiciary branch, the political branch and the public welfare branch and so on, are also active. It is worth noting that on a monthly basis, tens of issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, fighting, religious conflicts and so on are solved in this Islamic seminary. Any matter that is solved here is acknowledged by the official court of Kashmir.

We are hopeful that with the awakening of religion, Islam and Iran’s Islamic Revolution, that we will witness more inheritance of the ideologies of Imam Khomeini in the Muslim countries. We are also hopeful that a day will come whereby Kashmir will play its historical role of being an Islamic and Shi’ah base for the pure Islam of the Holy Prophet (s) in the Indian subcontinent. In regards to the role of the unity of the Muslims in transcending the Muslim countries, Imam Khomeini states: “Suppose these people unite, then how is it possible for tyrannical India to take away our dear Kashmir from the Muslims’ hands and yet we do nothing?!” 

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