Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah (5.12.1905 – 8.9.1982) was born in Kashmir valley. After passing his M.Sc. degree from Aligarh Muslim University, he became whole-time politician. His first struggle was for democratic government in Kashmir. This movement gave birth to National Conference in 1936. After 1947, the Indian government appointed him as the President of the Indian controlled area of Kashmir. He played on Indian tunes till 1953, but when he joined the struggle for freedom of Kashmir, he was arrested, on August 9, 1953. He was released in 1958, but was re-arrested after three months. On April 8, 1964 the government again released him. In 1965, he was arrested again. He was finally released in 1968. His entry into Kashmir was banned in 1971. In 1974, he entered a secret understanding with the Indian regime and became chief minister of Kashmir. He died on September 8, 1982. As far as his relations with the Sikh are concerned, he played double role, one for Sikhs in Punjab and the other for the Sikhs in Kashmir. He and his associates created trouble for the Sikhs of Kashmir several times. In 1953, he even banned an Akali conference, which was to be held at Ranbir Singh Pura, on June 7, 1953.
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)