Jammu University organizes public lecture on ‘Gilgit Baltistan: From Great Game to Great Uprising’

JAMMU, February 22: The Department of Strategic and Regional Studies (DSRS), University of Jammu, in collaboration with Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC) today organized a Public Lecture on “Gilgit-Baltistan: From Great Game to Great Uprising” to commemorate Sankalp Diwas.

The special lecture  started with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and paying tribute to the Bharat Mata by the Chief Guest, Dr. Gautam Mengi, Patron of the JKSC, Director DSRS, Prof. Virender Koundal, Col. (Retd.) Ajay K. Raina (SM), and other dignitaries.  

Director DSRS, Prof. Virender Koundal extended a warm welcome to the Chief Guest, Dr. Gautam Mengi, who presided over the function, resource person Col. (Retd.) Ajay K. Raina, and other dignitaries.

In his presentation, “Gilgit-Baltistan: From Great Game to Great Uprising”, Col. (Retd.) Ajay K. Raina, highlighted the significance of the Gilgit-Baltistan from the historical to the contemporary period and dwelt in detail on the Great Game between the British Empire and the Russian Empire from 1830s to 1907, when a bilateral treaty culminated in the end of the Great Game between these two rival empires. The Britishers did the politics of divide and rule and then sowed the seed of communalism for their imperialist interests in the region. Operation Gulmarg and Operation Datta Khel were conceived and executed by the Britshers in close consultation with the localities who were anti-Dogras and pro-Pakistan. 

Col. Raina also highlighted “Pakistan’s armed attack on Jammu and Kashmir under the guise of tribal attack as well as the United Nations Resolution of 13th August 1948 on J&K. The area of PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, which are still illegally occupied by Pakistan despite the UN Resolution asking Pakistan to vacate that area need to be freed so that the residents of that area, suffering oppression at the hands a of the Pakistan army for the past 76 years, get justice as proud citizens of India”.

Col. Raina also argued that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are facing various types of political, economic and religious discrimination and suppression at the hands of Pakistan authorities. He said China has established high stakes in the region because of its huge economic and strategic investment in Pakistan in the form of the CPEC,  which is also a cause of concern for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and they are now turning against the Chinese. He also suggested that India must give moral and material support to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and play a proactive role to attain its political objectives.

Director DSRS Prof. Virender Koundal concluded the event with remarks aligning with the Parliament Resolution of 1994. He honored Chief Guest Dr. Gautam Mengi and speaker Col. Ajay K. Raina with mementos.

The special lecture was attended by  Er. Sahil Sharma, member JKSC, Adv. Harshvardan Gupta, Secretary JKSC, and DSRS faculty members Dr. Mohd. Monir Alam, Dr. Suneel Kumar, Dr. Surinder Mohan, Dr. Ganesh Malhotra, and Dr. Ranjan Sharma. Dr. Ganesh Malhotra conducted the proceedings gracefully and delivered the vote of thanks.