The Cartography of Courage: Unearthing Local Agency in the Gilgit-Baltistan Freedom Movement of 1947

• Shahnaz Bibi

  Author

This paper examines the narrative of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Freedom Movement of 1947, challenging the dominant discourse which has historically centered on the tactical achievements of military and paramilitary forces. The essay pivots on the thesis that the successful overthrow of the Dogra regime on November 1, 1947, was not a detached military operation but the inevitable culmination of a centuries-long, deeply ingrained tradition of local resistance and the immediate, organized political mobilization provided by the clandestine group, the Tanzeem-i-Sarfaroshan. By employing the essential methodologies of oral history and comparative analysis, this research seeks to unearth and validate the agency of the common populace, whose motivations were rooted in profound socio-cultural alienation, historical grievances against Dogra oppression, and a compelling desire for accession to the newly formed Muslim state of Pakistan. The findings reveal that the Tanzeem provided critical logistics, intelligence networks, and the popular legitimacy without which the military effort would have faltered, thus establishing the revolution as a unified indigenous movement. Ultimately, the subsequent marginalization of these civilian voices and the ongoing constitutional limbo of the region underscore the failure of the post-colonial state to fully integrate the true revolutionary spirit into its foundational narrative.

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