Over the last seventy years, Jammu &Kashmir has seen political machinations, violence, cross-border terrorism, instability and economic stagnation. On August 5, 2019, the Indian Government decided to amend Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and usher the state into a new era of peace and development, paving the way for complete integration with the national mainstream. Following the momentous decision, there has understandably been a great deal of interest in Jammu &Kashmir due to its reorganization as a Union Territory. The Vivekananda International Foundation presents this Compendium on Jammu & Kashmir based on authentic sources to mark the first anniversary of the reorganisation.

The compendium traces the history of Jammu & Kashmir since ancient times. It is an attempt to bring out the rich amalgamation of varied identities that exist within the state`s population and presents evidences of its vivid and complex cultural and ethno-religious heritage. The compendium discusses Jammu & Kashmir’s accession to India, its political history, Pakistan sponsored cross border terrorism over the years, radicalization of youth, confidence-building measures (CBMs) initiated by India, the amendment of article 370 and the current situation. The compendium is an excellent academic resource for both scholars of history, politics, terrorism and international relations, and general readers alike.

Jyoti Kumar is a Consultant with the Vivekananda International Foundation. At VIF, he is in charge of the database section. In the past, he has served in the Ministry of Home Affairs in various roles with the Government of India.

Aarushi Suri is a Research Associate in the Economy, Governance & Policy Studies Program at Vivekananda International Foundation. She is a graduate of the S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU, Singapore, and holds Double Masters degrees in International Political Economy & Public Policy. Her research interests include international economic relations and domestic politics.