Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad was a central, yet controversial, figure in Jammu and Kashmir’s history. As Prime Minister from 1953 to 1964, his rule is remembered for both incredible progress and fierce political debate.
Born in 1907 in Srinagar to a humble family, he left school early. He began as a teacher and a low-paid worker before joining Sheikh Abdullah’s freedom struggle against Dogra rule. A brave organiser, he was nicknamed “Khalid-e-Kashmir” and faced multiple imprisonments. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
His rise to power marked a major shift. In 1953, he replaced the arrested Sheikh Abdullah as PM, an event many saw as a coup backed by New Delhi. For the next decade, Bakshi launched a whirlwind of development. He built roads, schools, hospitals, and stadiums, pushed land reforms, and created jobs. His hands-on, approachable style—often giving out jobs on the spot—made him popular with many.
But his legacy has another side. Critics call him a traitor for toppling Abdullah and tightening India’s grip. His government was accused of rigging elections, crushing dissent, and widespread corruption. While supporters call his time a “Golden Period,” opponents saw it as an authoritarian occupation that buried Kashmir’s hopes for self-determination.
Forced to resign in 1963, he had a brief political comeback before dying in 1972. Today, Bakshi is a divided memory: celebrated as the architect of modern Kashmir, but also blamed for setting the stage for its ongoing political conflicts.
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