Brock211211849 at 01:53, 12 January 2026

2026-01-12T01:53:19Z

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{{Short description|1865 killing of shawl-weavers in Zaldagar, Kashmir}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Zaldagar Massacre
| location = Zaldagar, [[Srinagar]], [[Kashmir]], [[India]]
| date = {{start date and age|1865|4|29}}
| target = Shawl weavers, [[Civilians]]
| type = [[Massacre]]
| fatalities = 28 killed
| injuries = 100+ wounded
| perpetrator = Dogra army
}}

The '''Zaldagar Massacre''' refers to the killing of 28 [[Kashmiri Muslims|Kashmiri]] shawl weavers (Shalbafs) on April 29, 1865, by the army of [[Dogra dynasty|Dogra Dynasty]]. In the Zaldagar locality of [[Srinagar]], [[Kashmir]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ahmad |first=Khalid Bashir |title=Kashmir: exposing the myth behind the narrative |date=2017 |publisher=SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd |isbn=978-93-86062-80-2 |location=New Delhi, India ; Thousand Oaks, California |pages=82}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-04-30 |title=Shalbaf Tehreek: On 29 April 1865, 28 Kashmiris were shot dead protesting against brutal policies |url=https://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/shalbaf-tehreek-on-29-april-1865-28-kashmiris-were-shot-dead-protesting-against-brutal-policies/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=The Kashmiriyat |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Webdesk |first=F. P. K. |date=2021-04-29 |title=Blood and Bridge: Recalling World’s First Labour Movement {{!}} Free Press Kashmir |url=https://freepresskashmir.news/2021/04/29/blood-and-bridge-recalling-worlds-first-labour-movement/amp/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=freepresskashmir.news |language=en-GB}}</ref> The massacre occurred in response to protests by the weavers against oppressive taxation and exploitative working conditions imposed by the Dogra administration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kashmir: Unsung heros of world's first labor movement |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/kashmir-unsung-heros-of-worlds-first-labor-movement/1825763 |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilani |first=Iftikhar |date=2024-04-29 |title=Kashmir: Unsung Heroes Of The World’s First Labour Movement |url=https://kashmirtimes.com/features/kashmir-unsung-heroes-of-the-worlds-first-labour-movement |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=Kashmir Times |language=en}}</ref>

== Background ==
The shawl-weaving industry was a prominent economic activity in 19th-century Kashmir, renowned globally for its exquisite craftsmanship. Despite their skill and the high demand for their products, the shawl weavers lived in poverty due to the oppressive Dag Shawl Tax, which heavily burdened their earnings.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 July 1875 |title=Kashmir shawls |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/BH18750716.2.34 |work=Bruce Herald |pages=7 |quote=The shawl-weavers get miserable wages, and are allowed neither to leave Kashmir nor change their employment, so that they are nearly in the position of slaves ; and their average wage is only about three-halfpence a-day.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 September 1912 |title=A Dying Industry |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DUNST19120916.2.48.8?end_date=16-09-1912&items_per_page=10&query=A+Dying+Industry.&snippet=true&start_date=16-09-1912&title=DUNST |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=Dunstan Times |page=8}}</ref>

In addition to taxation, shawl weavers endured grueling working hours and restrictive practices that limited their autonomy and exacerbated their hardship. These exploitative conditions led to widespread dissatisfaction among the artisans, culminating in organized protests against the Dogra administration.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Masood |date=2021-05-03 |title=Zaldagar 1865 |url=https://kashmirlife.net/zaldagar-1865-vol-13-issue-05-266083/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=Kashmir Life |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== The incident ==
On April 29, 1865, hundreds of shawl weavers assembled in the Old City of Srinagar to demand relief from excessive taxation and improved working conditions. The protest gained momentum as the artisans marched toward Zaldagar, raising their voices against the administration. The Dogra army, led by Colonel Bijoy Singh, intercepted the demonstrators at the Haji Rather Sum Bridge in Zaldagar. Despite being unarmed, the protesters refused to disperse when ordered by the forces. In response, the soldiers opened fire indiscriminately on the crowd, killing many on the spot. As chaos ensued, several protesters attempted to flee but were chased down by troops armed with spears. In desperation, many jumped into the Kuti Ko'el stream to escape the violence, resulting in additional deaths. By the end of the carnage, 28 shawl weavers were killed, and more than 100 others were injured.<ref>{{Cite web |title=April 29, 1865: Dogra army kills 28 shawl weavers at Srinagar’s Zaldagar |url=https://brighterkashmir.com/april-29-1865-dogra-army-kills-28-shawl-weavers-at-srinagars-zaldagar |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=Brighter Kashmir}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

==See also==
* [[Bijbehara massacre]]
* [[Kupwara massacre]]
* [[Zakoora and Tengpora massacre]]
* [[1990 Gawkadal massacre|Gawkadal massacre]]
* [[Hawal massacre]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{coord missing|Jammu and Kashmir}}

[[Category:Massacres in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Massacres in 1865]]
[[Category:April 1865]]

1865 Zaldagar massacre - Revision history

Brock211211849 at 01:53, 12 January 2026