08/08/2026
05 August – We Remember. We Reflect. We Resist.
For the majority of us in Jammu & Kashmir, 5th August is not a day of celebration. It is a day of grief, remembrance, and reflection.
On this day in 2019, Article 370 and Article 35A were abrogated, fundamentally changing the constitutional relationship between Jammu & Kashmir and the Union of India. We believe that with this decision, we lost the constitutional protections, autonomy, and identity that had been guaranteed to us for decades.
Every year, 5th August reminds us of the promises that were made to justify this decision. Many of us feel that those promises have remained unfulfilled. Instead of witnessing the prosperity, peace, employment, and development that were promised, we believe the reality on the ground tells a different story. For us, each passing year reinforces the gap between the assurances that were given and what many people feel they have experienced.
For us, this is not merely about a constitutional provision. It is about our identity, our dignity, our future, and our voice. Many of us feel that our livelihoods, businesses, employment opportunities, political representation, and sense of security have been adversely affected. Every family has its own story, its own worries, and its own hopes for the future.
We remember 5th August with grief—not because we want to remain trapped in the past, but because we cannot forget a day that changed our lives forever. Remembering this day is our way of honoring our history, preserving our identity, and peacefully expressing our aspirations for justice and dignity.
Our struggle is not against any people. Our hope is for peace, justice, democracy, and the protection of our rights. We believe that dialogue, understanding, and respect for the aspirations of the people are the only path toward a lasting and peaceful future.
We will remember. We will reflect. We will continue to hope for a future where our voices are heard, our dignity is respected, and our rights are safeguarded.