One of the reasons attributed to the poor agricultural situation in post-Independence India was its unequal land relationship. The Congress Party opted for land reforms as that would transform India into a progressive nation. As the 1949 Constitution decided in its favour, the responsibility of implementation was left to the states. One state which emerged as the leader in agrarian reforms was Jammu and Kashmir, led by Sheikh Abdullah. This article reviews the land relations and agrarian reforms in Jammu and Kashmir and suggests implications this had for the politics of the state.
