Sampat Prakash (also spelt as Sampath Prakash; 10 March 1937 – 1 July 2023) was a Kashmiri nationalist, trade unionist and activist, known for his efforts in fighting for the rights and welfare of the working class. He played a significant role in shaping trade union activism in the region, advocating for the equitable treatment of government employees, teachers, and workers. Prakash has held several leadership positions, including Chairman of the J&K Trade Union Centre, State President of Hind Mazdoor Sabha, and State President of Retired Gazetted/Non-Gazetted Employees.
Prakash was elected as the President of the Central Lal Bazaar Cooperative Housing Society in 1974. In the late 1980s, when Kashmir witnessed a surge in violence, leading to the mass displacement of Kashmiri Pandits, Prakash emerged as a resilient and determined leader. Despite facing immense hardship and the trauma of displacement, he dedicated himself to raising awareness about the plight of his community and advocating for their rights. However, once the Islamic Militancy post the 1990s made it impossible for him to live in Kashmir, he was forced to move to Jammu.
Early life
Born on 10 March 1937, in the Rainawari neighbourhood of Srinagar district into a Kashmiri Pandit family. Prakash spent his formative years in the region, which deeply influenced his later activism and political endeavors.
Prakash received his early education at Srinagar's Tyndale Biscoe School, where he attended classes with notable figures such as Farooq Abdullah, who would later become the president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference party and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (state). The nationalist sentiment of Prakash's father, Neel Kanth Kundu, who served as the principal of the same school and was an advisor to Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, greatly influenced Prakash's upbringing.
Prakash's initial foray into politics began during his time as a student activist. When Sheikh Abdullah, who was serving as the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir at the time, was arrested, Prakash organized a student protest at Sri Pratap College in Srinagar, displaying his commitment to political activism even in his early years.
It was during this period that Prakash played a pivotal role in establishing student politics in Kashmir. He formed the valley's first student body, and he was honored to serve as its founding president. This experience not only shaped Prakash's leadership skills but also introduced him to the ideals of Marxism, which would leave a lasting impact on his political ideology.
When the Kashmir militancy post the 1990s made it impossible for him to live in Kashmir, he was forced to move to Jammu.
Political views and activism
Prakash's political journey began during his student years, where he was heavily influenced by the nationalist ideals of his father, Neel Kanth Kundu, who served as the principal of Srinagar's Tyndale Biscoe School. Inspired by the nationalism espoused by his father and the school's advisor, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Prakash developed a deep commitment to the cause of Kashmir.
During the partition of India and Pakistan, when Pakistani tribals infiltrated Kashmir, Prakash responded to Sheikh Abdullah's call to take to the streets and fight against the invaders. This early experience shaped his understanding of the political landscape and instilled in him a sense of resistance against external threats to the region.
As a student leader, Prakash played a pivotal role in the establishment of student politics in Kashmir. He campaigned for the formation of a student body and eventually became its founding president when the first student organization was formed in the valley. It was during this time that he was introduced to the ideologies of Marxism, which further shaped his political outlook.
Prakash's activism and political views often brought him into conflict with the administration. He was arrested for the first time in 1958 by the men of the notorious police inspector Qadir Ganderbali. These confrontations with the authorities led his father to relocate him to Jammu to pursue law studies, where he developed an inclination towards the leftist Communist Party of India (CPI).
Prakash's political ideology was marked by his strong advocacy for the rights and welfare of low-paid government employees in Jammu and Kashmir. Under his leadership, these workers organized demonstrations and chanted slogans such as "Trade Union ki Kya Buniyad—Marxvaad, Leninvaad, Red Flag Up, Up." Prakash self-identified as a student of Marxist-Leninist ideologies, which he invoked as the foundation of the trade union movement.