Dr. M.K. Teng I met with when he was for sometime Lecturerin Sri Pratap Government College Srinagar where I was a student. He wouldalways hunt for good students and encourage them in their aspirational pursuitsbesides the regular studies. He was a political animal from the day I met him.He was one of the respected teacher-academician, and commanded respect withpoliticians for his incisive knowledge of Kashmir political affairs. He haswritten profusely on Government and Politics of India and political Developmentand Government in Kashmir. He has written several books and Research Articleson Politics of Kashmir.
Dr Teng’s special subject was the distinct constitutionalposition the Jammu and Kashmir that was accorded in 1950, when the Constitutionof India was framed. It envisaged the exclusion of the state from theconstitutional organisation of India as well as its federal division of powers.Jammu and Kashmir, in spite of its accession to India, remained a state apartfrom the political organisation of India; independent of its constitutional andfederal imperatives. Teng’s attempt had been to trace the events from theIndian Constitutional and its federal division of powers. An attempt has alsobeen made to analyse the constitutional relationship between the state and theUnion of India over the years after the Constitutional of India waspromulgated.
He wrote extensively on the impact of the isolation of thestate from the national mainstream and its effect on the integration of thestate in the Indian political culture. Dr.Teng was a regular consultant forChief Justices of the State in the constitutional affairs and was on theadvisory panel of International Forum of Jurists. He was considered a friend,philosopher and guide by almost everybody who came in his close contact, byvirtue of his wisdom, his being a man of deep culture and an affectionatefriend.
Dr Teng mentored many young politicians & academicsprominent amongst them are AR Kabili, Former MP AR Shaheen, Former Minister,late Prof AK Raina, a JNU professor, late Prof.Sheikh. He was in goodfriendship with Late AS Anand Former CJI, Prof.Bambri of JNU, Ashok Bhan SeniorSupreme Court Lawyer, Prof.Abdul Gani Bhat, Many MPs, late ML Fothedhar andformer PM AB Vajpayee.
An author of about half a dozen books, two of which, namelyArticle 370 of Indian Constitution and India’s Northern Border (on which Indiangovernment imposed a ban) and numerous research articles, he had a vast circleof friends who greatly cherished his company for discussions on politicalmatters. He had extraordinarily clear and transparent ideas about the politicalscenario in the country. He lamented the deep-seated servile psyche of theIndian political leadership and the nation subjugated too long by foreign invadersand rulers and the worst was that this mentality had not left them even afterIndia attained freedom.
After 1990 turmoil in Kashmir that forced exile of theentire Kashmiri Pandit Community from the Valley, Dr Teng migrated to Jammu. Hebecame one of the key ideologue for promoting the Idea of India in Kashmir andfor reversal of KP Exile. He wrote many papers and spoke in number ofconferences, seminars and met many dignitaries to represent the Kashmirinatives cause, their Human right violation, agonies and political deprivationin addition to their disintegration. He was a learned political Scientist whowrote volumes on most of the political past hang overs. Besides, this he wasprolific writer and his political wisdom was acknowledged by friends and foesin equal stride.
REST IN PEACE DR TENG.
(Ashok Bhan is a Senior Advocate)