Kashmiri Statesman and leader.Born 1905 Soura.Did his Masters in Chemistry and joined Government Service as teacher but later resigned and spearheaded popular movement for democratic rights of people under Muslim Conference in 1931.Changed the name of Muslim Conference to National Conference in 1938 to allow people from all communities to struggle against the Autocratic rule of the feudal Maharajas.Was repeatedly jailed by the then Maharaja Hari Singh .When tribals from NWFP invaded Kashmir in 1947 the Maharaja abdicated and escaped from Kashmir.Sheikh Abdullah became head of an emergency administration and asked India for help against the invaders.Pandit Nehru the Prime Minister of India demanded provisional Accession of the State to India before help could be provided.Sheikh Abdullah agreed to accede to India on the condition that the accession would be subject to ratification by the people.Afetr the tribals were defeated with the help of the Indian Army Sheikh Abdullah became Prim Minister of Kashmir on March 5 1948 but was dismissed and arrested on August 9 1953 when he asked India to grant the promised autonomy to the Kashmiris. See also Sheikh Abdullah