epilogue magazine, november 2009

Epilogueb e c a u s e t h e r e i s m o r e t o k n o w

Jammu and Kashmir’s Monthly Magazine

NowTellingThe J&K Stories

RNI : JKENG/2007/26070 ISSN 0974-5653

Jammu, November 1, 2009 / Vol 3 / Issue 11 || Price Rs. 30 || Postal Registration No. JK-350/2009-11 || www.epilogue.in

RESEARCH : INTERVIEW : NYLA ALI KHAN

Socio-Cultural and EconomicChanges Among Muslim Rajputs

Author of Islam Women & Violence in Kashmir

BRIDGINGDividesVia Talks & Trade

Special on First Anniversary of Cross-LoC Trade

An Analysis of Joint Chamber --------------

New Delhi's Fresh Peace Initiatives---------------

Perspectives on Harnessing Indus Waters

HOME-N-HOME

Z ARCHITECTSZ INTERIORSZ DESIGNERS

RAKESH KUMAR GUPTAB.Arch, MCA

[email protected]

Office : Hall No. 4, Auqaf Complex, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu - 04Tele. : 0191-2430867, 2453710, Fax : 0191-2453710, Cell : 9419187337

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B R I D G I N G T H E I N F O R M A T I O N D I V I D E

F O R T H E M O N T H O F N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 9

Taking J&K Closer to WorldBringing World Closer to J&K


35Volume : 3, Number : 11

ISSN : 0974-5653

RNI : JKENG/2007/26070

www.epilogue.in

The present issue coincides with two most

ndimportant events in Jammu and Kashmir: 62

anniversary of state's accession to the Union of

India and first anniversary of Cross-LoC trade.

Subjects touched upon are of timeline

significance. An interview with Nyla Ali Khan

unveils the mind of the author of a fresh and

authentic study on Kashmir.

Vol. 3, Issue 11www.epilogue.in Epilogue, November 2009

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May 2009

June 2009

July 2009

August 2009

September 2009

October 2009

J&K MOVING FORWARD

ay issue was one of the rare collections of ideas where 12 natives from Mboth sides of Jammu and Kashmir poured their ideas out of the heart on how boundaries can be blurred and relations can be strengthened.

LOK SABHA POLLS 2009

ith Prof Rekha Chowdhary looking into various aspects, the May issue Woffered a complete view of the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. An interview with Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather explained most critical questions on the state's economy

THE FUTURE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

uly 2009 issue offered a rare insight into the whole gamut of Kashmir Jissue. An ACDIS, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign sponsored study, which was the cover feature, examined Kashmir issue from different perspectives.

UNFOLDING THE LAND OF MOON

ugust 2009 issue was one of the path-breaking in the life of Epilogue Amagazine. The cover story explored many aspects of life in Ladakh and carried a first hand of research on the state of media in the Himalayan cold desert.

UNDERSTANDING J&K ECONOMY

lost has been written and debated on politics of Jammu and Kashmir but Anothing much on the economy. Reading into J&K's annual budget that was presented in August, Epilogue's September issue focused on developmental and economic profile of Jammu and Kashmir.

JAMMU AS IT IS

ammu, along with Ladakh, has often complained of neglect within the Jstate of Jammu and Kashmir. October 2009 issue focused on regional identity of Jammu. This issue was in follow-up to similar special issue on Ladakh in August.


www.epilogue.in

Editor Zafar Iqbal Choudhary

PublisherYogesh Pandoh

Consulting EditorD. Suba Chandran

Associate EditorsIrm Amin BaigTsewang Rigzin

General ManagerKartavya Pandoh

ManagerAdarsh Rattan Bali (Marketing & Advertisement)

Art EditorKeshav Sharma

Research OfficerRaman Sharma

Phones & emailOffice : +91 191 2493136subscriptions : +91 99060 27136Editorial: +91 94191 80762Administration: +91 94191 82518 [email protected]@epilogue.in

Printed and Published by Yogesh Pandoh for Epilogue NewsCraft from Ibadat House, Madrasa Lane, Near Graveyard, Bathindi Top, Jammu, J&K - 180012 and Printed at : DEE DEE Reprographix, 3 Aikta Ashram, New Rehari Jammu (J&K)

Disputes, if any, subject to jurisdiction of courts and competitive tribunals in Jammu only.

RNI : JKENJ/2007/26070ISN : 00974-5653Price : Rs 30

CONTENTS

Contributors to this Issue 4

Essential Entries 10

Prologue 13

Letters 14

Books/AuthorsNyla Ali Khan

Challenging Hegemony of 38

Static Versions of History

Research

Socio-Cultural and Economic 44

changes among Muslim Rajputs:

A case study of Rajouri District

in J&KDr. M. Mazammil Hussain Malik

Features

A Journey to Himalayan Enclave 54Manisha Shobarjani

Spreading the Lamp of 55

Learning - the Ladakhi WayZainab Akhter

A Trek Through Life 57Thinlas Chorol

J&K In Numbers

Power Sectors 59

IN FOCUSBridging Divides

A Window of Opportunity9B.G. Verghese

PM in Kashmir10An Olive Branch from Position of StrengthEpilogue Report

Promoting Cross-LoC Trade14An Analysis of the Joint ChamberMoeed Yusuf

Harnessing the Indus :30From Treaty to GovernancePerspectives from IndiaD Suba Chandran

Harnessing the Indus 34Perspectives from PakistanNausheen Wasi

Volume 3, Issue 11, November 2009

3


Bridging

Divides

CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE

Chandran, D Suba (In Focus, P..), is Varghese, BG (Perspective, P..), one

Deputy Director at Institute of Peace of the most respected journalists,

and Conflict Studies, New Delhi and a authors in India, has remained an

Consulting Editor with Epilogue Editor of the Indian Express and

Hindustan Times. He was also Advisor Chorol, Thinlas (Features, P..), is a to the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi Fellow with Charkha Communication

and Development Network working on Wasi, Nausheen (In Focus, P..), is

Ladakh Lecturer at the University of Karachi

Khan, Nyla Ali (Books & Authors, P..), Yusuf, Moeed (In Focus, P..) is a

is Associate Professor of English at the Fellow at the Frederick S Pardee

University of Nebraska-Kearney in Center at Boston University, a

United States. She is first Kashmiri Research Fellow at the Mossavar

woman scholar to have written a Rehmani Center at Harvard's Kennedy

highly researched book on Kashmir School of Government and a Research

conflict Fellow at Strategic and Economic

Policy Research in Pakistan. He has Malik, Dr M Muzammal Hussain been involved in track II meetings on (Research, P..), a research scholar, is Kashmir supported by United States presently Associate Professor of Institute of Peace Sociology at Government Degree

College Ramnagar in Udhampur Zainab Akhter (Features, P..), is a

district of J&K Fellow with Charkha Communication

and Development Network working on Sobhrajani, Manisha (Features, P..), is Ladakh a Delhi based independent researcher

working on the various aspects of

Kashmir conflict. She divides her time

between Delhi and Jammu and

Kashmir

Readers' requests for getting in touch with the

authors, for feedback, comments and further

discussions on their subjects of interest, are

welcome. Since all authors/contributors are not

interested in taking mails directly, the readers are

requested to send us interview requests at

[email protected] for passing on to the authors

4


Nation is committed to provide latest weaponry and other sophisticated gadgets to the troops for maintaining sanctity of borders in J&K

President of India, Pratibha Patil during his visit to Rajouri on Oct 9

There is a political problem in Kashmir and it has to be solved through dialogue…there will be dialogue with every section of opinion on Kashmir…there will be a quiet diplomacy

Indian Home Minister P Chidambram, at a Press Conference in Srinagar on Oct 14

It is a good and welcome sign. Hurriyat Conference is committed to dialogue with both India and Pakistan to resolve Kashmir issue

Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, reacting to Home Minister's offer for talks

Our tourism potential is biggest economic advantage. West is already enjoying Kashmir, now we need to adopt Look East policy to tap tourist from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore etc

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while inaugurating Kashmir festival on Oct 10

'The acts of terrorists across the globe underscore that terrorism is a global threat which transcends borders and religions and is not linked to any specific sect or religion or creed

Union Health Minister and Former J&K CM at Conference on 'Terrorism --National and International' organised by Jama Masjid United Forum in New Delhi on Oct 27

CITON E B O A R D

Essential Entries

APPOINTED: Wajahat Habibullah is appointed as State Chief Information Commissioner of J&K on Oct 22. Until then CIC of

India, as an IAS officer he earlier served J&K for nearly three decades

ELECTED: Raja Farooq Haider Khan is elected on Oct 22 as Prime Minister of Pakistan administered Kashmir replacing Sardar Yaqoob

Khan.

HONOURED: Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of J&K, is honoured with a commemorative stamp

thon his 217 birth anniversary. Stamp is released in Jammu by MoS C&IT Sachin Pilot on Oct 21.

AWARDED: Noted journalist, author and human rights activist Balraj Puri is nominated for Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration

for year 2008. Puri also runs Institute of J&K Affairs at Jammu and is a leading public figure of the country

RELEASED: Separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah is released from prison on Oct 20 after 14 months detention. He was arrested in August

2008 while leading the symbolic march to Muzaffarabad during Amarnath land row

ARRESTED: A journalist and Editor of a Jammu based News Agency called NAK is arrested by Police on allegations of passing on security

information of Pak intelligence agency ISI. He is booked under various sections of Enemy Act and IT Act

ON RECORDON REGISTER

5


L

From the EditorRP O O G U E

Every year, towards the end of October, opinion –'accession was subject to

Jammu and Kashmir is found engaged in ratification', 'accession was full and

serious debates, discussions and final'. The same story has been

introspections. Two prominent regions repeating year after year for last 62

of the state, Jammu and Kashmir years. The tragedy of Jammu and

Valley, are seen divided in opinions as Kashmir can be located in most of these

people attend symposia and seminars; articles which are repetition of almost

they participate in celebrations at exactly the same what these writers

some places and protests at others. had written and published 15 years

Elsewhere, in parts of India, in Pakistan back or 20 years back. Any discussion or

and in many parts of world, Jammu and writing going beyond these two well

Kashmir is at the center of discussions. formed opinions is seen with contempt.

They discuss the past to take cues for It can be called unpatriotic in some

future. It was in this year in 1947 that parts of state or disrespect to hundreds

this state acceded to the Union of India. and thousands of martyrs in other

Many discussions revolve around parts. It is now the third generation

accession –was it final or conditional. engaged in these discussions. Nothing

And then comes the day of October 27 has changed much. At Epilogue, we

–the anniversary of landing of Indian have strongly been of the opinion that become a Rs 50 Million weekly trade. Army in Kashmir. The Valley shuts down all stakeholders will have to look This reflects that peoples on both sides to reiterate that there is a problem beyond the status quo to move of the LoC are eager to shun the past awaiting resolution. In Jammu, forward in Jammu and Kashmir. Some and step into future arms-in-arms but crackers are burst and sweets are will have to do a little climbing down they want the barriers to be removed. distributed to mark the event as a the ladder, others can take few steps In context of J&K, Prime Minister of historical victory. In rest of India, the upward to tell the world that Kashmir India Dr Manmohan Singh have often day is celebrated as victory of Indian is no more any troubled region of the re i terated that redrawing of secularism and defeat of two-nation world awaiting intervention of world boundaries is out of question but theory floated by Pakistan's founder powers. There are two successful making them irrelevant is the way Mohammad Ali Jinnah. In Pakistan this examples: militancy, of course, has forward. Translation of these words day is reminds the nation that one not ended but a ceasefire on borders into action can certainly change the important agenda still remains has been largely successful since discourse Jammu and Kashmir is unfinished. Seen from different places, November 2003. This reflects a will for engaged in for 62 years. How many there are different perspectives. For restraint. Following initiation of more Octobers we need to turn our half of the October, every year, editors Cross-LoC travel between parts of the backs to the past and face the future? of newspapers in Jammu and Kashmir state in 2005, the trade was launched

don't have to pursue with the writers in October 2008. Without even the

for the op-ed page columns. There is a basic facilities of banking and Feedback :flood of articles with two sets of communications, it has now almost [email protected]

J&K and October Jinx

Zafar Choudhary

OCTOBER 2007

6


T

Readers WriteL E T E R S

Rekha Choudhary's argument “in Jammu region there is a

political discourse that revolves around the issues

related to regional deprivation and neglect. Kashmir in

this discourse forms the center of power within the

state and is perceived to be dominating not only the

power structure of state but also controlling the

economic and material issues” is an objective assessment

of the regional problem (The Politics of Regional Identity,

Epilogue, Oct 2009). The feeling in Jammu that Kashmir

behaves as a big brother is lingering on for six decades

but the regional leadership (if there is any) needs to

share its responsibility. What defeats the cause of Jammu

is the fact that every agitation in the region launched for

the balance of power is based on communal premises.

SHEIKH NISAR AHMEDKishtwar

Had Viveyata Sharma been wrong in her opinion (The

Limits of Duggar Desh) on mass leadership in Jammu,

there would have been any complaints in the region.

Where is the political leadership in the region? The BJP

has a clear communal agenda and therefore can never

enjoy trust of entire region. The Congress always

negotiates power in its interest with whosoever calls shot

in Srinagar –yesterday it was PDP, today National

Conference, tomorrow it may be Hurriyat Conference. We

are reminded of 2002 assembly election campaign when

the grand old national party of Nehru and Gandhi

compromised with its political ideology to make regional

empowerment of Jammu as a poll plank and later

succumbed to the pressure of PDP. Its leader Ghulam Nabi

Azad referred to mainstreaming of Assam and compared

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed with Lal Denga to justify

Congress decision of offering power to PDP. Leaders in

Jammu region have been the representatives of their own

assembly constituencies or at the most individual

districts. The one from Bhaderwah does not know about

aspirations of Kathua and vice versa. They have failed us.

ARUN JAMWALUniversity of Jammu, Jammu

Communalism, Jammu's own enemy

Happy to note that Prof Hari Om stuck to just statistics

(Jammu Region, the Story of Neglect, Epilogue, Oct 2009) and

did not go much into the politics of regional bias on which he

has written millions of words in past couple of decades. The

problem, however, is that every issue can't be addressed be

figures alone. Even as Hari Om makes out strong arguments

on discrimination against Jammu with his figures, he has

always chosen to use only one set of statistics which serves

his standpoint. He would never talked about industries in

Jammu, the upcoming of mega skyscrapers and most

importantly the difference in total annual development

expenditure in Jammu and Kashmir Valley.

Mushtaq AhmedGanderbal, Kashmir

OCTOBER 2009

Selective use of statistics

Leadership vacuum

7


Readers WriteL E T T E R S

Union Home Minister P

Chidrabram's policy statement,

recently in Srinagar, on New

Delhi's intentions to get engaged

with different shades of opinion in

Jammu and Kashmir in a 'quiet

diplomacy' to find out solution of

Kashmir issues has been widely

welcomed barring few exceptions

from BJP and the likeminded

parties. Chidrambram's opinion

that Kashmir is a political problem

and needs to be resolved through

dialogue, though criticized by BJP

and likeminded parties, is again a

welcome statement. It is this part

of his statement (political

problem) which has inspired the

separatists to join the dialogue as

Government of India has always

refused to recognize Kashmir as a political problem. However, what

confuses in Chidambram's statement is the proposed craft of holding

dialogue in complete secrecy and revealing its contours only when the

results are known. This is not fair. Is there is a problem that is about the

people of Jammu and Kashmir and those people who do not fairly represent

the people have no right to get engaged into a secret dialogue which

peoples don't know about. What happens when Mirwaiz Farooq of Hurriyat

Conference (or for that matter any other leader) arrives at an agreement

with the Government of India but the peoples refuse to accept that. Will

they (New Delhi) discard the previous decision and initiate a fresh exercise?

Any formula discussed about the future of Kashmir should be first put to the

public debate for getting feedback. Secret parleys can help the

Government of India bring few separatist leaders into mainstream and not

resolve the issue.

MIR IRFAN Srinagar

Dangers of quiet diplomacy

The effort to discuss Jammu (Jammu As

It Is, Epilogue, Oct 2009) is appreciated

but much more could have been done.

There are set of perceptions which

discuss certain problems of development

and politics but the broad contours of

Jammu region, diversity and clash of

identities still goes unexplained. For

example, problems and aspirations in

Chenab Valley region –districts of Doda,

Kishtwar and Ramban have not been

discussed properly. These regions have

found just passing references. Editor

may consider doing a follow-up on

Jammu.

SUNAINA KOTWAL Bhaderwah

Besides insights into issues of topical importance, we always look forward to read about important developments of the month in Jammu and Kashmir. Since there are no other media outlets in this state informing us about Jammu and Kashmir, Epilogue's section on essential stories would bring us a dossier of monthly developments which kept us informed about state's strides on development and politics. It was disappointing to see news section missing in October issue.

VIJAYAN MK Kottayam, Kerala

Needed a follow-up

Where is news?

Anmol Sharma's article (Discrimination Symptoms in our DNA) is an inspiration for the youth. It calls for breaking far from the narrow and divisive discourse of the so called leaders of regional empowerment and charting our own course with an intellectual capital. His article, as bitter as always, bring home a fact that how every Kashmiri contributes to the making of Kashmir and how every in Jammu is responsible for the poor plight of the region. His understanding, “Kashmiri has now started exerting himself as more academically…but on the other hand we (in Jammu) have no taste for reading good books which espouse wisdom, world-craft etc”, is an honest statement on the state of affairs in Jammu.

NITIN KAPOOR, Jammu

Honest statement

8


The first and more important part of a J&K already discussed in recent years? Cross-border

settlement is an internal resolution on matters relations in turn will unfold and evolve over time.

of human rights, disappearances, displacement, One urgent new issue is climate change that

autonomy, livelihoods and development will hit J&K and the entire Indus basin. This will

generally. This must include bridging regional respect no boundaries and offers both a

divides. Pakistan can have no role in this and challenge and an opportunity. The Indus Treaty

must, rather, put right its own house in order in has worked fairly well. Both sides now need to

that part of J&K under its control which lacks the avail of Article 7 of the Treaty on “Future

autonomy and freedom enjoyed on this side. Cooperation” to move towards joint investigation,

The other part pertains to an external development and management of the three

settlement with Pakistan which can now Western rivers allocated to Pakistan (in which

realistically only be along the LOC on the basis of the Indian part of J&K has a modest share) but

making boundaries irrelevant (with no whose upper basins are controlled by India. This

derogation to sovereignty on either side) as alone will permit the optimal development and

basically agreed in principle. This means halting utilization of the full potential of the Indus basin

the trans-border infiltration and mindless for the mutual benefit not only of all the people

violence that Pakistan has wantonly indulged in, of J&K but also of India and Pakistan.

extending jihadi terrorism far afield to other Together with this, the Siachen issue can

parts of India, of which 26 /11 was a horrendous easily be settled by acknowledging the specific

example. There are no true non-state actors as and unambiguous 1949 Karachi Agreement

the jihadi organizations and Taliban have all delineation of the LOC beyond the last

been trained and sponsored by Pakistan and demarcated point at grid reference NJ 9842 and

cannot masquerade under new names. To say “thence north to the glaciers”, without leaving

that Pakistan is itself a victim of terrorism means any part as no-man's land as stipulated. Once

little as it is the monster Pakistan has long bred, this is done, the triangular area from NJ 9842

and even now patronises in part, that has turned running NE to the Karakoram Pass and NW to K2

on it. could be declared a Peace Zone and a scientific

No one either in J&K or Pakistan can plead park for joint Indo-Pakistan glaciological,

for more time to formulate their views. Nor can hydrological and meteorological studies, with

it be argued that “Kashmiris” must meet to international collaboration, in order to monitor

decide on a common position before the internal and respond to climate change on the basis of

dialogue commences. What will they discuss real time data.

that they could not discuss earlier or have This is the way forward.

B.G. VERGHESE

A Window of Opportunity

There is a window of opportunity opening in J&K that must not be missed once again. This follows the Union Home Minister's statement that the Government intends to open and persevere with quiet talks with all sections of J&K opinion, including those outside the mainstream like the Hurriyat and . None can claim a veto or set conditionalities. Spoilers will be exposed.

EXCLUSIVE TO

Epilogue


I N F O C U S

Bridging Divides9

sections of opinion, including the Srinagar on October 14 allayed those ndependence Day addresses of separatists. While his unexpected fears. Much to the pleasure of Indian Prime Ministers are heard with I statement made the separatists to separatists he said the dialogue will be rapt attention in Kashmir. It was the accuse him of speaking in the “language on one-to-one and two-to-two basis and historic speech of Prime Minister Atal of power”, the Chief Minister Omar its results shall be known only after Behari Vajpayee on August 15, 2002 that Abdullah too was seen in a spot as on the some conclusions are arrived at. Even if that turned around the political same day he had called for a dialogue the talks fail, such exercise gives face landscape in Kashmir. Vajpyee with separatists. PDP leader and former saving to the parties engaged in the recognized space of all shades of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, process. political opinions and promised free and a strong votary of dialogue, was blunt As Prime Minister unveiled his mind fair elections. He lived up to the enough in disputing Prime Minister's during his two-day visit to Kashmir, it expectations. The following months of interpretation of the massive public appeared that Chidambram's visit, a 2002 saw most credible elections in the participation in elections. fortnight back, was ground preparation history of Jammu and Kashmir and then

Observers believe that Prime exercise. Had Chidrambram not began rounds of dialogue with Minister's statement was not quite out unveiled the dialogue blueprint in separatists. Prime Minister Manmohan of place as he sought to underline the Srinagar, Prime Minister's would have Singh too carried forward legacy of significance of electoral democracy and landed in a Valley of mistrust and Vajpayee and always addressed key honour the people who participated in confusion as it was since August 15. issues from the ramparts of the Red Fort elections against all the risks involved. Responding to Chidambram's offer of except for this year's Independence Day However, for separatists the Prime dialogue, the separatists, particularly address which left the Kashmiris, Minister's statement marked the end of the Hurriyat Conference headed by particularly the separatists stunned. the road to dialogue before Home Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had set some The Prime Minister said that successful Minister P Chidambram rekindled hopes conditions –downsizing of troops from two rounds of elections in Jammu and in the middle of October. Chidambram's the civilian areas, release of political Kashmir –Assembly polls in late 2008 and announcement of quiet diplomacy detenues and recognition of Kashmir Lok Sabha polls in early 2009 –with opened a new chapter in the peace issue as a political problem. Half of it vigorous public participation is a proof process which earned an across the was done by Chidambram during his that there is no space for separatist board welcome in Kashmir. Separatists October 14 Press Conference when he thought in the state. It was quite have always been averse to the large said “there is a political problem in significantly different from Dr Singh's assemblies of dialogue (like the Kashmir and it has to be solved through speeches in the last over five years as he roundtable conference which they dialogue”. Perhaps first such statement had repeatedly stated that his UPA boycotted); Chidambram's statement in from any Indian leader in several government believed in talking to all

PM IN KASHMIR

An Olive Branch from Position of Strength


After months of mistrust and confusion, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has again warmed up the

atmosphere for peace politics in Kashmir. Along with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, his two-day visit to

the Valley has certainly put into motion a process to shorten distance between New Delhi and Srinagar. The

ball is now seen to have rolled down in the court of separatists.

Bridging Divides

EPILOGUE REPORT

I N F O C U S1 0

decades. In the time between

Chidambram's departure from Srinagar

and Prime Minister's arrival on October

28, two formations of Indian Army had

been pulled out of Kashmir Valley, a

prominent separatist leader Shabir

Ahmed Shah was out of the jail after 14

months and the unrelenting hardliner

Syed Ali Shah Geelani was seen roaming

about freely, first time since March this

year. Then comes the Prime Minister's

visit who invites all for the dialogue who

have some meaningful ideas. His olive

branch extends to separatists as it also

goes to Islamabad. “I call upon the

people and government of Pakistan to

show their sincerity and good faith. As I

have said many times before, we will

not be found wanting in our response”.

Exhibiting the sincerity to initiate

dialogue on Kashmir at both levels –with

separatists and also with Pakistan, the

Prime Minister appeared quite

concerned about the question of

governance in Jammu and Kashmir. He

made a specific mention of local

governance and the development

process. “I would urge that time has

come for elections to local bodies be

held quickly. This will increase the

people's participation in the process of

development”, said the Prime Minister

in his speech on inauguration of

Anantnag-Qazigund rail link. Refusal to

empower the peoples at grassroots has

of late become a hallmark of flawed

governance in Jammu and Kashmir. Last

Panchayat elections were held in the

state in 2000, after a staggering gap of

more than two decades but Panchayats

were never constituted or empowered.

Next elections were due in 2005 but

never held. It was widely believed that

denial of democracy at the grassroots is

also a potential alienator. Chief Minister

Omar Abdullah recently said that

Panchayat elections will be held in next

few months.

am delighted to back in the valley of The last time I came to Jammu and IKashmir in the lovely season of Kashmir, the State assembly elections

autumn. We will soon see the beautiful were going to be held. Later, the Lok

golden hues of the season and the Sabha elections were also held. I am

magnificent Chinar will soon be flaming happy that the people of Jammu and

red. Kashmir turned out to vote in these

elections in large numbers. I believe I have come today to inaugurate

that it was a vote for a peaceful path to the Qazigund-Anantnag rail link. I

a better tomorrow. I applaud the congratulate the Indian Railways and

wisdom and good faith of the common the people of Kashmir for this

man of Kashmir. The elected achievement. The day is not far when

government has a golden opportunity to trains will run from Jammu to Srinagar

consolidate the peace in the State.through the Banihal Pass.


‘Willing to Talk to Anyone who has any Meaningful Ideas

Text of Prime Minister Singh’s speech at the inauguration of the historic Anantnag-Qazigund rail line in the Kashmir

thValley October, 28 :

Bridging Divides

I N F O C U S1 1

In the last five years, the govern- Programme, The Ministry Tourism will about reports of receding glaciers.

ment of India has taken a number of train 300 youths of the state. In addi- I am happy to announce the launch

steps to bring development to Jammu tion, 200 youths will be trained and of the National Mission on Sustaining the

and Kashmir. We have tried to revive the deployed as tourist escorts during the Himalayan Eco-System. We wish to pre-

traditional connectivity between the Amarnath and Viashno Devi Yatras. The serve the sacred heritage of places like

people of the region. We took the bold ministry of Labour will train 8000 youths the Amarnath Shrine.

step of reviving the movement of goods in it is every year. The era of violence and terrorism and people across the Line of Control on As part of the national programme is coming to an end. The public senti-the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road on the the Ministry of Youth Affairs will deploy ment is for peace and for a peaceful res-Poonch – Rawalakot road. I am happy to around 8,000 youth in Jammu and olution of all problems.announce that the Central Government Kashmir on voluntary basis. They will When I came to office in 2004, I has decided to fund the additional cost engage in public service such as clean- had said that our Government is com-of Rs. 385 crore to build the heritage ing of the Dal Lake. mitted to having unconditional dialogue Mughal Road that will connect Shopian I believe that the It Sector of J&K with whoever abjures violence.with remote areas of Poonch and can be as developed of the country. We We had discussions with different Rajouri. will fully support the efforts of the State groups. We had a number of round table

Unprecedented resources have in this area. I am happy that more than conferences. All issues were discussed. been committed to the state for its com- 600 youth of the State trained under a WE tried to give voice to the demands of prehensive reconstruction. But I recog- Central Government project have been all sections of the people. We have nize that the benefits are tricking down employed in the IT sector recently. implemented a number of initiatives as slowly. This state of affairs should I am happy to announce that the a result of this process.change. We have to spend up the pace Government of India has decided to set I wish to say again today that we of development in the state. We have up two Central Universities in J&K, one are willing to talk to anyone who has any reverse the brain drain that has in Jammu and one in Kashmir. meaningful ideas for promoting peace denuded state of many of its teachers, The majesty and splendour of this and development in Kashmir.doctors, engineers and intellectuals. beautiful valley and culture of hospital- We want to carry all sections of the We have to create the conditions for ity of the Kashmiri people are second to people with us in resolving the political them to return and to be the instru- none. It magnificent lakes and forests and economic problems of Jammu and ments of change and development. We have charmed travelers for centuries. It Kashmir.want to strengthen in the hands of the offers the solemnity of the Budghist I had also said that I was ready to State government so that they can monasteries of Ladakh, the treasures of discuss all issues with Pakistan. I did so implement an ambitious development the Hazratbal shrine and the piety of not because of weakness but from a posi-agenda. the Raghnuath Temple. Let us build tion of strength. We had the most fruit-

I would also urge that the time has Kashmir into one of the world's top tour- ful and productive discussions ever with come for elections to local bodies be ist destinations. the Government of Pakistan during the held quickly. This will increase the peo- The picturesque Dal Lake is the period 2004-07 when militancy and vio-ple's participation in the processes of icon of the tourism have been funding a lence began to decline. Intensive dis-development. project for the conservation of the lake cussions were held on all issues includ-

I appeal to the youth of Kashmir to but progress has been slow. I would urge ing on a permanent resolution of the join in building a new Kashmir. I under- the state Government to set up a task issue of Jammu and Kashmir.stand their frustration. But things are force to expedite the project. The For the first time in 60 years, peo-changing. I huge them to think con- Centre has decided to commit addi- ple were able to travel by road across structively about how to build their tional funds of Rs. 356 crore for this pro- LoC. Divided families were re-united at futures. ject. We will also discuss with the State the border. Trade between the two sides

The Central Government will make of Kashmir began. In fact, our overall Government how to expedite on going trade with Pakistan increased three all efforts to involve the youth of the projects for the conservation of Wullar times during 2004-07. The number of State in constructive work. Under the Lake and Manser Lake.visas that we issued to Pakistanis dou-'Skill Development to Employment' The Government is concerned


Bridging Divides

I N F O C U S1 2

bled during the same period. An addi- ers and travelers. For a productive dia- cal conclusion. They should destroy

tional rail link was established. logue it is essential that terrorism must these groups wherever they are operat-

be brought under control. ing and for whatever misguided pur-These are not small achievements pose.given the history of our troubled rela- We will press the government of

tionship with Pakistan. In side the val- Pakistan to curb the activities of those I call upon the people and govern-

ley, as militancy decline, trade, busi- elements that are engaging in terrorism ment of Pakistan to show their sincerity

ness and tourism began to pick up. We in India. If they are non-state actors, it and good faith. As I have said many

were moving in the right direction. For is the solemn duty of the government of times before, we will not be found want-

the first time there was a feeling among Pakistan to bring them to book, to ing in our response. In the words of the

the people that a durable and final destroy their camps and to eliminate poet :

peace was around the corner. their infrastructure. The perpetrators 'There are moments in history

However, all the progress that we when wrong decisions are taken; the

achieved has been repeatedly thwarted effects of which are felt for ages'.

by acts of terrorism. I appeal to the government of

The terrorists want permanent Pakistan that the hand of friendship

enmity to prevail between the two coun- that we have extended should be car-

tries. ried forward. This is in the interest of

people of India and Pakistan.The terrorists have misused the

name of peaceful and benevolent reli- In conclusion, I wish to convey my

gion. Their philosophy of hate has no good wishes to the people of Jammu

place here. It is totally contrary to our and Kashmir. I hope that the future will

centuries old tradition of tolerance and bring a new ear of peace, reconcillation

harmony among faiths. and development.'

I strongly believe that the majority

of people in Pakistan seek good neigh-

borly and cooperative relations

between India and Pakistan. They seek

a permanent peace. This is our view as

well.

The Cross-LoC initiatives have

been well received on both sides of the

border. But I am also aware that they

are not as people friendly as they cold

are. Trade facilities at the border are

inadequate. There are not banking chan- of the acts of terror must pay the heavi-nels. Customs facilities need to be est penalty for their barbaric crimes strengthen. There are no trade fairs. against humanity.The lists of tradable commodities need It is a misplaced ideas that one to be increased. Clearances for travel reach a compromise with the ideology take time. Pioneers of India and of the terrorists or that they can be used Pakistan are languishing in each other's for one's own political purpose. jails even after completing their sen- Eventually they turn against you and tences. bring only death and destruction. The

The fact is that these are humani- real face of the terrorists is clear for the tarian issues whose resolution requires people of Pakistan to see with their own the cooperation of Pakistan. We are years.ready to discuss these and other issues I hope that the government of with the government of Pakistan. I hope Pakistan will take the ongoing actions that a s result things will be made easier against the terrorist groups on their logi-for our traders, divided families prison-


For the first time in 60 years, people were able to travel by road across LoC. Divided families were re-united at the border. Trade between the two sides of Kashmir began. In fact, our overall trade with Pakistan increased three times during 2004-07. The number of visas that we issued to Pakistanis doubled during the same period. An additional rail link was established.

Bridging Divides

I N F O C U S1 3

EpilogueAvailable at

Jawahar Book CenterJawahar Lal Nehru University

NEW DELHI

---India Book CenterTHIRUVANTHAPURAM

---CNA EnterprisesDN Road, MUMBAI

---KC Enterprises

Himayat Nagar, HYDERBAD

---EBS News Agency

Sector 22-B, CHANDIGARH

---Bhargave Book Center

University Center, ALLAHABAD

ince 2005, Pakistan and India have pursued out-of-the-box thinking on Kashmir and have allowed nominal human interaction and economic exchanges across the Line of Control (LoC). One of the most promising recent developments has been the formation of the Federation of Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and SIndustry (Joint Chamber), the first formal joint establishment across the Line of

Control, which is poised to play a central role in future efforts at increasing economic collaboration.

The Joint Chamber is still in its infancy and faces a number of critical challenges that are indicative of the potential stumbling blocks any effort at enhancing economic collaboration across the Line of Control is likely to face.

Currently, a consensus is missing on the future direction of the Joint Chamber. Not only are the central governments in Islamabad and New Delhi skeptical about according this new body a pivotal position in cross–LoC trade, but even the business communities in the Indian and Pakistani parts of the state suffer from internal differences on the scope of the Chamber's activities.

Perhaps most worrisome is the Kashmiri business community's reluctance to lobby proactively for expansion of ties beyond trade in goods. Investment, joint ventures, and transit trade through Pakistani Kashmir and Pakistan hold the real potential if economic interdependence is to ameliorate the long-standing political tensions over Kashmir.

The Joint Chamber members need to agree on a clear vision for the Chamber, preferably including concerns not only relevant to goods trade but also to trade in services, investment, joint ventures, and transit trade. To cover this broad horizon the Chamber would have to increase its capacity by involving entities such as trade associations and the civil society at large.

Before tangible gains can be made, the Joint Chamber needs a number of scoping exercises to determine the true potential for economic collaboration on all fronts. The current dearth of information is a major shortcoming in determining the specific areas that could expand the hitherto nascent cross–LoC interaction.

The Joint Chamber is already engaged in advocating for an increase in the nominal goods trade initiated across the LoC in October 2008. Protocols for physical travel and communication between traders, marketing and banking facilities, and an expansion of the scope of engagement are obvious next steps for this process.

The key to the Joint Chamber's success is to strike a delicate balance between nudging the governments to open up and remaining pragmatic about the necessarily incremental nature of the gains.

MOEED YUSUF

I N F O C U S

Bridging Divides

Promoting Cross-LoC TradeAn Analysis of the Joint Chamber

1 4


The India-Pakistan dispute over and Pakistani governments, acknowl- the outlook of the key stakeholders

Kashmir has proved to be one of the edge that these steps are only the regarding its potential, weighs the chal-

most intractable in the world. beginning of a process of economic col- lenges ahead, and recommends means

Traditionally, these two countries have laboration that could ultimately make to transform the Joint Chamber into a

remained preoccupied with concerns the LoC irrelevant for economic and body capable of playing an instrumental

about territoriality, sovereignty, princi- human exchanges. Most analysts remain role in expanding cross–LoC economic

ple of equality, and moral legitimacy convinced that only such expanded collaboration. The report is designed to

when approaching the issue. However, cross–LoC interaction can generate the provide both the business communities

their failure to find a breakthrough and kind of interdependence necessary to and policymakers with a clear sense of

the high costs associated with maintain- stabilize the area. While intermittent the steps needed to optimize the role of

ing the status quo have nudged tensions between India and Pakistan the Joint Chamber in enhancing

Islamabad and New Delhi to consider since 2006 have dampened the initial cross–LoC interaction. The analysis car-

fresh ideas for resolving the dispute. euphoria regarding cross–LoC ties, two ries a broader message: the case study

Perhaps the most promising develop- developments in October 2008 have proof the Joint Chamber— independent of

ment in recent years has been their vided renewed impetus for normalizing t h e f a t e o f t h e C h a m b e r

amenability to normalizing the state relations across the divided state: itself—highlights the clash of interests

through enhanced economic and human Islamabad and New Delhi initiated among the key stakeholders as well as

interaction between Pakistani and cross–LoC trade and business communi- the constraints on them, factors that

Indian Kashmir—previously no direct ties from Indian and Pakistani Kashmir constitute stumbling blocks for any

contact was permissible between the established a joint body to promote eco- effort to expand cross–LoC economic

two parts of the state. The hope is that nomic interaction—the Federation of exchange.

enhanced economic interdependence Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of The Joint Chamber

would act as a catalyst for ameliorating Commerce and Industry (hereafter In September 2008, on the side-the conflict by creating a strong, indige- Joint Chamber). Although still tenuous lines of the U.N. General Assembly ses-nous constituency that can push the two and not yet an effective platform to sion in New York, Pakistani President states toward peaceful resolution of the facilitate cross–LoC business interests, Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister dispute. the chamber is still the first formal joint Manmohan Singh agreed to implement

establishment across the LoC and thus Commendably, Pakistan and India the previously reached understanding poised to play a central role in any have not only proclaimed the goal of to allow trade in primary products future effort to enhance economic enhancing cross–Line of Control ties but across the LoC. The Pakistan-India Joint exchange. Moreover, the organization is have already made tangible progress Working Group on cross–LoC confidence the first non-governmental body of toward this end. Shortly after the initia- building measures, which had already note; its presence complements the tion of the bilateral peace process in held meetings to negotiate the issue, hitherto exclusively The views 2003, a mutually agreed cease-fire was was tasked to finalize trade modalities; expressed in this report do not neces-enforced along the LoC. Since then, bus subsequently, October 21, 2008, was set sarily reflect the views of the United service was initiated between Srinagar as the initiation date for cross–LoC States Institute of Peace, which does and Muzaffarabad in 2005 and between trade. not advocate specific policy positions. Poonch and Rawalakot. Fourteen The decision to commence trade To request permission to photocopy or months later, five LoC crossing points also provided an incentive to the busi-reprint materials, e-mail: permis-were opened for relief assistance in the ness communities on both sides of the [email protected] top-down approach to aftermath of the devastating earth- LoC to come together and discuss ways cross–LoC collaboration. In essence, the quake in the region in October 2005, to optimize trade relations. Thus, from Joint Chamber provides a concrete and an understanding was reached to October 9–16, 2008, a nineteen-opportunity to push forward the dream conduct cross–LoC trade in selected pri- member delegation from the Azad of an “irrelevant” LoC.mary products of Kashmiri origin in Jammu Kashmir (AJK) Chamber of

2006. This report examines the Joint Commerce and Industry visited Srinagar Chamber in detail. It outlines the basic Although critical in their own right, and Jammu to meet their counterparts.features of this new structure, analyzes all stakeholders, including the Indian The deliberations between the


I N F O C U SBridging Divides

1 5

business communities during the AJK posal. The Jammu Chamber was not that the Chamber cannot be officially

Chamber's visit led to the creation of part of these discussions; it was only registered as a joint entity unless

the Joint Chamber. The presidents of brought on board when the AJK delega- Islamabad and New Delhi are on board.

the Chamber of Commerce of Pakistani tion visited them following their visit to While both sides could separately regis-

Kashmir, Indian Kashmir (Valley), and the Valley. ter the new body without approval from

Jammu formally agreed to set up a joint the national governments, doing so The absence of any prior internal

body to bolster cross–LoC economic would render the entity no different deliberations by either side regarding a

interests. The Joint Chamber is limited than the individual Chambers that joint set-up, however, meant that the

to the three Chambers; other business already exist.Joint Chamber could not move beyond

entities such as traders' associations or mere formal agreement during the dele- Although the three relevant busi-

sector-specific groupings from the gation's visit. As it stands, the organiza- ness communities realize that the deci-

region are not represented in the body. tion exists only on paper: the Chamber sion to set up the Joint Chamber is a

The new structure's board will comprise has not been launched formally, neither beginning, their vision to solidify the

thirty-two individuals, sixteen of whom side has finalized its list of members, no body's presence lacks coherence. That

will be nominated by the AJK Chamber formal charter or mandate exists, no said, the following themes do find wide-

and sixteen jointly by the Indian decision has been made on establishing spread support as potential future

Kashmir and Jammu Chambers. The a physical presence, no meeting sched- objectives for the Joint Chamber:

Joint Chamber is headed by a president To increase contact between the who is appointed on a rotational, two- two business communities through regu-year basis, with the Pakistani and Indian lar meetings; these interactions would Chambers alternating the title. The allow the members to discuss avenues president will act as the executive and for closer cooperation.will be assisted by two senior vice presi- To gain greater exposure to each dents, one each from the Pakistani and other's markets and peoples.Indian part of the state, and four vice To provide a forum to raise mutual presidents, two from each side. As a concerns as well as a symbol of progress goodwill gesture, the Indian side in intra-Kashmir relations.offered the inaugural presidency to Mr. To act as a pressure group to nudge Zulfiqar Abbassi, the current president state and national governments to of the AJK Chamber, for an initial one- ule has been determined, and financing implement their official vision of year term. He is to hold the title until for the body remains uncertain. enhancing cross–LoC collaboration October 2009, after which the Joint beyond mere symbolism.The Chamber also faces potential Chamber members will select a new legal complications. For example, in To serve as an expert body that president for a full two-year stint; the Pakistani Kashmir, article 8 and 31 (3) deliberates issues related to trade and next term is likely to be awarded to a (d) of the Constitution prohibit the AJK investment and provides concrete nominee from the Indian side of the government from starting any interna- advice regarding trade modalities and LoC. tional joint trade venture on its own; avenues for trade expansion to the gov-

Neither side had envisioned creat- the Government of Pakistan retains com- ernments.ing a joint body prior to their meetings. plete jurisdiction over such matters. To lobby for improved “governance The Kashmir Chamber in the Valley had Similarly, article 370 of the Indian of cooperation”; this amounts to easing only planned to offer a memorandum of Constitution enables the central gov- restrictions that do not strictly fall understanding to the AJK Chamber. ernment to take charge of international within the trade and investment However, the AJK group, encouraged by trade in Jammu and Kashmir when it ambit—primarily security and bureau-the positive mood during the meeting, deems it necessary. In short, the cratic hurdles—but directly affect busi-suggested taking the arrangement a national governments on both sides ness activity.step further by instituting the joint reserve the right to prevent the state To galvanize other stakeholders in group. After some hesitation, the governments from recognizing the Joint the economy—small-scale producers, Kashmir Chamber accepted the pro- Chamber. These stipulations also imply retailers, transporters, marketing out-

The national governments

on both sides reserve the

right to prevent the state

governments from

recognizing the Joint

Chamber.



1 6

fits, technical experts, academics, and near term; a leading figure from the direction of trade would overwhelm-

civil society at large—to support the ini- Kashmir Chamber in the Valley told the ingly favor Indian Kashmir.

tiative, thereby creating a sense of own- author that the business community The proactive approach taken by

ership and empowerment among a large strongly preferred other, smaller bodies the AJK Chamber in proposing the idea

section of the population on both sides to explore options of similar arrange- of the Joint Chamber then is somewhat

of the LoC. ments with their counterparts inde- puzzling. On the one hand, there is gen-

pendently of the Joint Chamber.Since the Srinagar and Jammu eral agreement across the region's busi-

meetings, the Joint Chamber has The AJK Chamber ness community that economic interac-

remained largely dormant. The body's tion with Indian Jammu and Kashmir The decision to form the Joint

only tangible output thus far has been a should increase. It also appears certain Chamber was a bold turnaround for the

set of recommendations, heavily that the AJK Chamber will not reverse business community in Pakistani

focused on improving the current itself on the issue of the Joint Chamber's Kashmir. Previously, the business

cross–LoC trade regime, which were existence when the ongoing delibera-enclave as well as the state government

passed on to the Pakistani and Indian tions among the region's business in Muzaffarabad had been reluctant to

governments for consideration. Apart enclave are completed. On the other pursue trade liberalization. For over

from this, the Chamber's decision to hand, the business community is not two years, the AJK Chamber had

form working groups to identify items unanimous on the pace at which they deferred an invitation from their Indian

that could be added to the current would like cross–LoC ties to expand or counterparts to visit Srinagar and

cross–LoC trade list has been held in on the role they envision for the Joint Jammu to discuss trade related issues,

abeyance. Similarly, a proposed recip- Chamber.it did not extend a reciprocal invitation

rocal visit by the Indian Kashmir and until recently, and its members did not Two competing visions exist in the

Jammu Chambers across the LoC is on attend workshops intended to allow the AJK Chamber. In addition to the philo-

hold. The present lull stems from the two business communities to interact. sophical difference on the utility of

sudden spike in Indian-Pakistani ten- trade expansion, these two visions also The AJK business community's skep-sions in the wake of the terrorist attack reflect the fault line along which power ticism was in large part driven by mar-in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. The politics plays out within the Chamber. ket realities. Pakistani Kashmir has sig-sense of despondence that has pre- The political economy dimension is obvi-nificantly weaker economic prospects vailed among the business community ous when one examines the makeup of than the Indian part of the state; the on both sides since the Mumbai attack the two groups. Those involved in indus-situation was further skewed toward suggests that the status quo may remain tries such as textiles and apparel in the Indian side after the 2005 earth-until political tensions diminish. which their Indian Jammu and Kashmir quake that devastated Pakistani

The Lay of the Land: the Actors and counterparts are more competitive Kashmir's economy. The Pakistani side

their Preferences tend to be circumspect about swift lib-of the LoC is severely underdeveloped:

eralization. On the other hand, individ-The preferences of the key stake- approximately 88 percent of the 4.4 mil-

uals interested in areas such as power holders, namely, the Chambers on both lion people there depends on agricul-

generation where potential for mutual sides of the LoC, the state governments ture and forestry as their principal

gains is high form the most vocal sup-in Indian and Pakistani Kashmir, and the source of livelihood while the manufac-

port base for enhanced interaction.Pakistani and Indian authorities in turing sector is in poor shape, with many

Islamabad and New Delhi respectively, of the 917 industrial units having been At the core, all AJK Chamber mem-

are paramount to the evolution of the declared “sick.” Although Indian bers remain mindful of the necessity to

Joint Chamber. Other entities such as Jammu and Kashmir is one of the least cater to local industry interests.

traders' associations, small-scale pro- developed states in India, its agrarian However, those supporting swift move-

ducers, and retailers— which are known economy is rapidly industrializ- ment toward relatively free trade are

to wholeheartedly support enhanced ing—particularly in Jammu—and it upfront in stating their belief that

cross–LoC cooperation—remain outside already has a multifold advantage in pro- enhanced ties would ultimately benefit

the loop. Moreover, there seems to be ductive capacity over its Pakistani coun- consumers and producers on both sides;

little interest in exploring the possibil- terpart. In short, there is little doubt for Pakistani Kashmir they see the inter-

ity of expanding representation in the that in the near-to-medium term, the action providing impetus to investors



1 7

from Pakistan-proper to set up manu- discuss the body's future. the Joint Chamber yet are unwilling to

facturing units in the state, thereby complement each other's lobbying The anomaly has at its root the

enhancing productive capacity and efforts. Unlike Pakistani Kashmir, how-brewing tensions between the two

employment. This group views the Joint ever, the challenge in Indian Jammu and Chambers. The palpable political differ-

Chamber as a stepping stone to fulfill Kashmir is not to convince the ences between Jammu and the Kashmir

this ambition. Perhaps not surprisingly, Chambers of the merit of liberalizing Valley, which led to a rupture between

the AJK delegation that proposed the cross–LoC economic ties. Rather, it is to the Muslims of the valley and the

joint body had strong representation disaggregate the broader political tus-Jammuites in May 2008, resulted in the

from proponents of this view. sle within the state from the relation-two Chambers being hesitant to estab-

ship between the business communi-While proponents of the opposing lish any serious contact with each other.

ties. Only then can the Valley and view do not challenge the logic of this It was because of this falling-out that

Jammu Chambers arrive at an internal argument, they are much more focused the AJK delegation had to meet sepa-

understanding about the division of on the short term. This faction calls for rately with the Kashmir and Jammu

labor in their roles within the Joint a more graduated approach whereby Chambers; it ended up conducting the

Chamber and develop a combined nego-Pakistani Kashmir's own potential is bulk of its negotiations in the Valley and

tiating stance for devising strategies taken into account before putting prom- only later sought concurrence of the

with their Pakistani counterparts. ises on the table and is less enthused Jammuites. The internal politicking

Finally, some level of goodwill on the about the Joint Chamber's abrupt

part of the Jammu and Indian Kashmir announcement. At least one influential

Chambers is necessary to accept an businessman who shares this outlook

equal representation and voice since conveyed to the author his bitterness

the AJK group has a significantly less about the body's formation, arguing

impressive portfolio.that the possibility of a joint body was

not on the list of talking points commu- The State Governments

nicated to Pakistani Kashmir's business The Joint Chamber can expect a

community prior to the delegation's much more conciliatory attitude from

departure. This more cautious cohort is the state governments on both sides of

likely to push for a thorough internal the LoC. Authorities in Srinagar and

debate on the scope of the Joint Muzaffarabad seem committed to

Chamber's activities before developing exploring avenues to further liberalize

a unified stance on the issue. cross–LoC interaction. The government between the business entities on the Indian Kashmir (Valley) and Jammu in Pakistani Kashmir that left office in Indian side also explains concerns Chambers January 2009 had made cross–LoC inter-among segments of the business com-

action a major pillar of its political pro-An interesting dynamic exists munity, especially in the Valley, about gram. Arguably, the AJK delegation's regarding preferences on the Indian including the “other” Chamber in the offer to set up a Joint Chamber rather side of the LoC. Both the Chamber arrangement (some members of the AJK than just signing a memorandum of hosted in Srinagar as well as the one in delegation returned with this percep-understanding in Srinagar was a reflec-Jammu remain committed to expansion tion). The Federation of Chamber of tion of their confidence in the state gov-of economic ties. Individually, both enti- Industries in Kashmir (FCIK), a Valley-ernment's support for moves designed ties have voiced support for the Joint based group also showed reservations to expand cross–LoC economic ties. Chamber. This makes sense given the about handing over the founding presi-Indeed, the relationship between the disproportionate gains in the short- to- dency to the AJK Chamber even though outgoing government and the AJK medium term for the Indian side. the Jammu Chamber had accepted the Chamber's leadership is widely believed However, somewhat counterintuitive is arrangement without any apparent res-to have been the most cordial in recent the absence of any joint efforts by the ervations. history; the latter exercised substantial two entities to capitalize on their This situation leads to a conun-clout in political circles, a fact that led mutual interest. Thus far, the Kashmir drum whereby both Indian Chambers the already amenable government to and Jammu Chambers have not met to remain committed to the existence of

This situation leads to a conundrum whereby both Indian Chambers remain committed to the existence of the Joint Chamber yet are unwilling to complement each other's lobbying efforts



1 8

wholeheartedly back the Chamber's such a measure would cross Pakistan or Indian Kashmir. Both parties also feel

ambitions to play a proactive role in India's redlines. Yet, the fact that the that increased interaction would lead to

cross–LoC trade. The business commu- national governments are amenable to heightened intelligence deployment by

nity does not expect the incoming gov- the structure in principle, encouraging the other across the LoC. These con-

ernment to fundamentally change its as it is, does not imply that they would cerns apply not only to trade between

predecessor's stance, although it may quickly buy into its ambitions. Pakistani and Indian Kashmir, but even

have to face renewed lobbying efforts more so to transit trade, investment, This is not to say that either side is

b y p r o p o n e n t s o f b o t h and join ventures through which reloca-likely to attempt to undo the process. In

views—accelerated versus gradual lib- tion of personnel across the LoC for fact, the symbolism of the development

eralization—that exist among the AJK extended periods would be legalized, suits them; it is in line with their official

Chamber members. trade and investment facilitation would stance of allowing interdependence

become necessary, and, consequently, The mindset is even more encour- between the two parts of Jammu

the governments' hold on the process aging in Indian Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmir. Beyond mere symbolism, how-

would inevitably be diluted. Therefore, lopsided near-term gains make it natu- ever, realizing the Joint Chamber's

while a process that crawls along under ral for the state government in Srinagar vision is likely to prove extremely chal-

the close watch of the two governments to view the prospect of enhanced trade lenging given that both Pakistan and

is diplomatically attractive, fast-track favorably. The enthusiasm of state offi- India, despite having moved away from

liberalization is not.cials was evident from their outright

support of the idea of the Joint Concerns from Islamabad and New

Chamber during the AJK Chamber's Delhi are not just security related.

visit. Barring any negative directives Within the economic realm, one con-

from New Delhi, the Indian Jammu and cern that both India and Pakistan

Kashmir government is likely to remain have—Pakistan more so than India—is

proactive in its efforts to expand the potential for intra-Kashmir trade to

cross–LoC interaction. become an excuse for Indian goods to

find their way into the Pakistani mar-The National Governments

ket and vice versa. At the core, the The national governments in worry stems from a realization of the Islamabad and New Delhi continue to weak trade governance capacity in the hold the key to the future of intra-two countries: both sides know that Kashmir relations. Notwithstanding the irrespective of the monitoring and ultimate ambition of allowing Kashmiri their traditional maximalist stances, policing measures put in place to civil society to have a larger stake in remain wedded to a security-centric check flows beyond the border of decision-making, both the Indian and paradigm in their outlook toward the Jammu Kashmir, a truly liberalized Pakistani governments remain unchal- dispute. The two countries see each trade regime would lead to products lenged in their ability to veto any other through a zero-sum lens whereby from the other's heartland flowing into Kashmiri aspirations. Without their granting unilateral concessions is a sign theirs. Pakistan has already had a bit-agreement, developments like the Joint of weakness. The strongest opposition ter experience with the Afghan Transit Chamber are highly unlikely to succeed. on both sides comes from the bureau-Trade facility whereby goods destined That said, neither Islamabad nor New cracies—the Foreign Office and the mili-for Afghanistan regularly make their Delhi has yet signaled its intentions tary in Pakistan and the Ministries of way back into Pakistan, creating sig-regarding the joint body; neither capi- External Affairs and Home Affairs in nificant perversions in the local mar-tal has responded to the list of recom- India—even though the political leader-ket. This fear, combined with the mendations the Joint Chamber commu- ship seems to have softened their absence of any Rules of Origin agree-nicated to them after the creation of stances considerably. Various elements ment specific to Jammu and Kashmir, the body. Of course, it seems unlikely within the Indian bureaucracy remain has forced officials in both countries that the business communities would wary of Pakistan's propensity to use to exercise extreme caution when have gone ahead with formation of the freer human and economic exchange as negotiating cross–LoC trade modalities.Joint Chamber had they known that a means to create greater unrest in

The two countries see each other through a zero-sum lens whereby granting unilateral concessions is a sign of weakness. The strongest opposition on both sides comes from the bureaucracies



1 9

Current Cross–LoC Trade thousand people have traveled in over as the major reason. The transaction

three years—due to the highly cumber- closure and payment process continued The current trading arrangement is

some clearance procedures.16 to cause confusion, ultimately resulting fraught with stringent bureaucratic

Moreover, people in Indian Kashmir do in arrears of around 3.5 million Indian impediments. Trade is restricted to

not even have the international direct rupees. Traders of other products have duty-free access for twenty-one items,

dialing facility to communicate with also threatened to follow suit.all of which are primary products pro-

their counterparts across the LoC via duced within the state of Jammu and The Challenges Ahead: Looking

phone.Kashmir. Moreover, goods on the posi- Beyond the Current Trade Regime

tive list do not seem to correspond to The absence of banking facilities In the Kashmiri context, the under-

market realities. A number of items defy and the lack of permission to use lying rationale for bodies like the Joint

trade rationale as they are already Pakistani and Indian rupees for transac- Chamber is to create bottom-up pres-

available at lower cost within the tions is another concern shared by the sure to hasten the process of normaliza-

importer's market or the exporter has a business communities on both sides. tion between the two parts of the state.

more lucrative market available domes- The Joint Chamber has already voiced Ultimately, permanent improvement in

tically. Moreover, there is no marketing its preference to trade in the local cur- intra-Kashmir relations presupposes sub-

setup to promote goods from across the rencies, with the U.S. dollar as the ref- stantial economic interdependence

LoC; this limits the appeal even for erence for exchange purposes. On the across the LoC such that the costs of

goods not suffering from an adverse cost reversal become unbearably high.

differential. Interdependence, in turn, requires not

At present, trade can be con- only a robust cross–LoC relationship

ducted only on Tuesdays and among the stakeholders in the eco-

Wednesdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. nomic sphere but also a streamlined

Transportation is another major impedi- focus on specific aspects within the over-

ment. No more than 1.5 metric tons arching relationship that are capable of

(MT) per truckload can cross the LoC creating the interdependence.

due to infrastructural constraints on Ideally, the Joint Chamber should

both sides. The small consignment size be looking to explore avenues that

makes trade unviable as the fuel, han- would provide the business community

dling, freight, insurance, and other mis- with attractive returns, thus creating a

cellaneous costs are not necessarily pro- genuine economic rationale instead of

portional to the consignment weight. In merely a symbolic one. The absence of

addition, neither side has permission to banking front, the situation is even such a focus at present stands out as a

transport goods to their final destina- more troublesome as neither the critical challenge to the entity's future

tion. Trucks must be unloaded at check- Jammu & Kashmir Bank on the Indian viability. Currently, the business com-

points near the LoC, then reloaded onto side nor the AJ&K Bank on the Pakistani munities are focusing almost exclu-

local trucks and hauled to the destina- side has branches across the LoC; they sively on trade in goods between

tion. Apart from the cost element, this also have no direct correspondence and Pakistani and Indian Kashmir. It is only

is especially problematic for perishable thus do not allow cross-referenced within this traditional trading sphere

items. transactions. In essence, apart from that businessmen seem to have a con-

Furthermore, traders have no cash purchases or informal credit mech- crete action plan; virtually all other ave-

means to meet regularly. The visa anisms, no official closure is possible. nues are considered too far-fetched to

restrictions continue to be extremely receive any serious attention at the There is already empirical evi-

stringent for all residents, including moment.dence of the impact of the glaring bank-

businessmen. Even members of divided ing anomaly. Fruit growers from Indian The impulse to focus on trade in

families, for whom cross–LoC buses Kashmir suspended cross–LoC shipments goods is understandable and welcome

were instituted in 2005 and the visa within twenty days of the initiation of given the stringent restrictions in place

regime supposedly liberalized, have the process, citing lack of proper com- under the current regime. That said,

underutilized the service—only nine munications and payment mechanisms the Joint Chamber cannot afford to con-

The Joint Chamber should be looking to explore avenues that would provide the business community with attractive returns, thus creating a genuine economic rationale instead of merely a symbolic one.



2 0

centrate its energies so narrowly, espe- reduced dependence on Jammu as the arrangement is bound to disillusion

cially when goods trade between the Kashmir Valley's sole outlet to the rest many in the business community; the

two parts of the state is the least attrac- of India. danger is that an extended period with-

tive aspect of the economic relation- out movement beyond cross–LoC goods In light of the above, it is highly sur-

ship. Two critical links missing from this trade will cause the Chambers to lose prising that the Joint Chamber has not

picture are the potential for Indian interest altogether and thus make them deliberated the possibility of transit

Jammu and Kashmir to use the Pakistani indifferent to a de facto reversal of the trade and that there has been no push

part of the state as a transit route and minor gains achieved thus far. This is a from the Chambers on the Indian side,

exploring trade in services, investment, concern that some influential business-jointly or individually, to advocate early

and joint ventures. men acknowledged during conversa-approval of the facility. The dynamic is

tions with the author.The expected gains for the rather interesting. On the one hand, the

Srinagar and Jammu Chambers from keenness to move from the “to” to the The concern is even graver on the

trading with Pakistani Kashmir notwith- “through” arrangement with Pakistani trade in services and investment fronts.

standing, Indian Jammu and Kashmir's Kashmir is evident among the Indian Past studies have established that the

business communities have often raised Jammu and Kashmir business commu- real potential for a holistic cross–LoC

concerns about the market across the nity. In fact, some members are cate- economic relationship lies beyond

LoC being too small for it to be a major gorical in highlighting that transit trade goods trade. The similar nature of the

attraction. Indeed, this is legitimate, economies on the two sides of the LoC

not only because of the limited size of makes trade in goods useful only as a

the population on the Pakistani side of starting point. The prospects for real

the LoC but also because of its meager long-term gains lie in eight service sec-

purchasing power. Ideally, the Indian tors: tourism, forestry, waterways,

side is vying for a passage through power generation, information technol-

Pakistani Kashmir to Pakistan-proper, ogy, education, anti-poverty programs,

the Persian Gulf countries, and beyond. and disaster management.

This is true for both Chambers in the Although the Joint Chamber men-

Indian part of the state. Jammu would tioned joint ventures in tourism,

like to make use of Pakistani transport exchange in software industries, and

infrastructure to export from the ports contact between educational and tech-

of Karachi and Gwadar, which are much nical institutions as potential avenues

cheaper and more efficient than for consideration in its recent communi-is their only real interest. However, lead-Mumbai, the port Jammu producers cur- cation to the governments of Pakistan ers of the respective Chambers argue rently utilize. In fact, given Jammu's and India, the business communities are that the decision not to include transit strength in industrial production and its unprepared to pursue these ventures trade in the list of recommendations geographical location, the option of seriously. communicated by the Joint Chamber to exporting manufactured goods through There is a lack of information on the governments was deliberate; it was the historic Jammu-Sialkot (Pakistan) the specific avenues to explore regard-believed to be too controversial for the route is even more attractive than trading investment and joint ventures in the authorities to consider seriously.ing across the LoC. For the Srinagar short to medium term. The business

The disconnect between the desire Chamber, the appeal of the transit facil- community often mentions broad areas, for tangible gains among the business ity is twofold. For one, the current focusing only on the macro, sectoral-community on the Indian side—hence transport route available to the geo- level picture. Thinking about non-goods the interest in transit trade—and the graphically isolated Valley is highly exchanges remains extremely tenta-passive effort to move to the “through” undependable. There are frequent com- tive. The lack of movement within the arrangement implies that there is insuf-plaints of perishable items being dam- community is evident in the fact that ficient pressure on the governments in aged by the time they reach their final the Joint Chamber set up working Islamabad and New Delhi. This is self-destinations in India. Second, transiting groups to identify items that could be defeating because the present trade through Pakistani Kashmir implies added to the current trade list, but

The internal contradiction in the stance of the business enclave is obvious: while they are bitter about government restrictions, they have been unable to formulate a unified position.



2 1

ignored the need to start parallel work Regularly exchange data on water flows Source: Moeed Yusuf, Exploring

on investment and joint ventures. and quality. t h e P o t e n t i a l f o r E c o n o m i c

D e v e l o p m e n t a n d C r o s s – L o C The internal contradiction in the Power generation: (1) Conduct a

Collaboration in Jammu Kashmir, stance of the business enclave is obvi- careful study of the power generation

Pugwash, Issue Brief, March 2007ous: while they are bitter about govern- potential to gauge the amount of elec-

ment restrictions, they have been tricity that can realistically be brought The Way Forward: Making the Joint

unable to formulate a unified position, to the grid; (2) Explore the possibility of Chamber Deliver

let alone pursue it, on issues related to a joint power generation project on the The following recommendations

transit trade, services trade, invest- LoC. suggest both steps the Joint Chamber

ment, and joint ventures. The business Information Technology: (1) itself needs to take and areas in which

leaders seem willing to take a more con- Pakistani Kashmir should utilize the soft- the body needs to lobby the state and

servative approach than is perhaps ideal ware development capacity across the national governments.

for a body set up to alter the status quo LoC by outsourcing assignments; (2) Viability of the Joint Chamberin an intensely hostile environment. In Request Indian IT professionals to teach Bringing the Stakeholders Togetherfact, an overwhelming majority seems at small IT training centers in Pakistani The very idea of the Joint Chamber resigned to the fact that politics will Kashmir; IT students from Pakistani presupposes a consensus within the busi-continue to trump the aspirations that Kashmir could also be sent to study in ness community on the existence and underlie the Joint Chamber. While that the proposed Indian Technology objectives of the body. Neither side can is certainly true at present, and is likely Institute in Indian Kashmir; (3) The claim to have fulfilled this prerequisite to remain so in the near-to-medium Indian side could help their Pakistani yet. The foremost requirement then is term, deferring the future of the Joint counterparts in setting up software tech- for business communities to be on board Chamber to the political domain under- nology parks and other such IT ventures. in unison. In Pakistani Kashmir, an inter-mines the very rationale for its exis- Education: (1) Initiate a small stu- nal convergence of opinion is required tence, that is, to create bottom-up pres- dent exchange program for postgradu- whereby proponents of both views dis-sure despite the adversarial framework. ate institutions; (ii) Share experiences cussed earlier (accelerated versus grad-In essence, those who are on improving the quality of education; ual liberalization) are comfortable with Areas of Interest for Investment and educational administrators (including the entity. As for Indian Jammu and Joint Ventures as Identified by a nongovernmental ones) on the Pakistani Kashmir, both Chambers have to work Previous Pugwash Study (supported side could build on their existing pro- out a mechanism to ensure that their by USIP) grams for teacher training, either by interaction in the Joint Chamber is

Tourism: (1) Establish a Joint sharing best practices or exchanging immune to intrastate political turbu-Travel Management Board; (2) Set up master trainers at teacher training lence. Specifically, the Kashmir Valley hotel management training institutes in institutes across the LoC. and Jammu businessmen need to chart a Indian Kashmir where individuals from Anti-poverty programs: (1) common negotiating stance vis-à-vis both sides would be allowed to train; (3) Replicate the Rural Support Program New Delhi.Set up vocational training institutes spe- (RSP) from Pakistan's Federally The Joint Chamber's creation not-cific to the tourism industry on both Administered Northern Areas structure withstanding, business communities sides. in Pakistani and Indian Kashmir; RSP top from the two sides also suffer from a

Forestry: (1) Involve communities brass could conduct orientation and trust deficit thanks to decades of state-in Joint Forest Management projects training courses for their Indian coun- led propaganda. The fragility of the rela-with assistance from civil society; (2) terparts and/or set up the program in a tionship was evident during the AJK Institute public-private partnerships in few model villages in Indian Kashmir Chamber's visit across the LoC. For the forestry sector; investors from the most desperate for tangible gains—the instance, the delegation found it offen-same or opposite side of the LoC could business communities—are unwilling to sive that Pakistani Kashmir was referred lease out land for regeneration and har- follow the path that is most likely to to as Pakistan “Occupied” Kashmir in vesting. lead to those very dividends. The cur- one of the post del iberat ion

rent mindset creates a selffulfilling Waterways: (1) Hold joint environ- communiqués issued by the hosts. As prophecy.mental clean-up exercises; (2) mentioned, the FCIK was also not too



2 2

enthused about granting the first presi- and its activities. The body should for- ations, technical experts, academics,

dency of the Joint Chamber to an AJK mulate a concise vision and specific and perhaps even members of the

representative. These minor episodes aims and agree upon issues such as the media. Although these representatives

signal the need for dedicated efforts to Chamber's physical presence, funding, do not need to be permanent members,

trust building. While increased contact meeting schedule, and other relevant they should be invited regularly to pro-

should help, both sides need to remain concerns. Specifically, Chamber mem- vide guidance. Such input could often

mindful of each other's sensitivities and bers should seek legal advice to work end up having a multiplier effect by gen-

exercise caution in their interactions. out means to register and locate the erating new ideas for cooperation.

Moreover, the Indian Chambers might body as a joint entity. The Joint Broadening the Joint Chamber's

consider making initial concessions in Chamber should also issue a formal char- representation will assist the new

their trade and investment approach ter. entrants as well. Their inclusion will

even if they defy economic logic. Such Delineating a clear vision for the provide them a channel to voice their

goodwill toward the weaker side could Joint Chamber would also require a fun- sector-specific demands. For exam-

go a long way to increasing trust and damental decision on the body's scope. ple, members of the education sector

diluting skepticism in Pakistani Kashmir. As previously mentioned, there is cur- have not even lobbied for implementa-

The Joint Chamber must take the rently a disconnect between the norma- tion of recommendations by previous

national governments into their confi- tive aim of acting as the pivot for any working groups on the subject in part

dence. This is essential to satisfy legal because they lack organization and a

concerns as well as to ensure smooth platform to do so, something the Joint

functioning of the entity. An immediate Chamber would be able to provide.

task concerning all Chambers is to cre- Addressing the Communication Gap

ate a strong constituency in support of The above tasks presume an ability the Joint Chamber in Islamabad and on the part of the Joint Chamber mem-New Delhi. Chamber delegations should bers to remain in contact, and meet meet with relevant ministry officials physically and relatively freely. periodically in the coming months to Business communities on the two sides explain the rationale of the joint body cannot afford to wait while govern-and ease concerns harbored by the ments consider requests for relaxation bureaucracies. Regular contact with the of visa and communication restrictions. national governments should allow the Even a favorable decision in this regard issues related to cross–LoC economic business communities to gauge will likely only come after protracted interaction and the overwhelming focus Islamabad and New Delhi's redlines. negotiations between the national gov-on goods trade. The Joint Chamber, Keeping these in mind, the Joint ernments. Two alternatives could be being the only common platform, must Chamber should develop a stance that pursued. First, outside actors could approach the issue holistically by neither ruptures their relationship with assist in creating opportunities for busi-including concerns relevant to trade in the respective governments nor defers ness community representatives and goods, services, investments, and joint wholly to the authorities on issues of other relevant stakeholders to meet ventures in all sectors of interest. utmost business interest. At present, periodically. Donor groups and inde-Without such an approach, the business their outlook errs substantially toward pendent facilitating organizations could community is certain to lose interest.the latter. arrange meetings such as dedicated Should the above course be pur-Permanence and Vision of the Joint workshops and conferences where one sued, the Joint Chamber members Chamber or two days are reserved for Joint would have to revisit their capacity.

The Joint Chamber needs to bring Chamber meetings.Currently, the body suffers from an permanence to its own existence. Based A second, less preferable, but inno-extremely narrow membership base. on the internal convergence of opinion vative idea is to set up a joint Web site The Chamber will have to bring within on both sides, working groups from the to exchange information and negotiate its fold representatives of service sec-thirty-two-member body should deter- trade deals. A model exists in the form tors with cross–LoC potential, invest-mine the precise nature of the entity of the Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of ment consultants, smaller trade associ-

Business communities from

the two sides also suffer

from a trust deficit thanks

to decades of state-led

propaganda.



2 3

Traders and Manufacturers Cooperative ing conferences at neutral venues that exercises could be designed such that

Limited. This is a limited liability entity could be implemented within a set time they maximize the involvement of and

conceived by the president of the frame. Likewise, members from the interaction among Chamber members,

Jammu Chamber, Ram Sahai, to pro- tourism sector could be brought thereby simultaneously building trust

mote cross–LoC interaction. While the together to discuss specific avenues, and enhancing capacity.

cooperative is largely symbolic at this modalities, and requirements to jump- The need for a scoping research

point, a key aspect of it is a “joint Web start the industry. exercise is as acute in the investment

site,” which is supposed to symbolize LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR sphere. Currently, virtually no informa-

cross–LoC unity. Taking this idea as a EXPANDED TRADE AND INVESTMENT tion exists at the subsector level, a nec-

starting point, the Joint Chamber Web essary prerequisite to identifying the Information Collectionsite could become an interactive com- viability of specific investment and The Need for Concrete Researchmunication and data center for busi- joint venture projects and the steps Arguably, the most serious impedi-nessmen: it would contain updated required to enact them. Again, ment to a long-term plan for trade information allowing businessmen to researchers, preferably from within the expansion is the absence of accurate gauge market price data, trends, and state, should be tasked to conduct data on the market structure in other relevant statistics. If agreeable, it detailed investment studies at the Kashmir. Lack of interaction between could also house a secure portal where subsector level.the two sides over the years has meant business deals could be negotiated and The potential flow of trade through that neither has specific information closed. Pakistan, should Islamabad allow Indian about the precise nature of the market

The information gap between the Jammu and Kashmir to use its territory across the LoC. More alarming is the fact business communities on both sides of for transit purposes, should also be that information is scant even within the LoC and organizations such as the researched. A scenario-based exercise the respective parts. For instance, United States Institute of Peace, could forecast the potential revenue Pakistani Kashmir lacks a detailed mar-Pugwash, Conciliation Resources, and gains for Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir ket study of its own potential as well as South Asia Free Media Association who under various royalty tariffs. This would up-to-date, disaggregated data captur-are committed to facilitating intra- give Islamabad and Muzaffarabad a ing production and trade information. Kashmir normalization must be over- clear sense of the benefits likely to flow This makes it virtually impossible to pro-come. The business communities should from the arrangement. Thus far, no con-ject the impact of trade liberalization, be forthcoming in communicating crete information is available due to and thus convince skeptics—be it busi-requests for assistance that can be data deficiencies on the Indian side, nessmen or governments—about the addressed by these outside actors. By where disaggregated data for trade and potential gains from enhanced interac-the same token, interested parties production is not easily accessible.tion.should continue to explore avenues for Approaching the GovernmentsOnly detailed market studies on supporting the process. Clearly, the The suggestions put forward thus both sides will highlight the respective Chambers remain the key actors to tap. far are required to make the Joint comparative advantages and allow trad-However, these organizations should Chamber a viable entity as well as to ers to sensibly agree on the amount and also consider broadening their contacts provide it with an empirical basis to pur-scope of trade in the short- to-medium to include much the same cohorts as the sue its agenda of cross–LoC economic term. That said, none of the Chambers Joint Chamber: smaller trade associa- interaction. Once the joint body is on a have the wherewithal to conduct such a tions, technical experts, service sector sound footing and has a clearer agenda comprehensive study themselves. individuals, and investment consul- of specific measures it would like to see Independent organizations or consul-tants. Furthermore, greater attention implemented, it should begin lobbying tants would have to undertake the work should be paid to sector-specific exper- the state and national governments. Its in collaboration with the respective tise. For example, academics from both efforts should span the entire economic Chambers. Ideally, researchers from sides, who remain tentative in spectrum—trade in goods and services, within the state should be identified to approaching their counterparts across investment, and joint ventures.participate; the AJK and Jammu & the LoC, could be brought together to Kashmir Universities would be the obvi- The Joint Chamber is already discuss publishing joint papers or hold- ous institutions to tap. That said, these focused on the present trade arrange-



2 4

ment. Some of the trade facilitation in Jammu and Kashmir that cross–LoC the trade facilitation process, a Kashmir

measures that need to be pursued have trade would only be attractive to it if Trade Agent, nominated by the respec-

been communicated to the national gov- the export of manufactured products tive business communities and

ernments, both by the Joint Chamber as from the state were allowed. The group approved by the state government,

well as sanctioned groups such as the has forwarded a list of fifty-two items should be appointed on both sides of the

Indian Working Group on strengthening that it wants included on the approved LoC to oversee the process and act as a

cross–LoC relations. Overall, the follow- list. liaison between the business enclave

ing measures deserve attention; a num- and the national governments.If the two sides allow the trade of

ber of these are applicable to aspects of manufactured goods across the LoC, a Facilitating Transport and Travel

the economic relationship beyond tradi- mutually acceptable Rules of Origin A number of actions could be taken

tional goods trade. framework specific to Jammu and to improve movement and access:

The Composition of Current Trade Kashmir will have to be devised by Currently, only the Srinagar-

India, Pakistan, and the state govern-Trade should be allowed seven Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot

ments. While the South Asian Free Trade days a week. In addition, the number of routes are operational. All historic

Area (SAFTA) provides a ready frame-items on the approved list should be routes, including Mirpur-Naushara,

work, it is highly unlikely that New Delhi increased and these items should be Tithwal-Chilhan, Gurez-Astore-Gilgit,

and Islamabad would allow the respec-selected based on market realities, not Chumb- Pallanwalla, Kargil-Skardu, and

arbitrary choices by Pakistani and Indian Kotli-Rajori, should be examined for

officials. The India-Pakistan Joint traffic and trade potential and

Working Group on cross–LoC Confidence reopened where appropriate. If transit

Building Measures is mandated to of Indian Kashmiri goods through

review the list of items periodically. The Pakistan were permitted, the Sialkot-

Joint Chamber should lobby the Working Suchetgarh route, both road and rail,

Group to expand the list at their next would also become appealing. Full truck

meeting, if not sooner. As a start, items loads of twelve to fifteen MT should be

proposed by one side but not included allowed in order to lower per unit

during the negotiations should be revis- expenditures for the traders.

ited. From India, these would include Necessary infrastructure should be

c r i c k e t b a t s , s i l k p r o d u c t s , prepared to ensure smooth operations, tive Chambers to issue certificates of pharmaceuticals, gems and jewelry, including strengthening roads and origin. The concern is obvious: the other honey, and cut flowers while from bridges.side could allow goods not meeting the Pakistan the expanded list would con- Trucks should be allowed to carry origin criteria to be exported in the tain precious stones, salt, marble, goods to their final destination rather guise of intra- Kashmir trade. That said, onions, garlic, and pine nuts. Other than having to unload at the LoC; spe-as technically challenging as this issue items which could potentially be traded cific truck companies and drivers could may be, without a Rules of Origin agree-across the LoC (the actual scope for be issued security clearances and passes ment, it would be impossible to move doing so will depend on the results of that would be renewed periodically. beyond trading in primary items pro-the market studies recommended ear- Trucks could still be subject to security duced wholly within Jammu and lier) include: silverware, copperware, checks.Kashmir. One option could be to allow seeds, sewing machines, fluxes and The trade centers and truck termi-the Chamber from the opposite side to chemicals, juices and jams, canned nals that are already planned at each verify each Certificate of Origin after food (from India), fertilizers and rice LoC crossing point must be designed examining facts about a particular prod-(from Pakistan), and leather and with the expansion of trade volume in uct's supply chain. However, this leather shoes (two-way flow). mind. Specifically, trade centers should assumes transparency in information Moving beyond primary goods be able to host cross–LoC business meet-sharing and physical access to the other would be a natural and urgently needed ings, trade fairs, and small-scale retail side.subsequent step. The FCIK has already markets rather than serving simply as

Finally, to allow local ownership of communicated to the state government formal facilitation complexes.

Once the joint body is on a sound footing and has a clearer agenda of specific measures it would like to see implemented, it should begin lobbying the state and national governments.



2 5

A travel permit system should be services between the two sides is also a ble; estimates of future returns are

initiated whereby traders (and other hindrance to trade. Postal services already being scaled back. Therefore,

stakeholders relevant to economic should be allowed as they are across the the Pakistani authorities are likely to

facilitation) could be issued security international Indian-Pakistani border; look for other potential clients; Indian

clearances and trade passes; cleared local and international courier agencies Kashmir, and India-proper, are obvious

businessmen could then be allowed to should also be allowed to operate. choices. Depending on the outcome of

travel across the LoC in their own vehi- In the absence of banking services, the number-crunching exercise sug-

cles rather than having to use the bus trade and investment ventures cannot gested in this report, it is not incon-

service or at least be allowed to cross be expected to flourish. The Joint ceivable that the potential returns

over and park at the trade centers and Chamber should continue to press the from a transit facility arrangement

use local transportation to reach their Indian and Pakistani governments to would trump concerns about some of

final destination. allow AJK Bank branches in Srinagar, the goods leaking into the Pakistani

In order to enhance interaction Jammu, and Poonch, and Jammu and market, especially if the modalities

and exposure to the other side, periodic Kashmir Bank branches in Mirpur, allow the Pakistani side complete logis-

trade fairs and industrial exhibitions Muzaffarabad, and Rawalakot. tical control once the consignments have

should be organized on both sides. As Furthermore, SAFTA's currency stipula- entered its territory.

mentioned, these could be held at the tion allowing for trade to take place in Conclusion

trade centers if the infrastructure per- local currencies should be applied to The six-decade-long Kashmir dis-

mits. Small-scale retailers of products intra-Kashmir trade. pute has caused tremendous human and

on the permissible list and edible items Beyond the Traditional Trade Sphere economic costs. This is an aspect of the

could be issued a cross-over permit and conflict that is often overlooked. The Regarding services trade, invest-

allowed to set up daily bazaars in the present thaw in Indo-Pak relations has ment, and joint ventures, the scoping

trade centers across the LoC. provided an opportunity to use cross-exercises suggested previously are a nec-

The Essentials for Trade: Marketing, essary prerequisite to formulating a con- LoC relations as a means not only to

Communications, Banking crete action plan going forward. In light increase the prosperity levels of

If the items to be traded and the of the facts revealed by the market and Kashmiris on either side but also to use

infrastructure to move them are the investment studies, the Joint Chamber the interaction as a means of ameliorat-

“hardware” of trade, then marketing, should put together a priority list of ing conflict. This hope is based on the

communications, and banking are the future actions—related specifically to liberal theory of economic interdepen-

“software.” concrete projects—and lobby the gov- dence, which argues that by increasing

the economic incentive for peace, Legal provisions should be made to ernments in parallel with their efforts

trade-driven interdependence brings allow marketing companies from both on the traditional goods trade front.

amelioration of interstate conflict as a sides to operate across the LoC. As a Initiatives that are less likely to be con-

welcome political externality. start, exporters from one part could be troversial in the current security-

allowed to hire local marketing compa- centric environment in Islamabad and Allowed to reach its true potential,

cross-LoC trade in Jammu Kashmir nies from the other side. New Delhi should be given preference. could produce the kind of interdepen-Efficient trading patterns are Finally, accurate estimates of the dence liberal trade theorists envision. unlikely to develop without regular potential revenues from transit trade While further expansion in trade in phone contact. Indian Kashmir must may spur interest in the Pakistani goods is the obvious next step, the main-allow international direct dialing to Kashmir and Pakistan governments. This stay of the interaction over the enable Jammu and Valley businessmen will be especially true if the multimil-medium-to-long term is likely to be in

to call their Pakistani Kashmir counter- lion dollar Gwadar port project under-the trade in services, joint ventures,

parts freely. At present, cell phones can taken by Islamabad fails to deliver the and cross-LoC investment spheres.

be used but most individuals avoid these kind of dividends Pakistan expects from Moreover, transit trade facilities for

given the potential for harassment by the inflow of Central Asian goods Indian Kashmir are certain to create an

intelligence agencies. transiting the facility. The turmoil in added incentive to maintain normalized

Afghanistan makes this all but inevita-The absence of postal and courier



2 6

ties. Finally, the human interaction clamp down on their aspirations and an views and several other members of the

between these divided peoples that eco- overly deferential posture that would business community in Azad Jammu and

nomic ties will inevitably create will per- leave the Joint Chamber at the mercy of Kashmir and the Lahore Chamber of

haps be a potent force against regres- political relations between Pakistan and Commerce and Industry for their valu-

sion toward active hostilities over the India. able inputs. He is also grateful to Mr.

territory. Happymon Jacob for soliciting infor-No matter how challenging, mea-mation from the business community This is where efforts from a body sures necessary to keep the business in Indian Jammu and Kashmir and to like the Joint Chamber become so community interested in cross–LoC the Research Society for International important. Presently, the governments interaction must be pursued; the enor-Law, Lahore, Pakistan for providing of India and Pakistan manage issues mity of the challenge cannot be allowed their opinion on the legality of the regarding cross–LoC activity closely. to dissuade the business enclave. After Joint Chamber. Finally, he wishes to Given their security-centric outlook, all, few believed prior to the initiation thank Marie Pace, A. Heather Coyne, the economic interaction remains of the peace bid that duty-free David Smock, Jonathan Cohen, and the unpredictable, and indeed unattrac- cross–LoC interaction, as it stands anonymous reviewers for their valu-tive. Under such circumstances, it is today, would be possible. And certainly able comments.only bottom-up pressure from non- no one could have imagined that a joint

governmental bodies that can hope to platform would be formulated and ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FROM EPILOGUE

inject a broader perspective into the accepted, even if notionally, by the gov- E p i l o g u e e x p r e s s s i n c e r e official mindset. This requires a deli- ernments of Pakistan and India. Yet both gratitudes to the United State Institute cate balance in the Joint Chamber's are reality today. of Peace for granting us permission to approach; the body's members need to ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FROM AUTHOR reproduce this exclusive report. This remain pragmatic, avoiding an overly report was commissioned by USIP’s The author wishes to thank Zulfiqar aggressive attitude that would unneces- Center for Mediation and Conflict Abbassi, Ch. M. Saeed, Masood-ul-Hasan, sarily provoke the governments to Resolution.and Mubeen Shah for detailed inter-

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2 7

TIMELINE

Described as second biggest intra-Jammu and Kashmir, the Cross LoC trade was launched on October 21-22, 2008

between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad and Poonch and Rawalakote after an agreement between India and Pakistan.

A team of traders from Pakistan Administred Kashmir visited Jammu and Kashmir in October last year to finalise the

trade modalities with their counterparts on this side. A similar visit of traders from Indian side to Pakistani side still

awaits clearance.

Largely seen as a placating measure after two months of political turmoil in the state in 2008, the Cross-LoC trade is

being run purely on trust and barter in complete absence of banking and communication facilities.

There has not been even a single review meeting of Indo-Pak Joint Working Group on Cross-LoC trade since it was

launched. Traders from both sides also never had an opportunity of a formal meeting to review progress.

Reopresentatives of PaK Chamber visted J&K in October 2009 on invitation of Center for Dialogue and Reconciliation

a Mumbai-Haryana based NGO. They had meetings with their J&K counterparts but there was no official

participation.

While the trade volume on Poonch-Rawalakote route is improving week after week, it has almost come to neglible

on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route. Lack of proper roads on Pakistani side is stated of the reason, even as traders in the

Valley admit that they are more interested in transit trade.

Since April 2009, many Kashmiri traders switched over to the Poonch-Rawalakote route as the cross-LoC trade on

Uri-Muzaffarabad route was virtually suspended in few months after launch.

On September 30, the Cross-LoC trade on Poonch-Rawalakote route touched an all time high at Rs 5.34 crore amidst

a very high demand of moong dal among the traders of Indian side Jammu and Kashmir. Out of Rs 3.31 crore imports

from PaK, moong dal alone valued Rs 2.5 crore volume.

he Cross-LoC trade on Poonch-Rawalakote route ran into trouble in the middle of July after traders on both sides

started retruning trucks load of goods after blockage of good in barter by many traders. The matter was later

reolved through meeting at the crossing point the next week.

Cross-LoC trade suffered another roadblock towards the end of May when custom authorities blocked exchange of

items which did not have the certificate of origin within Jammu and Kashmir. Chinese garlic, coconut kernel and

brown cardamom were three such items. Trade was resumed on June 7 when authorties allowed temporary

exchange of these items.

Truckers were accused in August of smuggling Pakistani SIM cards of mobile phones and subsequently four drivers

were arrested on August 4. While security agencies believed hand of Pakistani Army to send in communication

gadgets for use of militants but some traders were of different view. This may have been done to facilitate

communication between traders near LoC as there are no direct phone links.

Onion, garlic, dry fruit, fresh fruits, prayer mats, Peshawari sandals, moong dal are among the major items of import

from PaK. Vegetables, particularly tomato, fruits, honey, spices and coconut kernels are among the major export

items from J&K



2 8

CARRYING FORWARD

Traders from both sides of state say that they have invested in peace at the cost of their businesses but now it is

becoming increasingly difficult for them to carry on the trade under present circumstances. They have called for

immediate meeting of the Indo-Pak Joint Working Group on Cross-LoC trade to review progress and remove bottlenecks

for future trade. Among the major recommendation made by the traders from both side, at a meeting organised by the

Center for Dialogue and Reconciliation in Srinagar on October 11, included:

FACILITATION

ØThere should be provision of multiple trade passes for the engaged traders. Once this is agreed upon, the Joint

Federation of Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry should be given the authority to

recommend the members from their respective sides for multiple entry trade passes.

ØVisit of traders to either side of the Line of Control should not be made hostage to the Cross-LoC bus services. The

traders should be allowed to use their own cars untill the LoC crossing points.

ØThere should be hassle free clearance of goods.

ØThere should be provision of meetings between the traders to make a periodic review of progress on trade. This

meeting should involve the stake holders from both sides.

INFRASTRUCTURE

ØThere should be free and open channels of tele-communications between both sides of the Line of Control. When

people from PaK already have the facility of calling up in J&K, the government should consider on priority making

it a two way process.

ØThere should be an expansion of loading and unloading areas at the LoC clearance points. The authorities may

probably consider making warehousing facilities where traders are allotted sheds to park their 8 to 10 trucks at a

time for loading an unloading at convenience.

ØImmediate provisions of banking and postal facilities.

ØRoads and bridges should be improved on both sides so that at least trucks carrying 15 tonne load can pass over.

EXPANSION OF SCOPE

ØThe prerogative of selecting items, whenever, should exclusively rest with the stakeholders.

ØLoC trade, for all practical purposes, should be purely driven by the market demand.

ØAll items produced and manufactured in both sides of Jammu and Kashmir should be allowed for trade but again

stakeholders should be allowed to fix the priorities.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

ØThere should be involvement of the stakeholders from both sides in all decisions pertaining to the LoC trade.

ØAll traditional routes between both sides should open with express priority to the routes with trade potential.

ØThe LoC trade should not be limited to fixed days and it should be declared as an all-days trade.



2 9

nvariably every comment on the those who actually negotiated the prolonged negotiation in the 1950s, led

Indus Waters Treaty (1960) between treaty in the 1950s, on both sides failed by the World Bank, in a different IIndia and Pakistan have focussed to achieve the interests of their regional and international environment

that despite the wars of 1965, 1971 and respective countries. – immediate pangs of partition,

1999 and a border confrontation during settlement of refugees, Kashmir in the Finally, the Treaty was signed in

2001-02, India and Pakistan have not United National, Cold War and Pakistan 1960, almost fifty years back, in a

violated the Treaty. Besides, this is seen being a part of the US led pact, while d i f ferent pol i t ical , economic,

as the only success story, between India India insisting on pursuing a non-demographic, ecological and energy

and Pakistan; hence there is a hesitancy alignment approach to its international environment. Today there has been a

to tinker/amend the treaty. affairs. Regional pulls/pressures within considerable change in all these five

India and Pakistan along the Indus True, the treaty has survived the areas. Should India and Pakistan take

Waters basin were relatively less, if not four wars, a border confrontation and into account the contemporary issues/

totally non-existent during that period; military stand offs; however, if the problems/challenges in managing the

hence neither the Indian government in Treaty could be violated, it can be done Indus Waters, or keep it aside, for the

New Delhi nor the Pakistani government only by one party to the contract – India. fear of not tampering something that is

in Rawalpindi/Islamabad had to take Pakistan, being a lower riparian state, believed to be working smoothly? How

into account the regional political cannot violate the treaty, unless it can India and Pakistan work together to

demands for “their share” of water on a prefers to pursue a military action, to make optimum use of the Indus Waters?

particular river system. implement the Treaty. A radical section How can both countries get ready to

within Pakistan has been claiming that address the impending environmental, Also, during the 1950s the federal

Islamabad should even consider the use demographic, economic and political governments in India and Pakistan were

of nuclear bombs, to protect its water cha l lenges , th rough e f f i c ient strong vis-à-vis provincial governments.

rights. management of the Indus Waters? The latter was more dependent on the

Finally, should India and Pakistan, waste former and in most cases, regional Though India claims that it has not

all their energies in accusing and politics was very much controlled by the violated the treaty in principle, some of

defending, what could be done and not governments at federal level. In India, its constructions, especially relating to

done, legally under the IWT, or should the towering personality of Jawaharlal barrages and dams, are seen by Pakistan

both countries think beyond pure legal Nehru and the Congress played an as against the Treaty. India put forwards

terms? In short, should the focus be important role on this process, while in its own reasons to undertake those

“legal” interpretation of the IWT or Pakistan the pressure at the national constructions, to make better use of the

Indus Water “Governance”? level between the military and polity, water systems in J&K and the

kept the regional politics at a low key surrounding region. SHARING THE INDUS WATERS: MAJOR

level.ISSUES/PROBLEMSIt is also interesting, while on the

Today the situation is different at one hand people on both sides talk The Indus Waters Treaty is likely

political level, in terms relations about the IWT as the most effective one face greater stress in the near future,

between federation and prov-(comparatively) in the last five for the following reasons.

inces/states in India and Pakistan. decades, on the other hand, there have Changed History

been numerous complaints on how Regional politics and parties play a The IWT was signed in 1960, after a

D SUBA CHANDRAN

HARNESSING THE INDUS :

Perspectives from India

From Treaty To Governance


Bridging DividesI N F O C U S3 0

larger role at national level, and the fed- will be his primary emphasis – at the Indus Waters will become an

eral governments have to take into national and international levels; his increasing bone of contention, not only

account the regional aspirations. On the domestic and foreign policies are likely between the two countries, but also

Indus Water basin, Sindh, Balochistan, to reflect this basic exposition. between the regions/states/provinces

Punjab, NWFP, Northern Areas and the in these two countries. In fact, there Clearly, this has already placed

governments on both sides of the LoC in are already clear signs of an impending enormous stress on the effective use of

Srinagar/Muzaffarabad play an impor- disaster on managing the waters at water in both countries – for the pur-

tant role in the national politics. national and bilateral levels. For J&K, poses of irrigation and generation of

on both sides of the LoC, Indus rivers are Clearly, the political situation in electricity. Worse, these demands on

likely to be primary source of energy the Indus Water basin today, is not what the water resources for agricultural and

production. Invariably all the projects – it was fifty years back. Given the prog- industrial purposes are likely to expand

Baglihar, Kishenganga, Mangla and ress in the last two decades, one is likely in the coming decades. Pakistan in par-

Diamer-Basha are facing political and to see more problems in the next decade. ticular has been facing an energy crisis

technological problems, in terms of cre-Both New Delhi and Islamabad should in the last couple of years; given the

ating electricity, besides issues consider this important change, and what

between the provinces and federation, is likely to happen in the next decade.

in terms of governments of Srinagar and On the positive side, one should New Delhi, Muzaffarabad and also consider the positive break-Islamabad, and the Northern Areas throughs that have taken place in the administration and Pakistan. Besides last one decade, despite the military the huge uncomfort that the lack of elec-and political upheavals at the bilateral tricity creates for the ordinary people, levels. Both countries have matured and it energy insecurity also affects indus-taken certain measures, for the first trial production and any new invest-time in the last sixty years, for example ment and tourism sectors. Who would opening the LoC for the movement of like to visit those hill stations, how ever people and goods. Prime Minister scenic they are, if there is electricity Manmohan Singh has made a statement only for a few hours, every day?on making the borders irrelevant

Differences Within and the Disasters between the two countries. Despite the

Withoutnegative happenings, the political atmo-

sphere today, is not how it was sixty As mentioned above, internal dif-

years back. Both countries should be ferences within India and Pakistan have

willing to pursue a bold political step, in the potential to become a major crisis,

terms of harnessing the Indus Waters. straining the IWT at the bilateral level.

First, there is a clear divide between Demography, Industrialization and problems associated with the energy Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and the fed-Increased Emphasis on Water production and the equation between eral governments on the nature and use Unlike the 1950s, both countries the independent power producers and of IWT. The people and government of have grown tremendously, in terms of the government of Pakistan, one could J&K, where the Indus and most of its their population and industrialization. only conclude the energy crisis will con-important tributaries flow through, are Despite the expansion of various sec- tinue. For India, to achieve and sustain against the IWT, as they feel it is against tors, agriculture still remains the pri- a nine percent growth as Manmohan their interests. A resolution was passed mary focus of occupation for many in Singh has envisaged, energy security is in J&K Legislative Assembly in 2002, call-rural India and Pakistan. In this decade, equally important; with the Iran-ing for annulling the IWT. A section both India and Pakistan have achieved Pakistan-India gas pipeline now placed inside J&K even considers the IWT as an new heights in their economic growth in a limbo and the Indo-US nuclear deal Indo-Pak conspiracy against the and have a high expectation for the next unlikely to produce large scale electric-Kashmiris. The Kashmiri grievances are decades. Manmohan Singh has categori- ity in the near future, India's energy based on emotional and economic cally stated that 9 percent growth rate demand is no less.

The political situation in the Indus Water basin today, is not what it was fifty years back. Given the progress in the last two decades, one is likely to see more problems in the next decade. Both New Delhi and Islamabad should consider this important change, and what is likely to happen in the next decade.



3 1

issues; for Kashmiris, water and land the Northern Areas. A government offi- that the glaciers are receding and all

have always been an emotional issue. cial was suspended for writing a book on the major Himalayan river system –

the Mangala dam; subsequently all his Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra are Second, J&K also considers the IWT

books were banned during 2002-04 and likely to face shortage of water supply. as an economic liability. Majority in J&K

accused for “anti-state and an attempt Unfortunately, neither India nor consider that the IWT discriminates the

to promote nationalist feelings amongst Pakistan, at the governmental levels Kashmiris by not letting them tap the

Kashmiris.” have initiated any major studies – either potential of Indus and its tributaries in

independently or jointly. While the envi-terms of using the waters for agricul- Fifth, the four provinces of

ronmentalists in India and Pakistan have ture, transport and energy. It is believed Pakistan are deeply divided within, in

undertaken some excellent studies, that the losses that the IWT cause to terms of sharing the Indus waters. The

their acceptability by the governments J&K are around 8000 crores annually. In controversy over the construction of

is yet to happen. With an expanding pop-the recent months, there appears to be Kalabagh alone will amplify internal

ulation and growing energy and eco-a politicisation of waters, by the opposi- problems relating to the water conflict.

nomic needs, any decline in water flow tion party against the government, While Punjab wants to build the dam at

will only increase the stress on the IWT. purely for political reasons. Mehbooba any cost, leaders of Sindh has warned

Given the inter-state and intra-state Mufti, the leader of the opposition, has Islamabad to choose between Kalabagh

political and emotional issues along the been making statements on the “Loot of and federation, meaning that construc-

Indus river basin, the possibility of Water”, primarily to embarrass the gov- tion of the dam will result in Sindh walk-

water scarcity resulting in water wars ernment. Given the fact the ethnic ing out of the federal structure.

between the states and within them, Kashmiris are extremely emotional Ineffective Water Governancecannot be completely ruled out.about “land” and “water”, this is South Asia as a whole has a serious

another powder keg. It is imperative, that India and deficit relating to water governance. All Pakistan and their sub regions work Third, the people of Northern countries in SAARC fail to use water judi-together to address the growing con-Areas consider the IWT against their ciously; as a result, there is a huge cerns and avoid any future conflict over interests. The controversy over the con- water wastage. Besides, despite know-the sharing of waters. IWT has an inbuilt struction of Diamer-Basha dam high- ing that water is previous commodity, provision to rework sections of this lights the tensions between Northern South Asia has failed to evolve alternate treaty. India, Pakistan and its sub Areas and Islamabad on sharing the modes of irrigation; canal and river irri-regions should work together towards Indus Waters. Many in Northern Areas gations are the most preferred in South creating Indus Water Treaty – II, feel that Islamabad has not provided Asia. addressing the issues mentioned above. any political status to the region, pre- Methods like drip irrigation and IWT-II could very well be a conflict pre-cisely to exploit them over the Indus crop rotation to use the available water ventive measure relating to water Waters. They argue, had Northern Areas judiciously, are yet to be effectively issues along the Indus river basin..been a political entity, Pakistan then evolved. South Asia as a whole, wastes

would have to share the waters and roy- DEBATING THE OPTIONSwater.alty. Worse, a section also believes, that What are the options available for Receding Glaciers & Shrinking Sources while the Basha dam will submerge India and Pakistan? The extremists in A l l the above ment ioned parts of its land and result in displace- India have already talked about the issues/demands focus on the increasing ment, the royalties will go to the NWFP. abrogation of the Indus Water Treaty. demands on the Indus Waters, based on

Fourth, Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Nothing would harm India more than the presumption that the supply will has a serious problem with the rest of continue, as it has been in the past. abrogation of a treaty, which was nego-Pakistan on Mangala dam. Muzaffarabad What if there is a reduction in supply, tiated along with the World Bank, and feels exploited by the rest of Islamabad purely on geological/environmental rea- withstood the sea-saw relations of the over the Mangala dam; the construction sons? two countries. Besides, the interna-in Mirpur has dislocated the entire city, Studies on the Himalayan glaciers tional ramifications, in terms of India whereas the benefit goes to Pakistan. highlight the possibility of a decline in adhering to treaties and agreements Islamabad is too sensitive about any water flow in the Indus and its tributar- that it has signed, it would have a series water related issues involving PoK and ies. Invariably every one agrees today, of implications for similar treaties it had



3 2

signed with its other neighbours. India effectively harness the Indus Waters work on these issues. The IWEG should

has similar treaties on water with Nepal jointly. spearhead independent meetings in

(Mahakali Treaty) and Bangladesh (Gan- RECOMMENDATIONS India, Pakistan and both sides of the

ges); any abrogation of the IWT will LoC, with a larger group, in terms of India and Pakistan could consider

affect the confidence India's neighbours addressing the main concerns of the the following, given the issues/ prob-

on similar treaties relating to water. stakeholders in the national and lems related to the IWT, and those

Internally, it will also set a bad pre- which are likely to arise in the next regional capitals.

cedent for the states, that are fighting decade. Joint Study of Glaciers and Effective

over sharing of water; for examples, Use of WatersDebate on Indus Water Treaty – II

Karnataka and Tamilnadu, with the for- Both India and Pakistan should From New Delhi's perspective, it is

mer being the upper riparian and the jointly invest in encouraging independ-important to realise that internal politi-

latter being the lower riparian, in terms ent scientific/environmental studies on cal and emotional situation regarding

of sharing the waters of Cauvery river. the Himalayan glaciers and give them the sharing of water in Pakistan and in

Second, unilateral abrogation of the necessary access. There have been J&K is likely to have a negative impact

the IWT is also unlikely to make the numerous proposals already on convert-on the IWT as a whole. Experts like BG

energy situation better in J&K. Given ing the Siachen into a peace/science Verghese have already pitched for an

the level of bad governance and corrup- park, and monitor the developments. Indus Water Treaty – II, which is impor-

tion involved in many of these projects, There is a need for such a focus on all tant from New Delhi's perspective to

abrogation of the IWT is not likely to the glaciers of the Himalayas, from look into and prepare for the future.

result in J&K becoming a gainer in terms which most of the perennial rivers of IWT-II does not call for the abrogation of

of harnessing the waters. India and Pakistan originate.IWT, or a parallel treaty; it only aims at,

Pakistan, has been threatening to making the existing treaty more effec- Given the fact that countries like

use even nuclear weapons to secure tive, taking into account political, eco- Nepal and Bangladesh also depend on

their water rights. It is a political rheto- nomic and environmental develop- the Himalayan source, it would be pru-

ric aimed at local audience. Pakistan is ments in the last five decades, and dent to include them, along with China,

unlikely to do anything like that, except those changes likely to take place in the which also has a stake here on the

objecting to any and every project coming decades. Brahmaputra system.

relating to the western rivers, and per- it would be prudent to include A collaborative background research

haps give more support to the move- them, along with China, which also has Clearly, neither India nor Pakistan

ment of militants. None of these options a stake here on the Brahmaputra sys-has a vision, in terms of what needs to

are likely to benefit Pakistan in the long tem.be done, except for reacting to a

term, in terms of effectively harnessing domestic audience. There is a need for a Reducing the Water Rhetoric

the Indus Waters. Indo-Pak history has joint, but impartial research that would Both in Pakistan and India, along

numerous examples of where the provide alternative approaches to with both sides of LoC, there is so much

Pakistani military exercises have led address the present and future chal- of political rhetoric, which is actually

them to, ever since the IWT was signed. lenges emanating from the Indus Waters harming everyone, including those who

It is neither in India's interests to Treaty. are making this statement. There is a

unilaterally abrogate the IWT, nor in Indus Waters Experts Group clear need to avoid “the loot of our

Pakistan's interests to wage a water war. waters,” “decide the dam over federa-As a corollary of the above exer-

The extremists on both sides, in worst tion,” “we will use any weapon, includ-cises, there is a need to form an Indus

case scenario may pressurize for such an ing nuclear to secure our water rights,” Water Experts Group (IWEG), compris-

option, which could be undertaken, but and “abrogate the treaty, for we give ing six to ten experts, from different

with no positive results. Both the above them the waters, but they send terror-backgrounds, who have been working

options, will only hamper the water rela- ists.” While the extremist elements are with the governmental and non-

tions further and negate, whatever has unlikely to reduce their rhetoric, noth-governmental sectors like BG Verghese,

been achieved so far. Clearly, the only ing is stopping the moderate elements Ramaswamy Iyer and Arshad Abbasi,

option is engage with each other to to raise their voices in favour.who have undertaken some pioneering



3 3

he Indus Water Treaty (1960)

brought to an end, the 12 year old Tcanal water dispute and became

the basis of resolving any water disputes

which appeared after that. The treaty

consists of three parts: the Preamble,

twelve articles and Annexes A-H.

Almost, fifty years after the Treaty

has been in signed, today, it is under

stress. The following questions need to

be addressed from an Indo-Pak

perspective: Does the Indus water

treaty address the issue of river waters

between India and Pakistan today? What

are the new issues/ problems emerging,

in relating to water ? What specific

measures need to be pursued to

effectively harness the river waters?

How do we address future water needs

of both countries?

Indus Waters Treaty: A Short

Introduction

The Indus flows through the north-

west of India and Pakistan. It arises

within Tibet from a holy lake called

Mansarovar, the mouth of the lion. After

rising in Tibet, the Indus runs north- the British annexation of the area but in were developed --- Bari Doab and the

west between the Karakoram and the a rudimentary form. The irrigation Sutlej Valey Project. Originally designed Himalayas. In Kashmir, the river crosses network constructed during the British as one scheme. With the partition of the the Line of Control (LoC) and enters rule, especially after 1885, was based subcontinent in 1947 , including the Baltistan. The principal tributaries of on perennial canals which led off from province of Punjab, the Indus system the Indus in the west are Kabul and river-spanning weirs and headworks. was also divided; while the headworks Khurram rivers, while its five main Vast areas which had remained fell to India, the canals ran through tributaries in the East are the Jhelum, inaccessible under the traditional Pakistan With a view to attaining the Chenab, Ravi, Sutlej and Beas rivers. irrigation system were brought under most complete and satisfactory The British laid the foundation of the cultivation by this canal system. In the utilization of the waters of the Indus Indus Basin River System in the late 19th Punjab, two major systems of irrigation basin and recognizing the need for Century. The system did exist prior to

NAUSHEEN WASI

Harnessing the Indus Perspectives from Pakistan


Bridging DividesI N F O C U S3 4

fixing and delimiting the rights and constructed or being constructed by one some changes in the design of the dam

obligations of each country in relation of the two parties. The negotiations including reducing the height of the

to the other , both states, as a part of over these issues involve divergent dam and to the permanent closure of

the Indus Waters Treaty agreed to: concerns and interests, based on their the diversion canal after the hydel plant

All the waters of the Eastern interpretations of the Indus Water had been commissioned.

rivers, namely Sutlej, Beas and Ravi, Treaty. The major disputes have been The resolution of this dispute was

shall be available for the unrestricted over the following projects: hailed in both countries and is still

use of India except for domestic, Salal Dam quoted as a case of successful

nonconsumptive and agricultural use by After the signing of Indus Waters dilpomacy over water sharing between

Pakistan. Pakistan shall receive for Treaty, the first dispute India and Pakistan and India due to the

unrestricted use all those waters of the Pakistan were engaged in was over the concessions made under the Salal

Western Rivers namely the Indus, construction of the Salal Dam by India Agreement signed in April 1978.

Chenab and Jhelum. India shall be on the Chenab River. Under the terms of Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation

under an obligation to allow the flow of the Treaty, India submitted its plan to Project

these waters and shall not permit any The second challenge to the treaty

interference except for domestic use, came regarding the construction of the

non-consumptive use, agricultural use Wullar Barrage, as it is called by

and generation of hydroelectric power. Paksitan, or Tulbul Navigation Project as

If a party is to plan an engineering termed by India. The dispute arose in

work on any of the rivers, it will first 1984 when India began to build the

notify the other party about its plan. barrage and navigational project at the

A Permanent Indus Commission mouth of the Wullar Lake on the River

shall be constituted comprising one Jhelum. In 1986, Pakistan referred the

Commissioner as representative of each case to the Indus Commission, and in

country. The Commission will meet 1987 work was halted on the project by

regularly at least once a year India. The main point of dispute is that

alternately in India and Pakistan. Any Pakistan views the project as a storage

question which arises between the work while India claims that it is a

parties concerning the interpretation or navigational project. These divergent

application of the Treaty shall first be positions are further urged in the light

examined by the Commission. If the of specific provisions of the Indus

Commission fails in reaching an agreement Waters Treay. For Pakistan, the project the Permanent Indus Commission for on the question then a 'difference' will be violates Article I (11) that prohibits both Pakistan's approval in 1968. A run of the-deemed to have arisen. parties from undertaking any 'man-river hydroelectric project, Salal was

A 'difference' at the request of made obstruction' that may cause a deemed crucial for the agricultural either Commissioner shall be dealt with change in the volume of water. Article III needs of the Indian Punjab and by a neutral expert; if the neutral (4) prohibits India from storing any economic progress of the country. In expert informs the Commission that in water on the western rivers. Further, 1974 Pakistan officially objected to the his opinion, the difference should be sub-para 8 (h) entitles India to construct design of Salal project arguing that it treated as a dispute, then a 'dispute' will incidental storage work on the western did not confirm to the criteria for design be deemed to have arisen. A court of rivers only after the design has been of such hydroelectric projects laid down arbitration shall then be established to scrutinized and approved by Pakistan. under the Treaty. During the course of resolve the dispute. Its storage capacity should not exceed the negotiations, several options were

10,000 acre feet of water. Pakistan Dams on the Indus: Major Challenges discussed for reaching to a final argues that the existing water level in Almost all the disputes over water settlement including resort to the the Wullar Lake is enough for small that have arisen between India and arbitration procedure provided in the boats to navigate between Baramula Pakistan are about dam projects Treaty. Finally, India agreed to make

Almost all the disputes over water that have arisen between India and Pakistan are about dam projects constructed or being constructed by one of the two parties. The negotiations over these issues involve divergent concerns and interests, based on their interpretations of the Indus Water Treaty.



3 5

and Srinagar, so there is no need to store Jhelum in Azad Kashmir by 27 per cent, MWs of electricity capacity. The design

additional water. It further argues that affecting power generation capacity of of the dam was submitted to Pakistan in

the dam's storage capacity was 32 times the 1.6 billion Neelam-Jhelum 1992 and, without much delay, Pakistan

more than the 10,000 maf capacity hydropower project in Pakistan. protested over the design of the dam

provided under the Indus Waters Treaty. By May 2004, India confirmed that and demanded a ha l t to i t s

India, on the contrary, contends it had started constructing some c o n s t r u c t i o n . H o w e v e r, t h e

that despite the broad principles components of the project. On severe construction continued as the two sides

governing the Treaty, India has been critisicm in April 2006, India offered to exchanged further details.

allowed, under certain conditions, to modify this project and submitted a The Baglihar water dispute is the

construct a barrage in the light of revised plan in July 2006. In the revised most specific of all these disputes

Article 3 (4) conditions, which are plan India agreed to convert the storage b e t w e e n t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s

enlisted in Annex D and E of the Treaty. and power generation project into a foregrounding their, fears, perceptions

India views the project as an attempt to run-of-the-river project and construct and dilemmas on water sharing. For the

make the Jhelum navigable, not a pondage in accordance with the Indus first time, the neutral expert clause in

reservoir. Controlling water for the Indus Waters Treaty was invoked. In

navigation is permissible under the May 2005, Raymond Lafittee, a Swiss

Treaty. civil engineer, was appointed by the

More than a dozen rounds of talks World Bank as the neutral expert. After

have been held to date over the a detailed analysis of about 13,000

construction of this barrage but it dams across the world, talks with both

remains the oldest and longest lasting parties and visiting the dam site, he

water dispute between India and gave his verdict on Baglihar in February

Pakistan. 2007. Both parties agreed to abide by

the final verdict. Yet, this decision was Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project

not followed.The Kishanganaga project is

IWT: Internal Problemsanother controversial water issue

between the two countries. The 330 MW Besides these dam project, there

hydroelectric project is located about are several internal and regional issues

1 6 0 k i l o m e t e r s u p s t r e a m o f that strain the Indus Waters Treaty. The

Muzaffarabad and involves diversion of most important is the view of the

Kishanganga or Neelum River, as is people in Jammu and Kashmir who see

known in Pakistan, to a tributary, Bunar the Treaty as exploiting their rights by Waters Treaty. However, Pakistan

Madumati Nullah of the River Jhelum both India and Pakistan. And their call rejected the plan maintaining that the

through a 22-kilomtre tunnel. for its annulment as an economic project still had objectionable aspects.

liability. People of the northern areas in Pakistani objections are based on Pak i s tan communicated these

Pakistan are also opposed to n dam the grounds that the project will have objections to India later in a detailed

projects in Pakistan like the Mangla an adverse effects on the Neelam- report. The issue figures on the agenda

dam.Jhelum link project that Pakistan of talks every time between the two

initiated in 1988. A second diversion of Second, hostile anti-Pakistan countries; however, bilateral talks have

the water of Kishenganga river to segments in India view the Indus Waters so far failed in reaching a settlement.

Jehlum would ruin the Neelam valley in Treaty as giving undue concessions to Baglihar Hydel Power Project

Pakistan. It is feared that the project Pakistan, which Prime Minister Nehru Located on the River Chenab in

could reduce Pakistan's total water signed to 'purchase peace'. Since it did Doda district, the Baglihar hydropower

availability from an estimated 154 maf not bring peace to Kashmir, they want to project is one of the nine major

to about 140 maf, a shortage of about 8- revisit the concessions given to Pakistan hydroelectric projects identified by

9 per cent. Further, it is also expected under the Treaty. India on the Chenab. Divided into two

to reduce the flow of water in the River Third, Pakistan also has serious phases, the project would install 900

Hostile anti-Pakistan segments in India view the Indus Waters Treaty as giving undue concessions to Pakistan, which Prime Minister Nehru signed to 'purchase peace'. Since it did not bring peace to Kashmir, they want to revisit the concessions given to Pakistan under the Treaty.



3 6

problems regarding the sharing of Indus the projects planned by India on the great complexity. They are expensive to

waters among its four provinces. This is western rivers calling them a violation build, involve destruction of habitat

evident with entrenched controversy of the Indus Water Treaty. Nonetheless, and heritage, and relocation of whole

being present in the country on every India does not accept this view and communities. They also need water, and

planned dam. The shortage of water has takes defensive positions. storage strategy does not consider

deep political, economic and social RECOMMENDATIONS where the water to fill dams and

effects. For example, farmers in Sindh reservoirs will come from. It is time for Keeping in view the different

point their fingers at Punjabi landlords, the strategy to harness our water dynamics of the water problem, experts

and accuse them of 'stealing their share' resources to change from being a large-are talking of an Indus Water Treaty II

of the Indus's water. scale capital- and technology-intensive both in India and Pakistan. One feels

Finally, there are environmental that this issue should be taken up and environmentally degrading option

and ecological changes which call for seriously and negotiations on the Indus to management- intens ive and

consideration. Because of climate Waters Treaty II be taken up in good ecologically balanced development

change, the Himalayan glaciers are faith. If India and Pakistan take a relying on indigenous technology.

melting at an alarming rate. For water political decision to restructure their Political considerations, of course,

resources, this means an increase in relations, they will have to ensure that cannot be ignored while dealing with

water initially due to flooding. Within water serves as a link to bring them the water issue on technical grounds,

the next 50 years, however, experts together, rather than taking them especially keeping in mind the present

believe there will be a 30 to 40 percent further towards conflict. Water needs distrust in India-Pakistan relations and

drop in glacial melt because the glaciers to be managed as a commodity. It is their history of antagonism. Hence, the

will have receded. A strategy to create essential to jointly set up an two countries should seek international

more storage capacity for water is the organization with representatives from support, perhaps again with the World

only option available, but one has to both countries, whose functions would Bank taking the lead to negotiate a

remember that glacial melt is not only entail identifying short term and long sound water sharing and usage

water but also silt that will reduce the term supply capacity of the basin and its mechanism. Mediation in case of water

capacity of the reservoirs. This aspect integrated development, setting up of disputes resolution has worked between

has not been considered at the political infrastructure and coordinating India and Pakistan in the past and would

level or at least has not gained activities of the different technical solve another great concern -- financing

prominence. agencies. the projects if India and Pakistan agree

Essentially the following two India and Pakistan should adopt a on something.

features have shaped Pakistan-India transparent approach to development

water politics: problem relating to sharing water and

The underlying concern of both i n v i t e i n t e r d i s c i p l i n a r y

states is the political aspects that water communications. Often, the findings of

entails. This aspect is believed to be the geologists escapes the notice of

catalyst behind the hydropolitics in sociologists, anthropologists and

which both countries are engaged. economists, but the reverse is also true.

Thus, the discussion on water issues has Therefore, a holistic approach is

always been there in almost every required to understand the background

dialogue between India and Pakistan, and functioning of highly sophisticated

and now it figures in the high level talks irrigation systems.

that reflects the dominance of water Besides, it is time that India and

issues. Pakistan along with other countries in

Most of the time, Pakistan being the region come up with conservation

the lower riparian follows up on these policies, instead of creating more

issues on sharing of waters more storage, that they have focused on for

vigorously. It has objected to almost all long. Dams are environment issues of

KNOWLEDGEØJama Masjid is one of the oldest and the

most spacious of all the mosques in

Kashmir, situated in the heart of the City.

The area of the mosque is 384 ft x 381 ft

spacious enough for over thirty thousand

people to offer prayers at a time.

ØThe Railway network in J&K State is the

highest altitude railway network in India.

Presently the railway network in the State

exists upto Udhampur district and the rest

between Udhampur to Qazikund is under

construction. Intra Kashmir railway line

from Qazigund to Baramulla is near

completion and has been laid open for

railway traffic from (Nowgam) Srinagar to

Anantnag on 11th October in 2008.

ØTulip Garden in Srinagar is the largest

garden of Asia.



3 7

n literary intellectual and political circles of Jammu and Kashmir a

new book is making waves these days. To say that “Islam, Women Iand Violence in Kashmir :Between India and Pakistan” more or less

picks up the threads where Aatish-e-Chinar (Flames of Chinar) had left

around three decades back won't be amisstatment. The new book not

only tells the remaining story of Kashmir but also goes down the

history bringing about fresh perspectives through a painstaking

research. “Islam, Women and Violence in Kashmir” is therefore a

scholastics work, first of its kind of any Kashmiri woman scholar, who

goes through hundreds and thousands pages of history, travels across

length and breadth of the state and revisits the hearts and minds of key

players and eye witnesses to tell the world the story of Kashmir. The

author, NYLA ALI KHAN, Professor of English at the University of

Nebraska-Kearney in United States, says that her book is a tribute to

the resilient spirit of the inhabitants of Jammu and Kashmir. What

makes Nyla's book most credible is the fact that her work does not

reflect anywhere that she is granddaughter of the illustrious leader

Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.

With this issue, Epilogue launches a three part conversation series

with Nyli Ali Khan as she responds to questions posed by ZAFAR

CHOUDHARY. We are also reproducing excerpts from her book and

readers are welcome to send questions for the author.

NYLA ALI KHAN

Challenging Hegemony of Static Versions of History


OB O K S / A U T H O R S

Conversation3 8

nationalist, and ethnonationalist help readers think critically and Since your book “Islam, discourses in JK. constructively about the ethical Women and the Violence

implications of various approaches to In my book, I seek in the collision in Kashmir: Between India research selection, evidence gathering of modernity and communal memory a and Pakistan” hit the techniques, inextricable link between horizontal relationship producing bookstalls, it is being social power and structures of intersectional spaces between described by readers and inequity, and the production of different cultural realities, times, and reviewers as first of its knowledge. The reprehensible ways of reflecting upon the kind. First in depth study endeavours of the Indian and Pakistani construction of my own subjectivity. I by a woman…. first establishments to rewrite history have tried to underscore the dire need thorough study of the impelled me to undertake the book-to retrieve and renew contact with our tragedy of Kashmir” etc. length study of the politically national culture but also recognize the How is it first of its kind? tumultuous situation in the state of J dangers of mythologizing historical Although there is a plethora of richly & K which has led to an increase in and cultural pasts. Acknowledging our nuanced books on the complexity of gender-based violence. In my book I complicity in oppression, the Kashmir issue, Islam, Women, and have made an honest attempt my to the Violence in Kashmir, is the first provide my interviewees with a book written by a Kashmiri woman legitimate forum at which they voice from an interdisciplinary perspective their political, cultural, and social seeking to challenge the hegemony of ideologies without fear of reprisal or statist versions of history and erasure. The ethnographic field foreground the versions of history that research, which I undertook, was a have been relegated to the method of seeking reconnection by background. My book, Islam, Women, simultaneously belonging to, and and the Violence in Kashmir: Between resisting, the discursive community India and Pakistan is a labour of love of traditional Muslim Kashmiri and into which I put my heart and soul. It Gujjar rural women. I was further is an interdisciplinary work in which I motivated by the desire to critically have deployed not just literary observe the sociopolitical discourse analysis but political critique; history in Kashmir through from the margins as a revisionist project; erosion of the instead of from an elitist center. My cultural syncretism of J&K; goal was to engage in reflective significance of retrieving our rich

reconceptualizing paradigmatic action as an educator working with cultural heritage and building a whole structures, and mobilizing cultural and diverse cultural and social groups. I new edifice on our legacy; role of lay political coalitions is riddled with conflict wanted to examine the systems that women during the awaking of but it is the need of the day for us to have generated the culture of silence, nationalist sentiment in J&K in 1931, engage in these processes, in doing in which the political elite has been during the resurgence of the which I have employed all my energies. complicit. separatists movement in 1989, the

increase in gender violence because of It appears, unlike most of “…… Kashmir: Between the brutal militarization of the State; the members of your India and Pakistan”, the and finally, the nuclearization of J & family, you are scholar title clearly suggests K. I have used self-reflexive and first and then anything Kashmir a victim, in equal historicized forms, drawn on my else. What was the parts, of India and heritage and kinship in Kashmir in primary motivation for Pakistan. This is contrary order to explore the construction and writing this book? to the popular perception, employment of the Kashmiri political

First off, the interdisciplinary at least in Kashmir valley. and cultural landscape, and gender in approach in my book is designed to Your comments.secular nationalist, religious


OB O K S / A U T H O R SConversation

3 9

My book, Islam,

Women, and the

Violence in Kashmir:

Between India and

Pakistan is a labour

of love into which I

put my heart and

soul.

Kashmir is a parchment on which nation-states, I emphasize that it is have access to the priceless archival

various discourses, nationalist, upto us, the people of J&K, to bring material collected by my maternal

ethnonationalist, secular nationalist, about restitution in a war-weary and uncle Sheikh Nazir Ahmad, who was a

Islamist, militaristic, have been battle-ravaged society. We cannot young and zealous political activist

inscribed and reinscribed for several confuse the idea of the nation with during the heyday of the Plebiscite

decades. Since the dawn of the the practices and power of the nation- movement and was persecuted during

Independence and Partition of India, states of India and Pakistan. the autocratic repression of the

the aspirations of the people of J&K autonomous status of J & K. He has a

have gone unheard in the cacophony well-developed sense of the various

of the vacuous political rhetoric historical discourses, dominant and

voiced by Indian and Pakistani peripheral, which have been inscribed,

mainstream politicians, who have erased, and reinscribed on the

made no bones about their myopic political and sociocultural matrices of

political agendas and political strings Kashmir. I also talked with Ghulam

attached to any developmental aid Mohammad Shah sahib about the

given to J&K. The long history of nationalist awakening in J & K in the

discriminatory treatment of the 1930s and later the duplicitous

populace of J&K, the discriminatory policies implemented by Pandit

nature of which was further Jawaharlal Nehru and his ilk to break

aggravated by the visibility of their the revolutionary spirit in the State.

perceived difference of, has created a My mother, Suraiya Ali Matto, who

negative self-image in many Kashmiris, spent invaluable time with Sheikh

which hasn't been redressed by the Mohammad Abdullah sahib while he

militarization of the region. Kashmiris was in externment in Kodaikanal from

have time and again attempted to You have depended 1965 until 1968, reminisced about that

chart a viable course in the choppy significantly on the oral period. Last but not least, my father,

waters of duplicitous subcontinental history. You met people Mohammad Ali Matto, was generous

politics but have always been and have named them. with the scholarly materials in his

subjected to political and social After all your family is also library and enriched me with

constraints. We still have a long way an essential part of narratives of the consciousness

to go in recognizing the dire Kashmir's history. Who do movement, beautifully interweaving

consequences of trauma brought on by you relied most (in the the personal with the political and

political turmoil, military brutality, family) on in gathering social.

the dadagiri of militias and information for your work.

paramilitary divisions of the police, History is not a seamless narrative in One of the good things and fear psychosis created by such which all the pieces effortlessly fit about you book is that it happenings. There are people who do together. On the contrary, History with originates from margins not have recourse to the judicial and a capital “H” is replete with gaps, and touches upon administrative machinery. It is omissions, erasures, and strategic perspectives of varied unfortunate that the more manipulations. The use of oral history hues. You are essentially unaccountable state-sponsored in my book addresses the complex from elitist background. agencies have become in J&K, the ways in which challenges to an How you have able to keep more aloof and gluttonous our established or state-sponsored your self away from your bureaucratic, military, and discourse might be voiced from the background in leading with administrative machinery has become. periphery, which recognizing the objectivities. The culture of impunity has grown power of centrist discourses to defang Working on my book enabled me to around India and Pakistan like nobody's the theory and practice of resistance. critically appraise political, cultural, business. Given the reality of the two While researching I was fortunate to and social discourses which my

While researching I was

fortunate to have access to

the priceless archival

material collected by my

maternal uncle Sheikh

Nazir Ahmad, who was a

young and zealous

political activist during

the heyday of the Plebiscite

movement



4 0

locations of privilege hadn't allowed appraised not just the history of the issues of representation and

me to question previously. I have been Kashmiri nationalism dominated by the knowledge production. The primary

conscious of the limited elite but I have carefully looked at the question for me is “Who is speaking

representations in some other works politics of the people and the political and who is being silenced?,” enabling

on Kashmir which reflect the power mobilization engendered by such me to recognize the legitimacy of

relations between those who politics. Popular mobilization in J & K knowledge produced from the point of

represent and those who are during the 1930s and 1940s took the view of the local subject, like the

represented. For me, my maternal form of uprisings, which was a primary vaakhs of Lalla-Ded; the cultural and

grandfather, Sheikh Mohammad locus of political action. This potent religious knowledge disseminated by

Abdullah sahib, has always been a political resistance was led by people Nund Rishi; the determination of the

larger than life figure, whom I revere. like Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, women's militia in 1948; the stoicism

I question some of his political Chauhary Ghulam Abbas, Mirza Afzal and perseverance of the Association

decisions but am fully cognizant of the Beig, Maulana Masoodi, Ghulam of Parents of Disappeared Persons;

collision of the ideas of self- Ahmad Ashai, Kasap Bandhu, who did the conviction of the workers of

determination, identity, and unity not have access to the echelons of political parties who maintain the

propounded by the young members of power and spoke vociferously from the vibrancy of the credo of self-

the Reading Room Party and the margins. Their activism made determination; the collision of the

Plebiscite Front with the brutal force substantive forays into established idea of self-determination with

and suppression wielded by the Indian discourses and structures of power. I military oppression on the

and Pakistani nation-states. I have have engaged constructively with contentious site of nationalism.

Islam, Women, and the Violence in Kashmir:

Between India and Pakistanhe once paradisiacal region coveted by calculated. In the soul-enchanting spring the hills

kings and mystics alike, albeit for and plains are filled with blossoms; the gates, the Tdifferent reasons, where snow-covered walls, the courts, the roofs, are lighted up by the

peaks majestically tower over flowing rivers and torches of the banquet-adoring tulips. What shall

streams bordered by lilies gently swaying to the we say of these things or the wide meadows and

cadences of the gentle breeze, by a quirk of fate, the fragrant trefoil?" (Rogers 1914: 114)

has become a valley of guns and unmarked The breezes of Kashmir, which once had the graves. The paean of the Mughal emperor power to heal every trauma, now cause searing Jahangir in 1620 to the enthralling and spiritually wounds. The throes of pain, palpable in every healing beauty of Kashmir bespeaks the withering flower and trembling leaf, can lacerate passionate longing it engendered: the most hardened person. The ripe pomegran-

"If one were to praise Kashmir, whole books ate trees that once bespoke a cornucopia now

would have to be written. Kashmir is a garden of seem laden with an unbearable burden. The lit-

eternal spring, or an iron fort to a palace of kings – urgies in mosques, temples, and churches that

a delightful flower-bed, and a heart-expanding once provided spiritual ecstasy are now jarring

heritage for dervishes. Its pleasant meads and cacophonies. The comforting solitude that one

enchanting cascades are beyond all description. could thrive on in various spots of the Valley now

There are running streams and fountains beyond seems like a psychosis-inducing solitariness.

count. Wherever the eye reaches, there is What happened to the Valley that provided inspi-

verdure and running water. The red rose, the ration to poets, saints, and writers? Where is the

violet and the narcissus grow of themselves; in beauteous land in which even a dull-witted

the fields, there are all kinds of flowers and all writer could find her/his muse? Where are the

sorts of sweet-scented herbs, more than can be majestic chinars, the fragrant pine trees and the



4 1

BOOKExcerpts

luxuriant weeping willows that provided Kashmir in 20th matter of government.' segment of the population. The counter-

harbour to those buffeted by the fates? The saga of Kashmir has been one of insurgency operations undertaken in J&K

The mesmerizing Mughal gardens in the oppression, political persecution, and by the Indian military and paramilitary

Valley with their refreshing springs and undemocratic policies. Since the perva- forces were ferocious and cruel, and

breathtaking waterfalls bemoan the sion of an exclusive cultural nationalism, have alienated the disillusioned popu-

state of the riven land, the polluted religious fundamentalism, and rampant lace.

streams and the devastated people. political corruption it has become a chal- I start from the premise that the syn-lenge to lead a dignified existence in J & The se ductive beauty of the Valley cretic ethos of Kashmir has been violated

K. The armed conflict has changed politi- by the outburst of religious nationalism, of Kashmir that evoked a desire to live to cal combinations and permutations with- secular nationalism and ethno-the hilt, untarnished by sordid passions out either disrupting political, social, and nationalism that have facilitated politi-and murky politics, is now blemished

cal and social structural violence. The gender hierarchies or benefiting with army camps and militant hideouts. well-crafted theoretical fiction of a syn-marginalized groups. The social, eco-The plight of the repressed Kashmiri is cretic culture by the advocates of a nomic, political, and psychological brunt similar to that of Adam and Eve in the Kashmiri polity empowered them in a cir-of the armed conflict has been borne by Garden of Eden, after their wilful defi-cumscribed fashion to choose an idiom the populace of Kashmir. The uncertainty ance of Jehovah. The palpable contrast within which they could arbitrarily created by fifteen years of armed insur-between the enchanting beauty of remove the distinction between religion gency and counter-insurgency has per-Kashmir and the glazed eyes of its people and politics. I consider the shape of vaded the social fabric in insidious ways, is cruel. The redness of roses that once women's empowerment or lack thereof in creating a whole generation of disaf-awakened sensuality now evokes the vio-the syncretic ethos of Kashmir, and the fected and disillusioned youth. Lack of lent bloodshed and loss of innocent lives new languages of resistance, negotia-faith in the Indian polity has caused that mangle the landscape. The land in tion, and empowerment it adopts in the Kashmiris to cultivate an apathy to the which dervishes meditated to willingly cacophonous social and political situa-electoral process because it is a given renounce the self is now a chessboard for tion created by various nationalist dis-that persons best suited to carry out New wily politicians. courses. I draw from the cultural and ideo-Delhi's agenda will be installed in posi-The strains of mystical music are logical spaces I was raised in; the cher-tions of political import, regardless of now drowned out by the cacophonous ished verses of the Sufi poetess Lalla-public opinion. The earlier enthusiasm sounds of hate and virulence. The lush Ded, in whose immortal poetry the leg-that accompanied democratization meadows carpeted with daisies and endary beauty of Kashmir endures pain seems totally futile in the current leader-lupines now reek of death and destruc-and strife but lives on; conversations with ship vacuum in the state. Lack of tion. The soothing fragrance of pine-my maternal grandmother that are accountability among the J & K polity and covered hills has now been overwhelmed etched in my memory; informative and

bureaucracy has caused a large number by the odour of false promises and false enlightening discussions with my par-

of people to toe the line by living with the hope.ents, who have continued to live in the

fundamental structural inequities and The tranquility of the region has strife-torn Valley through years of violence, instead of risking the ire of been shattered by the heavy hand of unbearable hostility and the psychologi-groups and individuals in positions of political and military totalitarianism. cal trauma of armed conflict with an authority. Political organizations in the The region resembles a vast concentra- unparalleled stoicism; informal conver-Valley have eroded mass bases and are in tion camp, swarming with soldiers. Police sations with friends and acquaintances a moribund state. There seems to be an or military barriers abound in both urban who are victims of the politics of dispos-unbridgeable gulf between figures of and rural areas, and intimidation is a session; the extensive reading that I have authority and the electorate, who have rather common occurrence at these done over the years on the conflictual been deployed as pawns in the devious< checkpoints. The Valley seethes with a history and politics of J & K. I also draw /o:p> political game being played by repressed anger generated by the humili- from the field work conducted during my Indian and Pakistani state-sponsored ating brutality inflicted by Indian troops. annual trips to Kashmir in July 2005, 2006 agencies. The glaring lack of a well-The history of Kashmir is replete with and 2007 among predominantly agricul-equipped infrastructure in the Valley egregious errors. As one scholar, Vincent tural communities in areas bordering the makes unemployment rife and under-H. Smith (1928: 176), wrote, 'Few regions Line of Control between India and scores the redundancy of the educated in the world can have had worse luck than Pakistan. Against the backdrop of the



4 2

politically tumultuous situation in J & K descension by simultaneously belonging indigenous cultural institutions in J & K.

which has led to an increase in gender- to, and resisting, the discursive commu- In chapter three, 'Political Debacles', I

based violence, I attempt to show that nity of traditional Muslim Kashmiri and underline the repercussions of India's

the muted voices of marginalized Gujjar rural women. I was further moti- anti-democratic strategies in the state

laypeople, particularly women, have not vated by the desire to critically observe which instigated oppositional and dissi-

been raised loud enough against the the sociopolitical discourse in Kashmir dent responses. In chapter four,

atrocities to which they are subjected by through an oblique focus from the mar- 'Militarization of Indian-Administered

Indian paramilitary forces, Pakistan- gins instead of from an elitist centre. My Jammu and Kashmir', I delineate the fun-

sponsored insurgents, counter- goal was to engage in reflective action as damental structural inequities in the J &

insurgency forces and religious funda- an educator working with diverse cul- K polity, exacerbated by political and mili-

mentalists. I also emphasize the neces- tural and social groups. I was challenged tary intrusions of the Pakistani adminis-

sity of foreg-rounding women's perspec- to examine my own locations of privilege tration and the engendering of political

tives in issues of nationalist ideologies, and seek emotional empowerment in resistance. In chapter five, 'Negotiating

religious freedom, democratic participa- order to understand the systems that the Boundaries of Gender, Community,

tion, militarization, intellectual free- have generated the culture of silence. and Nationhood,' I analyse the effects of

dom, judicial and legal structures, in a This culture generates problematic ste- nationalist, militant, and religious dis-

milieu that does not co-opt them into reotypes, alliances, and biases within courses and praxes on a gender-based

mainstream political and cultural dis- and outside the community. hierarchy. I write about the radical politi-

courses or first-world feminist agendas. cal and socioeconomic changes in the I seek in the collision of modernity role of Kashmiri women between 1947 Using self-reflexive and historicized and communal memory a horizontal rela-and 1989. I report the reminiscences of forms, drawing on my heritage and kin- tionship producing intersectionalities two of the three surviving members of ship in Kashmir, I explore the construc- between different cultural spaces, the women's militia that was formed at tion and employment of the Kashmiri times, and ways of knowing the self in the height of the struggle against politi-political and cultural landscape, and gen- relation to the family, society, and the cal and military tyranny. I address the tra-der, in secular nationalist, religious nation- larger cultural landscape. Acknowledging ditional freedoms and prerogatives of alist, and ethno-nationalist discourses in our complicity in oppression, reconcept-Kashmiri women in the land of a spiritual J&K. I question the exclusivity of cultural ualizing paradigmatic structures, and luminary like Lalla-Ded.nationalism, the erosion of cultural mobilizing cultural and political coalitions

syncretism, the ever-increasing domi- is riddled with conflict, but it is the need of I have chosen to deploy oral evi-

nance of religious fundamentalism, the the day for us to engage in these processes. dence in my book, which has allowed me

irrational resistance to cultural and lin- to approach events, notions, and litera-In chapter one of this book, 'Con-guistic differences. I also question the tures about which there was meagre evi-flicting Political Discourses', I delineate victimization and subjugation of women dence from other sources. The use of oral the origins of the Kashmir conflict and selectively enshrined in the prevalent history has empowered my interview-the perspectives on it. I look at the dis-regressive social discourse and the uncriti- ees/correspondents; people of J & K, in course of 'Kashmiriyat' as a significant cally rendered folklore of traditional significant ways, bringing acknowledg-attempt to form a national consciousness Kashmiri Islamic and Hindu cultures. ment of hitherto disregarded opinions in order to name its cultural alterity

and experiences. In some instances, I The upsurge of gender-based vio- through the nation. In the second chap-have taken the liberty of reproducing e-lence has circumscribed the mobility of ter, 'Cultural Syncretism', I analyse the mail responses, which I received from my women who are caught between the recorded poems and paradigmatic say-interviewees, verbatim. I was keen on devil and the deep blue sea. I, for one, ings of Lalla-Ded, a Sufi mystic. I retrieve providing personal reminiscences from would not have been able to conduct my the rich details of her life that have been participants about landmark events with-field research without the armed body- relegated to the background in the docu-out mediating between oral evi-guard my parents provided for me. As a mented version of history. I incorporate dence/historiography and more elitist woman, it would have been difficult and hitherto unpublished opinions of scholars versions of history. My primary goal is to dangerous for me to venture into of Kashmiri and Urdu literature as well as ensure that future generations of the for-secluded rural areas which are cordoned of scholars of mysticism in the Kashmir mer princely state of Jammu and Kashmir by paramilitary troops. The ethnographic Valley on the impact of Lalla-Ded on the do not forget, because if we stop remem-field research that I undertook was a Kashmiri Muslim and Kashmiri Pandit com-bering, we stop being.method of seeking reconnection sans con- munities. I also foreground the revival of



4 3

R E S E A R C H

Sociology

he present Paper deals with bounded on the north side by District Muryan period, the town of Rajouri was

socio-cultural and Economic Poonch, on the south by Jammu, on the a great trading centre. Hiuen Tsang who Tchanges among Muslim Rajputs of east by Udhampur and on the west, by traveled through this area in 7th

Rajouri District. The efforts have been Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir century A.D., mentioned about the hill

made to explore the historical (Mirpur area). Rajtarangni, the anicient State of Rajapuri, the land of the kings.

background of the Rajouri as well as chronicle of Kashmir which was written Still earlier in the Budhist period it

Muslim Rajputs, their socio-cultural and during the period of Sultan Zain ul Abdin formed a part of Gandhar territory

economic conditions and changing mentioned its old name as Rajapuri, (Afghanistant, Ghandhar and Tashkent)

pattern. The Paper accommodates the from which the present name has been and latter it was included in the domain

concept of Rajputs, historical derived. Albruni visited Rajouri with called Darabhisanga which comprised

background of Muslim Rajputs, their Sultan Masaud in 1036, AD., he has also the hilly stretch from Poonch to Kashmir

conversion to Islam, caste stratification stated in his book “India” the name of during that period Laharkote (presently

and socio cultural and economic Rajouri as Rajavari. Loran Mandi) in Poonch and Rajouri had

changes. Primary social institutions like emerged as two independent and The socio- cultural and economic

Family, marriage, education, polity and powerful states of the area. In 11th history of Rajouri goes back to the Vedic

economy have been used as parameters century A.D. Rajouri was ruled by period. In Maha Bharata there was a

to limit the broader concept of socio- chiefs of the Paula Dynasty under the kingdom which was known by the name

cultural and economic setup. The suzerainty of Kashmir in 1097A.D.of Panchal Desa. The king of that State

process of change has been examined in was Panchal Naresh whose daughter Rajouri emerged as principality in

the traditions, customs and rituals Daraupadi was married to Pandavas. about 1003 A.D., the first ruler of the related to family and marriage, Most of the historians identify Panchal Paul dynasty was Raja Prithivi Paul, and e d u c a t i o n a l s t a n d a r d a n d Desa as the region in the mountains of last was Raja Amna Paul (1194 AD)., opportunities, political activities and Panchal Range which cradled the whole later on the Paula dynasty was economic status of the Muslim Rajputs districts of Rajouri and Poonch. F.F. Concluded by Raja Noor ud Din, he before and after 1989. Pargitor has stated that second branch migrated from Punjab and Killed Raja

Rajouri and Poonch are the twin of immigrants crossed Himalayas in the Amna Paul, he was the first Muslim hilly districts of the Jammu and Kashmir north- west and settled in Rajouri and Jarral Rajput Raja who laid the state having rich Historical background Poonch areas. Rajouri, Bhimber, and foundation of Jaral Muslim Rule in of their own and previously considered Naushera, were included with in the Rajouri in (1194 AD), Kingdom Remained as the land of 'Rajas'. The district territory of Abhisar which was earlier in the hands of his clan for seven headquarter of Rajouri is located in the one of the hill State of Punjab Kingdom. centuries. Rehiemullah Khan with his South – West of Jammu and Kashmir The early fragmentary record indicated son Raja FaqirUllah Khan were the last State situated at the distance of that in the 4th century B.C., there was a Muslim Jaral Rajput rulers of Rajouri, 153.km, from Jammu. It lies between federal type of political set up in the when Maha Raja Gulab Singh Captured 700 to 74o-4, East longitude and 32o-58 north west of India, which included Rajouri on 21 of October 1846. Rajouri to 330-35, North latitude and was Abhisar with Rajouri its capital. At the was merged in to a tehsil of Bhimber separated from the erstwhile backward time of Alexander's invasion, Rajouri District. Rajouri bifurcated from District Poonch. The District Rajouri is was at the height of its glory. During Bhimber District and affiliated with

DR. M. MAZAMMIL HUSSAIN MALIK

Socio-Cultural and Economic Changes among Muslim Rajputs: A Case Study of Rajouri District in J&K

4 4


Reasi District in 1904 A.D., after the area, where as, the whole Muslim martial reputation. They are in

independence, Rajouri Became part of population of the district is stratified Pakistan and northern India, In Pakistan

the newly constituted Poonch-Rajouri into various caste groups. Muslim Rajputs generally took part in

District. On 1st. January 1968, Rajouri government services and in politics, RAJPUTS: The term Rajput is

was declared as new district in the map Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, derived from Sanskrit word “Rajputra”

of Jammu and Kashmir State. Governors of Provincial states, found in the Vedas, the Ramayana, and

Ministers, such as Quaid e Azam Social Structure of Muslim Rajputs: Mahabharata. It has been used by the

Muhammad Ali Jinnah the father of warriors and the Rulers, with passage of Presently Rajouri town is the Pakistan his ancestors belongd to Bhatia time there were many kshatriyas. The administrative headquarter of the clan of Rajput from Paneli village in primogeniture allowed only the oldest District It lies at both the banks of the Kathiawar, Gujrat. Many Pakistani male offspring of a king to succeed him, river and is a meeting place of different politicians belong to Rajput clans who the rest were known as Rajputras.The roots leading to Kashmir, Poonch, served as Prime Minister of Pakistan. word Rajput is claimed to be a changed Lahore, and Jammu etc., it is at the First elected Prime Minister of Pakistan term of Rajputra. Gradually it became a elevation of 3094 ft. from the sea level. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was Bhutta Rajput of caste. Rajputs regard themselves as According to Census 2001, 6 Tehsils 7 Larkana, Sindh Momammad Khan being descended from the vedic warrior Blocks and 77 Panchayats covering 381 Junejo the 11th Prime Minister of class known as the Kshatriyas. To villages constitute Rajouri District. Pakistan was Junejo Rajput of Sindh. In differentiate them from ordinary Nearly 45% of the geographical area of politics of Pak occupied Kashmir, Muslim Kshatriyas the word Rajput was used, the District is covered with forest. Rajputs played a significant roles the which literally means "son of a King." Administratively whole District of leading politician in POK, Sardar Rajputs are divided in to 36 major clan Rajouri has been divided into seven Sikandar Hayat Khan belong to Muslim belong to one of the three great tehsils, these are Rajouri, Kalakote, Rajput clan. Muslim Rajputs have been patrilineages, which are: N a u s h e r a , S u n d e r b a n i , a n d recognized in history as the warrior Thannamandi, and in addition to that The Suryavanshi lineage claiming aristocracy, and were designated by the Dharal Malkan is the 7th tehsil declared descent from Surya, the Hindu Sun god, British Empire as a Martial Race and in 2007.All the tehsils of the district in English it is called Solar Dynasty, it is recruited into the Imperial Army. have their own socio cultural and one of the oldest dynasty of the Muslim Rajputs have been engaged in economic importance. kshatriyas. the Pakistani military in large numbers, The whole District is populated The chandravanshi lineage, reaching ranks of Generals and the with different religious and caste claiming descent from “Som” which highest grade, as 7th Chief of Army Staff communities with deeply rooted literally means "Moon." In English called General TikkaKhan and the 10th Chief of customs and traditional system. The This Lunar Dynasty, it is also old but Army Satff General Asif Niwaz Khan whole population of the area is younger than the Sun Dynasty. Som was Janjua.comprised of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and the first king of this dynasty.

Conversion of Muslim Rajputs: Christians. The total population of the The Agnivanshi .lineage, this Various Rajput clans had converted to district Rajouri is 4, 83000 out of which lineage claming descent from Agni, the Islam during the early 12th century and Hindus constitute 39%, Muslims Hindu God of fire. Only four Rajput since conversion have remained loyal to constitute 58%, Sikh and others clans are expected to be belonged to their faith. They were converted to constitute 03% of the total Population. this lineage, they are Chauhans, Islam by the Muslim Sufi missionaries of Total Muslim population of the District Parmara, Solanki and Partiharas. Some the famed Chistiya, Qadriya orders and Rajouri is 2, 80,140 and Muslim Rajputs scholars also include Nagvanshi and many others reasons. Some conversions estimated population is about 1, 45,672 Rishivanshi a separate lineage.also took place for political reasons. which constitute 51.99% of the total Literally, Muslim Rajputs are the The Delhi Sultanate and later Mughal Muslim population. Muslims of Rajouri Rajputs that converted to Islam The Dynasty encouraged the martial clans to District have been classified into four Raj-Puts (Sons of King) were ruling royal convert to Islam. Conversions to Islam categories, such as Rajputs, Gujjars, warrior clans of South Asia from ancient continued into the 19th century even Kashmiries and 'others' The Gujars and times has a long and well documented during the period of the British Raj.Kashmiries are the linguistic divisions of history of warrior kings and a strong

R E S E A R C HSociology

4 5


Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru mentioned, (caste/social class), in matters of Rajouri district that is martial in spirit

“The fact of subsequent conversion to r e l i g i o n t h e y w e r e h i g h l y with a fierce pride of lineage and

other faiths, did not deprive them of individualistic. It is worth noting as a tradition it is not out of place to

this heritage; just as the Greeks, after rule, conversions to Islam were group mention here quotation of Encyclopedia

their conversion to Christianity, did not conversions. Among the upper castes Britannica, (1911edition), “The

lose pride in the mighty achievements individuals may change their religion tradition of common ancestry permits a

of their ancestors, of the Italians in the almost an entire village would poor Rajput yeoman consider himself as

great days of the Roman Republic and convert...group life as well as their well born as any powerful landholder of

early empire...Christians, Jews, functions continued as before with only his clan, and superior to any high official

Parsees, Moslems. Indian converts to minor variations with regards worship of the professional classes. No race in

these religions never ceased to be etc.” India can boast of finer feats of arms or

Indian on account of a change of their brighter deeds of chivalry, and they Sir Denzil Ibbetson repre.(2002)

faith.” ('Discovery of India' oxford uni- form one of the main recruiting fields has referenced the prominent positions

press, 1985). for the Indian army of the day. They of the Muslim Rajputs and indicated

consider any occupation other than that He also mentioned his personal their courage and valiant martial

of arms or government derogatory to experience about the Muslim Rajputs tradition, and similarity with the Hindu

their dignity, and consequently during as, "I grew to know; the Rajput peasant counterparts in some regions.

the long period of peace which has and petty landholder, still proud of his J.M. Wikeley in 'Punjabi Muslman' followed the establishment of the race and ancestry, even though he might (1991) has stated, “The general British rule in India, they have been have changed his faith and adopted conversion of the Muhammadan Rajputs content to stay idle at home instead of Islam. More importantly he bears from Hinduism is supposed to have taking up any of the other professions in testament to the fact that despite his taken place towards the end of the 13th which they might have come to the change of faith, a Rajput is still a or early 14th century AD. The front”. Rajputs of Rajouri District have Rajput.” Muhammadan conquests undoubtedly been divided into two religious Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru has also accelerated this change of religion, but communities, i.e., Hindu Rajputs and referenced the impact of mass appeal the preaching of several renowned Muslim Rajputs. Both the Rajput of the Islam in the process of Muhammadan saints, especially Bawa communities have common caste titles conversion, as, "The impact of the Farid of Pakpattan, whose eloquence and common origin. invaders of the north-west and Islam on drew large numbers to hear him, helped

Caste Stratification Among Muslim India had been considerable. It pointed considerably to this end”

Rajputs:out and shown up the abuses that had The majority of Rajputs in Rajouri

crept up into Hindu society-the Historically Muslim Rajputs of District is Muslim Rajputs their origin is

petrifaction of caste, untouchability, Rajouri District have been classified into claimed from Rajisthan, Gujrat,

exclusiveness carried to fantastic two major groups represented by two Punjab, Haryana and H.P. Though the

lengths. The idea of brotherhood of linguistic division i.e, Pahari and Gojri, on Muslim faith is against belief of a person

Islam and of the theoretical equality of account of regional variation the clan being born from Sun, Moon, and fire,

its adherents made a powerful appeal, speaking Gojri language is not considered but even Muslim Rajputs feel proud of

especially those of the Hindu fold who Rajputs in the area. The Muslim Rajputs being belonging to Rajput Clan. They

were denied any resemblance of equal have been stratified into various sub often reference the bravery of their

treatment.” castes such as, Jarral, Malik, Chauhan, ancestors in the battle fields of the past

Janjua, Chib, Domal, Gakhar, Feerozal, He also indicated the conversion of and they extend equal status to the

Khokhar, Manhas, Bhatti, Thakkar, Hindu upper castes to Islam, "Some parallel clan that is Hindu Rajputs. At

Kamlak, Salahria, Manial, and Thakyal individuals belonging to the higher the time of any conflict with non Rajput

etc. As such there are more than 36 sub-castes also adopted the new faith, communities, the Hindu and Muslim

castes of Muslim Rajputs exist in Rajouri either because of a real change of Rajputs communities emotionally unite

District. Still the caste hierarchy has been belief, or, more often, for political to protect their prestige. Still they like

maintained by the Muslim Rajput clan on economic reasons though all their social to serve in armed forces. While

the pattern of Hindu Rajputs. structure was based on the group observing the attitude of the Rajputs of


4 6


Jarral Rajputs: Historically were Ghori in 1193 A.D., and consequent Rajputs their conversation is believed

the Rajas of Rajouri. The majority of downfall of chauchan Kindom at Delhi, to be taken place during the Muslim

Muslim Jarral Rajputs settled in Rajouri, the clan was probably split up in to small Rule in India. They maintain familial and

while on the other hand who have not groups, who, when arrived in other matrimonial relation with other Muslim

embraced Islam scatteredly settled in States could not be treated at par with Rajputs.

Hoshiarpur, Shiwaliks, Kallanoor the ruling races. In Kangra the Chauhan Domal Rajputs: Domal Rajputs are

(Punjab). It is also claimed that Bandala Rajputs claim to be first grade Rajputs originally a branch Janjua Rajputs.

clan of chamba (H.P) also traces its and have matrimonial relation with Since the time immemorial they were

origin from Jarral Rajputs. They are Katoch (Bigley, A.H and Cunningham Hindu Rajputs. Among Muslim Rajputs

Chandervanshi Panduas Clan. After Paul 1972). Most of the Chauhans live in Dharm Chand and Purabh chand were

dynasty Rajouri was ruled by Jarals who Jammu and Kashmir and some of them two brothers hailing from the 7th

happened to be the descendents of Raja have embraced Islam. They are generation of Raja Chib Chand of

“Jir-Rao”. The first Jarral Rajput who recognized as sub caste of Gujjars. Bhimber Pakistan. Dharm chand the

embraced Islam was Raja Sab Sinah, Their conversion is considered to be the elder brother of Purabh chand first

from the fifth generation of Raja Jir period of the down fall of Prothivi Raj embraced Islam at Delhi and could not

Rao. He embraced Islam along with Chauhan during the dominancy of return to Bhimber because of familial

some relatives and his own son Neel Mohammad Ghori in 1193 A.D., they are conflicts. It is also believed that he was

Sinah, in 1174. A.D., during the period settled in adjoining area of Pir Panchal, killed on the way while retuning to

of Sultan Shahab- udin Ghori. Later on Dodason Bala, Mangota, Fethepur, Bhimber. When the members of the

the name of Neel Sinah was converted Behrote, Dharal and Nadian etc. Their community came to know that Dharm

as Nooruddin. Nooruddin ruled Rajouri means of substances is cattle rearing. chand embraced Islam at Delhi, they

and Kingdom Remained in the hands of Some are leading semi nomadic life they made Purabh Chand the king of the

his clan for seven centuries. Jarral never extend matrimonial relation with Bhimber. Later on Purabh chand also

Rajputs settled in Town of Rajouri other Rajputs except Salaria, Kataria, converted to Islam after becoming the

(Ander Kote), Badhoon, sunderbani Soods, Sango etc which are the sub King of Bhimber and changed the name

Tehsil, Behrote, Dand Kote, Dahral and castes of Muslim Gujjars. from Purabh chand to Dom Khan,

Various other Villages of District Janjua Rajputs: Rajput clan claim (second son of his father) thus Domal

Rajouri. They extend Matrimonial descent from Raja Mal, a Rathore Rajputs claimed their descendency

Relation with parallel Rajput clan Rajputs who migrated from Kanoj early from Raja Dom Khan, after some time

Maliks. in the 10th century during the period of he migrated from Bhimber and settled

Malik Rajputs: Malik Rajputs were Sultan Mohamood and embraced Islam. in Rajouri Village Rajdhani. Raja Dom

the Hindus came from Punjab and Janjua Rajputs are settled in Rajouri Khan was buried at Narrouni a small

Haryana. Akbar gave a title of Malik to a and Poonch district have common village Near Rajdhani. Domal Rajputs

clan of Rajputs; they were given historical background. They extend still celebrate his death anniversary

preference in Akbar's Army and deputed matrimonial relation with Khokhar every year by offering Fateha at his

on the crossing points of Kashmir vally Rajputs. grave. Domal Rajputs reside in various

on the high reaches of Pir panchal. Later villages of Manjakote block of Tehsil Chib Rajputs: Origin of Chib

on, they embraced Islam. This clan is Rajouri and constituting about 35% of Rajputs can be traced from Raja Dharm

located in the higher parts of Rajouri total Muslim Population of Tehsil chand alias Shadab Khan of Bhimber.

District lying at the foot of Pirpanchal Rajouri. The Name of Chib Rajputs as a clan

Range. The place is known by the name started after the name of Raja Chib Gakkhar Rajputs: the clan is

of the Rajput clan as Darhal Malkan. Chand 7th descendent of Raja Dharm considered to be the off springs of

They have also settled in the other Chand. They are mostly settled in Sultan Gohar of Asphan Iran, (Tarikh

Districts of the State like Doda, Poonch, Daghwar, havalie, Dehrakote, Rajdhani, Aqwam e Poonch 1941), Seven Vally of Kashmir and some villages of Shahdra Shrief, and some other villages generation of Sultan Ruled Tibet and district Rajouri. of District Rajouri. The accurate period Kashmir, the last ruler of the clan was

Chauhan Rajputs: After the defeat of their conversion is not available but it Rustam Gakkhar. But Sir Lepel Griefen of Prithvi Raj chauhan by Mohammad is expected that like other Muslim


4 7


disagreed the claim of the clan and time most of them settled near predominantly in Pakistan. Bhatti

stated that two sons of Sultan Sikandar, Jehlam, Pindadan Khan, Ahmed Abad Rajputs of Rajouri district are Muslims

were Sultan Ali Shah and Shahzada Shai and Pothar. In Rajouri District Khokhars and claim their origin in Punjab and

Khan. They were also known by the are residing in various villages. Marriage Rajasthan. A section of Muslim Bhatti

names of 'Sultan Zainulabedin' and 'Budd among Kutab shai Khokhar and Rajput Rajputs is associated with Ahmedi

shah' they used to quarrel among Khokhar is permissible. They constitute School of thought. Other Muslim Rajputs

themselves Shai Khan took support of about 4% of Muslim Rajput population. restrict matrimonial relation to Ahmedi

Hindu Rajput Raja Jasrat Gakkhar, and Manhas Rajputs: Manhas Rajputs and Gujjar Bhatties.

became the king of Kashmir. Jasrat claim their descent from lord Rama of Thakkar Rajputs: The clan

Gakkhar along with his tribe entered the Ayodhya. It is also said that Jamwals are connects their origin with Hindu

Kashmir first. Thus Gakkhar Rajputs of also descendants of Manhas Rajputs. Thakers, which is considered to be a

Rajouri are the progenies Jasrat Muslim Manhas Rajputs of Rajouri and superior Hindu Rajput caste in Jammu.

Gakkhar. They remained Hindus up to Poonch are the descendants of Raja Thakkar Rajputs claim that before their

1008 A. D. and embraced Islam during Joug Rao, who was from the 58th conversion to Islam they were Hindu

the period of Shabuddin Ghori '(Tabqat e generation of Raja Jamboo lochan. Raja Thakers. In Rajouri District they came

Akbari vol.3, 1920) after the downfall of joug Rao had two sons, Millan Hans and from Samba District, due to which both

Mughal rule in Punjab the Gakkhar Surej Hans Maharaja Hari Singh was the Hindu and Muslim Thakers use the

moved from Punjab towards different from 35th generation of Surej Hans. title of Sambyal Thakers and Sambyal

parts of Jammu and Kashmir State. They Manhas clan belonged to the generation Thakers respectively. Majority of this

have matrimonial relations with other of Millan Hans being descendant of caste are settled in Rajdhani,

Muslim Rajputs. They settled in Shahdra Millan Hans they were known by the Thannamandi and Saj villages of Rajouri

Shrief, Rajdhani, Saj, Behrote Nagrota, title of Manhas. Manhas Rajputs of District.

Dahral, Budhal and various other Rajouri and Poonch are Muslims but Kamlak Rajput: Majority of the

villages of Rajouri District. those who live in Jammu are Hindu Kamlak Rajputs settled in Azamatabad a

Feerozal Rajputs: the Rajput clan Rajputs. They performed certain rituals v i l l a ge s i t ua ted i n no r th o f

is also considered a branch of Gukhar similar to that of Hindu Rajputs at the Thannamandi Tehsil. The clan claim

Rajputs. Feerozal Rajputs of Rajouri time of Marriage and other occasions. that they are the descendants of Raja

District are the generation of Gukhar They have matrimonial relation with Azamat Khan Kamlak, who migrate from

Firoze Khan. This Rajput clan embraced other Muslims except Gujjars. Budhal to this village, presently some

Islam during the period of Sultan Bhatti Rajputs: The Rajput clan Hindu and Muslim Kamlak Rajputs are

Shabuddin Ghori. They settled in traces its origin from lord Krishna residing in different villages of Tehsil

various villages of Poonch and Rajouri (Tariekh aqwam -e- Poonch 1941) Bhatti Budhal. Both the communities claim

such as, Kallar morah, Kullutta, / Bhatti is a Rajput caste and is one of common origin and have some common

Pemrote, Darian Narr Feerozalan etc, the largest tribes among Rajputs in customs and rituals.

Chandyal, Behrote, Lah and Saj. They India. It is also a prominent Gujjars and Socio-cultural And Economic

have established matrimonial Ralation Jat gotra. They are found in North India Changes: The socio-cultural and

with other Muslim Rajputs. and Pakistan. Rawal Jaisal Singh was a economic condition of Muslim Rajputs

Khokhar Rajputs: There are two descendant of the Bhati Rajput clan. He has been studied with the reference of

branches of Khokhars one is known as founded the city of Jaisalmer in 1156 familial, matrimonial educational,

Kutub Shai Khokhar and Rajput Khokhar. AD., he built a fort on a hill called political and economic aspects of

Kutab Shah married the daughter of Trikuta. Bhati Jats were horse riders and Muslim Rajputs to make the study

Hindu Rajput Raja. The off springs from warriors. Their reign spread to the limited

them are even today known as Kutab Punjab and beyond, to Afghanistan. Family and Changing Pattern: The

Shai Khokhar. Rajputs Khokhar were the Most of the Bhatti Rajputs are Muslim family is a complex and dynamic

domiciles of India and were originally along with significant Sikh, Hindu and institution in India and for many

the followers of Hinduism, later on they Christian populations. The Muslim and decades, several studies were carried

embraced Islam and with the passage of Christian population of Punjabi Bhatti is out to understand this complexity.


4 8


Family performs same functions every creates long time strife among the and rituals, the major objectives of the

where. In the past joint family was a brothers and sisters in the family. marriage is to perpetuate the lineage.

common pattern among Muslim Rajputs Considering the size of the family The proposal of the marriage was

of Rajouri District. It consisted of among (645) respondents 81% of the initiated by the 'Barbers' who also

father, mother and two or more married respondents are of the view that in the performed allied rituals like calling the

sons, their wives and children. They ate past family was comprised of 6 to 15 participants with the consent of the

together at a common hearth and members, where as at present the size heads of the family of Brides or

shared a single house, owned land in of the family is comprised of 3 to five Bridegrooms. Hindu Rajput code

common and worked together in the members, because the community dictates that Rajputs can only marry

fields. The young married sons understudy was unaware of the amongst other Rajputs. However,

continued to live with their parents and importance of family planning and tradition of marriages into only one

reared their children in common never adopted contraceptive measure group or clan because of caste

courtyards. The old women enjoyed the to control the birth rate of the restrictions is not permitted in Islam

commanding charge of giving daily community, but at present the people theoretically, though this should lead to

ration of food to daughters in law in are aware of the problems caused by a great change in the traditional Rajput

extended family. The father runs the large size of the family. While marital policy after conversion. But it is

f a r m s a n d r e m a i n e d a c t i v e comparing past with the present not so, as in the case of Muslim Rajputs

authoritative figure until they are very significant change has been observed in of Rajouri District. The custom of

old. Among Muslim Rajputs generally the structure of the family of Muslim Rajput endogamy is still persists among

after the death of the father the joint Rajputs of Rajouri District. Muslim Rajputs. They took wives from

property was divided among his sons, In reference to the status of other dominant Aristocratic Muslim

but in some family's property was not Women among Muslim Rajputs, majority clans except Sayyed. This was observed

divided, rather the eldest sons of the of the respondents 89% have elicited that some Rajput clans of Punjab

family took charge of the head of the that in the past the women of the intermarried into other clans of foreign

family and all the younger extended full community were ignored in various descent. However, Muslim Rajputs of

support, cooperation and respect to spheres of life and birth of female child Rajouri District still follow endogamous

him. But with passage of time a major is considered as bad omen and did not pattern of Marriage, rarely they get

changes have taken place in the familial enjoy liberty in the general familial and wives from other castes but don't give

aspects of the Muslim Rajputs of Rajouri matrimonial affairs, 98% of the daughters to them. In the past only

District. The first break in the joint respondents have expressed that 'NIKAHA' ceremony differentiates the

family system usually comes when a parental property moveable and marriage of Muslim Rajputs from Hindu

man and his wife decide to have a immoveable was inherited only to the Rajputs' Other customs and ritual were

separate hearth this step may be taken male members of the family and performed commonly by both the

with overt good nature and willingness females were ignored in property communities, such as 'Sehara Bandhi',

on both the sides and may be matters, Where as at present they are 'Drum beating', keeping swords on the

rat iona l i zed on the bas i s o f dealt with the same way, enjoy the shoulder of Rajput Bridegroom by

convenience, some time it results from same status with some social himself at the time of 'Baraat', wearing

tensions and quarrels among the restrictions. Thus no change has taken special dress of same colour by all the

women of the family. place in the past and present attitude of 'Baraties', taking services of Molvi and

Viewing the change in the family community understudy related to the Pandits and some other customary

pattern, after 1989, the Data indicated female members, as the civil laws and mischief were made at the occasion of

that Majority of the respondents 63% religious citation remain ineffective to marriage. Traditionally among the

observe nuclear family system and change the attitude of the community. Muslim Rajputs dates of marriage had to

perceive that joint family system Marriage and Changing Pattern: be communicated to the relatives and

cannot justify the needs of all the Marriage among Muslim Rajputs is friends eight days before the actual

members according to their income and socially considered important, which is date of marriage, otherwise the

some partial attitude of the parents performed with certain social customs invitation was not acceptable to them.


4 9


After 1989 some changes have taken respondents are of the view that in the facilities, only one degree college 13

place in the matrimonial systems and past there was no dowry system but now higher secondary Schools and few

allied rituals among Muslim Rajputs of the dowry system among the Rajputs is middle and primary schools were in the

Rajouri District due to rapid increase in a common practice. District.

urbanization in the District and Thus the significant change has Change has taken place after 1997-

advocacy of 'Jammat Tableegh', in rural taken place in the institutions of family 98 in educational sphere of the

areas. and some aspects of marriage that has community. The educational facilities

In matrimonial context majority of been observed by the comparison of have been increased in the area by the

the respondents 86% elicited that past and present familial and State government with result that at

presently the services of the barbers are matrimonial patterns. present the literacy rate in the district

not considered important and now Educational Standard and is 57.65, total educational institutions

marriage proposal are initiated by Change: Educational status of Muslim in the District are 1250, including 04

friends and relatives. Rajputs of Rajouri District was Degree colleges( Education department

in the process of mate selection relatively low since the past. They were and Digest statistics 2005- 07). A rapid

87% of the respondents have stated that not encouraged to send their children to change has taken place in attitude of

in the past educational accomplishment the school by the educated people of the people towards education by the

of the boys and girls was not the criteria the community. The Literacy rate dint of mass migration of the people to

in the settlement of marriages among among the Muslim Rajputs is less than the town of Rajouri in 1997- 98 due to

Muslim Rajputs of Rajouri, but now the the other castes (Gujjars and the impact of militancy in the area.

educational accomplishment is taken in Kashmiries) of the District. Majority of Majority of the Muslim Rajputs took

to account at the time of mate the Rajput students could not complete refuge from the hilly and rural areas and

selection, the respondents 91% are of even their school education up to the settled in the City of Rajouri and

the view that they observe caste 10th level, so dropped out from the Jammu, those who were financially

endogamous pattern of marriage and school due to the financial constraints well-off availed the educational

they are against the encouragement of of the parents and uncertainty of future facilities of the urban area and poor

Rajput exogamy. career. The data (M.Phil Dissertation Rajputs get exposure of the city life and

started working as manual labuorer, In the pattern of marriage, the 1994) indicates that, 15% to 20% of the

admitted their children in the city performance of rituals and other children's population of the Rajputs

schools. customs like, divorce and dowry system went to school. Among total drop-out

majority of the respondents 88 % hold children, Rajputs drop-out children Viewing change in the educational

standard of Muslim Rajputs, the data the view that on account of the constituted 73% of the total drop-out

has indicated that 83% 0f the preaching of Jammat Tableegh and children of the district from first to

respondents are of the view that in the impact of the militancy in the area the primary level. Among total Rajputs

past members of the community were performance of un Islamic rituals like drop-out children of the same level,

socially and economically backward due Sehra Bandi, Drum beating and allied female drop-out children constituted to illiteracy and lack of educational rituals have been restricted, 82% of the 76%. The major causes behind the facilities but at present the community respondents prefer monogamy as in the victimization, was the geographical members are aware of the values of past having more than one wife was a location, extreme poverty, traditional education due to which they are common practice, 91% of the beliefs, orthodoxy and mass illiteracy. encouraging their wards to seek more respondents have stated that the rate of They were unable to send their wards and more education. Majority of the divorce were less in the past but particularly the girls' children at the Respondents 96% hold the view that in increasing presently, due to the distance places to get education and the past the Muslim Rajputs and their increasing number of working women, they prefer the children to graze the counter parts Gujjars were leading selection of mate at infancy stage and cattle in the field or (male children) to similar way of life but presently Rajputs early marriages due to the threat of work as labourer and earn money to are lagging behind in all the terrorism and rapid increase in fulfill the basic needs of the family. developmental aspects in general and urbanization in the District. 84% of the More over, there was lack of educational


5 0


educational sphere in particular due to were bonded laborer from generations. government services, where as, 23% of

the provision of Scheduled Tribe The Indo Pak war of 1965 and 1971 and the total population depend upon cattle

reservation to Gujjars and depriving land ceiling process in J&K have also rearing, 16% of the total population is

The Rajputs under the banners of badly impacted the major agriculture working as manual labourer. Among

'Paharies' as their children are un able to economy of the community, since the them 09% of the labourers are working

compete them and feel insecure future community was economically self outside the state, as, in Mumbai,

career. 82% of the respondents hold the sufficient before 1990, due to political Punjab, and H.P., on account of non

view that in the past Rajputs were not turmoil in the state the economy of the availability of work avenues in the

giving preference to the women community got major setback, the State. The major portion of the youth is

education and still the problem persists people were forcibly pushed from the unemployed), the economy of the

as only few community members are villages and their crops were destroyed District is not satisfactory and more

encouraging the girls to go to the during peak season by the army in than 60% of the population is living

schools and collages to seek education, conducting search operation for the below the poverty line.(District

58% of the respondents are of the view militants. The people took refuge in the Statistic and planning, data 2004-05)

that In the past community members town in miserable condition. the major The youths of the area is badly effected

force their children to work in the field occupation of the District's population is by the prevailing limited economic

or to do manual labourer to fulfill the agriculture and allied activities (Census resources. Due to extreme poverty and

basic amenity of the family instead of 2001), due to the Geographical unemployment some people even

sending school and still the practice is disadvantage, mass poverty and indulge in illegitimate sources of

common in hilly and remote areas, they illiteracy the Rajputs are economically earning, either they smuggle forest

are not aware of the legal restriction on backward, now the small farmers of the wood or join militancy in the State for

the child labour. community have little pieces of land their means of subsistence.

holdings, kacha houses, most of the Thus little improvement has been Viewing the change in the economy

agricultural area is located on the hill made by the government of J&k by of the community under study data has

slopes where irrigation and tractor indicated that Majority of the providing local reservation to the

facilities can not be availed. On the respondents 93% hold the view that in Resident of Backward Areas and

other hand due to snow fall in hilly area the past, major economy was expansion of educational facilities at

only Kharief crop is possible in their agriculture but with the passage of time broader level due to which change has

fields, in addition to that there is lack of and increase in population, the taken place in educational standard of

community members have engaged in employment, and manual workers go the community in urban area of the

other economic activities, like outside the state in search of job. At District. But Majority of the Rajputs in Government services and manual skill present Major economy of the people is remote area is not aware of the and un skilled labour and a section is agriculture but it can be expected that a government facilities that have been working out side the State due to non single source of income which cannot granted for them. Thus the change has availability of work avenue. 86% of the fulfill the basic amenities of a particular taken place in the attitude of present respondents admitted that in the past community does not deserve to be generation more over they have the their economic condition was not recognized as the economy of the sense of competition. progressive because there were no community. On the basis of the study, Economic Status and Change: The proper economic p lann ing or the whole economic structure of Muslim Economic condition of Muslim Rajputs programmes actively initiated by the Rajputs of the District Rajouri is divided of District Rajouri was relatively better Government, but now the government into four categories: (i) Rajputs with before 1947; the community members is expected to be serious in Agricultural activities, (ii) Rajputs with were serving in army or holding rehabilitation of economic lose which Government services. (iii) Rajputs with agricultural assets. It declined with the happened during militancy(after cattle rearing, (iv) Rajputs working as impact of war of 1947, Majority of the 1 9 8 9 ) , b y i n i t i a t i n g v a r i o u s manual labourer. 48% of the total Rajputs were the land lords and having developmental and rehabilitative working population is engaged in sufficient land for cultivations, in the measures and programmes. 89% of the agriculture economy while, 13% of the past other communities were working in respondents are of the view that the working Population is engaged in their fields as agricultural tenants some


5 1


women of the community were not society. Various attempts are made to and necessary condition to stimulate

permitted to engage themselves in any analyse socio-cultural and economic development in all other institutions of

economic activity outside the home, changes in terms of specific models society. This has been proved in correct

due to which the community was which are based on the experience of in present study. The urbanization has

economically backward but with the change in a particular societies. impacted the structure of the family

mass urbanization (1997-98) and Generally sociologists are focusing on and changed it from joint to nuclear

victimization of widowhood due to the questions relating to change, form and also discarded some

militancy in the area women have direction and rate of change and factors traditional and futile practices, The

started taking part in economic responsible for bringing social change. marriage pattern and rituals in context

activities to nourish their children and Viewing the factors of change in socio- of endogamy and other allied rituals are

slightly improving the economy of the cultural and economic pattern of also impacted by the urbanization with

family. 76% of the respondents hold the Muslim Rajputs, it has been emphasized the result that 3% to 6% of the marriages

view that in the past youth were not that socio-cultural changes are brought among Muslim Rajputs are performed

aware of the available government about due to the cumulative impact of a out of castes, with Kashmiries and other

facilities, for improving economic host of interrelated factors. Generally, non Rajputs in Rajouri District. It is

condition, but at present various the factors like, demographical, considered a major change among the

developmental programmes have been technological, geographical, ecological people of the area.

launched at rural level like self factors and the process of urbanization In regard to education the change

employment schemes, IRDP, ICDS, and industrialization bring about social has been observed in the general out

NREGA etc. and people are get aware of change in all the societies of the world. look of the parents and students due to

the benefits to some extend as well as After 1997-98 a large scales urban social contacts. In economic

fast track recruitment scheme have shifting of the Muslim Rajputs from sphere the impact of urbanization is not

been launched to reduce the remote and hilly areas to the city of proved fruitful but considered as the

u n e m p l o y m e n t b y t h e s t a t e Rajouri due to militancy allied factors in process of rehabilitation of the

government. the areas. The chunk of population from economic lose caused by leaving the

Thus it is observed that the slight Rajput dominant tehsils of the District agricultural land without cultivation,

change has taken place in the economic has changed demographic structure of only the government employees and

sphere of the community due to the the Rajouri town permanently or skilled and unskilled manual labourer

efforts and rehabilitative measures of temporarily to avail the urban facilities could manage house holds in the town.

the government to compensate the of education, and struggling for the Thus abrupt migration of the people

economic lose due to militancy in the improvement of their social and from rural to urban led to the both

areas. economic condition. Thus urbanization positive and negative consequences.

in Rajouri is the major factor of bringing Negative consequences are associated The political system of the

about change in the attitude of the with the state of loss of ones culture, community understudy is not different

people, the term urbanization refers to homes, livelihood and economic from other communities of the area, the

the movement of population from belongings. The positive consequences change has also been observed in the

agricultural to industrial work and from are that the people have new political setup of Muslim Rajputs. Since

rural to urban places of residence either perceptions and aspirations in the the past Muslim Rajputs have effective

by the pull or push factors. realms of all aspects of social life. representation in the national and state

politics holding position of MLA, It is generally emphasized that the Procedure of the Study: The

Minister and Speaker in state assembly. change that has taken place due to the present study is based on the

At present Raja Shabir Ahmed Khan, impact of urbanization is considered exploratory design that includes survey

MOS belongs to Muslim Rajput developmental aspect of change and of the literature related to the

community of District Rajouri. More development is defined not only in community understudy, experienced

over the present youth is politically terms of economic dimensions but also survey, contains informal interaction

aware than that of the past. in terms of socio-cultural dimensions, with experienced persons and analyses

until recently, the popular notion was of insight stimulating cases among a Changing Factors: Social change is

that economic growth was a sufficient large population of the community the law of nature, it occurs in every


5 2


under study. The Process of change has considered Rajput clan due to regional but Major factor that played significant

been examined on the basis of variation. The community is stratified role after 1996-97 is Rapid urbanization

comparison of administrative data into various sub castes and still majority and allied push factors, due to political

related to study of pre and post period is practicing caste endogamy, though turmoil in the State, that uprooted a large

of 1989. The primary data has been some customs and rituals have been section of the community from their

collected by using Interview Schedule changed. The structure of the joint settlement took refuge in Rajouri town.

comprised of items related to socio- family has been changed into nuclear Thus it is suggested that the

cultural and economic aspects of the family. The traditional educational government should provide more and

community. In all 645 respondents system is also in transformation; change more facilities for the upliftment of the

constituting sample of the study as has taken place in political system, still community by providing Scheduled

heads of the households belonging to remarkable change cannot be claimed Tribe Status to the community at par

four Muslim Rajputs populated tehsils of particularly in economy of the with their counterpart Gujjars.

the District have been interviewed. The community instead of the Government Awareness campaign by NGOs and

Data has been analyzed and interpreted efforts. Socio-cultural and economic enlightened members of the community

on the basis of item analysis method. backwardness' among the Muslim should be launched at mass level in the

Rajputs was due to their traditional Conclusion: On the basis of the area for general awareness of the

beliefs and social practices, mass above discussions it can be concluded community to get the benefits of

illiteracy, unapproachable geographical that Muslim Rajputs of District Rajouri modern technology and prevailing

region, unawareness, poverty, and have rich socio-cultural history. schemes operative in the area. Political

orthodoxy. Various factors are Historically whole Muslim Rajputs have leaders should be sincere to watch the

responsible for bringing about socio-two linguistic divisions, i.e., Gojri and benefits of the Community at state and

cultural change among the community Pahari. The Gojri speaking section is not national level.


5 3


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NEW DELHI

F E A T U R E S

Travelogue

recently travelled by road from Leh permission from the Biama Brigade to go me: The climate was so harsh that 'eggs

to Kargil, and it was a journey unlike up to the village, which is known for the become tennis balls, and orange juice Iany other – either within Jammu & last few surviving Aryans who live there has to be boiled'. The photo gallery was

Kashmir or outside. The Indus river (Aryans are considered to the semi- overwhelming, and I made a mental

came along till Batalik, and then nomadic tribe which wandered in to note of coming back to spend more time

changed course to make its way into India from Central Europe around 1500 there.

Pakistan. The stark naked, brown BC, establishing the beginnings of the As I was leaving, I thanked the

m o u n t a i n s p r o v i d e d a v e r y 'Indian Culture'). soldier on duty who had very patiently

unwelcoming terrain, but the curves The Army has set up a Women's and kindly answered all my questions,

and turns got friendlier as one got used Empowerment Centre where women and shown me around the memorial. He

to them. from the village are taught tailoring. I even wished me a pleasant onward

On my way, I crossed village have grudged this for all the years that I journey. Overloaded with emotions, I

Nehmo, from where came the Leh Berry have been working in Jammu & Kashmir said to him that it was because of him

juice until it got embroiled in – any civil society initiative for women and innumerable other jawans like him

controversies, and the manufacturing ends up in tailoring/ embroidery that people like me were walking 'free'.

stopped. Nehmo is also known for its schools, as if women can't do anything He returned the compliment by saying

sole woman Panch (head) who else! However, I also do realise that this civilians were equally important. He

contested the Panchayati Raj elections is something which comes naturally to went on further to say that thousands of

in 2001, and got elected to the village women; something that does not need people worked hard day and night to

council. Tashi Yangskit was the first and too much 'exposure'! prepare food and warm clothing, and

only female voice in the first and only arranged to carry weaponry etc. uphill The high point of this journey was a

Panchayati Raj elections held in Jammu so that the soldiers could fight, and visit to the Drass War Memorial. Drass

& Kashmir. eventually win the war. I can't and Kargil became household names

remember a more humbling moment!I crossed many Border Roads after the infamous summer of 1999.

Organization (BRO) boards which read: National Highway 1D passes through It made me dwell on the futility of

'You are being watched by the enemy'. I Drass, connecting Srinagar and Leh. war. Certainly nothing original about

briefly stopped over at Khalsti for a Drass also happens to be the coldest this reflection, but something very

quick snack as I was told it was the last inhabited place in India. Situated personalised. Ten years since Kargil,

point where one would get any food amongst Tiger Hill, Tololing and Three have we – India and Pakistan – moved

until Kargil. I kept eyeing the apricot Pimples - the three ranges captured by forward on any front? Leave alone the

trees which dotted the entire route the Pakistani Army in early 1999 which larger Indo-Pak issues, have we moved

from Leh to Kargil, and were laden with led to the war of Kargil - the memorial is any further on the cross-border/ intra-

so much fruit that they seemed to be awe-inspiring, to say the least. Kashmir initiatives?

weighed down under the weight. The Kargil war was fought through Perhaps the only effort which has

moved anywhere is the cross-LoC trade I was keen to visit Darchiks - the the months of May and June, and in the

– of course not without its controver-last village in the Batalik sector - which soldiers' accounts accompanying the sies. No doubt the cross-border trade is is under Army surveillance due to its many photographs at the memorial, at a very fragile crossroads right now. A proximity to the LoC. I had to seek there is one in particular which struck

MANISHA SOBHRAJANI

A Journey to Himalayan enclave

5 4


r e cen t v i s i t t o

Chakkan da Bagh con-

firmed the same.

There was talk of

trade exchange of

products which are

not J&K specific (I

understand this is

one of the pre-

conditions for the

p r o d u c t s b e i n g

traded!).

However sym-

bolic it may be, it

does exist. And now

that it has com-

pleted a year, we

must extend all

efforts towards sus-

taining it. Perhaps it

is the only ray of

hope in the

sequence of events

beginning with the

Mumbai attacks,

going on to the con-

troversial meeting

between Indian

Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh

and his Pakistani

counterpart Yousuf

Raza Gilani at

Sharm-el-Sheikh,

and ending with the

very recent meeting

of the two foreign

ministers –

Nirupama Rao and

Salman Bashir - in

New York.

Manisha

Sobhrajani is a Delhi-

based independent

researcher working

on the various

aspects of the

Kashmir conflict. She

can be reached at

manishasobhrajani@e

pilogue.in

F E A T U R E S

Life Stories

adakh in the eastern part of child-centered, joyful and meaningful

Jammu and Kashmir, a high- learning activities. And stressed on the Laltitude desert region, on the use of games, songs, stories, field trips,

upper reaches of the Indus River, shares and low-cost teaching aids.

borders with both China and Pakistan. In 1994 SECMOL launched

This strategic position by itself has been Operation New Hope (ONH), to overhaul

the single-most important factor in the primary education system in the

opening this isolated rural society. With Government schools in Leh district. This

high priority on defence since the addressed the foundational causes of

1960's, it has attracted subsidies from the malfunctioning of the educational

t he Cen t ra l gove rnment and system especially in remote villages.

development activities such as schools The ONH movement rests on the

and other institutions was initiated. convergence of three sectors on the

Today Education has taken centre- Government, the Non-Governmental

stage in national policy and the priority Organizations (NGOs), and the village

accorded to it is justified. For any communities.

society to develop, Education is the One of the key components of the

foundation and this stands true for ONH was to inculcating a sense of

Ladakh where the education system was commun i ty owner sh ip o f the

in disarray. Government schools did government schools , to ensure

not function properly remained in dire accountability. This was the motivation

need of repairs. There was a complete for a concentrated campaign and the

lack of involvement of the families and creation of VECs (Village Education

village communities in schools Committee. VEC's elected by the

This is where the local government villagers themselves have one third

“Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development women members and include at least

Council (LAHDC) along with some highly two students.

motivated NGO'S stepped in to don the The move has caught the

mantle to revamp education system at imagination of the people and the the grassroots. The efforts of SECMOL momentum was palpable. It essentially (Students Educational and Cultural transformed them from passive Movement of Ladakh) an organization bystanders bemoaning the crumbling founded in 1988 by a group of young government educational facilities to Ladakhi's with the aim to reform the taking the onus of improving it educational system have been stellar. It themselves. From 1997, SECMOL has attempted to change the attitude and organized more than 10 batches of approach of the people towards intensive training for 1000 VEC teaching, from "chalk, talk and stick" to members. The training uses group

ZAINAB AKHTER

Spreading the Lamp of

Learning–the Ladakhi way

5 5


discussion, brainstorming and role-

plays to develop techniques of problem

solving and planning.

To promote transparency and

accountabi l ity, members learn

accounting and book-keeping. Insights

and knowledge gained by the VEC

leaders are then shared with the

community where the level of

receptivity has been found to be high. .

After the success in Leh District, a

similar reform movement has started in

Kargil District

For taking the flame of education

beyond established villages to remote

areas in Leh, SECMOL runs a hostel to

groom community representatives who

are willing travel and work in such

areas. There they combine their

educational training with actual education while instilling in them the a keen desire, a commitment to developmental work in the villages. It spirit and skills to take this learning education in its widest possible sense. also provides media training to forward in their respective regions. It Rather than addressing a single interested students in basics of video has intervened at other levels too, aspect SECMOL has looked at the needs including shooting and editing, audio, a d d r e s s i n g a v a i l a b i l i t y o f of the region in its entirety. These have photography, reporting and layout. infrastructure. Middle and high schools ranged from content and syllabus, The emphasis on reaching out to in several remote villages face teacher training, infrastructural needs village communities is accompanied by problems because of lack of support and and community participation. It has expansion of reading materials, both infrastructure. In response to one such then evolved an expansive system which course and for extra reading available case in the high mountainous region of takes into account multifarious needs of to teachers and students. Keeping in Changthang plateau, SECMOL opened a a society, a region which remains mind, the region's needs in developing solar heated residential school in distinct from the rest of the country and material related to the cultural, social, September 2001. This combined the even within J&K in terms of its history , regional context, SECMOL's sister resources allocated to middle and high terrain, its culture and language. concern Melong Publications publishes a schools and was able to provide free Today in its 2 decade long journey, variety of genres. Books on Ladakhi board and lodging for students for whom this commitment and efforts have paid language, food, children's stories, traversing the mountain terrain on a off, lighting up young lives in Ladakh. A school books and teaching materials daily basis was difficult. standing testimony to this has been the designed specially for Ladakh are its

This was a pioneering move, which big jump in enrolment and retention of forte. Being culturally appropriate, has since been picked up by the children in areas of their work had students find it much easier to grasp the government to establish similar increased to such an extent by 2006, messages than from books suited to residential high schools in other far- that it was jokingly said that the new other regions. flung areas of Ladakh. Students being problem in the school system was SECMOL has developed an trained at SECMOL are being absorbed in overcrowding! innovative way of training students the education department of Leh. They Charkha Features from remote areas to become teachers are making it to the teacher selection while they pursue higher secondary {This article has been written under l i s t brought out by the J&K School education in Leh. The idea is to the “Sanjoy Ghose Ladakh Women Government. All of this emanates from not disrupt the process of regular Writers' Award 2008-09}

F E A T U R E SLife Stories

5 6


F E A T U R E S

Life Stories

In SECMOL I met many volunteers up before me. What was a part of my was born in a small village with and I went trekking with some of them. growing up experience could become a around 60 houses called Takmachik I One of the women asked me to come way of life, a career option, She about 120 km from Leh, Ladakh . In with her as a guide. Previously, she had a my village, all the 60 families are pursued this and together we went to bad experience with a male guide, who divided into groups to take turns at meet with the organization “Snow had tried to coerce her into having sex grazing the goats and sheep on the Leopard Conservancy” which runs such with him. Distraught, she had mountains.. We also would make trips programs in the region. Although it did abandoned the trek and fled. And now to collect grass and store it so that not quite work out with this particular was understandably weary of taking a during the long harsh winters, the organization, the experience of this male guide along. She knew that I have animals have adequate fodder. foreign women believing in me, left a trekked before and though I said I did Sometimes my father used to go up huge impact on my life. not the route, remained keen to hire me everyday for 3 or 4 weeks to collect I decided to pursue it on my own as a guide and offered to pay me my grass in the quantities required. steam and approached two travel charges. I had been born in the As a child during my holidays , I use companies. At one of them, the person mountains and spent my childhood to go up on the mountain with my father in charge asked me if I did monastery amidst them. It was natural for me to and our herds. I was afraid that tours. He was taken aback on hearing slip into that mode and become for the something may happen to him if he was

me say categorically, that I wanted to first time, a trekking guide! alone. My mother had died when I was a

work as a trekking guide. I was rejected. It was an altogether different baby and I had only my father, whom I

At the second company, it was worse. I experience from my childhood cared about deeply. I did not really cut

was clearly told that local society would wanderings. I found I was attracting a any grass, I just went because of my not accept a woman going up on the lot of attention with local people father and because I loved the peaceful mountains with a group of tourists. coming up to me and speaking to me in mountains. These were bitter experiences, leaving English saying they had never seen a This was the bliss of my childhood me dejected, my dreams seemed on Ladakhi female guide ever before. In which I still miss in the village which I the verge of being shattered. fact so remote was the possibility of still love. But then life changed and I

But help was near. I shared my encountering one, many of them went out into the world to get myself an angst with my English teacher, Becky thought that I was Japanese!education and explore possibilities for who was from America and found a The trek turned out to be my life ahead. After Class 10th , I had to much needed supporter in her. She wonderful and the woman enjoyed it leave my village to further my studies. I encouraged me to pursue my dreams immensely. She suggested that I think was selected for the SECMOL (Student and paid my fees for mountaineering Educational Cultural Movement of about becoming a guide as a profession. courses. Later, Becky introduced me to Ladakh) hostel in Phey, around 25 km It was the first time, I had got advice of a travel agency, she knew well and they from the Leh Town. this kind and suddenly the world opened

THINLAS CHOROL

A Trek Through Life

Growing up amidst the mountains in Ladakh, the story of a young girl fired by a dream to become a professional trekking guide, a male-dominated field. The rejection she faces from travel companies and the support from individuals and groups mark her journey to realize her dreams.

5 7


said they would hire me! It was I knew a travel companies. I faced a similar time experience the real Ladakhi way

turning point for me and I had to prove situation everywhere. of life.

myself to all those who believed in me. But I persisted in my efforts. And Over time, a few travel companies

I did a few courses to upgrade my my lucky break came in 2004 again came to know about our work and

knowledge and skills and also to show through SECMOL. They opened a travel approached me to be a trekking guide

the agency that I was really serious company called “Around Ladakh with and I began to get hired for their treks.

a b o u t m y w o r k . I f i r s t d i d Students”. Most of the guides were This is what I loved doing the most and

mountaineering course at the Nehru women, all of them were doing cultural such opportunities encouraged me and

Institution Of Mountaineering and guide and monastery tours, except me. gave me a confidence, a renewed faith

National Outdoor Leadership School I was for the first time a full-fledged in myself.

(NOLS India) . It was here that I really trekking guide! It was a dream come I have learnt a lot on my journey

learnt how to live in the wilderness. true and my joy knew no bounds. This and enjoyed it immensely. Women who

Generally in Ladakh, students was the beginning of a journey for me. I are interested in the outdoor field or

work as a guide without any formal observed that generally it was very any field dominated by men should be

training. Men are hired by company expensive for individual tourists to patient and keep the competitive edge

even if they do not have this training, travel to different regions in Ladakh and sharp. I have learnt that if a woman has

any familiarity with trekking routs or get a sense of the local life there. In the courage to do something in male

work experience. In spite of my my present capacity, we use homestays world, it will be a lot of hard work, but

training though, in the beginning it was for taking up groups where tourists can the sweet rewards of success will surely

very difficult for me to get hired by the stay in homely comfort and at the same be hers in time.

F E A T U R E SLife Stories

5 8


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NIK&J N U M B E R S

Power Sector

20,000 MW CapacityThe estimated hydro power potential of the state is 20,000 Megawatts (Mws), of which 16480 Mws have been identified. Out of the identified potential, only 2318.70 Mws or 14 percent have been exploited so far, consisting of 758.70 projects under Central Sector i.e. 690 Mws (Sala Hydro Electric Project) and 480 Mws (Uri-I Hydro Electric Project) and Dulhasti 390 Mws. The prestigious Baglihar Hydro Electricity Project, with a capacity of 450 Mws was commissioned during 2008-09.

1278.99 Cr Proposed OutlayUnder Power Sector Rs. 3875.82 crores were approved as outlay for the years 2007-07, against which Rs. 3045.15 crores were spent on all the projects/schemes. An amount of Rs. 8196.95 crores have been earmarked for all this sector under 11th Five Year Plan which is 112 percent more than that of 10th Plan outlay. The approved outlay 2008-09 is to the tune of Rs. 1096.14 crore, out of which 705.76 crore have been spent upto January 2009. However it is anticipated that the expenditure will touch about 1567.82 crore during current year. Proposed outlay for the year 2009-10 is to the tune of 1278.99 crore.

Around 55.28% Tariff RealisationDuring the year 2006-07 an amount of Rs. 395.26 crore were realised against the total target of Rs. 7111 crore, thereby constituting 55.28 percent of the targeted revenue realisation in the power sector. During 2007-08, revenue of 693.24 crore has been realised.

95% ElectrificationBy the end of March 2008, out of 6417 inhabited villages, 6152 were electrified thereby, registering 95.87 percent average. Out of 9278 hamlets, 6600 (71.14 percent) hamlets were electrified. Besides, 1246 Harijans Basties were electrified. Number of installations rose to 1241054 during 2007-08

2120 MW Peak DemandThe base load requirement of the State is about 716 Mws and peak demand is currently pegged at about 2120 Mws. The sixteenth All India Power Survey has projected an increase in power demand of Jammu and Kashmir from 1706 Mws i.e., 9640 Mus during 2004-05 to 2120 Mws i.e. 14750 Mus during 2008-09. By 2010-11, the demand is expected to touch 2441 Mws i.e. 14321 Mus and 4000 Mws i.e. 19500 Mus by 2020-21.

63% Aggregate LossesManagement of any Sector determines the health of that sector. An inefficient management leads to chaos and acts as a great hurdle in development of that sector. Only 32.50 percent of the energy through out was realised in the year 2009-07 and it is expected to grow to the tune of 37.18 percent in the year 2007-08, which is one of the lowest in the country. The transmission and distribution losses are about 50 percent while as rest 13 percent are collected loses making it an aggregate of 63 percent. Collection efficiency is only between 65-70 percent.

Rs 6.19 Per Unit Cost of Supply The power tariff in J&K State is determined by an Independent Regulator known as State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC). It came into existence through SERC Act 2000. It has issued two tariff orders for the years 2007-08 and 2008-09. The average cost of supply comes to Rs. 6.19 unit. However, the agricultural consumers have been provided power at Rs. 1.84 unit. During the year 2008-09, 204.88 MUs of power valued at Rs. 126.82 crore (cost of supply to Rs. 6.19 unit) has been consumed by this category of consumers. These consumers have, however been billed for Rs. 37.72 crore @ Rs. 1.84 unit. Thus a subsidy of Rs. 89.10 crore has been availed of by these consumers and it work out to 70.26% of the cost of supply.

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Power Sector

Rs. 200 Cr Renovation Project The Board of Directors of State Power Development Corporation headed by CM Omar Abdullah has approved renovation and modernization of redundant and outdated power projects. These include: Lower Jehlum Power House which is 30-years old having 105 MW capacity, Chenani Power Project which is 60 years old with 30 MW capacity, Upper Sindh Stage-II which is 24 years old having 105 MW capacity and Ganderbal power plant which is 60 years old with 20 MW capacity. It has been decided to invest Rs 200 Crore for modernization of these projects. The Board also gave approval for starting Baglihar stage –II Project with 450 MW capacity. The earlier phase with 450 MW capacity is already in operation. With the start of the new second stage the Baglihar Project will be able to provide 900 MW of electricity which will play a vital role in strengthening the Power capability of the State and also help in economical development.

1353 MW ShortfallTotal availability of power from all the sources is just around 8170 Mus, the state is under stress to purchase power from other sources. To meet the restricted requirement of 9523 Mus in the current year, the State may require to purchase additional 1353 Mus through U.I. and short term purchased besides banking arrangements with Punjab, Haryana and Chatisgarh.

1000 Micro Projects The Army is engaged in construction of 1000 micro Hydel electric projects in J&K under BADP and operation Sadbhavana at a cost of Rs 10 crore. Under the Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan, hydro electric project Uri phase-II with the capacity of 240 MWs, Nimmo, Buzgo with a capacity of 45 MW, Chutak with the capacity of 44 MW, Bursar with the capacity of 1020 MW and Kishenganga with the capacity of 330 MW are the central sector power projects. Pakal Dul hydro electric project with the capacity of 1000 MW has been taken up as a joint venture between J&K State Power Development Corporation, NHPC and PTC at a cost of Rs 3480 crore. Under Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidutikaran Yojna (RGGVY) all un-electrified villages and hamlets are proposed to be covered during the current year at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore. Under State hydel policy, 10 power projects have been awarded to various IPPS through two stage transparent competitive feeding process. These power projects included Athwatto, Baramulla over Madumati nallah with a capacity of 10 MW, Tangmarg project in Baramulla over Ferozpur nallah, Aharbal project in district Pulwama with a capacity of 22.5 MW over Vishow nallah, Hirpora project in district Pulwama with a capacity of 12.00 MW over Rambhir nallah, Brenwar project in district Budgam with a capacity of 7.5 MW over Doodganga nallah, Kahmit project in district Kupwara with a capacity of 4MW over Kahmit nallah, Bonfyar project in district Baramulla with a capacity of 12MW in Hapathkhai nallah, Mandi project in district Poonch with a capacity of 12.5 MW in Mandi nallah, Ranjala Dunadi project in district Doda with a capacity of 15 MW in Lower Kalnai nallah and Drung project in district Kathua with a capacity of 5 MW in Ujh nallah.

Rs.18912.25 Cr ProgrammeRs. 18912.25 crore have been earmarked under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme for development of power in the State. This includes an amount of Rs. 14,952.41 crore in the Central Sector for generation of power and Rs 2811.00 crore for strengthening transmission and distribution network/BHEP in the State sector and an amount of Rs. 1148.84 crore under Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (APDRP).

Rs 5.12 Cr Invested, Abandoned The Gurez and Tulail Valley in Kashmir have no availability of hydel power. Presently Gurez and Tulail valley are being supplied electricity 6 hours a day from 15 Diesel Generator sets with capacities ranging from 20 KVA to 320 KVA located at various suitable places. The work on 2 MW Ashtan Nallah was taken up in 1986-87 and an expenditure of Rs. 512.97 lakhs has been incurred on the project till March 2007. Work on the project was abandoned due to upcoming Kishenganga hydro-electric project as the entire Dawar area where Asthan Nallah Project is located was getting submerged due to construction of dam for Kishenganga project. Tenders for another project namely 1.05 MW Tulail were invited under IPP phase II & III but no response was received. Two more schemes namely Achhora Dawar and Bagtore SHPs have been identified for which pre-feasibility reports are under preparation. Therefore, in Gurez, there is no possibility of light at the end of dark tunnel.

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epilogue magazine, november 2009

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