epilogue may 2008

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

www.epilogue.in

Editor in ChiefZafar Choudhary

Consulting EditorD. Suba Chandran

Associate EditorIrm Amin Baig

Photo DivisionJP Bandral

Designs & LayoutKeshav Sharma

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CONTENTS

Letters to the editor 2Prologue 3

Peace Process

5

Security

7

Politics

PDP-Congress 9

Society

Relations 11

Report

US Elections 33

Nation

Fundamentalism 34North East 35

Neighbours

Pakistan 37Tibet 39Bhutan 41

Columns

Tareekh 43

Reviews

Books 45Movies 47

Report

Sports 49

Epilogue

From the Consulting Editor 50

Composite Dialogue

Number Game

Volume 2, Issue 5, May 2008

IN FOCUS

Searching Identities

Identity Formation : The J&K Story15

Gujjar Identity In Multicultural 21Mosaic Of J&K

60 Years Of Unattended Gripes 23

Gurjardesh Charitable Trust25

Dards Of Ladakh : A Neglected Fok31

Epilogue Ø × May 20081

For more News, Views & Analysis Log on to

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Searching Identities

LettersMail your letters to [email protected]

Epilogue Ø 2 × May 2008

M A I L B O X

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

M.S Swamitnathan has definitely put in The Vice President of India, made a

right perspective (Towards A Food Secure statement during his visits to

J&K, Ladakh : Epilogue April 208) the SKUAST-Kashmir that second Green

agriculture and horticulture potential of Revolution will start from J&K.

J&K State. But the concern still remain Although it seems a distant dream,

that with two apparently vibrant given the pace of developments in

agricultural universities in the state, the field of agriculture, but the

with tall claims of great strides made in analysis done by M.S.Swaminanthan

research, the effective transfer of and commitment expressed by the

technology to the field is still lacking. Vice-Chancellor of Agricultural

The extension education needs to be Universities (Epilogue : April 2006)

strengthened at Panchayat level apart raises a ray of hope if efforts are

from mobilizing Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s made in field to achieve this targets

and Research & Development activities. in a multi-layered approach

including the centrally sponsored

scheme as well.

VIKAS KHAJURIAProgressive Farmer,

Kalakote, Rajouri, J&K MOHIT SHARMAIMTIYAZ AHMEDAgriculture StudentBrain, Nishat, Srinagar

Solan, HP

Epilogue (April 2008) has given a unique With elections round the corner, 2008

analysis of Agriculture in field. It would seems to be a year of biographies (Book

have been more comprehensive with a Review : Epilogue April 2008) like last

detailed presentation of livestock year. Alongwith blaming former friends it

scenario, potential and challenges. would have been great if our leaders

J&K has a great potential of livestock admit their mistakes two. This will also

development but still majority of the serve the purpose to raise their

demands from livestock sector are met structure!!

from the imports from other states.

Livestock still remain a neglected lot in

Agriculture. ARUL SINGHJammu University, Jammu

Identities are essential to any State and and problems common. With a view to

are uncompromising ingredients of its bring the identities and their issues under

formation. It is often the issue of a larger debate for policy formulations, I

identities –national, regional, cultural am happy; our editorial board has

–which underlie major tensions in the decided to discuss them one by one. In

States. The encouragement of a singular the remaining seven months of this year

identity at the cost of others can and till middle of next year we have

eventually prove as a disintegrating planned to bring out at least four issues

factor for the States. This can be seen on identities. Our present issue discusses

happening in Jammu and Kashmir. This the identities and problems of Gujjars

troubled State, never at rest with itself and Dards. It was a careful decision to

and the Center, is a mosaic of pick up the marginal communities first as

multicultural identities. Unfortunately, a lot has already been written on the

beyond the boundaries of Jammu and dominant identities. The choice of

Kashmir, in India and rest of world, the discussing Gujjar identity in the present

identity or identities of this state are issue also makes sense as it coincides with

misunderstood and misconstrued. The the annual migration of this nomadic

best description of Jammu and Kashmir tribe from plains to the upper reaches.

in rest of the world is Kashmiri identity We are thankful to Mohammad Tajuddin

and Kashmiri nationalism. This is and Baljit S Mann of the Department of

something which India has always sought Political Science at the University of

eclipse under the national sovereignty. Jammu for allowing us to use excerpts

Therefore, in a tussle of Kashmiri from their well researched and recently

identity and Indian national sovereignty, published book “Politics of Identities in

at least for last 60 years, the multi- Jammu and Kashmir”. An article by

ethnic character of Jammu and Kashmir veteran journalist Balraj Puri, based on

has been loosing its place in the his personal experiences gives an insight

dominant political discourse. And this into the long drawn urge of Gujjars

precisely is a larger trouble in making if towards identity formation. Similarly, a

this is invisible to the policy makers at young Ladakhi researcher Tundup Palgias

present. As we understand that identity brings to the fore identity and issues of a

is sacrosanct to any individual, it little known tribe –Dards. Present issue is

becomes a more sensitive issue when an attempt towards generating an

extended to a group of individuals. As the understanding of identities and not a

State conveniently ignores all but one complete study into the subject. Our

identity, there is an internal competition subsequent special issues on other

leading to the clash of interests. Some of identities will also attempt to bring more

the well defined identities in Jammu and facets of the tribes being discussed in this

Kashmir are Kashmiri Muslims, Kashmiri issue.

Pandits, Gujjars, Paharis, Dogras and

Feedback : Ladakhi Buddhists. There are hardly two [email protected] which have their aspirations


EPILOGUE aims at providing a platform where a meaningful exchange of ideas, opinion and thoughts can take place among the people and about the people of Jammu & Kashmir. The attempt is to research, investigate, communicate and disseminate information, ideas and alternatives for the resolution of common problems facing the state and society of Jammu & Kashmir and in the context of their significance to South Asia as a whole.

We welcome contributions from academics, journalists, researches, economists and strategic thinkers. We would also like to encourage first-time writers with the only requirements being a concern for and the desire to understand the prevailing issues and themes of life in Jammu & Kashmir

Contributions may be investigate, descriptive, analytical or theorectical. They may be in the form of original articles or in the form of a comment on current events. All contributions have to be neatly types in double space and may be sent to the address given alongside or e-mailed to the editor.

While the editor accepts responsibility for the selection of the material published, individual authors are responsible for the facts, figures and viess ithe tier articles.

Identities Beyond Obvious

Zafar Choudhary


P R O L O G U E

FROM THE EDITOR


H E A R A N D H E A R

WHO SAID WHAT

Kashmir issue and holding elections not We lost opportunity when Pakistan was in full

interlinked. control of one man – General Parvez Musharaf. He

did not need to explain anything to anybody. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, APHC (M)

Today we are, if not starting from zero, we are

almost rewriting it.

Convert J&K Legislative Council into a Regional Omar Abdullah, on resolution of Kashmir Issue

Council with members from both the sides of

Kashmir.

Mehbooba Mufti, PDP When things were turbulent there, we were a

little warried… and therefore very vigilant on the

borders.I will suggest Yasin Malik Sahib to launch election

boycott campaign throughout the state on the line Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor on security situation in Pakistan of his Safar-e-Azadiviz-a-viz infiltration in J&K

S. Ali Shah Geelani, APHC(G)

My Visit to this place is not to assess Human Rights Centre, Pakistan responsible for turmoil in

violations but to observe and recommend on Jammu and Kashmir. Centre's discriminatory

religious belief, communal harmony, conversion policies contributed to destabilize the

laws and minorities in this part of the world.communal harmony in the state.

Asma Jehangir,Farooq Abdullah, NCChairperson Pakistan Human Rights Commission

Mujhe Garv Hai J&K Ki Mahilaayun Par…. They have all along fought very courageously during long turbulent period against violence, militancy.Sonia Gandhi at her Public Rally in Jammu

India-Pakistan will hold an important Islamabad. At that time, New Delhi was Minister and the idea is going to pick up

foreign ministerial meeting in Islamabad pressing Islamabad to take effective pace in recent days.

shortly. The meeting scheduled for May steps to curb cross-border terrorism and

21 will review the progress made by both Islamabad was pressing New Delhi for the On terrorism front, both the sides the countries in the fourth round of the demilitarisation in Jammu and Kashmir. launched a Joint Anti-Terrorism composite dialogue and set the agenda Mechanism (JATM) in 2006. The first for the fifth round. Before the ministerial As expected, the fourth round so far has meeting of the JATM was held around the meeting, Pakistani foreign secretary Riaz not made any substantial progress on the same time that the fourth round was Muhammad Khan will hold a review issue of Kashmir despite a number of launched in 2007. During that meeting, meeting on May 20 with his Indian CBMs that have been implemented. India had handed over the substantial counterpart Shiv Shankar Menon. The Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan evidence regarding the involvement of two sides had concluded talks under the Singh has expressed his commitment to various Pakistan-based terrorist fronts in fourth round in October last year itself. implement more CBMs in the Kashmir terrorist attacks in the country. The However for a long time the domestic valley including faster travel permits, second meeting was held later in the year situation in Pakistan had stalled new bus routes and trade relations across in October. Much has happened completion of this round. More the Line of Control. Recently, Pakistan domestically in Pakistan since then. The importantly, this will be the first-to-face People's Party leader Asif Ali Zardari had religious fundamentalists put up an open i n t e r a c t i on be tween t he two spoken of putting the issue of Kashmir on defiance of the federal authority in the g o v e r n m e n t s a f t e r t h e n e w backburner so that other aspects of the heart of Islamabad in Red Mosque. The democratically-elected government relationship can be focused upon. The assassination of Benazir Bhutto further came to power in Islamabad. The idea was considered path breaking in as added to the anti-terrorism momentum meeting between Pakistani foreign much as that it constituted break from in Islamabad. India is using the recent minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his the official Pakistani position for years spate of terrorist attacks in Pakistan in Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee is maintaining that without the forward harping the point that the terrorist expected to be a major landmark in the movement on the issue of Kashmir, no infrastructure remains intact in Pakistan. bilateral peace process. amount of CBMs will help to improve the

relations between two countries. Recently, both the sides exchanged notes The India-Pakistan composite dialogue Resolution of the core issue of Kashmir to strengthen cooperation against began in 2004 and constitutes one of the will be in Islamabad's view the biggest terrorism as a part of the 7th SAARC significant attempts by the both sides to CBM for the peace process. Coming as it conference on cooperation in police institutionalise the dialogue process was from one of the mainstream political matters. Both the countries have also after breakdown in the dialogue parties, however the idea was quickly discussed the idea of establishing a numerous times in the 1990s. Eight shot down by majority of the ruling elite. regional police agency on the lines of subjects are covered under the dialogue However, people on both the sides of Interpol as a part of wider SAARC efforts. which were identified in the 1998 format Kashmir are keen to see more CBMs being This will also help in analysing and for composite dialogue - including implemented. The People's Democratic monitoring narcotics trafficking and drug Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, security, the Party chief Mehbooba Mufti has already offences. Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation spoken of putting in place a “tangible

Project, trade and Confidence Building mechanism” for implementation of In March 2006 Dr. Singh had offered a Measures (CBMs). The fourth round of this various recommendations given by the treaty on “peace, friendship and dialogue was launched in March 2007 in working groups set up by the Prime security” to Pakistan in March 2006,

Four Rounds Of CompositeDialogue And One Problem

P E A C E P R O C E S S


COMPOSITE DIALOGUE

Sameer Suryakant Patil

where resolution of issues like Siachen On the security CBM front, no major has not necessarily turned into a

and Sir Creek was emphasised upon. Of CBM has been signed by both the nuclear flashpoint as expected by many

these two, on Siachen, both the sides are countries since signing an accord in western analysts.

stuck on their respective positions for a 2005 on the pre-notification of the

long while Sir Creek issue appears closer missile tests and announcing a Much has been achieved by both the sides to resolution. On Siachen, Pakistan has moratorium on nuclear testing. In in the fourth round of composite r e j e c ted I nd i a ' s c ond i t i on o f October 2007, both the sides held fifth dialogue. The fifth round will be held in authentication of troop positions in round of the expert level-talks on New Delhi and their schedule will be Siachen which has stalled any forward nuclear and missile relate CBMs. They decided following consultations. movement on the issue. On Sir Creek, However, much more can be done by way since commencing the composite of CBMs. Release of prisoners particularly dialogue in 2004, both the sides launched the Prisoners of War (POWs) and the joint survey of this disputed coastal fishermen by both the sides can create an strip of Gujarat coast in 2005. After the enormous goodwill among the people of completion of the joint survey, officials both the countries. Also early on both sides have noted that there has repatriation of the inadvertent border been a convergence to a great degree crossers can be considered. A joint among both the countries on the judicial committee on prisoners has delineation of the boundary. In fact, a already been set up by both the countries more pragmatic assessment tells that Sir to recommend steps for humane Creek is the only issue in the composite treatment and expeditious release of dialogue that can be considered as prisoners of the respective countries in 'doable'. each other's jails. Similarly the bilateral

visa regime can be made further flexible.

Driving the resolution of the issue is also Current processes to obtain visa for the

the obligation of both the countries nationals of both the countries are

under the UN Convention on the Law of cumbersome and complex. In fact the

the Sea (UNCLOS). The UNCLOS states current visa regime is one of the major

that if the maritime boundary disputes reasons why people-to-people contact

are not resolved by 2009 by all the between both the countries has not

signatory countries, they may be reached the level that it has the

declared as international waters. On potential.

trade front too the state of affairs is not

good. Recently, Indian commerce Hence liberalisation of that regime is minister Kamal Nath warned Pakistan to expected to be a major landmark in the reciprocate the concessions that India bilateral ties. Establishment of more had extended to Pakistan under the intense rail, air and bus links will also South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) bring people on both sides closer. The failing which India would be forced to new Pakistani government's view that a

have also agreed to continue forward withdraw the concessions given. Similar delayed resolution of Kashmir will not be with the four year-old ceasefire is the case with the Wullar Barrage/ allowed to hold hostage the rest of the agreement. A major CBM on nuclear Tulbul navigation project. Both the sides peace process offers glimpses of hope front will indeed create a more had held a meeting in June 2006 in that after sixty years of often conducive atmosphere for the bilateral Islamabad to discuss the issue but acrimonious and violent past, the two relationship and will also help both the nothing substantial occurred. More neighbours may be prepared to walk that countries to prove to the international importantly for both the sides is the extra mile to accommodate each others community that ten years after the Baglihar dam project in which they have concerns and lead an active co-nuclearisation of South Asia, the region locked their horns. existence.

In October 2007, both the sides

held fifth round of the expert

level-talks on nuclear and missile

relate CBMs. They have also

agreed to continue forward with

the four year-old ceasefire

agreement. A major CBM on

nuclear front will indeed create a

more conducive atmosphere for the

bilateral relationship and will

also help both the countries to

prove to the international

community that ten years after the

nuclearisation of South Asia, the

region has not necessarily turned

into a nuclear flashpoint as

expected by many western

analysts.

P E A C E P R O C E S S

COMPOSITE DIALOGUE


Viewed purely in terms of fatalities, the civilian fatalities (164 in 2007 as against recovered in the State through 2007.

conflict in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has 349 in 2006) and those of the militants

now crossed the threshold from a high- (492 in 2007 as against 599 in 2006), Diminished violence, however, does not intensity to a low-intensity level. For the there was only a marginal decrease in indicate a necessary decline in the first time since 1990 (when they were Security Force (SF) personnel killed (121 capacity for terrorism, and there are 1,177) fatalities in this terrorism- in 2007 as against 168 in 2006). clear indications that the infrastructure wracked State in 2007 – at 777 – fell below that supports and sustains the Kashmir the 'high intensity conflict' mark of a According to the Union Ministry of Home jihad remains intact in Pakistan. More thousand deaths. At their peak in 2001, Affairs, in 2007 (till November), the than 400 militants are reportedly fatalities had risen to 4,507. Evidently, number of militancy-related incidents stationed in launching pads in PoK, 2007 is a watershed year for J&K, was down by 33 per cent and that of ready to infiltrate through the Line of bringing tremendous respite to its civilians killed by 59 per cent and SF Control (LoC) to step up violence in the people. personnel by 28 per cent over the State, defence sources said on April 13,

corresponding period of the previous 2008. Official sources disclose that at

Figures for 2007 reconfirm the y e a r. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e J & K least 52 terrorist training camps are still

continuously declining trend of terrorist Government/J&K Police, there were operating, including 30 in Pakistan and

violence in the State since the peak of 1,054 incidents (till November 30) as Gilgit-Baltistan, and the rest in PoK. At

2001. According to data compiled by the against 1,667 in 2006. Over 4,000 illegal least one-third of these camps are

Institute for Conflict Management, the weapons, including AK-47 rifles, known to be "fully active" at any given

fatality index in 2007 decreased by 30.38 pistols/revolvers, UMGs/LMGs, rocket point of time. In an attempt to counter

percent in comparison to 2006. While launchers/boosters and huge quantities infiltration along the India-Pakistan

there was a substantial decrease in of ammunition and explosives/IEDs were border in the summer, the Army has

moved units from the counter-

insurgency grid to areas along the LoC.

"We have deployed additional troops

along the border- line with Pakistan in

order to stop cross-border infiltration

into Jammu and Kashmir," General

Officer Commander (16 Corps), Lt Gen R

K Karwal, told reporters in Jammu on

April 9, 2008. As the snow melts away

during summer, the attempts of

infiltration go up along the LoC, he said,

adding in order to achieve zero-

infiltration results, additional army units

have been deployed along the border

for the purpose. "Summers are always

hot for infiltration and as of now the

infiltration is near to zero level," he

informed. Furthermore, security

agencies believe that current militant

activity is also considerably linked to

the mainstream political scenario, with

Comparative Fatalities in J&K, 2001-2008

* Data till April 23, 2008Source: South Asia Terrorism Portal database

Dr Kanchan Lakshman

Cross Border Terrorism : What Do The Numbers Reveal ?


S E C U R I T Y

NUMBER GAME

the forthcoming Legislative Assembly instance, radio messages and phone calls militant operations, to secure a stronger

elections. across the LoC indicated that militants, position at the negotiating table and

preparing for a winter stay in the Kashmir achieve what has not been possible on

Valley, were a worried lot with the the ground through terrorism alone. The decrease in levels of violence in J&K declaration of the Emergency in Even as the troops continue to engage is not due to any change in Pakistani Pakistan. Communication intercepts by the terrorists, Indian Army sources claim intent, but is rather the consequence of Indian intelligence agencies brought out that, with the increasing turmoil in "changes in capacities and compulsions in the "uncertainty and confusion" among Pakistan, 'sleeper' terrorist cells in J&K Pakistan." The multiplicity of crises in militants who rely heavily on logistical have been progressively activated and Pakistan has diluted Islamabad's support from their handlers in Pakistan. there is a possibility of a gradual upsurge capacities to sustain past levels of Their immediate anxiety, during that in violence over the coming months. terrorism in J&K – "particularly since a

Intelligence sources suggest that militant large proportion of troops had to be groups could raise the stakes in an pulled back from the Line of Control election year in J&K. (LoC) and the international border for

deployment in increasingly violent

theatres in Balochistan, NWFP [North The proximity of elections has also

West Frontier Province] and the FATA brought enormous political pressure to

[Federally Administered Tribal Areas]… bear on the populist issue of a troop cut in

Pakistan's creeping implosion has the State, but the Army insists that the

undermined the establishment's situation is far from conducive to such a

capabilities to sustain the 'proxy war' measure. Indeed, the ratio of troops in

against India at earlier levels." On a more J&K is far below the troops-civilian ratio

general level, the secular decline in in violence-afflicted Waziristan in

violence witnessed since September Pakistan or even in Chinese occupied

2001 can be attributed to Pakistan's Tibet. The J&K Governor, Lt. Gen. (Retd)

compulsions arising out of its domestic S K Sinha, noted, on January 25, 2008,

difficulties, the ongoing peace process, the eve of Republic Day, that "The ratio of

the American and international pressure deployment of troops, Army and

on Islamabad and the successes of the paramilitary, to population in the region,

counter-insurgency grid in J&K. excluding militancy-free Ladakh, is 1:40.

This is less than 1:37 in Waziristan and particular period, was whether the 1:28 in Tibet." supply lines would continue. Intelligence Official sources indicate that the ratio of

officials disclosed, "The militants are SFs to terrorists killed has seen an

currently in a state of confusion about upward trend from 1:3.6 in 2006 to 1:4.3 The gains of 2007 must not lead to

the developments across the border. in 2007. This is a clear indication that the complacency. Pakistan's intentions

Even their handlers are not clear how counter-insurgency grid is working well remain unchanged; its terrorist reserves

things will shape in the future." in J&K, and that any review of troop are intact; Islamist terrorist groups have

deployment at this juncture – a populist established some autonomous capacities

issue in the State – would fritter away the for operation, independent of Pakistani Within J&K, Islamabad is also attempting gains made by the SFs. state agencies; and the South Asia and to raise a united political voice in its

wider Asian region teeters on the brink of favour. To this end, it is attempting to spiralling instability. Despite a significant engineer unity among various pro-The unstable domestic scenario in and continuous decline in terrorist Pakistan groups, including the two Pakistan has had an impact on the violence over the years, the centrestage, factions of the main secessionist Kashmir jihad, though it has not led to however, is yet to be vacated by the formation, the All Parties Hurriyat any change in the intent or the shadow of militancy in J&K.Conference (APHC). The objective infrastructure that orchestrates

appears to be to gradually transform the violence. There is, nonetheless, a

predominantly militant movement into a definite pause. The momentary waning

more wide-based movement of political in intensity has led to some confusion

extremism, backed by calibrated within the jihadi rank and file. For

DR KANCHAN LAKSHMAN

Research Fellow, Institute for Conflict

Management


S E C U R I T Y

NUMBER GAME

Diminished violence, however,

does not indicate a necessary

decline in the capacity for

terrorism, and there are clear

indications that the infrastructure

that supports and sustains the

Kashmir jihad remains intact in

Pakistan. More than 400

militants are reportedly stationed

in launching pads in PoK

Possible alliances the natural allies.

Congress, though, has no problems in “PDP and Congress as natural ally” may

making alliances with either National sound ludicrous to all those who have

Conference or the Peoples Democratic seen both parties competing against Party as far as its contested turfs and other in government and washing their ideological linkages are concerned but dirty linen in the public over past three to having a power partnership with the four years. At least at half a dozen former may revive Congress' old bad occasions these years the state identity in Kashmir –the killer of government appeared falling anytime democracy. In such a scenario both owing to the deepening differences parties run the risk of getting trounced between the Congress and the Peoples for their shady partnership of the past. Democratic Party. Their internal troubles History is witness to the fact that was the

reached a point of no return in March last infamous Congress-National Conference

year when Ministers from the Peoples alliance of 1986-87 popularly known as

Democratic Party refused to attend Rajiv-Farooq accord which denied

meetings of the state cabinet demanding people the genuine democratic space in

that the demilitarization issue should be 1987 assembly elections and set into the

listed first for discussion. This was not motion a process of deeper dissent which

acceptable to the Congress. Prime later took shape of armed rebellion.

Minister Dr Manmohan Singh intervened “The National Conference and Congress

to resolve the crisis by announcing an may even visit Ka'aba with remorse or expert panel to examine the issue. PDP wash their sins at Ganga but Kashmir celebrated its victory in Kashmir saying Valley will continue to doubt their that the demand of demilitarization intentions if they join hands again”, says –close to the heart of Kashmiris –has been a political observer. In a scenario, when acceded to. At the same time, the think tanks of the parties are convinced Congress convinced its constituency in that none of them is in a position to form J a m m u – n o t i n t e r e s t e d i n the next government at their own, the

demilitarization politics –that it resisted present ruling partners –the PDP and the

the demanded and therefore it was not Congress –are considering themselves as

Zafar Choudhary

Intelligent Coalition

PDP-Congress Wrestle Strengthening Their Muscles

P O L I T I C S


PDP - CONGRESS

This is election year in Jammu and Kashmir and parties are coining innovations to secure their footholds. As the coalition

culture promises to stay here for a longer while, no party appears headed for a clear majority in the forthcoming elections.

Therefore, the choices of an arrangement for forming next government have to be between two of three major political parties

–the Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party and the National Conference. For their history, genesis and competition for

survival on the same turf, the possibility of having an alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the National

Conference is like having the one between Bhartiya Janta Party and the Congress at Center. Hence, no possibility at all even

though nothing can be ruled in or out in politics. With no scope of a power partnership, none of these parties –PDP and NC –are in

a position to form the government at their own. The third major player, the Congress, therefore, could have been seen with a

flexibility of choosing partners with wider scope of negotiations but its past limits its actions for the future.

accepted out-rightly. It was a win-win (women) convention of the party. The during her visit to Pakistan, suggested a

situation for both. This is how the occasion marked the formal launch of the joint senate and thus a more or less joint

political intelligence in the Congress and election campaign. She asked her control of India and Pakistan on Jammu

the PDP is working to strengthen their audience, including those not present at and Kashmir. Such emotional slogans

respective constituencies. the venue, to vote for the Congress based have always worked well in Kashmir and

on its performance on two fronts there is no surprise that the Mufti's

Jammu v/s Kashmir –development and security. The word catchphrase is picking up well in the

'coalition' was conspicuously missing Valley. On the contrary, except for few

from Sonia's 14 minute long speech. This districts, in majority of Jammu region The political discourse in Jammu

was the first time ever since November almost every day is marked with protests province and Kashmir province of the

2002 when PDP and Congress formed the and demonstration against the PDP state has always behaved differently.

ruling alliance that the Congress high leaders and burning of effigies of its Pick up an issue and treat it contrarily, it

command spoke of only 'Congress'. Even leaders for proposing dual currency. This will help in both region. Same treatment

though the partners in J&K continued to perhaps what the PDP campaign to one issue in both regions may help in

fight with each other but the central strategists had wanted. Such protests in one and backfire in other. Over the years

leadership would always talk about the Jammu are paying the party well in these political differences have only

coalition and not the parties. Sonia's Valley. And when Congress takes sharpened. To placate his Jammu

message obvious: her party has nothing exception to these proposals, it constituency, Farooq Abdullah of

to do with the PDP in next elections. appropriates its role in the 'nationalist' National Conference would often call for

Sonia is back to Delhi but the Congress bastion of Jammu which has always been bombing militant bases in Pakistan

leaders here instead of selling sought to be conquered by the BJP. administered Kashmir and putting

development to the people are engaged separatists behind jails. He had to pay a

in a single point campaign –against heavy price in the Valley as even his son No one knows that happens to the

Peoples Democratic Party and the Muftis and party president Omar Abdullah had currency after November this year, when

–father daughter duo. to loose his seat at the family's pocket- the assembly elections are over and new

borough Ganderbal in 2002 assembly government is in place, but the wrestle

elections. Note this! between PDP and the Congress is giving

When differences are so sharp, it will be

fool enough to believe that the Peoples

Democratic Party and Congress contest

the forthcoming assembly elections

together. In Kashmir Valley, the Congress

is seen as the unwelcome arm of New

Delhi and Jammu, the PDP is perceived as

yet another separatist party or more

precisely as Pakistan Peoples Party's

Kashmir unit. Therefore, if they are

serious about forming the next

government together, they will have to

contest the next elections separately and both parties much desired foothold in the The Peoples Democratic Party is a step

strongly against each other. This target constituencies. farther. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed stirred

precisely is what the intelligent allies are a hornet's nest earlier this month

preparing to do. proposing the use of Pakistani currency in After elections, it would not be surprising

Kashmir and the Indian currency on other when both parties declare themselves as

The Congress president Sonia Gandhi was side. His proposal comes shortly after natural allies, pool their seats and stake

in Jammu on April 12 to address a Mahila daughter and party president Mehbooba, claim for governmental formation.

PDP - CONGRESS


P O L I T I C S

One of the most astounding things that

shock any young lawyer who joins the bar

is the burgeoning number of the

matrimonial disputes that are being

fought in the local courts of Jammu and

its surrounding periphery. The situation is

so rotten that it takes a while to come to

terms with it, in the sense that these

cases fought bitterly are happening to

the persons you know from your own

neighborhood or otherwise and never

knew what they are going through.

The condition has deteriorated to such an

extent that a special court has been set

up that deals only with cases involving

spousal disputes. The Matrimonial Court

in Jammu hears almost 50 to 60 cases

every day and the total number of cases

per year is anybody's guess. However, the even a fresh pass out from any law school in the public and making fun of each

story also does not end here and almost can make out what the clichéd cavil other is not only futile but also

same numbers of cases of the spousal complaints will be. The divorce petitions uncivilized and disparaging decency.

nature get transferred to other judges, or those for maintenance, restitution of

as the load is too much for a single court conjugal rights, and the most dreaded The course that a man or a woman takes to handle. section of IPC the 498A are some of the in the court is both expected as well as

most common litigations haunting the dull. Whenever a women separates, she adverse parties. The irony in these cases Any body that sees so many young girls at the first instance files for maintenance is the fact that these complaints are not and guys coming out the matrimonial and the husband when he is sure that she only mechanically written but the even court is stunned because it is hard to will not come back files for restitution of the sordid contents of the different believe that this is happening in Jammu conjugal rights, which is only to avoid parties resemble each other.and that too to Dogras who have a giving her the claimed maintenance. If

pristine glory of a compelling superior the husband later files for divorce his t r a d i t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d . T h e It takes only a while to stand in the court wife then files a complaint under the indiscriminate disease of divorce has and listening to the allegations and section 498A.spread across the hierarchy of socio- counter allegations between the parties economic status. You will see a woman to realize how blood thirsty the people The general tendency then is to involve Professor of Jammu and a wife of fourth- become in these litigations. Many of the all the relatives of the husband whom she class peon sitting next to each other and times, the parties physically fight, swear can think of, in the case of dowry leveling the same accusations against abuses, and call names in the open court harassment. It is a very common scene in their estranged husbands. and that too before the Judge. The the courts when almost 15 to 20 relatives

emotional theatrics and temper is of the husband are arrayed as accuseds sometimes higher than even the cases The anatomy of these cases without and brought before the Judge. The poor involving murder. Washing dirty laundry prejudice to anybody is the same and relatives then have to seek bail and

Unhappy Ending!Divorce Cases On Rise In Jammu


S O C I E T Y

RELATIONS

Anmol Sharma

appear before the judge at every date. made such an agreement with a famous King.

Until the recent past, Indians and more particularly Jammuites Another important thing white people do when they sense their

used to censure westerners for their fickle marriages and marriage is on the rocks is to undergo long counseling sessions. In

breakups but it is undisputable fact that we have now degraded India, the Matrimonial Judge tries to reconcile the litigating

ourselves more as far as public etiquettes and decency is parties and sits as a counselor, but the fact is that he is one of the

concerned. By dragging into the court some 80-year-old distant most overburdened persons around and cannot possibly take time

Uncle of her husband who might not have even attended the out for each party coming to the court and moreover he is also not

marriage ceremony of his nephew or claiming in the open court a professionally trained one.

in front of 20 people that his wife is leading an adulterous life is

diabolical and disappointing. Therefore, the only hope is that one day few bright people will

try to mend the system and start a discourse to analyze the

The husband's lawyer is also sometimes seen to ask the wife so situation from the real perspective. The real responsibility

tough and reckless questions that the woman weeps bitterly in ultimately rests with the man and the woman. It must be

front of the Judge. The situation is ugly and must be addressed realized by them that mere mud slinging will achieve nothing

soon. There are a few young girls also in their late 20's who have for them as Helen Rowland the famous American writer said,

filed so many cases against their in-laws that they almost come “When two people decide to get a divorce, it isn't a sign that

daily to the court and are all day over there. For them it has they “don't understand” one another, but a sign that they have,

become a sort of sole purpose in life to see punishment at last begun to.”

delivered to their husbands.

The biggest disadvantage, however, in these cases according to

some of the senior lawyers is the long recourse that it takes to

redress the problem. When asked about the prospect of these

cases they remark that it is only in the beginning that the

parties are peevishly impatient and spill venom and after

realizing the futility because of the unnecessary delays in the

judicial decision ultimately come to the table and settle their

disputes. This fact is corroborated by facts as the number of

cases, which see the day of conclusion by the court is

negligible.

The attitude of the police in these tribulations has also

compounded the problems than solved them. Khaki clad Police

with colonial hangover creates havoc in this delicate and

personal problem. Women cell, which is one of the dirtiest

police stations in the town with broken chairs and tattered

walls, is also alleged to be a den of corruption. Police is ill

trained to handle Matrimonial disputes with no special training

or expertise. The death by torture of one person by the Police

walas a few days back has also exposed the style of

“investigation” that they do.

The light at the end of the tunnel is therefore is the way

westerners have adopted. It is routine for them to sign a pre-

nuptial agreement, which is clothed with legal sanctity. Our

law however does not recognize a pre-nup agreement, which is

a big handicap. However, it is necessary to mention that pre-

nuptial agreement comes in the most scared scripture of

Hindus, Srimad Bhagavatam, where Heavenly damsel Urvashi


S O C I E T Y

RELATIONS

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Sd/-Assistant Registrar (Academic Affairs)

Despite the fact that identity of state Although the state was having Muslim

started taking shape during colonial majority followed by a substantive

period in Jammu & Kashmir a Muslim Hindu minority and other minor

majority state, ruled by the Hindu Dogra minorities like Buddhists and Sikhs. It

Hari Singh, the religion could not had proved more conducive for the

become the password of its identity. construction of secular. plural and

Rather the oppressive rule of the king shared identity of the state, however

created a conducive environment for today the position is reverse. Third, the

blurring the boundaries among the farsighted political leadership of the

different religious, linguistic and ethnic state also contributed in this regard.

communities in the state and thereby

constructed the secular and plural However, the protest against the identity of the state. Neither religion oppressive rule of the Hindu Dogra ruler nor ethnicity was given much space in of the state, was articulated by the the politics of Jammu & Kashmir, Muslim Conference under the leadership despite this fact that there was of Sheikh Abdullah, but thereafter he potential for communal and ethnic realized that the movement in its conflict. The identity of state at that present form will convey the wrong time was neither communal nor ethnic, message and it will also shrink its base, if rather it was secular, shared and be pursued in its present form. Since the inclusive. It was multiple, multi- agenda of the Muslim Conference was layered, plural, open and flexible. neither communal nor sectarian,

therefore, it changed its name from

There were three factors responsible for Muslim Conference to All Jammu &

the construction of secular and plural Kashmir National Conference. That was

identity of the state. First, the a significant transformation in the

oppressive rule of the king, the Muslim Conference from within, which

hereditary ruler of the state promoted played very crucial role to construct the

the landlord aristocratic class and secu lar, p lura l , inc lus ive and

marginalized the peasant class. Second, multilayered identity of the state. On

the multi-cultural universe of the state October 5, 1947, addressing a mammoth

had a lso contr ibuted for the gathering of one lath people in Iqbal Park

construction of secular identity. in Srinagar, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir a state with clear-cut Muslim majority refused to join Pakistan when the Indian sub-continent was

portioned on the communal lines. Not only the maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of princely state took this decision but also the

leader of the popular movement against the imperial rule of the Maharaja led by the National Conference under the leadership

of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah refused to subscribe to the ideology of Mohammad Ali Jinnah and endorsed the decision of the

king. Initially its decision neither to join Hindu majority secular India nor Muslim majority Pakistan, implied its quest for

independent National identity. Of course later on circumstances forced it to joint Indian Union through instrument of accession

on October 22, 1947. Even thereafter, its desire for separate national identity did not exhaust. The contemporary scenario

indicates that the secular and plural identity of Jammu and Kashmir has transformed from within. Today the construction of

identities on the communal, ethnic and regional basis has become the dominant political discourse in the state.

Baljit S. Mann

Identity Formation :The J&K Story

?


I N F O C U S

SEARCHING IDENTITIES

declared that: “In Kashmir, we want a Kashmir Valley. This development The transfer of power from a Hindu Dogra

peoples' government, which will give brought a qualitative shift in the power King from Jammu to a Kashmiri Muslim

equal rights and equal opportunities to structure of the state on three counts: leader, Sheikh Abdullah from Valley

all, irrespective of caste and creed. It shifted the locale of power from Jammu conveyed a wrong message to the Dogra

will be joint government of the Hindus, region to Kashmir Valley; changed the H i ndu s o f J ammu. F r om th i s the Sikhs and the Muslims. That is what I power equation between the two major development, it was inferred that they am fighting for”. religious and ethnic communities; are the part of Hindu majority secular

shifted the balance of power in favour of India but within their own state being a Kashmiri ethnic community, whereas, minority, are ruled by the Muslims who Quest for identityearlier it was in favour of Dogra ethnic happened to be in majority in Jammu & community. Above all it shifted the Kashmir but minority in India. The main In the post colonial period, though power from the hands of minority to that factor, they identified for this situation Jammu and Kashmir it joined Indian of majority. was the special status of the state. Union under unavoidable circumstances

However, this diagnose was neither but its desire for separate identity Sheikh Abdullah wanted the entire state correct nor appropriate. The more remained intact. In order to fulfill its to have a separate identity and to be convincing factor could be the electoral thrust for identity, it had also been able ruled by the Valley, wherein the majority politics because in the electoral politics to strike a deal with the Indian state. It population resided. Jammu was opposed the majority tends to rule. Consequently, did not join India like other princely to both and Abdullah could not live there was a demand for full integration states but as a special category state. without Jammu. Initially in continuation of Jammu & Kashmir with the Indian The special status granted to the state to past tradition, the nationalism and Union, which was raised by the Hindu under Article 370 of the Indian secularism were the defining criterion of nationalists from the Jammu region and Constitution became the password of its identity- although the state was having joined by the Hindu nationalists from the spec political identity. The separate clear cut Muslim majority and ruled by other parts of India. political identity of the state was the Kashmiri Muslim leader Sheikh instituted through separate constitution Abdullah. The ruling elite could not have and flag besides many other icons of Their logic was being full- fledged part of afforded to construct the identity of identity. At that time, its desire for Hindu majority but secular India, they state either on the basis of religion or identity was neither re1igiou ethnic but will not be ruled by the Muslims, and ethnicity. Reason being it was not of course, it was more pragmatic, rather, they will be the part of ruling possible for it to keep three ethnically political and secular. While addressing majority. It can be argued that the Dogra distinct parts of the state alongwith. the United Nations Security Council on Hindu of Jammu could not reconcile with Jammu and Kashmir has three ethnically February 6, 1948, Sheikh Abdullah stated the end of the Dogra rule in the state. separable but geographically contiguous that: “I and my organization never Consequently, a popular movement regions- a Dogra Hindu majority Jammu; believed in the formula that Muslims and against Sheikh Abdullah, the ruler of a Kashmiri Muslim majority Valley and a Hindus form separate nations. We did not state was led by a Hindu Regional Party, Tibetan Buddhist majority Ladakh. If the believe in the two-nation theory, not in the Praja Parishad from Jammu, which state nationalism is to be based on communalism or communalism itself... was also joined by the Jan Sangh, the Kashmiri ethnicity then it was not we believed that religion had no place in leading Hindu Nationalists Party in Delhi possible to keep Hindu Dogras from politics”. in 1 952. This is how the process of Jammu and Buddhists from Ladakh

construction of regional, communal and within the state. Therefore an attempt The pressure of popular movement led by ethnic identities was set in motion. was made to construct the identity of the All Jammu and Kashmir National

state on the basis of secularism and the Conference had not only forced the king

How should the state of Jammu and Urdu language. Although this attempt of to hand over power to the leadership of

Kashmir define its identity after the the state could not yield desired fruit. this movement but also shifted the

articulation of Hindu nationalism from The change of locale as well as power center of political power from Jammu to

Jammu alongwith the support of Hindu equation in the state provided an Kashmir Valley. The Maharaja belonged

outfits operating at national level, was a opportunity to the regional, communal to Jammu province, whereas, the leader

huge question to deal with. However, the and ethnic forces to construct the of the popular movement to whom he

state under the leadership of Sheikh identities on the basis of ascriptive handed over power hailed from the

affiliations. Abdullah tried to construct the national


I N F O C U S


identity of the state on the basis of sharpening the ascriptive identities. The the Kashmiri Muslims that India does not

secularism and the Urdu language but process of shaping the Hindu identity in want to protect the separate political

within the framework of pluralism, which Jammu as well as the articulation of identity of the state, which was very dear

believes in peaceful co-existence but is Hindu nationalism at the national level to the survival and progress of the

also hierarchical in nature. This scenario had not only worried the Sheikh Abdullah Kashmiri Muslim identity in the secular

has resulted into the sharpening of but also the Indian secularists about the but Hindu majority India. It was a breach

communal, ethnic and regional identities future of Indian secularism. of trust between the Kashmiri Muslims

in the state when the Dogra Hindu and the Indian state. The articulation of

identity was constructed not only on the Hindu nationalism from Jammu and the The politics set in motion created a basis of Hindu nationalism but it also response of Hindu nationalists thereof at critical mass that had led to the collapse became very angular to the Kashmiri the national level put a big question mark of secular, shared, and the plural identity Muslim identity. The articulation of the on the longevity of Indian secularism and of the state, which Sheikh Mohammad former against the latter created a the future of Indian secular identity as Abdullah constructed during the colonial context of mutual acrimony, distrust and well. It was an issue of major concern for period and tried to retain and suspicion within the state. them because the secular credential of consolidate it in the post-colonial period

Indian national identity was compatible as well under the special status granted with the secular identity of the state, At that time, Indian state was also very to the state through Article 370 of the which Sheikh Abdullah tried to construct. fascinated with its project of nation Indian Constitution. Sheikh Abdullah the This development had opened the building and national integration in order icon of national identity of state argued pandora's box regarding the politics of to construct the national identity There that the special status is pre-requisite for identities in the state besides was convergence of agenda of the Indian the identity of state, whereas, the Hindu transforming the dialogical relations state and the Dogra Hindu identity from nationalists from Jammu thought that it between India's national identity and the Jammu, which resulted into the politics was detrimental to their identity. To be Kashmiri Muslim identity. of identities within the state on the one more precise the Kashmiri Muslims were

hand and created the distrust between convinced that special status is required

the Indian state and the Kashmiri Muslim for the security of their identity. Indian Maneuver and Seikh Abdullah’s

identity on the other and thereby also response

sharpened the Kashmiri Muslim identity. Both the identities Kashmiri Muslim and

Dogra Hindu having ethnic and regional Since Indian state started intriguing with

The process of socio-economic change connotation have been indulging into the special status of the state by

initiated by Sheikh Abdullah in the form binary politics on the issue of special responding to the demand of Hindu

of Land Reforms further aggravated the status. The bonds of the Hindu identity nationalists from Jammu, Sheikh

situation and sharpened the identity from Jammu are very strong with the Abdullah started hobnobbing with the

politics in the state because the majority larger Hindu majority identity of India. international community for the purpose

of the big landlords in Kashmir were That is why, the Hindu nationalists from of establishing the independent national

Hindus and the majority of peasants were Jammu are asking for the full integration identity of the state. Although Indian

Muslims. The economic power of the of Jammu and Kashmir into the Indian state had been able to constant a

Dogra (Hindu) landlards had been Union. This move was indirectly constituency within the National seriously undermined in 1951 by the Big supported by the Indian state, when it Conference, which was advocating the Landed Estates Abolition Act, which had started the process of eroding the special full integration of the state with Indian provided for the confiscation of large status of the state. The process was set in Union- but thereby the bad politics was landholdings without compensation and motion with the dissolution of popular set in motion to fulfill the vested for the transfer of land to the tillers. The government, formation of puppet interest, which has proved counter Hindu nationalists interpreted it as an government in the state and the arrest of productive in the long run. For the attempt to marginalize the Hindu the Sheikh Abdullah, the most popular majority of Kashmiri Muslims, Kashmiri identity not only in the politics but also in leader amongst the Kashmiri Muslims and identity and the special status of the the economy of the state. The changing also the champion of nationalism and the state were inseparable, whereas for the dynamism of political and socio- shared identity apart from advocating Hindu nationalists from Jammu, the economic power in the state further the special status for the state. This special status was detrimental to their aggravated/accelerated the process of development conveyed the message to identity. The kind of politics pursued in


I N F O C U S


the post Sheikh Abdullah period further secularism. Communalism has become fight with each other on the one hand and

accelerated the politics of identities not the main mode of defining, constructing also used to have matrimonial alliances

only between the Indian state and and sharpening the identities within the between the Shia and Ladakhi ruling

Jammu & Kashmir but also within the valley. The angularity between the houses.

state and further within every region of Kashmir Muslim and Kashmir Pandit

the state. identities became so sharp that it Since the last one and half decade, the resulted into the exodus of the latter peace is at stake and its shared cultural from the valley. The exodus of Kashmiri Within the Jammu region, the process to identity is on the collision course. A brief Pandits from the valley has further construct the Gujjar Muslim identity was survey of the contemporary scenario of transformed the Kashmiri identity from set in motion, which resulted into the Ladakh has presented the reverse story within- from a shared, multi-layered, construction of the third largest identity of the past. Like the other regions of the secular and plural identity to a sharp, of the state after the Kashmiri Muslims state, Ladakh has been suffering from angular and communal. The moderate and the Dogra Hindu identity. It was the polarization on ethnic and communal center of the Kashmiri identity primarily constructed to counter lines. The recent communal violence has collapsed- and the extremist center of Kashmiri Muslim identity by articulating further accelerated this process. The the same became pro-active. Thereby that the Kashmiri Muslims are not the communal harmony and shared culture the shared Kashmiri identity became sole representatives of the entire Muslim has become the main casualty of the binary from within and inter-communal community from the state. The Gujjar same. The whole Ladakhi identity has dialogue was replaced by the inter-Muslims do not approve the secessionist transformed from within- from a multi-communal deadlock. However, the demand, which has been raised by some layered to a binary identity. This scenario Kashmiri Muslim identity is small in size Kashmiri Muslims from the Kashmir valley leads to a basic question that why the but still there are diverse layers within it since 1990s. They argued that they are shared culture of Ladakh has become like moderate and extremist. happy with the Indian State. The Gujjars more angular and sharp?

are predominantly nomadic Muslim Tribe

who form the third largest community in Assertion of Ladakh In order to find the answer of this and the state. However, the construction of related questions, there is need to Gujjar identity has resulted into shaping Although, insignificant in the politics of examine the political process, which was the Pahari identity from the Poonch and Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh constitutes pursued in the post- colonial period. The Rajouri districts of the Jammu region. the two-third of its total landmass and political process unfolded in the state as

three per cent of its population. It has well as in the region has led to a situation

The forced displacement of the Kashmiri always been known for peace and in which the religions and cultural

Pandit community presents a classic case composite cultural identity. However, identities have become sharp. The

of ethnic-religious cleansing, which not the consciousness of adhering to politicization of religious and cultural

only sharpened the existing communal different religious systems remained differences marginalized the shared and

and ethnic identities within the state and strong, but the Buddhists and Muslims in multi-layered nature of Ladakhi identity

region but also constructed some new. Ladakh shared a common cultural Due to their numerical strength, the

For instance, the construction of identity. Both speak the Ladakhi Muslims established their hold on the

Kashmiri Pandit identity and its language and wore the same dress with politics, administration and the economy

angularity with the Kashmiri Muslim minor variations. The composite culture of the state. In Ladakh, the Buddhists

identity had become sharper. This has not used to blur the religious boundaries and have been in majority and the Muslims

only marginalized the shared, secular thereby created more space for shared are a substantive minority Although, the

part of the Kashmiriat but it has also and plural identity of the region. At the former is a micro-scophic majority,

jeopardized the plural, multiple and peoples' level, it is common to find whereas, the latter is micro-scophic

multi-layered part of Kashmiri culture. numerous families in Leh, which is a minority but macro-scophic majority in

The shared culture used to be the Buddhist majority district with Buddhist the overall politics of the state. Being

password of Kashmiri identity has and Muslims members. Of course, there micro-scophic minority in Ladakh and

become the major casualty; Now the used to be love hate relationship macro-scophic majority in the state,

password of Kashmiri identities both between the Ladakhi Buddhist Kings and Muslims have always enjoyed the

Muslim and Hindu is neither the Sh ia Mus l im ru lers of var ious privileged position in the politics,

Kashmiriat nor shared culture or principalities in Baltisan. They used to administration and economy of the


I N F O C U S


Ladakh. Despite this fact that the plural identity to a binary identity. The Leh, which means that in few decades

Buddhists are majority in the region, but ruling elite exploited the religious the Buddhists would come in minority in

differences to deal with political Ladakh the militancy in the valley and its still the balance of power is tilted in

problems, which marginalized the inter- impact on the overall political scenario favour of the Muslims. The formers were

religion dialogue and also made the of the state. The above-mentioned discriminated against and the region was composite culture of Ladakh angular account created the environment of neglected while allocating funds and from within. suspicion, distrust and acrimony projects by the state government.

between the two religious communities

of Ladakh. The marginalization of The binary identity politics emerged as a The Buddhists did not only protest communal harmony resulted into the dominant discourse in the politics of against the discrimination meted out to deadlock between the two communities them by the rulers from the Kashmir when the complete economic and social valley but they also started articulating boycott of Muslims by the Buddhists was their cause vis-à-vis the Kashmiri Muslim imposed in 1989. However, initially the rulers. The politics set in motion in the boycott was directed at the Kashmiri state as well as in Ladakh has generated a Muslims, who controlled the local critical mass, which is responsible for the administration as well as Ladakhi Sunni politics of identities. Being a Buddhist Muslims, who dominated the economy of majority area, Ladakh did not reconcile Leh town and who were seen as Kashmiri with the Kashmiri dominance in its power agents opposing to the Buddhist demand structure and raised the demand of Union for autonomy. The Balti Shias were later Territory status for Ladakh in order to also included after they made common protect its identity. Although, the cause with the Sunnis. This deadlock was Kashmiri Muslims have always been resolved in 1992 when the government of asking for more autonomy from the Union India convinced the Ladakh Buddhist of India but they were not ready to give Association that it would not consider its autonomy to the Ladakh region, which is demand if it carried on with the boycott geographically and physically the part of With the intervention of Indian state, the the state but culturally a poll apart.Leh Autonomous Hill Council was set-up

providing the Leh district with Instead of responding to the demand of considerable internal autonomy. It was the Ladakhi Buddhists honestly, the short of Ladakhi Buddhists demand of UT rulers from the valley started playing the status Ladakh- because the Ladakhi politics of identity Sheikh Abdullah Muslims opposed the demand for fear of applied the principle of divide and rule to being dominated by the more advanced the Ladakhi situation. The demographic Buddhists. Ladakhi Muslims do not wish structure of Ladakh provided the to separate Ladakh from the Muslim conducive environment for the same. majority state of Jammu and Kashmir. The numerical difference between the

Buddhist majority and Muslim minority is The Ladakhi Muslim identity is unique in not very vast. Two subregions of Ladakh itself. It is primarily concentrated in the Ladakh in which the others' of Ladakhi Leh and Kargil are having the Kargil district of Ladakh and having Buddhist identity used to enjoy the state concentration of the Buddhists and the different shades and layers. Although patronage: This situation of Ladakh has Muslims respectively. Exploiting that small in its size but it is plural in furthered increased the insecurity of the demographic profile of the region, the composition and complexion. It is having Buddhist Ladakhi identity, which has Kargil Muslim identity was constructed to two sects: Shias and Sunnis within its always been remained under the counter the Buddhists demand for the fold, however, the majority is Shias. The

constant threat to its survival and Union Territory for the Ladakh. By Shia Muslims have strong cultural

progress on three counts: Kashmir's constructing the immediate other of the boundswith the Ladakhi Buddhists than

demand for independence and merger Ladakhi Buddhist identity, the state has the Kashmiri Muslims. They do not

with Pakistan; population growth in the transformed the Ladakhi shared identity support the secessionist demand of the

Kargil is considerably higher than in the from within - from a multi-layered and


I N F O C U S


In every region of the state, there

is the politics of one dominant

identity vis-à-vis the other

dominated identities. Therefore,

every region of the state is

characterized by the politics of

dominant and dominated

identities. The dominant identity

has always tried to maintain and

strengthen its hold on the politics,

economics and administration,

whereas, the dominated identities

have always been in search of an

opportunity to challenge and

contest the domination of the

former. The dominant-dominated

identity politics is based on the

unequal rather than the equal

relations.

latter and are pro-India and anti-Pakistan Ladakhi Buddhist identities. Of course,

but they wish to be the part of Jammu & they have always been enjoying the

Kashmir. It can be argued that the patronage of Indian state, though they

identity politics between India and the blame the latter for its appeasement

state of Jammu and Kashmir has resulted policy towards Kashmiris. There is deep

into intra-state identity politics, which and intense trust between the Indian

has further sharpened the intra-region state and the Dogra and Ladakhi

identity politics. Since under the pulls of identities, whereas, there is trust deficit

the forces of national integration and between the Indian national identity and

nation-building, the Indian state tried to the Kashmir Muslim identity.

assimilate Jammu & Kashmir like other

states into the mainstream of the country The dominant and the dominatedby eroding its special status granted

under Article 370 of the Indian In every region of the state, there is the

Constitution, which has already proved politics of one dominant identity vis-à-vis

counter productive. Consequently, the the other dominated identities. dialogical relations between the Therefore, every region of the state is Kashmiri Muslim identity and the Indian characterized by the politics of dominant national identity have become and dominated identities. The dominant competitive and conflictual. Within the identity has always tried to maintain and state neither Hindu nationalists from strengthen its hold on the politics, Jammu region nor Buddhists from Ladakh economics and administration, whereas, has trust in the Kashmiri identity and its the dominated identities have always supremacy in the politics of the state. been in search of an opportunity to They have failed to reconcile with the challenge and contest the domination of supremacy of Kashmiri identity in the the former. The dominant-dominated politics, administration and the economy identity politics is based on the unequal of the state, which was set in motion in rather than the equal relations. the post- accession phase. Both have Although, the dominated identities are been feeling insecure in the power demanding equal space in the public equation emerged in the state after the domain but the dominant identities are transfer of power from Dogra Hindu King not prepared for that. The electoral to Sheikh Abdullah a leader of popular politics has further sharpened this movement from Kashmir valley. syndrome in the politics of three

different regions apart from the inter-Why are they feeling insecure, is a huge

regional politics of the state. The question to deal with. The kind of

unhealthy identity politics has played its political discourses emerged in the

role to erode the common space and politics of state substantiated their

shared culture between the dominant and thesis that Kashmiri Muslims will ask for

dominated identities. It has made their independence from the Indian state. This

relations more acrimonious, bitter and fear was further accentuated when

conflict ridden. Instead of blurring the political violence was set in motion in the

angularities of diverse identities within Valley in the late 1980s. Both the Hindu

the region and state, the politics has Dogras and Ladakhi Buddhists believe

further sharpened the differences and that their respective identities will be in

eroded the common, shared and danger in such kind of scenario. They

overlapping space The sub-identities have more proximity with the Indian

from the three religiously and culturally identity than with the Kashmiri identity.

diverse regions of the state have There has always been a feeling of

become more angular, sharp and distrust and suspicion between the

hostile, towards each other. Kashmiri identity and the Dogra Hindu &


I N F O C U S


Now

Telling

The J&K

Stories


ABDULLAH NEWS AGENCYLal Chowk, Srinagar

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Contact

It has by now been universally recognized Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation phone and asked him to discuss with me

that diversity promotes creativity and respectively. details of a cultural policy for the Gujjars

growth while uniformity leads to of the state. As our discussion was taking

stagnation and decline. As Jammu and place in parliament House, she called Discussing the importance of the Kashmir state is the richest state of the Ram Chander Vikal, MP and a prominent community in the contemporary context country in terms of diversities, it should Gujjar leader of the UP, to implement my I once expressed my disagreement with have set highest standard of creativity suggestion regarding closer interaction Indira Gandhi over the Kashmir as a and growth. But failure to reconcile and between Gujjars of the state and those in symbol of Indian secularism. It often harmonize the aspirations and interests the rest of the country. According, I traced the history of secularism in the of its diversities had created host of called the first All India Gujjar country from Emperor Akbar to problems from which its people Conference in Jammu where national Fakharuddin Ahmad, the then president continued to suffer. Gujjar leaders, Like Ram Chander Vikal of India. Firstly

and Shafqat Jung, and from neighbouring

states shared the stage with Gujjar I have contributed my mite in getting Kashmiris consider Akbar as the first Leaders of the state. This conference re-recognition for all diversities and aggressor on Kashmir who enslaved it. It established the secular character of the reconcile their aspirations and interests. the government of India claimed to community. Many demands were made at In this endeavour, I discovered almost in inherit the tradition of Akbar, it would the conference, some of which were the beginning of my public life in early mean Kashmir's slavery continued. addressed to the state government while forties the unique role of Gujjar Secondly this approach did not take into others to the central government. Some community in the multicultural mosaic of account diversities among Muslims and of them were conceded in due course of the state. For it have a very ancient Hindus of the state.time. Similar conference were held in antiquity which has retained its distinct places like Rajouri.character and can be adjusted with In this context I argued that the state of

different cultures. As it is spread to Jammu and Kashmir was a miniature almost all regions of the state-some of its At a later stage indira Gandhi accepted India where people of so many races, caravans go upto Kargil-it could make my proposal to grant schedule tribe cultures and ethnic groups co-existed. best contribution to the unity of the status to the community. But before she For instance, I added, that Gujjars and state. could implement her commitment, she Dogras outnumber Kashmiris. When

felt victim to the bullets of two of her asked what should be done, I said that, a Sikh body guards, who were outraged by I was fortunate to come in close contact process of Gujarisation should be the attack on the golden Temple, in 1984.with enjoyed the affection of started. What do you mean by that,

personalities like Hazarat Nizamuddin Indira Gandhi asked. I explained, that at

and brigadier Khuda Baksh. Several of my a cultural level, efforts should be made After some changes in the government,

good colleagues like Sarvari Kasana, Haji to revive their rich cultural heritage and Chander Shekhar became the prime

Buland Khan, Gulzar Ahmad, Ram Prasad at a political level, the community in the minister for a short time. Once I was

Khatana and Nooruddin Kataria are no state should be brought in touch with staying at J&K House in New Delhi, Lal

their co-brethren in the rest of the more. By now many good institutions and Mohammad Sabar came to my room and

country.scholars have done fresh research or used my telephone to call Ram Chander

highlighted historical accounts of this Vikal. When Sabar told him at he was

ancient community. Notable among them speaking form my room, Vikal asked him She called Inder Gujral, the then minister are Gurjardesh Charitable Trust and to hand over the phone to me and wanted of information and broadcasting, on

Balraj Puri

Gujjar Identity In MulticulturalMosaic Of J&K


I N F O C U S


to know if he could come to see me asked me, “since when you became a take such decision. I told him that due to

immediately. I told him he was welcome. Gujjar leader.” I replied “since they turmoil(in nineteens) the election in the

accepted me as such.”Vikal said, “you have already indebted state had been postponed and the code

Gujjar community so much that it can did not apply to it. He was convinced and

never repay. Please do another favour. Then I explained the purpose of our visit. soon after the decision to grant ST Status Somehow Indira Gandhi could not honour Inspite of commitment of indira Gandhi, to Gujjars of the state was announced. her commitment to grant scheduled tribe bureacrats put hurdles in implementing Earlier, Sheikh Abdullah, after returning status to the community. Since the it, I said Chander Shekhar commented “if to power in 1975, announced formation present prime Minister Chander Shekhar I am convinced bureaucratic hurdles do of a Gujjar Welfare Board headed by me. is your friend. Kindly take up the matter

not matter.” After a brief discussion, he I declined the post and suggested that it with him.” I told him, “let us take a

said, “it will be done.” legitimately belonged to a Gujjar.chance to see him right now and see what

he can do” Vikal agree and three of us, Later Subodh Kant Sahay, who was Home Ever since I have been associated with including Sabar visited Chander Shekhar's Minister at that time, visited Jammu. He various conference and activities of the residence and sent our chit. He called me form Raj Bhawan to see hin. I Gujjars of the state. Though I have immediately came out. After saying hello asked hi why the decision on ST Status to served the interest of other communities to me he greeted Vikal-whom he knew as Gujjars was being delayed. He explained also, the affection and respect I have a very senior leader of the UP-with

it was due to announcement of election received from Gujjars are unmatched “Parnam” and asked him what could he

and code of conduct which was enforced do for him. Vikal said, “please speak to and more then compensate whatever I

our leader Balraj Puri”. Chander Shekhar by that time, the government could not could do for them.

JAMMU & KASHMIR KHADI AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIES BOARD

ØGenerate employment in rural areas.

ØDevelop entrepreneurial skills and attitude among rural unemployed youth.

ØFacilitate participation of financial institutions for higher credit flow to rural industries.

ØRealising the goal of Rural Industralizations.

ØFocusing on skill upgradation and marketing linkage.

Ø36000 units working in the state.

Achievements for year 2007-08

ØCreated employment opportunities for more than 40,000 persons under village industries by setting up over 2800 units.

ØCreated employment for more than 30,000 through 37 Khadi institutions under Khadi Sector in the State.

ØSix institutions/KVIB Unit holders awarded National Awards.

ØProduction of KVI Sector is over 300 crores annually.

ØCarpet, Crewel, Chain stitch, Kani and Pashmina Shawls, Papier machie, Wooden and Leather items being exported.

To implement Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) from June 2008 in place of Rural Employment Generation Programme (Regp) and PMRY.

No. : KVIB/FP/1335-38

Khadi India

zke|x ksxjSk vv kh ;n kk sxk[

I N F O C U S


Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Jammu

on April 25, the Gujjars issued an appeal inviting his

attention to their plight. An operative line in the appeal asks

the Prime Minister, “what were the reasons that third

largest identity in Jammu and Kashmir could not find any

reference in the five working groups constituted by you two

years back”. It goes on the ask, “the Rs 24,000 Crore

package you announced for Jammu and Kashmir during your

visit to the state in November 2004 is changing the profile of

people but the package does not have anything specific

aimed at alleviating our plight”. When Gujjars get an

opportunity to speak, the list of complaints does not end

here. There are grievances piling up for last 60 years. “It is

disappointing that there is no mention of Gujjars in the

recommendations of the four Working Groups and there is

no incentive for Scheduled Tribes in two packages the Prime

Minister announced for State. We constitute third largest

identity in the State but still have all along been unilaterally

offering sacrifices for the cause of national unity. What we

get in return is the sheer neglect”, says Javed Rana, a Gujjar

legislator.

Gujjars have a unique identity and therefore unique problems

and unique aspirations. This lowly tribe refused to be a part of

separatist movement and could not be wooed to join the armed

resistance which has been going on in Jammu and Kashmir.

With a sizeable population in almost all districts of the state,

Gujjars mostly make a single largest identity in the pockets of

Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipore and Anantnag

districts. They temporarily inhabit or pass through the tracts frontiers and our own lives as well”, says Haji Mushtaq Hussain of used by the militants to infiltrate or move to the interiors. Mendhar –an area close to the Line of Control. The demand gained Therefore, sometimes being a host to the militants is a gun-currency and in 2002-03 and the then Union Home Minister LK point compulsion and the next day landing in the Police lockup Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes promised raising or nearest Army picket is but natural. “This is how we have Gujjars Scouts. been paying price for refusing to join the militancy”, says

Darbar Hussain, a prominent Gujjar activist in Rajouri.

Therefore, on December 18, 2003 the proposal was cleared to be

put before the Cabinet Committee on Security for raising a new This is a serious problem. They are suspect on both sides. As force comprising Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir for deployment falling victim to the double edged sword had become an order on the difficult terrains of the state to check infiltration from of the day, the wise among the Gujjars came up with a solution Pakistan and take on mercenaries and local militants in these in late 1990s. They sought the Central Government help to areas. The force decided to be named as the Gujjar Scouts was to raise a Gujjar militia. “Like Rajput Rifles or Gurkha Regiment, be formed on the pattern of Ladakh Scouts and attached to an we wanted to have a force of Gujjars to defend the nation's

Ranjit Kalra

60 Years Of Unattended Gripes

I N F O C U S



CLASS IN PROGRESS : Gujjar students in a school which does not have a building. This is not a case in isolation. (Jp’s Gallery)

Army unit. The Gujjar scouts were to be

drawn from 1000 youngsters of the

Gujjar and Bakerwal community who are

the worst-affected people in the state.

The proposal said that the the Scouts will

be trained in anti-insurgency operations

and armed with the state-of-the-art

equipment.

The motivating factor for raising the

Gujjar Scouts was the fact that the

Gujjar and Bakerwal youth are well

conversant with the topography and

would be put on the grid with the nearest

Army or BSF unit and the move would

have ensured that those recruited have a

stake in fighting terrorism in the state.

The need for such a force was felt during

the May 2003 "Operation Sarpvinash" in

the Hilkaka forests in Surankote area of

Jammu division. Militants had set up since August 2003 but unfortunately the their rehabilitation, we deeply bases in the area for the preceding four idea of forming Gujjar Scouts got scuttled appreciate the initiatives”. Ali, a years and there were at least 10 such somewhere in the files of Central prominent social worker adds, “projects places on the Pir Panjal ranges where the Government. The Gujjars have now made worth Rs 100s of Crores have been ultras had built well-fortified bunkers. a fresh appeal to the Prime Minister to launched for developing flats and The security forces conducting counter-consider the formation of an Army colonies for Kashmiri Pandits at insurgency operations in the state had Regiment of the youth drawn from them. different places…whenever a dignitary very little idea about such deep The government in 1963 had formed the from the Center comes here, including penetration by militants, mainly Ladakh Scouts in the wake of 1962 war mercenaries, and it was for the first time the Prime Minister and the Congress against China. The Ladakh Scouts or the

that the Army Chief had brought it to the president they drive straight to these "Snow Tigers", comprising local Buddhists

notice of the CCS. projects to see the progress...it and Tibetan commandos, is one of the

underlines the concern for the homeless Army's most decorated units with more

people which needs to be appreciated”. Another objective for setting up the than 300 gallantry awards to its credit, But don't they think that four lakh of us Gujjar Scouts was to keep the infiltration including one Ashok Chakra, ten Mahavir have roaming around for decades routes in Doda, Rajouri and Poonch free Chakras and two Kirti Chakras. It was the without any shelter…if not flats and from any Army intervention by terrorising first unit of the Indian Army to

the Muslim Gujjar population. That time, townships, can't they think of some successfully launch the counter strike the locals of remote mountain village of hutments for us”, asks Hashim Ali. against Pakistani incursions in the 1999 Marrah in Poonch district had put up a Kargil operations in the Batalik sector.strong defence against the Lashkar-e- The latest census data is yet to come up Toiba jehadis operating in the area. The with certified figures on different This tribe which constitutes the third villagers of Marrah revolted against the communities in Jammu and Kashmir but largest ethnic, linguistic and cultural atrocities committed by militants and estimates suggest that they constitute

identity in Jammu and Kashmir has always formed a 'vigilante army' which called around 20 per cent of the total complained of being kept out of all itself the Pir Panjal Scouts. The Pir Panjal population. While almost all Gujjars in political discourses and welfare Scouts, along with the Army, drove the this state lead a semi-nomadic way of programs. Says, Master Hashim Ali, “we ultras out of the Hilkaka bowl, their base life, a fourth of their total population is feel the pain of Kashmiri Pandits on their above Marrah. The village still continues fully nomadic with no land holdings or uprooting from the homeland. Therefore, to have over 50 armed volunteers to any other permanent establishments. when the government makes efforts at defend it, and no militants have visited it They are characterized by rearing


I N F O C U S


Many Gujjars get buried alive in snowfall due to unsafe shelters (as seen above).Over 200 of them were killed in Waltengonar of South Kashmir in Feb. 2006.

cattle, sheep and goat and keep moving from one place to another

throughout the year in search of pastures and fodders. Of late the

implementation of forest laws and eviction of the illegal occupants of

the state land have exposed the nomadic Gujjars to a worst crisis.

For this semi-nomadic to nomadic lifestyle and lack of an organized

tribal education policy, Gujjars have the lowest rate of literacy. The

children of a majority of them either don't go to schools or drop out at

an earlier stage. Therefore, they hardly reach a stage where they can

have a role in the decision making process. A survey conducted by an

NGO, Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation of India says that

Gujjars have a negligible representation in state's administration.

Quoting from the survey, its Secretary Javed Rahi says, “in the Civil

Secretariat, the seat of the government, there are 101 Under-

Secretaries and Private Secretaries and only one Under-Secretary

belongs to the Gujjar Tribe”. Though he describes this as an act of

social injustice but the fact is that for a majority of Gujjars education

is an alien concept. The prospects of improving the social profile of

Gujjars started looking up since 1991 when they were included in the

Scheduled Tribes, thus made eligible for some concessions and

avenues of growth. However, the Gujjars allege that the real benefits

of being Scheduled Tribe have never been allowed to percolate down.

In the month of March, there is always a cry from all parts of state

that the central funds allocated for the development of tribal areas

have lapsed. “Works are not taken up in time and funds eventually

lapse. In my district, the funds were not released even till the month

of March this year”, says Zulfikar Ali, a Gujjar political leader from

Rajouri. He adds, “our community does not have a representation in

the administration and others at the helm of affairs are not sensitive

to our issues”.

“The Scheduled Tribe status is a cruel joke on Gujjars”, says Master

Hashim Ali. He goes on to explain, “under the provisions of Scheduled

Tribe we should have got reservation in the state legislature which we

have been fighting for nearly two decades”. He says, “even though

there is not even a word of assurance on reservation to the Scheduled

Tribes in legislature that the government and the political

establishment is propping up a wide range of elite and upper class

communities for their inclusion in Scheduled Tribes”. Of late the

Pahari speaking people have been strongly pitching for the Scheduled

Tribe status which is being vehemently opposed by the Gujjars. While

many of them describe this campaign as a creation of security

agencies to keep a divide among the non-Kashmiri Muslims growing,

the Gujjars for almost last eight years have forgotten their own issues

to oppose the inclusion of Paharis in the list of Scheduled Tribes. “In

its singularly focused policy on Kashmir, New Delhi is making us to pay

a price for swearing by India”, says Hashim Ali.

Now since elections are round the corner, at least in eight districts of

Jammu and Kashmir, as always, it is going to be the Gujjar versus

Pahari politics as the parties find it a most convenient way of

mustering votes. What gets lost is the attention to the real issues.


I N F O C U S


Earlier, this month when Union Human

Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh

laid the foundation stone of country's first

Tribal University in Amarkantak, Madhya

Pradesh, there was a little disappointment

among a section of emancipated Gujjars but

simultaneously it renewed their enthusiasm.

An icon of the Gujjar identity, the Gurjardesh

Charitable Trust in J&K had long been mulling

the idea of setting up a Tribal University. “We

thought ours could be first in the country”,

says Masud Chaudhary, its founder and

Chairman. Choudhary, also first Vice

Chancellor of the Wakf funded and state run

BGSB University says, “GDCT is poised to

dedicate to the nation, the second Tribal

University after the IGNTU at Amarkantak”.

In 60 years of political uncertainty in Jammu

and Kashmir, the process of identity

formation has seen its own permutations –it

involved many things including rebellion and

consolidation to become known and

recognized. Almost coinciding with the same

time when militancy broke out in the state in

late 1980s, there was the birth of a small yet

farsighted movement of identity formation. A

group of Gujjars under the leadership of

Masud Chaudhary, an IPS officer, thought of

giving wings to the imagination. They started

working at carving out an identity of Gujjars

driven with education and cultural

renaissance.

In 1992 when the Gurjardesh Charitable Trust

took formal shape at a modest function

organized a hotel in Jammu, Chaudhary, its

patron had asked the members to come in

traditional dresses –the Khan suit and flowing

turban. Instead of coming to venue in the

traditional Gojari turbans they carried them

in bags to venue and put them back in the bags

after the function was over. Reason: they

Icons Of Identity

Gurjardesh Charitable Trust

What was the motivation behind setting up this NGO

–the Gurjardesh Charitable Trust when you had an

honourable position and promising career in

government?

So, how was the journey ahead?

In village where I was born and brought up, I never

found any problem with my language –Gojari. After

obtaining higher education at Aligarh when I joined

Police services in late 1960’s, I found my men in the

department hesitant of speaking in Gojari. During my

visits to the Police

lines, the Gujjar boys

would run away fearing

that I would talk to

them in Gojari. To my

shock and surprise I

found them shy of

speaking in the mother

tongue as they feared

others laughing at

them. I went on to

investigate only to find

that even ten Gujjars

would not speak in

Gojari in front of one non-Gujjar –it was stigmatic. I

thought this stigma would have to be removed to bring

the Gojari identity its due place. Lack of education

made bottomline of the problem. I made strenuous

efforts in 1970s and 80s and later thought that this

process needs to be institutionalized. Therefore, the

GDCT was formally born in 1992.

There are some problems common to all community

initiatives. Often people are seen concerned about

their own amelioration and not that of community.

When we took the lead, there were some

apprehensions that we are doing this for own interest.

We went on to contribute our bit without giving an ear

to criticism. As the bits and pieces of our ideas saw the

INTERVIEW

Masud ChaudharyChairman GDCT


I N F O C U S


feared people in the town laughing at them for their

awkward turbans. Same was the case with Gojari language.

Speaking Gojari in the public would amount to declaring

oneself as backward and weirdly outlandish. Contrary to

this situation of early 1990s, last year at a function of

Gujjars, attended by others also, in Jammu, a majority of

over thousand odd participants were was seen in turbans.

Those who come from other linguistic groups, including the

state Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, were also speaking

Gojari. This is what the Gurjardesh Charitable Trust has

done these years. “We are not forcing anyone to speak

Gojari but our aim is to create awareness that the Gojari

language and Gujjar culture have a rich history dating back

to centuries and this needs to be recognized and

respected”, says Farooq Alam, a Trustee.

A majestic building of the GDCT, a part of Rs 10 Crore

ambitious project, on the Jammu-Pathankote National

Highway today stands apostle to the Gujjar identity. There

were not may who contributed to the GDCT efforts at the

beginning but now each Gujjar refers to the upcoming

heritage center as “our building”. The complex which

houses a an auditorium, a library, museum, a conference

hall, publishing house and research house has now become

an icon of the Gujjar identity.

“We always wanted to set up a Tribal University but a

beginning had to be made from school for being sure about

our capabilities”, says Chowdhary. Bringing Gujjars to

mainstream through education has been the foremost

activities of the GDCT. It goes to their credit for having

realized the gravity of the problem and for having

responded to the call of the hour by starting a chain of

Schools in which children belonging to all the weaker

sections of the society are provided quality education.

While recounting the achievements of GDCT, in its

educational advancement programs, KB School (named

after Brigadier Khuda Baksh) started in 1995 in a two-room

hutment is now brimming with more than 1200 students at

its sprawling complex in Jammu. Perhaps there is no such

community initiative anywhere in the region.

The Trust is now gearing up to set up a Tribal University. A

memorandum for the purpose has already been sent to the

Prime Minister of India and the matter is being actively

pursued with the state government. Making an interesting

case for identity recognition and assertion, the

memorandum sent to the Prime Minister bears signatures of

representatives of almost all shades of opinion in Jammu

and Kashmir.

‘We Are Working For A Tribal University’

translation into leaps and bounds, the fence sitters realized

the sincerity of purpose and GDCT went on to appropriate its

role. Now among Gujjars as well as non-Gujjars, GDCT is seen In fact education is the zero-mile from where our journey begins. as fountainhead of emancipation and a symbol of Gujjar We are thoroughly convinced that as long as the menace of cultural renaissance in the sub-continent. illiteracy is not confronted with a firm resolve, the community

cannot break free from the fetters of exploitation and socio-

economic discrimination. In just realization of this fundamental

need, we are already running a 10+2 Higher Secondary School in

Jammu which has more than 1200 children on its rolls. Our thrust Ask any anthropologist or a historian and he will instantly let on education is a continuing effort and to start a string of new you know that Gurjar community as sub-continental presence Schools in remote and backward areas of the State is prominently and there are strong cultural bonds and a common heritage on our agenda. Similarly, in near future we have plans of setting up that is shared by them irrespective of their geographical a Tribal University of Science & Technology which will be a major location. I may add here that Gurjars are spread over 11 Indian initiative from us in the field of education. States as well as in some areas in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Preservation of our rich cultural heritage forms the backbone of

our most fundamental concerns. Without this a community ceases

to have its identity. We found our people shy of pursuing their We honestly believe that Gujjars as a community are way culture. This was primarily for the lack of patronage. The state behind other demographic units in the State whether this is in

run institutions have done very little for promotion of Gujjar terms of literacy, economic well-being or political

empowerment. It is so painful that even after 60 years of culture. Therefore, offer a platform for performance at a wider

Independence, they are still living nomadic or semi-nomadic canvass. There is a lot in the Gujjar culture which can attract

life, their children have yet to be motivated to undergo School national attention but there has always been a lack of

education, their womenfolk are still bereft of dignified social encouragement.

existence for want of education and awareness and their We are also bringing out regular publications that throw light on menfolk are still content with their utterly deplorable socio- tribal literature and culture. We are arranging periodical musical economic conditions. Illiteracy, as I understand, is at the root concerts and staging various forms of dance and drama which of all the miseries the community is facing today. We are generates a wave of consciousness in the younger generation and working at a two pronged strategy –educational empowerment thus helps us transmit our social values to them making them and cultural awakening. richer and wiser.

With our strenuous efforts we have been able to motivate a

sizeable population of Gujjars to send their children to the

schools. Our KB Public School, in a way, symbolized the relation

between Gujjars and Education. Our next stride is towards setting

up a Tribal University. The recommendation of the Knowledge

Commission constituted by the Prime Minister further encourages

our mission. We are thinking on two lines –one that the

Government of India selects Jammu and Kashmir as one of the

locations for setting up the Tribal University and two that the

Gurjardesh Charitable Trust is funded to do this. We have send a

memorandum to the honourable Prime Minister outlining our

profile and assuring of our capabilities to handle this task. One or

the other way, I can say with confidence that Tribal University will

soon be a reality.

Education

How do you put its position in context of subcontinent?

Culture Well, your organization is devoted to the cause of Gujjar

tribe. So, what are the pressing issues before the tribe and

your priorities?

You talked about Tribal University. Where does that stand?


I N F O C U S


K.B. Public Hr. Sec. School

Begum Akbar Jahan,Foundation & Research Lib.

Museum

Conference Hall

Workshop

Publishing House

Studio

Research House

K.B. Public Hr. Sec. School

Children’s Paradise School

Miran Sahib Public School

Ram Bagh Public School

Vocational Centre

Coaching Centre

Computer Centre

HostelWomen & Child Care Centre

Residential Complex

H CS HE AD R

R ITA AJ B

R L

U E

G

BRIDGING GAPSJ&K WITNESSING UNPRECEDENTED INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

A RESUME OF BRIDGES SECTOR

ERs. 5.42 crore Balole Nallah Bridge, Jammu started in March 2006, completed in a record time of seven months.

EKunzer, Baramulla bridge completed in record time of seven months.

EWork on seven bridges in Kashmir valley and four in Jammu division launched at a cost of about Rs. 2 crore each in December 2006, to be completed in December 2008.

ERs. 11.91 crore Bagh Nallah Bridge Akhnoor started in November 2005, to be completed in August 2008.

ERs. 8.50 crore Ahangmati Pora Bridge Anantnag started in July 2006, to be completed in August 2008.

ERs. 3.50 crore Juhama Bridge, Baramulla started in September 2007, to be completed in September 2008.

ERs. 3.81 crore Trehgam Bridge Kupwara started in June 2005, completed in two years.

ERs. 5.95 crore Mughalpora Bridge Kupwara started in June 2005, completed in two years.

ERs. 2.50 crore Seer Jagir Bridge Baramulla started in August 2007, to be completed in June 2008.

ERs. 29.95 crore Ganpat Bridge, Doda started in November 2006, to be completed in December 2008.

ERs. 9.12 crore Chatti Padshahi Bridge Baramulla started in December 2006, to be completed in December 2008

ERs. 18 crore Kethar Manova Bridge Akhnoor, Jammu started in November 2005 to be completed 2008.

E10 bridges at a cost of Rs. 19.35 crore completed last year, two bridges at a cost of Rs. 6 crore to be completed during the current financial year.

E27 bridge projects approved during last two years at a cost of Rs. 458.21 crore.

Issued by :Department of Information and Public Relations

Jammu and Kashmir Government

Balole Bridge Jammu completed in a record time of 7 months

ROADS TO PROSPERITY

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Name of the Project Road Length Cost

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Over 71 PMGSY roads projects completed till end of 2007 adding 160 Kms road length to the existing network.

Under Phase-IV and Phase-V, 251 PMGSY projects costing Rs. 623 crore to cover 1565 Kms have been sanctioned for execution at cost of Rs. 700 crore finalized.

Under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) following five road projects have been launched :

1. Domail-Katra road 14.5 Kms Rs. 35 crore

2. Srinagar-Uri-LoC 118.5 Kms Rs. 466.71 crore

3. Batote-Kishtwar-Anantnag 270 Kms Rs. 463 crore

4. Srinagar-Leh 430 Kms Rs. 560.81 crore

5. Nemo-Padma-Darcha 294 Kms Rs. 171.24 crore

Over 18 roads and bridge projects at a cost of about Rs. 44 crore completed in 2006-07 in Jammu Division. These projects include bridge at Rehai, 40 Km Thathri-Kalantra road, 23 Km Doda-Dessa road, 18 Km Janipora-Ambgarota road, 6.5 Km Thannamandi-Shahdara Sharief road, 25 Km Inshan-Margantop road, bridge at Batote Nallah, Box type culvert at Utterbani, 7.5 Km main road to Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, bridge at Kakora, bridge at Mubarakpora Rajouri, 6 Km Sangaldan-Kathua road.

339 schemes costing Rs. 280.46 crore have been approved for execution in 2006-07 in Kashmir Division. Of these 16 road schemes completed at a cost of Rs. 64.20 crore and 15 schemes at a cost of Rs. 15.37 crore to be completed this year.

JKPCC completed 17 roads, bridges and social infrastructure projects during 2006-07 and 19 projects being completed by the end of this financial year in the state. Other 25 roads, bridges and social infrastructure projects taken up across the state.

Issued by :Department of Information and Public Relations

Jammu and Kashmir Government

A well nit-road is life line of economy in a state like Jammu and Kashmir presenting mosaic of geographical and topographical vagaries.

For this reason Ghulam Nabi Azad led government accords priority to road sector.

J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages

50 Since

years

We Up Hold

Artistic Creations

Poetic XpressionsPerforming Arts

&

Ladakh is a very popular tourist spot River in lower Ladakh. A.H. Francke, one scholars on the area are confused and

these days. The land is known for its of the well known historians on Ladakhi sometimes give different interpretations

typical landscapes and geo-climatic history, in his book, The Indian Antiquity, about the time of their migration. Hence,

conditions (different from the rest of the traces their origin to Central Asia. He the actual time of their migration still

country), and wonderful monastic believes that they arrived from Central remains obscure. Some say that they

archival. Its people of the Tibeto- Asia to the Indus Valley through Gilgit and came in around 2000 to 3000 years ago.

Mongloid race are generally known for settled down in the areas like Dha, Hanu,

their simple and honest nature. But very Darchiks, Garkon, and Drass. Present settlementlittle known is one of the earliest settlers

of the trans-Himalayan region, the Dards The oral history of the local people also A greater part of Ladakh of the earlier of Ladakh, or the Brokpas as they are tells similar stories. Elder members of days is believed to have been inhabited called in Ladakhi. the community tell that their forefathers by the Brokpas. However, after the

had migrated from Gilgit via Skardo to immigration of larger group of Mongolian History and Mystery the lower lands of Ladakh where they nomads from Tibet, they were

have settled down now. In one of the outnumbered and were gradually hymns of their famous festival known as The first inhabitants of Ladakh are displaced from many places. For example, Bono Nah, one can also trace some thought to have been two Aryan groups, in the Nubra Valley these days one can nuances of the history of their migration the Dards of Gilgit and the Mons of hardly find any kind of trace of the Dard and pedigree. It indicates that their Northern India, who were later on joined people. Their present settlement is migration took place from Skardo to by a larger group of Mongolian nomads confined to few villages each having 3 to Ladakh. The song mentions the names of from Tibet (possibly around 500 B.C). The 4 hamlets each. The heart of their all the villages in the way from Skardo to Dards are thought to have migrated to settlement is the Dha-Hanu area of Dha-Hanu and even up to Nubra Valley of the low and temperate areas of Ladakh Ladakh. Hanu, Beema, Dha (falling in Leh Ladakh in proper sequence. A.H. Francke like Dah-Hanu (an area towards the west district), and Garkon, Darchiks, Batalik says that the hymns end with the of Leh district), Darchiks-Garkone (only migrants settling at one of the hamlets of villages in Kargil District with Buddhist Dha village. However, Rohit Vohra says Dard settlement), and Drass etc.that in another hymn, we can find that a

dice game was played after which the Going through the current literature

decision of migration took place. The available on them, one gets an

migration according to that hymn does impression that there is still lot to be not end at Dha but even proceeded to Leh done in terms of proper and scientific and then to Nubra area (Rohit Vohra).research about their history and life. But

the limited numbers of scholars who have Because of lack of research on their conducted research on the area, have history and deficient of historical developed some sort of consensus on the

documents on the Dards of Ladakh, there origin of the Dards in Ladakh. F. M.

still prevails a lot of mystery about their Hassnain in his book, The Brukpa Dards of

exact ancestors and past, their folklore, Dah, Hanu & Gorkone in Ladakh: Life and

culture, tradition, socio-economic life Culture, hints them to be the survivor of

Alexander the Great's Army, who, after and the time of migration. About the

the departure of their commander, time of migration, there does not seem

scattered over in the vicinity of Indus to be an authentic source. Therefore,

Tundup Palgias

Dards Of Ladakh :A Neglected Fok

I N F O C U S



and Chulichan (falling in Krgil District) other products produced from these challenge of assimilation of their

are the main villages of the Dard areas to other parts of Ladakh and the language by the mainstream Ladakhi

settlement where their distinctive way of state. There is only one local telephone language, the Brokpa dialect seems to be

headed towards a doomsday sooner or life and culture/ folklore, different from exchange (at Batalik) in the entire

later. Because of the low treatment being those of the mainstream Ladakh, are still inhabited area falling under the Kargil mated out to the Brokpas and their to be found in, more or less, pure form. In district. Very recently, Biama village language by the mainstream Ladakhis, villages like Shimsha Kharbu, Pandrass (falling in Leh district) has been the younger Brokpas generally tend to and Matayan Drass of Drass area (in connected with local telephone. Lack of imitate the way of life and language of Kargil), Muslim Dards are found also. communications contributes to the lack mainstream Ladakhis, a phenomenon of awareness among the Brokpas about being popularly known as Sanskritisation the commercialization of their Current problemsin Indian Sociology. The more educated agricultural produces. The area has got youths of the Brokpa community huge potential for producing world class

The areas of the Dard settlement are still generally prefer to marry with better apricots. But the apathy of the state among the most backwards in Ladakh. educated females from the Tibeto-government and the local Hill Council Data from the Census vindicates this in Mongloid raced mainstream Ladakhis. governments adds to the agony of the more than one aspect of their life. It This also adds to the agony of the waning Brokpas. The political leaders hardly shows that the Brokpas has the highest identity of the Brokpas of Ladakh. show any concern towards them because Total Birth Rate at 27.17 and also the

the less numerical strength of the highest Total Death Rate at 21.74. Their (The author is doing research on the Brokpas hardly matters in the voting literacy rate and other indicators of Ancient Races of Ladakh from Annamalai calculations of the leaders. The Brokpas human development like health and University, and can be reached at heavily depend on agriculture for their standard of living are also staggeringly [email protected])subsistence. Their presence in the low as compared to the other populations

government departments as employees of Ladakh. This is mainly because of the is very negligible. Because of the indifferent treatment meted out by the proximity of their habitations with the government to them. The fact that there LOC, many of them work there as Army is not even a single high school in the porters, and some get absorbed in the entire area falling under the Kargil Ladakh Scouts (Regiment). But getting district stands testimony to this. The lack higher education and venturing outside of awareness among the Brokpas and the limited confines of their areas almost their economic backwardness adds to remains a wild dream for most of this gloomy state of affairs of the them.Brokpas. The villages and hamlets under

Leh district are relatively better off as

there are two high schools. Future challenge: Dard identity crisis in

Ladakh?

Their standard of living is very low. Most

of them are living below poverty line. The most serious challenge the Brokpas

This is despite fact that their area is the likely to face in the near future appears

most fertile area of Ladakh. They are to be the preservation of their distinctive

known to produce the best quality of identity in terms of language, dress,

apricots and other agricultural products culture and customs, race etc. The

Brokpas speak a completely different from Ladakh. This seems to be mainly

language, which phonetically and because of the lack of connectivity in

dialectically, does not have any kind of terms of road, telecommunications and similarity with mainstream Ladakhi other means of communication. The language. But the fact that they lack a roads connecting the Dard-inhabited script to code their language may prove areas with Leh and Kargil are in very bad to be bane in the preservation of their shape. Hence, it becomes difficult to language in the long run. Add to this the transport the fruits, vegetables and

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