Poor of Doda Udhampur Rajouri Kathua Poonch remained neglected before & after 1947
Daya Sagar Sharma
November 23, 2008
J&K has been more a victim of the personal ambitions of her political leaders. Valley centric attitude of leadership , particularly from Kashmir Valley , had become more vivid after 1945 AD. Ofcourse before 1947 it was the ambitious Sheikh Mohd Abdullah with Jawahar Lal Nehru at his back . To a great extent people of J&K have suffered due to the annoyance caused to Maharaja Hari Singh by the behaviour of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah towards the person of Maharaja Hari Singh and the way Jawahar Lal ( the would be Prime Minister of India / Prime Minister of India ) remained inclined towards Sheilkh Mohd Abdullah. Since Maharaja Hari Singh was the King of a Princely State of erstwhile Indian British Empire he could not be morally questioned in the manner we could question public men like Nehru and Sheikh. And after Independence and accession of J&K with Indian dominion there have been many more who have added to the sufferings and neglect of the people of Jammu & Kashmir in general and Jammu province in particular. People of J&K have suffered more socially, psychologically and emotionally. People of Jammu province have additionally suffered more of neglect as regards the developmental activities. Worst sufferers have been the erstwhile districts of Doda ( Kishtwar/ Ramban), Udhampur ( Reasi ), Kajouri and Kathua.
The process of neglect to general development of people of J&K started with the continued extra favours extended to the leaders from Kashmir valley after 26th October 1947. In return the Kashmir Valley leadership kept on sending messages to the world that they have extended special favours to India by not acceding J&K with the proposed Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Indian leaders at New Delhi still encouraged them.. Very less efforts were made to carry the right messages about the Indian Independence Act of 1947and the role of Maharaja to the common man in Kashmir Valley where majority of the people were poor, innocent and muslims.
The people from Jammu Province / region ( Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua ) were taken for granted as loyal to Oct 1947 Accession of J&K with Indian Dominion. It was assumed that their socio economic requirements would not be that worrying. Even before 1947 during Maharaja Hari Singh´s time all the muslim majority areas that are in Jammu Region today were in the Province of Jammu. The muslims of Jammu Province have always socially shared their needs, choices , political ambitions and culture with the Hindu of Jammu Province rather than sharing with Muslims of Kashmir Province ( Kashmir region of today ).
But it is also a fact that even during the times of Hari Singh it was Kashmir Valley that more attracted the rich and those who held close to seats of governance for its environmental riches. Valley had been made more known to outside world right from the days of the Jahangir. It was due to this reason that the tourists and rich visitors did provide some job / trade opportunities to the economically not that well Kashmiri masses through the service sectors that could meet the needs of the tourists. Some Kashmiri subjects could also come close to the ruling dynasties and secure comparatively better access to opportunities for education and government services.
Where as those in Jammu province were economically even poorer than Kashmiri masses and had no local industry for earning their livelihood. The people of Jammu province were spread over far flung areas , had very difficult terrains to negotiate for survival and the local tourism too was not promoted even during the times of Hari Singh. The areas of Doda, Kishtwar, Mendar, Rajouri, Gool Gulabgarh, Doodu Basantgarh, Bani, Bhaderwah, Plesa, Marwah , Pogal Paristan and like were the poorest of the poor before independence and they remained neglected even after Independence. These areas had and have lot many pleasant spots , meadows , lakes , rivers, forests, valleys , cascades, and local crafts that could attract the tourist / visitors during the summers and winters for planned stays. Maharaja Hari Singh did have some plans to develop tourism in these areas but he had no enough finances with him. There was need to develop the road infrastructure over quite a vast area for exploiting the tourism potential in Jammu Province. There were plans to conduct the tourist to Kashmir valley via Sialkot Jammu .Rajouri. Poonch ( Mughal Road / Jehlum valley Road ) so that all the spots in Rajouri and Poonch Districts are first seen by the tourist before going to valley. This could well improve the economic conditions in the area. Similarly there were plans to conduct the tourist to Kashmir valley via Bani /Bhaderwah and Kishtwar. This area too / had have high tourism potential in and around ( areas falling in Udhampur ) that could make fortunes for the people. Hari Singh´s programmes suffered due to finances. But even after independence no intention has been paid to these areas and they have remained under developed.
If atall any effort has been made to bring tourist to Kishtwar or Rajouri/ Poonch from Kashmir valley it has been to first take tourist to Kashmir Valley and then make him pay short trip to Kishtwar or Rajouri/ Poonch and again return via Kashmir valley. This well speaks of the 2nd rate treatment always given to the areas and people of Jammu Province living even in muslim majority districts of Doda , Kishtwar, Rajouri. All the years the farflung areas of Jammu province have suffered the most since all energies and resources have been consumed over the years in the appeasement of the challenging leadership from Valley. The District of Doda that has and had the bulk of forest wealth of J&K has not got any benefit out of it.
After Independence those who raised questions on the relationship of J&K with India had been mostly from Kashmir Valley. Even after 1990 turmoil in J&K more attention was paid to the questioning leaders from Kashmir Valley rather than the supporting leadership ( that comprised of both Hindu and Muslim ) from Jammu Region. Sheikh Abdullah was arrested in 1953 for alleged anti national ( anti India ) intentions but Sheikh Sahib was later cleared of all allegations in 1975. Rather Indira Gandhi Government installed him as Chief Minister of J&K with Congress support. It would have been better had the government also issued a white paper telling people about wrong allegations laid on Sheikh in 1953. This would have surely put a check on the anti India elements in Kashmir Valley and their supporters at international levels. Otherwise it has made the J&K affairs more complicated. There is utmost need to well inform the people about the goods of India. Accepting the wrongs if any done in 1953 would too strengthen the goodwill for India.
In October November 1947 too it were the people of Jammu Province who comparatively suffered more loss of life and property. More area occupied by the Pakistan aided raiders was left uncleared after Oct 1947 in Jammu Province as compared to Kashmir valley. Kashmir valley lost no area to Pakistan after 26 Oct 1947, rather some area was recovered back. Where as all area and lives people of Jammu Province were lost to Pakistan was after 26 Oct 1947. Mirpur was lost on 25 Nov 1947 ( even 30 days after accession with India ). The emergency local government that could direct the Indian troops to Rajouri and Poonch area was in the hands of Kashmir valley based leaders with Sheikh Abdullah as the head. Even New Delhi neglected the non Kashmiri speaking ( mostly Dogra/ Punjabi ) areas of Jammu Province of Hari Singh´s J&K.
To add to the misfortunes of the people of J&K the approach of the national and international media too had been partisan in the sense that it looked only on the other side of the heights of Pir Panjal . It has been only at the times of elections to legislature / parliament that to regional and national political parties the people of poor, backward and distantly placed areas of Udhampur, Doda, Kathua , Rajouri , Poonch appear to be more dear .
( Daya Sagar is social activist and leading scribe on Kashmir affairs dayasagr@yahoo.co.uk)
The process of neglect to general development of people of J&K started with the continued extra favours extended to the leaders from Kashmir valley after 26th October 1947. In return the Kashmir Valley leadership kept on sending messages to the world that they have extended special favours to India by not acceding J&K with the proposed Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Indian leaders at New Delhi still encouraged them.. Very less efforts were made to carry the right messages about the Indian Independence Act of 1947and the role of Maharaja to the common man in Kashmir Valley where majority of the people were poor, innocent and muslims.
The people from Jammu Province / region ( Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua ) were taken for granted as loyal to Oct 1947 Accession of J&K with Indian Dominion. It was assumed that their socio economic requirements would not be that worrying. Even before 1947 during Maharaja Hari Singh´s time all the muslim majority areas that are in Jammu Region today were in the Province of Jammu. The muslims of Jammu Province have always socially shared their needs, choices , political ambitions and culture with the Hindu of Jammu Province rather than sharing with Muslims of Kashmir Province ( Kashmir region of today ).
But it is also a fact that even during the times of Hari Singh it was Kashmir Valley that more attracted the rich and those who held close to seats of governance for its environmental riches. Valley had been made more known to outside world right from the days of the Jahangir. It was due to this reason that the tourists and rich visitors did provide some job / trade opportunities to the economically not that well Kashmiri masses through the service sectors that could meet the needs of the tourists. Some Kashmiri subjects could also come close to the ruling dynasties and secure comparatively better access to opportunities for education and government services.
Where as those in Jammu province were economically even poorer than Kashmiri masses and had no local industry for earning their livelihood. The people of Jammu province were spread over far flung areas , had very difficult terrains to negotiate for survival and the local tourism too was not promoted even during the times of Hari Singh. The areas of Doda, Kishtwar, Mendar, Rajouri, Gool Gulabgarh, Doodu Basantgarh, Bani, Bhaderwah, Plesa, Marwah , Pogal Paristan and like were the poorest of the poor before independence and they remained neglected even after Independence. These areas had and have lot many pleasant spots , meadows , lakes , rivers, forests, valleys , cascades, and local crafts that could attract the tourist / visitors during the summers and winters for planned stays. Maharaja Hari Singh did have some plans to develop tourism in these areas but he had no enough finances with him. There was need to develop the road infrastructure over quite a vast area for exploiting the tourism potential in Jammu Province. There were plans to conduct the tourist to Kashmir valley via Sialkot Jammu .Rajouri. Poonch ( Mughal Road / Jehlum valley Road ) so that all the spots in Rajouri and Poonch Districts are first seen by the tourist before going to valley. This could well improve the economic conditions in the area. Similarly there were plans to conduct the tourist to Kashmir valley via Bani /Bhaderwah and Kishtwar. This area too / had have high tourism potential in and around ( areas falling in Udhampur ) that could make fortunes for the people. Hari Singh´s programmes suffered due to finances. But even after independence no intention has been paid to these areas and they have remained under developed.
If atall any effort has been made to bring tourist to Kishtwar or Rajouri/ Poonch from Kashmir valley it has been to first take tourist to Kashmir Valley and then make him pay short trip to Kishtwar or Rajouri/ Poonch and again return via Kashmir valley. This well speaks of the 2nd rate treatment always given to the areas and people of Jammu Province living even in muslim majority districts of Doda , Kishtwar, Rajouri. All the years the farflung areas of Jammu province have suffered the most since all energies and resources have been consumed over the years in the appeasement of the challenging leadership from Valley. The District of Doda that has and had the bulk of forest wealth of J&K has not got any benefit out of it.
After Independence those who raised questions on the relationship of J&K with India had been mostly from Kashmir Valley. Even after 1990 turmoil in J&K more attention was paid to the questioning leaders from Kashmir Valley rather than the supporting leadership ( that comprised of both Hindu and Muslim ) from Jammu Region. Sheikh Abdullah was arrested in 1953 for alleged anti national ( anti India ) intentions but Sheikh Sahib was later cleared of all allegations in 1975. Rather Indira Gandhi Government installed him as Chief Minister of J&K with Congress support. It would have been better had the government also issued a white paper telling people about wrong allegations laid on Sheikh in 1953. This would have surely put a check on the anti India elements in Kashmir Valley and their supporters at international levels. Otherwise it has made the J&K affairs more complicated. There is utmost need to well inform the people about the goods of India. Accepting the wrongs if any done in 1953 would too strengthen the goodwill for India.
In October November 1947 too it were the people of Jammu Province who comparatively suffered more loss of life and property. More area occupied by the Pakistan aided raiders was left uncleared after Oct 1947 in Jammu Province as compared to Kashmir valley. Kashmir valley lost no area to Pakistan after 26 Oct 1947, rather some area was recovered back. Where as all area and lives people of Jammu Province were lost to Pakistan was after 26 Oct 1947. Mirpur was lost on 25 Nov 1947 ( even 30 days after accession with India ). The emergency local government that could direct the Indian troops to Rajouri and Poonch area was in the hands of Kashmir valley based leaders with Sheikh Abdullah as the head. Even New Delhi neglected the non Kashmiri speaking ( mostly Dogra/ Punjabi ) areas of Jammu Province of Hari Singh´s J&K.
To add to the misfortunes of the people of J&K the approach of the national and international media too had been partisan in the sense that it looked only on the other side of the heights of Pir Panjal . It has been only at the times of elections to legislature / parliament that to regional and national political parties the people of poor, backward and distantly placed areas of Udhampur, Doda, Kathua , Rajouri , Poonch appear to be more dear .
( Daya Sagar is social activist and leading scribe on Kashmir affairs dayasagr@yahoo.co.uk)
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