Rajeev Kumar Nagotra
The story of Jammu and Kashmir is incontestably the most intriguing episode in the saga of the Indian sub-continent. It has soothing preludes of glory as well as the convulsive pangs of change – demographic, political and spiritual. There are ordeals of oppression, betrayals and destruction, and also some patches of reconstruction and healing. And, the sequences play themselves out time and again even as the story finally slips into the hands of the present generation. Lo and behold, we are at the center stage of the most intriguing drama being played on the soil of the Indian subcontinent! Over the past two centuries, the story has presented two major evolutionary processes – one, the expansion and consolidation of the state’s geographical identity during the 100 years of the Dogra rule, and, two, the replacement of monarchy by a democratic dispensation in the period post partition. Interestingly, the democratic system is also only one generation shy of completing its 100 years of existence. One generation is not a very long period on the landscape of time in this part of the world. Perhaps it is about time a twist in the story is in the making. In this sense, the characters on the stage today have a very important role to play and they’d better be readying up to deliver.
The predominantly Muslim population of Kashmir felt oppressed under the Dogra dynasty during the first half of the period under focus here, and, now the residents of Jammu have been complaining of a biased treatment at the hands of the ruling Kashmiri elite for the last 70 years. The episode which was titled “Jammu and Kashmir” at the beginning of the first half has indeed been telling the story of “Kashmir and Jammu” in the second half although the rechristening never occurred in letter. By the way, the late Sheikh Abdullah had all the nerves and the numbers required to even pull off the exercise of rechristening, but he must have held back knowing how hard it is to change habits, particularly one’s own. Coming back to the story of the last 70 years of Jammu, whatever this region has accomplished so far has either resulted from persistent agitation of its masses or has been home-delivered by New Delhi directly. Be it the inclusion of Dogri in the eighth schedule or the allocation of AIIMS (the like of it, to be exact) for Jammu, every issue close to the cultural or infrastructural development of this region has been treated with indifference by the state government. The pace of projects such as the Tawi lake and the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex proves beyond doubt that the sensitivities of the Jammuites strike no chord with the ruling elite. The tourism sector of this division has taken the severest blow over all these years. The historical monuments, artifacts and traditions continue to decay and die in absence of a visible patronage from the government. The toshkhana worth billions of dollars of the Dogra dynasty receives prompt acceptance in Srinagar, but a 0.4 km2 of land in the name of Sri Amarnathji Shrine Board was just too much to accommodate. Just the manner in which the Kashmiri leaders demand a lion’s share in allocation of portfolios each time they form a coalition Government also demonstrates how blatantly they can deny an equitable treatment to Jammu.
It is only about time, and the principles of natural justice will find their way in (once more). A pro-development and pro-people policy for Jammu after so many decades of apathy is the minimum a well-meaning state government should follow. It will do the state good if some sensitiveness is shown towards Jammu that has long been dealt an unfair hand. A twist is imminent in our story and the history can remorselessly repeat itself if those helming the state allow it to. Kashmir broke away from its past in the post 1947 years and now Jammu could churn out a change too if the status quo persists. One tragic possibility is that the bruised “and” between Jammu and Kashmir might eventually become dysfunctional and the state split up. It does not necessarily have to be so though. The Kashmiri leadership, that always calls the shots in the state whatever be the composition of the legislative assembly can display some magnanimity and show inclusiveness towards the people of Jammu and the story might just have a pleasant twist. It is an Indian story after all.
(The author teaches at Stephens International Public School, Miran Sahib, Jammu.)
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