JAMMU & KASHMIR

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YOUR
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J&K

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JAMMU
AND
KASHMIR
HILAL AHMAD
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Jammu & Kashmir - History

Many historians and locals believe that Jammu was founded by Raja Jamboolochan in 14th century BCE.
During one of his hunting campaigns he reached the Tawi River where he saw a goat and a lion drinking
water at the same place. The king was impressed and decided to set up a town after his name, Jamboo. With
the passage of time, the name was corrupted and became "Jammu". According to one "folk etymology", the
name "Kashmir" means "desiccated land" (from the Sanskrit: Ka = water and shimeera = desiccate).
According to another folk etymology, following Hindu mythology, the sage Kashyapa drained a lake to
produce the land now known as Kashmir.
With a fertile soil and temperate climate, the valley is rich in rice, vegetables and fruits of all kinds, and
famous for the quality of its wool. Kashmir has been inhabited since prehistoric times, sometimes independent
but at times subjugated by invaders from Bactria, Tartary, Tibet and other mountainous regions to the North,
and from the Indus valley and the Ganges valley to the South. At different times the dominant religion has
been Animist, Buddhist, Hindu and (after the period of the history) Muslim.
The Rajatarangini is the first of a series of four histories that record the annals of Kashmir. Commencing
with a rendition of traditional 'history' of very early times (3102 BCE), the Rajatarangini comes down to the
reign of Sangrama Deva, (c.1006 AD) and Kalhana. The second work, by Jonaraja, continues the history from
where Kalhana left off, and, entering the Muslim period, gives an account of the reigns down to that of Zainul-ab-ad-din, 1412. P. Srivara carried on the record to the accession of Fah Shah in 1486. The fourth work,
called Rajavalipataka, by Prajnia Bhatta, completes the history to the time of the incorporation of Kashmir
in the dominions of the Mogul emperor Akbar, 1588.
Jonaraja (c. 15th century) was a Kashmiri historian and Sanskrit poet. His Dvity Rjataragin is a
continuation of Kalhana's Rjatarangin and brings the chronicle of the kings of Kashmir down to the time
of the author's patron Zain-ul-Abidin (r. 1423-74). Jonaraja, however, could not complete the history of the
patron as he died in the 35th regnal year of him. His pupil, rvara continued the history and his work, the
Trity Rjataragin covers the period 1459-86.
In his Dvity Rjatarangin, Jonaraja has vividly described the decline of the Hindu ruling dynasty and the
rise of the Muslim ruling dynasty in Kashmir.
The Rjatarangin (The River of Kings) is a metrical chronicle of the kings of Kashmir from earliest time
written in Sanskrit by Kalhana. It is believed that the book was written sometime during 1147-1149 CE. The
work generally records the heritage of Kashmir, but 120 verses of Rjatarangi describe the misrule
prevailing in Kashmir during the reign of King Kalash, son of King Ananta Deva of Kashmir. Although the
earlier books are far from accurate in their chronology, they still provide an invaluable source of information
about early Kashmir and its neighbors, and are widely referenced by later historians and ethnographers.
In the Rajatarangini, a history of Kashmir written by Kalhana in mid-12th century, it is stated that the valley
of Kashmir was formerly a lake. This was drained by the great rishi or sage, Kashyapa, son of Marichi, son
of Brahma, by cutting the gap in the hills at Baramulla (Varaha-mula). When Kashmir had been drained,
Kashyapa asked Brahmans to settle there. This is still the local tradition, and in the existing physical condition
of the country, we may see some ground for the story which has taken this form. The name of Kashyapa is by
history and tradition connected with the draining of the lake, and the chief town or collection of dwellings in

the valley was called Kashyapa-pura name which has been identified with the Kao-1r6.nupos of Hecataeus
(apud Stephen of Byzantium) and Kaspatyros of Herodotus (3.102, 4.44). Kashmir is the country meant also
by Ptolemy's Kao-ir,~pta.
Kalhana (c. 12th century CE) a Kashmiri Brahmin was the author of Rajatarangini, and is regarded as
Kashmir's first historian. In fact, his translator Aurel Stein expressed the view that his was the only true
Sanskrit history. Little is known about him except from what he tells us about himself in the opening verses
of his book. His father Champaka was the minister in Harsha of Kashmir's court.
Kalhana in his opening Taranga of Rajatarangini presents his views on how history ought to be written. From
Stein's translation[2]:
Verse 7. Fairness: That noble-minded author is alone worthy of praise whose word, like that of a judge, keeps
free from love or hatred in relating the facts of the past.
Verse 11. Cite earlier authors: The oldest extensive works containing the royal chronicles [of Kashmir] have
become fragmentary in consequence of [the appearance of] Suvrata's composition, who condensed them in
order that (their substance) might be easily remembered.
Verse 12. Suvrata's poem, though it has obtained celebrity, does not show dexterity in the exposition of the
subject-matter, as it is rendered troublesome [reading] by misplaced learning.
Verse 13. Owing to a certain want of care, there is not a single part in Ksemendra's "List of Kings" (Nrpavali)
free from mistakes, though it is the work of a poet.
Verse 14. Eleven works of former scholars containing the chronicles of the kings, I have inspected, as well as
the [Purana containing the] opinions of the sage Nila.
Verse 15. By looking at the inscriptions recording the consecretations of temples and grants by former kings,
at laudatory inscriptions and at written works, the trouble arising from many errors has been overcome.
Despite these stated principles, and despite the value that historians have placed on Kalhana's work, it must
be accepted that his history was far from accurate. Kalhana lived in a time of political turmoil in Kashmir, at
that time a brilliant center of civilization in a sea of barbarism. Kalhana was an educated and sophisticated
Brahmin, well-connected in the highest political circles. His writing is full of literary devices and allusions,
concealed by his unique and elegant style. Kalhana was a poet.
Kalhana borrowed from authors such as Ksemendra, Padmamiriha and Chavillakara, and tells us that he
used many other sources to confirm his information including engravings, literary manuscripts, other
histories and local verbal traditions. Certainly, some of his descriptions show evidence of such research.
However, he clearly used his imagination to fill in the gaps. The Gonandiya dynasty, taking its name from the
legendary first king of Kashmir, is revived twice in the Rjatarangi, but with little historical evidence.
Perhaps Kalhana used it as a literary device, where the ancient and legitimate dynasty was periodically
displaced by invaders and usurpers, but always re-emerged.
Kalhana's chronology, particularly in the first three books, is highly inaccurate. For a man of his time, exact
dates may have been more a way to add realism and emphasis to the account. What mattered was the story.
The Rajtarangini Kalhanas chronicle

The author of the Rajatarangini history chronicles the rulers of the valley from earliest times, from the epic
period of the Mahbhrata to the the reign of Sangrama Deva (c.1006 CE), before the Muslim era. The list of
kings goes back to the 19th century BCE[4]. Some of the kings and dynasties can be identified with inscriptions
and the histories of the empires that periodically included the Kashmir valley, but for long periods the
Rajatarangini is the only source.
This work consists of 7826 verses, which are divided into eight books called Tarangas (waves).
Kalhaas account of Kashmir begins with the legendary reign of Gonarda, who was contemporary to
Yudhisthira of the Mahbhrata, but the recorded history of Kashmir, as retold by Kalhaa begins from the
period of the Mauryas. Kalhaas account also states that the city of Srinagar was founded by the Mauryan
emperor, Ashoka, and that Buddhism reached the Kashmir valley during this period. From there, Buddhism
spread to several other adjoining regions including Central Asia, Tibet and China.
The Dynasties - Kalhana wrote during the time of Jayasimha (AD 1127-59).
The kings of Kashmir described in the Rjatarangi can be roughly grouped into dynasties as in the table
below.
Notes in parentheses refer to a book and verse. Thus (IV.678) is Book IV verse 678.
Gonanda I

The Rajatarangini (I.59) lists Gonanda I as the first king of Kashmir, a relative of
Jarasasamdha of Magadh.

Lost
and Skipping over "lost kings" we come to Lava of an unknown family. After his family,
Unknown kings Godhara of another family ruled (I.95).
Mauryas

The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military
empire in ancient India, founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE. His grandson
Ashoka the Great (273-232 BCE) built many stupas in Kashmir, and was succeeded by his
son Jalauka.

Kushanas

After a Damodara ("of Asoka's kula or another"), we have Hushka, Jushka and Kanishka
(127-147 CE) of the Bactrian Kushan Empire.
(Note the confusion of dates in this and the following sections. Kalhana appears to made
little attempt to determine the actual dates and sequence of rule of the kings and dynasties
he recorded)

Gonandiya

After an Abhimanyu, we come to the main Gonandiya dynasty, founded by Gonanda III.
He was (I.191) the first of his race. Nothing is known about his origin. His family ruled for
many generations.

Some others

Eventually a Pratapaditya, a relative of Vikrmaditya (not the Shakari) became king (II.6).
After a couple of generations a Vijaya from another family took the throne (II.62).
His son Jayendra was followed by Sandhimat-Aryaraja (34 BCE-17 CE) who had the soul
of Jayendra's minister Sandhimati. Kalhana says that Samdhimat Aryaraja used to spend
"the most delightful Kashmir summer" in worshiping a lingam formed of snow/ice in the
regions above the forests (II.138). This too appears to be a reference to the ice lingam at
Amarnath.

Huna

Kalhana describes the rules of Toramana and Mihirakula (510-542 CE), but does not
mention that these were Huna people: this is known from other source.

Gonandiya
again

After the Huna, Meghavahana of the Gonandiya family wasbrought back from Gandhara.
His family ruled for a few generations. Meghavahana was a devout Buddhist and
prohibited animal slaughter in his domain.

Karkota
Gonandiya Baladitya made his officer in charge of fodder, Durlabhavardhana (III.489) his
dynasty (625- son-in-law because he was handsome. Lalitaditya Muktapida (724-760 CE) of this dynasty
1003 CE)
created an empire based on Kashmir and covering most of Northern India and Central
Asia.
(With his account of the Karkota dynasty, relatively recent at the time he wrote his
chronicles, Kalhana's information becomes more consistent with other sources.)
Kalhana relates that Laliditya Muktapida invaded the tribes of the north and after
defeating the Kambojas, he immediately faced the Tusharas. The Tusharas did not give a
fight but fled to the mountain ranges leaving their horses in the battle field. Then
Lalitaditiya meets the Bhauttas in Baltistan in western Tibet north of Kashmir, then the
Dardas in Karakoram/Himalaya, the Valukambudhi and then he encounters Strirajya, the
Uttarakurus and the Pragjyotisha respectively (IV.165-175).
Utpala

In the Karkota family, Lalitapida had a concubine, a daughter of a Kalyapala (IV.678).

Her son was Chippatajayapida. The young Chippatajayapida was advised by his maternal
uncle Utpalaka or Utpala (IV.679). Eventually the Karkota dynasty ended and a grandson
of Utpala became king.

Kutumbi

After the Utpala dynasty, a Yashaskara became king (V.469). He was a great-grandson of
a Viradeva, a Kutumbi (V.469). Here maybe Kutumbi = kunabi (as in kurmis of UP
and Kunbi of Gujarat/Maharastra). He was the son of a treasurer of Karkota
Shamkaravarman.
Kalhana describes Shamkaravarman (883-902) thus (Stein's trans.): "This [king], who did
not speak the language of the gods but used vulgar speech fit for drunkards, showed that
he was descended from a family of spirit-distillers". This refers to the fact that the power
had passed to the brothers of a queen, who was born in a family of spirit-distillers.

Divira

After a young son of Yashaskara, Pravaragupta, a Divira (clerk), became king. His son
Kshemagupta married Didda, daughter of Simharaja of Lohara. After ruling indirectly
and directly, Didda (980-1003 CE) placed Samgramaraja, son of her brother on the throne,
starting the Lohara dynasty.

Lohara

The Lohara family was founded by a Nara of Darvabhisara (IV.712). He was a vyavahari
(perhaps merchant) who along with others who owned villages like him had set up little
kingdoms during the last days of Karkotas. The Loharas ruled for many generations. The
author Kalhana was a son of a minister of Harsha of this family.

Damar
others

and After Loharas, a Damara family ruled. Then a general Ramchandra became king. His
daughter Kota Rani married Tibetan Rinchan, who became Muslim.

Cashmere is an archaic spelling of Kashmir, and in some countries it is still spelled this way.

Modern Background
Creation - Prior to the creation of the princely state, Kashmir was ruled by the Durrani Empire, until it was
annexed by Sikhs led by Ranjit Singh. During Sikh rule, Jammu was a tributary of the Sikh Empire.
After the death of the Raja of Jammu, Kishore Singh, in 1822, his son Gulab Singh was recognised by the
Sikhs as his heir. He then, initially under the Sikhs, began expanding his kingdom.
As Raja of Jammu, Gulab Singh conquered Bhadarwah after a slight resistance and then annexed Kishtwar
after the minister, Wazir Lakhpat, quarrelled with the ruler and sought the assistance of Gulab Singh, the
Raja of Kishtwar surrendered without fighting when Gulab Singh's forces arrived. The conquest of Kishtwar
meant that Singh had now gained control of two of the roads which led into Ladakh which then led to this
conquest of that territory. Although there were huge difficulties, due to the mountains and glaciers, the Dogras
under Gulab Singh's officer, Zorawar Singh conquered the whole of Ladakh in two campaigns.
A few years later, in 1840, General Zorawar Singh invaded Baltistan, captured the Raja of Skardu, who had
sided with the Ladakhis, and annexed his country. The following year (1841) Zorawar Singh, while invading
Tibet, was overtaken by winter, and, being attacked when his troops were disabled by cold, perished with
nearly all his army. Whether it was policy or whether it was accident, by 1840 Gulab Singh had encircled
Kashmir.
In the winter of 1845 war broke out between the British and the Sikhs. Gulab Singh remained neutral until
the battle of Sobraon in 1846, when he appeared as a useful mediator and the trusted adviser of Sir Henry
Lawrence. Two treaties were concluded. By the first the State of Lahore handed over to the British, as
equivalent to an indemnity of one crore rupees, the hill countries between the rivers Beas and the Indus; by
the second the British made over to Gulab Singh for 75 lakh rupees all the hilly or mountainous country
situated to the east of the Indus and west of the Ravi.
Kashmir did not, however, come into the Maharaja's hands without fighting Imam-ud-din, the Sikh governor,
aided by the restless Bambas from the Jhelum valley, routed Gulab Singh's troops on the outskirts of Srinagar,
killing Wazir Lakhpat. Owing, however, to the mediation of Sir Henry Lawrence, Imam-ud-din desisted from
opposition and Kashmir passed without further disturbances to the new ruler. At Astor and Gilgit the Dogra
troops relieved the Sikhs, Nathu Shah, the Sikh commander, taking service under Gulab Singh
Not long afterwards the Hunza Raja, attacked Gilgit territory. Nathu Shah on behalf of Gulab Singh
responded by leading a force to attack the Hunza valley; he and his force were destroyed, and Gilgit fort fell
into the hands of the Hunza Raja, along with Punial, Yasin, and Darel. The Maharaja then sent two columns,
one from Astor and one from Baltistan, and after some fighting Gilgit fort was recovered. In 1852 the Dogra
troops were annihilated by Gaur Rahman of Yasin, and for eight years the Indus formed the boundary of the
Maharaja's territories.
Gulab Singh died in 1857; and when his successor, Ranbir Singh, had recovered from the strain caused by
the Indian Rebellion, in which he had loyally sided with the British, he was determined to recover Gilgit and
to expand to the frontier. In 1860 a force under Devi Singh crossed the Indus, and advanced on Gaur
Rahman's strong fort at Gilgit. Gaur Rahman had died just before the arrival of the Dogras. The fort was
taken and held by the Maharajas of Jammu and Kashmir until 1947.
Ranbir Singh although tolerant of other creeds lacked his father's strong will and determination, and his
control over the State officials was weak. The latter part of his life was darkened by the dreadful famine in

Kashmir, 1877-9; and in September, 1885, he was succeeded: by his eldest son, Maharaja Pratap Singh,
G.C.S.I
Geography - The area of the state extended from 32 17 to 36 58 N. and from 73 26 to 80 30 E.[2]. Jammu
was the southern most part of the state and was adjacent to the Punjab districts of Jhelum, Gujrat, Sialkot,
and Gurdaspur. There is just a fringe of level land along the Punjab frontier, bordered by a plinth of low hilly
country sparsely wooded, broken, and irregular. This is known as the Kandi, the home of the Chibs and the
Dogras. To travel north a range of mountains, 8,000 feet (2,400 m) high, must be climbed. This is a temperate
country with forests of oak, rhododendron, and chestnut, and higher up of deodar and pine, a country of
beautiful uplands, such as Bbadarwah and Kishtwar, drained by the deep gorge of the Chenab river. The
steps of the Himalayan range known as the Pir Panjal lead to the second storey; on which rests the exquisite
valley of Kashmir, drained by the Jhelum river.
Up steeper flights of the Himalayas led to Astore and Baltistan on the north and to Ladakh on the east, a tract
drained by the river Indus. In the back premises, faraway to the north-west, lies Gilgit, west and north of the
Indus, the whole area shadowed by a wall of giant mountains which run east from the Kilik or Mintaka passes
of the Hindu Kush, leading to the Pamirs and the Chinese dominions past Rakaposhi (25,561 ft), along the
Muztagh range past K2 (Godwin Austen, 28,265 feet), Gasherbrum and Masherbrum (28,100 and 28,561 feet
(8,705 m) respectively) to the Karakoram range which merges in the Kunlun Mountains. Westward of the
northern angle above Hunza-Nagar the mighty maze of mountains and glaciers trends a little south of east
along the Hindu Kush range bordering Chitral, and so on into the limits of Kafiristan and Afghan territory.
In 1947 the Indian Independence Act was passed, this meant that British India would be divided into two
independent states, the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India. According to the Act, "the suzerainty
of His Majesty over the Indian States lapses, and with it, all treaties and agreements in force at the date of the
passing of this Act between His Majesty and the rulers of Indian States", so each of the princely states would
be free to join India or Pakistan or to remain independent. Most of the princes acceded to either of the two
nations.
Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu - By the early 19th century, the Kashmir valley had passed from the
control of the Durrani Empire of Afghanistan, and four centuries of Muslim rule under the Mughals and the
Afghans, to the conquering Sikh armies. Earlier, in 1780, after the death of Ranjit Deo, the Raja of Jammu,
the kingdom of Jammu (to the south of the Kashmir valley) was captured by the Sikhs under Ranjit Singh of
Lahore and afterwards, until 1846, became a tributary to the Sikh power.[6] Ranjit Deo's grandnephew,
Gulab Singh, subsequently sought service at the court of Ranjit Singh, distinguished himself in later
campaigns, especially the annexation of the Kashmir valley by the Sikhs army in 1819, and, for his services,
was created Raja of Jammu in 1820. With the help of his officer, Zorawar Singh, Gulab Singh soon captured
Ladakh and Baltistan, regions to the east and north-east of Jammu.
British era - In 1845, the First Anglo-Sikh War broke out, and Gulab Singh "contrived to hold himself aloof
till the battle of Sobraon (1846), when he appeared as a useful mediator and the trusted advisor of Sir Henry
Lawrence. Two treaties were concluded. By the first the State of Lahore (i.e. West Punjab) handed over to
the British, as equivalent for (rupees) one crore of indemnity, the hill countries between Beas and Indus; by
the second the British made over to Gulab Singh for (Rupees) 75 lakhs all the hilly or mountainous country
situated to the east of Indus and west of Ravi" (i.e. the Vale of Kashmir). Soon after Gulab Singh's death in
1857, his son, Ranbir Singh, added the emirates of Hunza, Gilgit and Nagar to the kingdom.

The Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu (as it was then called) was constituted between 1820 and 1858 and
was "somewhat artificial in composition and it did not develop a fully coherent identity, partly as a result of
its disparate origins and partly as a result of the autocratic rule which it experienced on the fringes of
Empire." It combined disparate regions, religions, and ethnicities: to the east, Ladakh was ethnically and
culturally Tibetan and its inhabitants practised Buddhism; to the south, Jammu had a mixed population of
Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs; in the heavily populated central Kashmir valley, the population was
overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, however, there was also a small but influential Hindu minority, the Kashmiri
brahmins or pandits; to the northeast, sparsely populated Baltistan had a population ethnically related to
Ladakh, but which practised Shi'a Islam; to the north, also sparsely populated, Gilgit Agency, was an area of
diverse, mostly Shi'a groups; and, to the west, Punch was Muslim, but of different ethnicity than the Kashmir
valley. After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, in which Kashmir sided with the British, and the subsequent
assumption of direct rule by Great Britain, the princely state of Kashmir came under the paramountcy of the
British Crown.

Kashmir Affairs - Historical Roots

Chronology of Major Event

1846: Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) State is created under the Treaty of Amritsar between the East India
Company and Raja Gulab Singh of Jammu who buys Kashmir Valley from the East India Company for
Rs.75, 00,000 and adds it to Jammu and Ladakh already under his rule. Kashmir Valley is a Muslim
majority region speaking the Kashmiri language and a composite cultural identity called 'kashmiriyat'
transcending religious barriers; the people are hospitable and engage in Sufi tradition.
1931: The movement against the Maharaja Hari Singh begins; it is brutally suppressed by the State forces.
1932: Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah sets up the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference to fight for
Kashmiri freedom from the Maharaja's rule, which would eventually become the National Conference in
1939.
The Glancy Commission appointed by the Maharaja publishes a report in April 1932, confirming the
existence of the grievances of the State's subjects and suggests recommendations providing for equitable
representation of all subjects in the State's services; Maharaja accepts these recommendations but delays
implementation, leading to another agitation in 1934; Maharaja grants a Constitution providing a
Legislative Assembly for the people, but the Assembly turns out to be powerless.
1946: National Conference launches Quit Kashmir movement demanding abrogation of the Treaty of
Amritsar and restoration of sovereignty to the people of Kashmir. Abdullah is arrested.
1947: On 15 August, the Indian subcontinent becomes independent. Kashmir signs Standstill Agreement
with Pakistan. Rulers of Princely States are encouraged to accede their States to either Dominion - India
or Pakistan, taking into account factors such as geographical contiguity and the wishes of their people.
The Maharaja of Kashmir delays his decision in an effort to remain independent.
In theory, rulers were allowed to accede their States to either Dominion, irrespective of the wishes of their
people; but as a practical matter, they were encouraged to accede to the geographically contiguous
Dominion, taking into account the wishes of their people and in cases where a dispute arose, it was decided
to settle the question of accession by a plebiscite, a scheme proposed and accepted by India. Being a
Muslim majority State and contiguous to Pakistan, Kashmir was expected to accede to Pakistan; since
the Hindu Ruler acceded instead to India, a dispute arose in the case of Kashmir.
In 1948, India imposed and won a plebiscite in the case of Junagadh, which had a Hindu majority ruled

by a Muslim Ruler who acceded to Pakistan; However, in the case of Kashmir, the mirror image of
Junagadh, India did not hold a plebiscite; Pakistan applied its own share of double standards by having
divergent
positions
on
Kashmir
and
Junagadh,
insisting
it
get
both.
Barring National Conference, other political parties including the Muslim Conference and the Chiefs of
Gilgit region, advise the Maharaja against acceding to the Indian Union. While in prison, Sheikh
Abdullah writes a letter to a friend in Jammu, which is published in the Congress press, in favour of
accession of Kashmir to India. Abdullah is released from prison on 29 September, in response to pressure
from
India.
On 22 October, thousands of Pathan tribesmen from Pakistan invade Kashmir. The tribesmen engage in
looting and killing along the way. The tribesmen and the Poonch rebels are unofficially supported by
various individuals and high ranking officials in Pakistan including Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan
and Chief Minister of North West Frontier Province. India accuses Pakistan of violating the Standstill
Agreement with Kashmir by disrupting the supply links and of engaging in aggression by sending in the
tribesmen.
Pakistan
refutes
the
charges.
1947: The Maharaja of the State of Jammu and Kashmir signs the Instrument of Accession (IOA) on 26
October, acceding the 75% majority Muslim region to the Indian Union, following invasion by the
tribesmen from Pakistan, according to the 1948 Indian White Paper; India accepts the accession,
regarding it provisional until such time as the will of the people can be ascertained by a plebiscite, since
Kashmir was recognized as a disputed territory. [A plebiscite is the direct vote of all members of an
electorate on an important public question being referred to them, in this case accession of Kashmir to
India or Pakistan.] It should be noted that the IOA itself does not specify any provisionally or
conditionality of accession, while the White Paper specifies it clearly, thus creating a conflict between
strict legal interpretation and repeated official promise made to the people of Kashmir.
The Indian army enters the state on 27 October to repel the invaders. On 27-28 October, Pathan
tribesmen engage in looting and killing a large number of people in Baramula, which results in the exodus
of over 10,000 residents. Sheikh Abdullah endorses the accession as ad-hoc which would be ultimately
decided by a plebiscite and is appointed head of the emergency administration. Pakistan disputes that the
accession is illegal given the Maharaja acted under duress and that he had no right to sign an agreement
with
India
when
the
standstill
agreement
with
Pakistan
is
still
in
force.
In November 1947, India proposes that Pakistan withdraw all its troops first, as a precondition for a
plebiscite, which Pakistan rejects. Pakistan proposes simultaneous withdrawal of all troops followed by a
plebiscite under international auspices, which India rejects. Pakistan sends regular forces to Kashmir and
the first war over Kashmir breaks out.
1948: India takes the Kashmir problem to the United Nations (UN) Security Council on 1 January.
1949: On 1 January, a ceasefire between Indian and Pakistani forces leaves India in control of most of the
valley, as well as Jammu and Ladakh, while Pakistan gains control of part of Kashmir including what
Pakistan calls "Azad" Kashmir and Northern territories. Pakistan claims it is merely supporting an
indigenous rebellion in "Azad" Kashmir and Northern Territories against repression, while In
Kashmir has taken more media space and government time than any other state. It started with the
Pakistani invasion / the Instrument of Accession in 1947, Nehrus going to the UN, Article 370,
appointment and arrest of Sheikh Abdullah, Sheikh-Indira agreement of 1975, appointment &
dismissal of Farooq Abdullah, rigged elections of 1987 (held by many to be a turning point in the
state), Insurgency started in 1989, kidnapping and release of the Home Ministers daughter in 1990,
migration of Kashmiri Pandits, the siege of Hazbratlal and so on.

What touched me most was the gunning down of innocent Amarnath yatris and death of Brigadier
Shergill / Colonel Chauhan by an Improvised Explosion Device. The Government of Indias response
is that it we have to live with the danger of an IED since the company manufacturing them in the
U.K. has shut down. Is this the way we treat our soldiers. If 100 Americans lives were lost due to
bomb blasts, would the American President and Media respond like that?

The Question that I asked myself is, was Kashmir always like this?

I have traced Kashmiri History from 300 to 1850 AD. It is followed by a Write Up on the events
that led Nehru to the United Nations and False Truths.

Amongst the oldest chronicles is the Rajatarangini. It is the history of Kashmir, written in verse, by
Kalhana in 1149-50 a.d. While this book is considered a masterpiece and followed a method of
historical research, his account before the seventh century cannot be considered as trustworthy. He
was followed by Jonaraja who died in 1459 a.d, imitated Kalhans style and brought the history
narrative up to the reign of Zain-ul-Abidin. Srivara, Prajya Bhatta and Suka carried on the history
till Kashmirs conquest by Akbar.

Upto 600 BC
According to the Rajatarangini, the oldest ruler was Gonanda I, who appears to have ruled in the
days just before the Mahabharata. It is emperor Ashok who is said to have founded the city of
Srinagari, now Srinagar.

Among the many tribes in ancient North India were the Uttarakurus who were located beyond the
Himalayas. Though regarded as mythical and later literature, they appear as a historical people in
Aitareya Brahmana which states that Janatapi Atyarati was eager to conquer the land of the
Uttarakurus or the land of Gods. Zimmer places the land of Uttarakurus in Kashmir.

The dialect of the North was known for its purity hence Brahmanas flocked to the North for the
purposes of study. This is corroborated by the fact that Taxila became a centre of learning
and classical Sanskrit was first developed in Kashmir.

Alexander left the King of Abhisara to rule in Kashmir. According to the Mahavimsa, the Third
Buddhist Council met at Pataliputra (Patna) and deputed a missionary by the name of Majjhantika
to go to Kashmir and Gandhara (in modern day Afghanistan).

320 to 740 AD
According to Kalhana (referred to above), nearly the whole of the Gupta age was ruled by the
Gonanada dynasty ie for about 300 yrs. (unlikely though). It is also believed that the Kushanas and
the Huns ruled over Kashmir during this period.

After them a new dynasty known as Karkota or Naga was founded by Durlabha-vardhana. He had
married the daughter of the last Gonanada king and became king in 527 a.d. According to Hiuen
Tsang who visited Kashmir, the king ruled over parts of western and north western Punjab as well.
The Kings son Chandrapida sent an envoy to the Chinese in 713 ad for help against the Arabs.
Inspite of not receiving any help he was able to defend his kingdom against the Arabs.

He was followed by Lalitaaditya Muktapada in 724 ad, the greatest king of that dynasty. He defeated
the Tibetans and the Turks. His extensive conquests, up to Bengal, made Kashmir the most powerful
kingdom since the days of the Guptas. The most famous of his works is the Martanda Temple. He
died in 760 ad while the dynasty continued to rule till the middle of the ninth century ad. When
Jayapida, the grandson of Lalitaditya, lost the throne of Kashmir, he came to North Bengal.

Besides the Purannas, there are certain texts called Upapuranas, also 18 in number. Among these
works is theVishnudharmottara, a Vaishnava work from Kashmir. It deals with fine arts like
dancing, singing, painting, and sculpture besides other subjects. The Pancharatna had three distinct
versions, amongst which one was a Kashmiri one called Tantrakhyayika.

The Hinamaya school of Buddhism was divided into Vaikhasika and Sautrantika. The former was
popular in Kashmir on account of their acceptance of the Vibhashas, compiled around the second
century ad, and translated by the Chinese in 383-434 ad. These are mainly studied and preserved in
Kashmir. Vasubandhu (5th century ad) a native of Gandhara went to Kashmir and made a study of
the Vibhashas condensed them into Kosa. This Bhashya came to be regarded as one of the classical
texts by monks of Hinayana and Mahayana sects. It attained so much importance in China that
schools were started after Kosa and is still studied in China and Japan.

The Sautrantika School came into being as a bitter opponent of Vaibhasikas. The traditional
founder, Kumaralabdha, was a native of Taxila. Another great proponent was a native of Kashmir,
Srilabha, a great Sastra-master.

In the 8th century ad, Sarvajnamitra, a nephew of the King of Kashmir became one of the principal
teachers of Nalanda.

Renowned scholar, Kumarjiva, responsible for translating over 100 Sanskrit texts into Chinese, was
taken by his mother at the age of nine to Kashmir to study Buddhist literature. After completing his
studies he visited Central Asia. From 318 to 413 ad he translated texts and was the first to Interpret
Mahamaya philosophy in China. The fact that Kumarajiva was taken from Kuchi to Kashmir for the
purposes of education shows the high position held by Kashmir in the Buddhist world.

Among the Kashmiri scholars were Sanghabhuti (381-384ad), Buddhajiva (423ad), Dharmamitra
(422-424 ad). Another noble son was Gunavarman. He proceeded to Ceylon and Java and preached
Buddhism there, reaching Nanking in 431 ad.

750 to 1000 A.D.

Lalitadityas son Vajraditya who ruled from 762 a.d. is said to have sold many Kashmiris to the
Arabs of Sindh and introduced many Islamic practices in Kashmir. The Arab governor of Sind
raided Kashmir around 770 and took many slaves / prisoners. The next successor was Jayapida
referred to above. He was a brave general like his dada Lalitaditya. Away from Kashmir, he won
some battles and lost others and ruled Kashmir from 770 ad up to the closing years of the eighth
century. Thereafter, a series of Kings ruled Kashmir. The Karkota dynasty came to an end in 855-6
ad.

Avanti-varman was the founder of the Utpala dynasty. Through a series of engineering operations,
he used the river waters to increase agricultural output significantly. He was an able general who

brought neighboring areas under his control. He died in tragic circumstances to be succeeded by his
minor son Gopala-varman. His mother Suganadha ran the administration(notice the status given to
women) and later on went to become Queen. She was overthrown by the Tantrin infantry, a powerful
political organization in Kashmir. What followed was a number of kings with no significant
contributions. The Utpala dynasty came to an end in 939 ad.

Next in line was Yasakara who earned a reputation as a man of great learning. Besides being a good
administrator, he built a Matha (monastery) for the residence of students coming from Aryadesa to
Kashmir for higher education. Next important king was Parvagupta who died in 950 ad whose son
died within eight years to be succeeded by his wife Didda, a woman of keen intelligence. A no
nonsense women she got rid people of who came in her way to ascend the throne in 980 ad. (note
women power). She died in 1003 ad not before establishing the supremacy of the Lohara dynasty in
Kashmir.

A Turkish family ruled the Kabul Valley and Gandhara for a long time. Kallar, a minister,
overthrew the king to found theHindu Shahi dynasty in the second half of the ninth century a.d and
is identified as Lalliya Shahi in the Rajatarangini. Lalliya was brave and able to withstand the
invasion of King Sankaravarman of the Utpala Dynasty of Kashmir. After the death of Lalliyas son,
Kamaluka, his grandson Bhima-about 900 ad, ascended the throne. By giving his bitiya is marriage
to the King of Lohara in Poonch, he was able to exercise influence in Kashmir to build a magnificent
temple of Vishnu and call it Bhimaksava. (Has now been converted into a Muslim Ziarat). There
were a series of kings thereafter. It ends with King Jayapala who fought the Sultan of Ghazni.
Literature The Buddhist Sivasvamin has given us an epic, Kapphanabhyudaya and Haravijaya, a
long epic in fifty cantos, narrating the story of Siva killing the demon Andhaka. Was written under
Avantivarman referred to above. Another epic was Yudhishthiravijaya, narrating the story of
Yudhisthir up to his coronation. The Jain Somadeva, composed the Nitivakyamritaa which is almost
based on Kautilyas Arthasastra. There are numerous books written during this period.

Philosophy In Kashmir, we have two schools of Saivism, the Spandasastra and the
Pratyabhijnasastra. The former was founded by Vishnugupta to whom Siva revealed the Sivasutra.
The important works of the latter are Sivadrishti and Pratyabhijnasutra composed by Somananda
and his pupil Utpala. In Paramarthasara, Abhinavgupta, has combined the teaching of Advaita with
the practices of Yoga and the Bhakti of Saivism & vaishnavism in such a manner that it can be said
to strike a new path altogether.

During this period Kashmir continued to be an important centre of Buddhism which attracted
monks from western countries. The Vikramasila monastery in modern day North Bihar had six
important dvara-panditas, one of them being from Kashmir, Ratnavajra. A scholar
named Ananta translated texts and preached Buddhism in Tibet during this period.

Kashmir Saivism The system is also is also referred to as Trika that refers to the triple principle
with which the system deals vis Sivai-sakti-anu. Though the other schools of Saivism accept these
three categories, Kashmiri Saivism regards the individual soul and the world as essentially identical
with Siva and so three are reducible to one. The beginnings of Kashmir Savisim are to be traced to
the Sivasutras whose authorship is attributed to Siva himself. The sutras are said to have been

revealed to a sageVishnugupta, who lived about the end of the 8th century ad. Kallata, Somananda
were his pupils.

The Ultimate Reality in KS is Siva himself. He is pure consciousness, absolute experience and the
supreme lord. He resides in all that moves and all that does not. He is called anuttara, the reality
beyond which there is nothing. The manifestation of the universe is effected through Power (sakti) of
Siva. Sakti is Sivas creative energy. The five most important modes of Sakti are 1)chit-sakti, the
power of intelligence, which means that the Supreme shines without dependence on any other light 2)
anada-sakti, the power of independence which is bliss or joy, 3) icchchha-sakti, the power of will, 4)
jnana-sakti, the power of knowledge, 5) kriya-sakti, the power of action. Since Sankaracharya visited
Kashmir, it is likely that Advaita, influnenced the formulation of KS. Solar Cult Though
questioned recently, Kashmir may have some hand in popularizing the worship of the Sun in western
India. Towards the middle of the 8th century was built the magnificent Marthananda temple.

While resting in the Valley the learned Brahmans told Sankaracharya that unless he defeated the
learned persons of Sarada Pitha they would not accept the supremacy of his philosophy. With his
arguments he defeated all the learned men at that high seat of learning including Jains and
Buddhists. The King of Kasmira or Kashmir has made arrangements for the Ss stay at Srinagar but
the S chose to stay near an ancient Siva temple overlooking the city. Since then the temple has
popularly been known as the Sankarcharya temple.

1000 TO 1300 AD
Around 1014 ad, Mahmud Ghazni plundered the Valley for the first time. He carried him with a
large number of prisoners and converted to Islam. He returned in 1015 ad and made a fruitless
attempt to capture the hill fort of Lohkot, modern day Loharin. He failed to capture the fort in 1021
ad too.

The Lohara dynasty happened around 1003 referred to above, Samgramaraja was the first king.
There were a series of non consequential events, kings thereafter up to the second Lohara
dynasty started by Uchchala around 1105 ad. Vantideva (1165-1172) was the last king of this
dynasty. After some more kings, in 1301 ad, Suhadeva asserted his supremacy over Kashmir but had
to face Dulucha, commander in chief of the King of Kandhar who took a large number of Kashmiris
as slaves. At the same time, Rinchana, the son of a Western Tibetan chief, invaded it from the south.
By killing one Ramachandra he became the undisputed ruler of Kashmir in 1320. An able ruler, he
was killed by his enemies. Suhadeva behaved like a coward all along and died in 1320. Rinchanas
wife Kota became head of Kashmir. Unwilling to trust her minister Sahamera, she appointed Bhatta
Bhikshana. Unhappy at being sidelined Sahamers murdered Bhatta, imprisoned the queen and
became King in 1339 ad under the name Shams-ud-din. This marked the advent of Muslim rule in
1338 ad.

Literature Kshemendra, the 11th century poet of king Ananta of Kashmir, gives us the epitomes of
two great epics in his Bharata-manjari and Ramayana-manjari. His Dasavatara-charita describes
the ten incarnations of Vishnu. The Haracharitachintamnai by Jayadratha is important to the extent
it embodies some and new Saiva practices and legends some of which are directly linked to the places
of pilgrimage in Kashmir. There were a number of other learned writers / poets during this period.

There was an exodus of Buddhist missionaries from this region to Central Asia and Tibet so much
that the valley became some sort of a holy land for Northern Buddhists. In 980 ad two missionaries
went to China to translate scriptures from Sanskrit to Chinese. There were two centers of Buddhist
learning, Ratnagupta and Ratnarasmi that figure amongst the greatest centers of Buddhist learning
during this period.

Buddhism produced such a salutary effect on the people of the valley that even some kings insisted on
the practice of Ahimsa. The Saivite schools that came up in the 9th and 10th centuries had been
influenced by Buddhism. Saivism continued to flourish in Kashmir.

It is a very significant fact that the Himalayan countries of Kashmir, Nepal and Tibet came out of the
mountain seclusion and enter the arena of Indian history and culture, almost simultaneously, from
the seventh century onwards. Kashmir maintained this intimate association till it was overrun by the
Muslims while Nepal, Tibet until very recent times. The Sufi saints appeared during this period, the
first of whom was Shaikh Ismail of Lahore. The greatest saint was Khvaja Muinuddin of Ajmer.

1300 to 1526 AD
The history of Kashmir was given in three Sanskrit chronicles ie from the middle of the 12th century
to the time it was conquered by Akbar. The earliest one was by Jonaraja. The Muslim chronicles are
based on these writings.

The ascent of the first Muslim ruler in Kashmir in1339 ad was described above. (Advent of the Shah
Miri dynasty). After a series of kings came Shihab-ud-din who by various conquests restored
Kashmir some of its glory. He possessed a spirit of toleration seldom displayed by any Muslim ruler
in India.

The next important king was Sikandar whose reign marks a turning point in the history of Kashmir
from a religious/social perspective. A large number of fanatical Muslims from outside the country
came, occupied offices of the state and became the kings friends. Idols were destroyed; temples
demolished, attempts were made to kill the Brahmins. His son Mir Khan continued with the torture
of Brahmins.

Shahi Khan became the next king in 1420. He is the greatest king of Kashmir. The state became
prosperous and he treated theHindus well. He was well versed in Persian and Sanskrit, had the
Mahabharat translated into Persian. His court was a meeting place of Hindu Muslim scholars,
poets. He died in 1470 ad. From there on till 1530, there were a number of kings with treachery and
instability being the name of the game.

The bulk of the Sanskrit literature during this period came from Bengal, South and Western
India. Kashmir recedes into the background. The Sufi movement developed during this period. The
Muslim Sufis were men of deep religious feelings who believed in soul, a spiritual substance, different
from the body but akin to the universal soul (sounds like Vedanta). They regarded inward light or
intuitive experience of far more importance than dogmatic formalism of the orthodox type and think
love to be the only means of reaching God.

1526 to 1700 AD
A series of kings ruled Kashmir till 1540. It was then decided by Humayuns generals mainly Mirza

Haidar to invade Kashmir. He conquered it in 1540. His description of Hindu temples make
delightful reading but he was also a bigoted Sunni. Unable to control the various feudatories he
fought them and died in one such war in 1551. There were a series of kings between 1551 and 1579
till Yusuf Shah became king. Oscillating between making peace overtures and being aggressive he
submitted to Akbars forces in 1586. Unhappy with the treaty between his lieuftant Bhagwan Das
and Yusuf, Akbar imprisoned Yusuf. His imprisonment inspite of a promise of safe custody is a dark
blot on the character of the chivalrous Akbar. His son Yaqub continued fighting Akbar till he was
defeated. Restored the kingdom, he did not administer it well compelling Akbar to have Mirza
Yusuf conquer it in 1589.

The reigns of Jahangir and Shah Jahan did not see much interaction with Kashmir. During
Aurangzibs stay in Punjab in 1674-75 officials converted a large number of Hindus to Islam. In
order to infuse courage in Hindus, Guru Tegh Bahadur visited East Punjab. This created confidence
in the minds of people. Enthused, the Kashmiri leaders told the Guru of their plight. He advised
them to inform Aurangzeb to convert the Guru first and then all of them would embrace Islam.
Surely Guru did not convert and paid for his life by being beheaded on 11/11/1675.

Literature Not much is known about Kashmiri literature prior to the 15th century. The poetic
compositions of Lalla Didi is the oldest specimen. During the reign of Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, a
number of Sanskrit, Persian and Kashmiri writers flourished but their works are not known. During
the 16th century, the exquisite lyrics of Habba Khotun were very popular. The Muslim conquest of
large parts of Northern India meant that places like Kashmir, once an important center of Sanskrit
learning, hardly produced any noteworthy work after the end of Hindu rule.

Religion The Qadriya school of Sufism which traces its origin to Shaikh Abdul Qadir of Gilan who
lived in Baghdad in the 8th century was introduced during the reign of Akbar by Shaikh Abdul
Haqq. One of its famous exponents was Mulla Shah of Badakshan who settled down in
Kashmir. Other Sufi saints were Saiyyid Ali Hamdani and Sayyid Bilal Shah.

1707 to 1818 AD
Jammu The hill states lying between the Indus and the Ravi fell into two political groups. The first
was Kashmir ruled by Muslim chiefs and the second embraced Jammu. Of the 22 states in Jammu,
eight were ruled by Muslims and the balance by Hindus. Jammu had been under the rule of a Rajput
dynasty since olden times. With the decline of the Mughal power, the Raja of Jammu stopped paying
tribute to the Mughals. Jammu was under Ranjit Deo from 1750 to 1781. He helped Ahmad Shah
Abdali conquer Kashmir in 1752 and 1762. During his reign the city prospered and became an
important center of trade. About 1770, Ranjit Deo submitted to the Sikhs.

Kashmir After Aurangzebs death the decline of Mughal power did not affect Kashmir till Ahmad
S Abdali conquered it in1752. The Afghans ruled it till 1819. As long as they got their annual tribute
of Rs 20 lacs a year, the Afghan king did not intefere in the administration. There were 28 governors
during Afghan rule of which there was only one Hindu, Sukhjiwan. In 1753 he was the first Hindu
chief of Kashmir since 1320 ie in 433 yrs. He was a brave soldier, wise administrator, scholar and
poet. His liberal and sympathetic outlook won the hearts of all. He fell out with Ahmad Shah Abdali
who invaded Kashmir with the help of Ranjit Deo, the ruler of Jammu. Sukhjivan was captured,
blinded and trampled to death by horses.

After this Afghan rule was a tale of atrocities. Sunni Shia riots broke out in 1763-65. Mir Hazar
Khan in 1793 sewed up Hindu leaders in gunny bags and threw them in the Dal Lake to be drowned.
Ata M K Alkozai forcibly seized pretty girls to satisfy his lust. Many parents were forced to shave the
heads of their daughters rather than allow them to be molested and degraded. This forced many
Pandit families to migrate to Rajauri, Poonch and Delhi. As a result of oppression, great unrest
spread in the province. It was conquered by Maharaj Ranjit Singh in 1819.

1818 to 1905 AD
Jammu was conferred as a jagir to the family of Gulab Singh by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Among the
three traitors in The First Sikh War was the Dogra Chief Gulab Singh. As a reward for siding with
the Brits he was given the state of Jammu and Kashmir in 1846 on payment of fifty lakhs rupees in
cash.

The reign of Ranavira Singh (ascended in 1857) witnessed a great amount of enthuiasm for Sanskrit.
Sivasankara compiled the Dharmasastra Digest, Vasudeva wrote the Chittapradipa amongst others.
The king appears as the sponsor of no less than thirty two branches of Sanskrit literature. Will write
about the Dogra rule later.

From the above we can see how Kashmir has changed from a center of Buddhist / Sanskrit / Saivite
learning to the orgy of violence that it has been for most of its last nearly seven hundred year history.
Yet our government believes that sacrificing more innocent civilian and army lives is the only way
that peace will be restored!

Every one keeps on holding misgovernance being responsible for the terrorism in Kashmir. Is the
Kashmir Valley the only part of the country where there is misgovernance? What about Jammu,
Ladakh, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh. Can any one tell us why there is no insurgency there? Secondly,
the local administration has always been in the hands of the Kashmiris. Being part of the
government, are they not responsible for misgovernance.

This essay is based on inputs from The History and Culture of Indian People by the Bhartiya Vidya
Bhavan.
Long Live Sanatan Dharam

By a Well Wisher

PRINCELY J&Ks ACCESSION TO INDIA

From How & Why to War, the UN Stalemate & Constitutional Democracy

J&K was the biggest among the 562 princely Indian States that comprised two-fifths of the India
under colonial rule for well over a century. Unlike the remaining 60 per cent area constituting the
British India Provinces, these States possessed sovereignty in various degrees depending on their
individual treaties with His Majestys government; broadly speaking, they had a system of personal
government while being under the overall suzerainty of the British Crown.

The British Parliaments Indian Independence Act, 1947 (which received Royal Assent on 18th July
that year) created two independent Dominions of India and Pakistan made up of the erstwhile British

India Provinces. The Act freed the princely States from the Crowns paramountcy but denied them
dominion status while permitting them to accede to India or to Pakistan.

The terms of accession were determined by the then Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten.
Considering their past status, it was agreed that each of these States would sign an Instrument of
Accession whereby they would concede the subjects of defence, external affairs and
communications to the appropriate Dominion, leaving themselves a fair degree of independence.
However, the Viceroy made it clear to these States that there were certain geographical and practical
factors which precluded their total independence. The Instrument of Accession document was
prepared by the States Department under Sardar Patel and was got approved from the princely
rulers by Mountbatten. J&K was, along with Hyderabad, one of the only two princely States that
dilly dallied with their decision on accession.

In fairness to Maharaja Hari Singh, it was not easy for him to come to a decision. If he acceded to
Pakistan, the non-Muslims of Jammu and Ladakh as well as considerable sections of Muslims led by
the National Conference Party would definitely have resented such action. On the other hand,
accession to India would have provoked adverse reactions in Gilgit and certain regions contiguous to
Pakistan. Further, the road communications were with Pakistan and forest resources that constituted
a considerable portion of the States revenue were being transported by rivers flowing into Pakistan.
Besides, the Maharaja was toying with the notion of an Independent Jammu & Kashmir.

A cascading flow of events forced the hand of the Maharaja.

On 15th October 1947 J&Ks Prime Minister complained to the British Prime Minister that the
Pakistan Government had discontinued supplies of essential articles, that the railway service from
Sialkot to Jammu had been stopped without reason, and that the whole of the State border from
Gurdaspur to Gilgit was threatened with invasion that had already begun in Poonch. No reply was
received from the British Prime Minister.
On 18th October 1947 the J&K State sent a protest to Jinnah, Pakistans Governor-General,
against the continuing raids and the stoppage of essential supplies. Jinnah replied on the 20th
October taking offence at the language of the protest and attributing the disruption of supplies to
alleged widespread disturbances in East Punjab.
An all-out invasion of J&K started on 22nd October 1947. The main raiders column consisted of
an estimated five thousand tribesmen including soldiers of the Pakistan Army on leave and led by
a few regular officers who knew Kashmir well. Garhi and Domel were quickly captured and the
gates of Muzaffarabad were reached. On 24th October, Mahura Power House supplying electricity to
Srinagar was taken over; the capital of the State was plunged in darkness.

J&Ks day of destiny had finally come. Its Maharaja sought Indias military help and signed the
Instrument of Accession on 26th October 1947 to enable that help to be rendered. As GovernorGeneral of the Dominion of India, Lord Mountbatten signed his acceptance of the Instrument deed
on the next day.

In the early hours of 27th October 1947 began an operation the like of which had never before
occurred in the history of warfare. With the wholehearted co-operation of the civilian air companies,
over a hundred civilian aircraft and Royal Indian Air Force planes were mobilized to fly troops,

equipment and supplies to Srinagar. Some of the pilots flew did several sorties in the course of the
day; the ground crew rose to the occasion.

On 7th November the Indian troops won the battle of Shaltang, thereby removing all threats to
Srinagar. Three days later, Baramulla was recaptured. The process of retreat by the enemy on all
fronts began.

With the Indian Army finding that the only way the raiders could be completely removed from
Kashmir was by attacking their bases and sources of supply in Pakistan, India warned Pakistan on
22nd December 1947 that unless Pakistan denied her assistance and bases to the invaders, India
would be compelled to take such action.

At that critical stage in J&Ks history, 53 years ago, Lord Mountbatten urged our PM, Jawaharlal
Nehru, about the overwhelming need for caution and restraint; he stressed how embroilment in
war with Pakistan would undermine the whole of Nehrus independent foreign policy and
progressive social aspirations. And, on Mountbattens advice, Nehru decided to lodge a complaint to
the United Nations Security Council. That was done on 31st December 31, 1947.

Invoking Article 35 of the UN Charter, India appealed to the Security Council to ask Pakistan to
undertake several measures that would end Pakistans illegal act of aggression in J&K.

On 13th August 1948 the UN passed a resolution whereby the future of J&K would be determined by
a democratic plebiscite under the UNs auspices but after Pakistan first of all withdrew its troops
from the State.

Pakistan has not complied with that condition till date. Accordingly, it remains possession of about
one-third of the original J&K that was Maharaja Gulab Singhs at the end of 1846. And, accordingly,
even after millions of words of debate stretching over years, the UN has not resolved the issue even as
India has been left sucking the wounds of cross-border terrorism while also being the recipient of
hectoring from several sources including Indian journalists who have never opened the pages of
history documenting the issue.

The only but major saving grace of the last 53 years events in J&K has been the States emergence
from hereditary rule to a democratic entity with a Constitution of its own framed by a Constituent
Assembly elected in August 1951 on the basis of universal adult franchise, thereby fulfilling an old
wish of the States people. Section 3 of that J&K Constitution, 1957, is a matter of pride for every
genuine Indian. It says that The State of Jammu and Kashmir is and shall be an integral part of the
Union of India. What is more, the States Constitution prohibits any amendment of that Section 3.
So whats this plebiscite the Pakis and, alas, several Indians, keep talking about?

What was the American attitude towards Kashmir at the time of Independence?

Refer article by Narendra Singh Sarila published on the edit page of The Times of India, Mumbai
edition, dated 14th August 2000.

That article, based on US State Departments secret archives, establishes the following:

In October 1948, General George Marshall, US Secretary of State, was convinced that J&Ks
accession to India was valid and he therefore refused to toe the British Foreign Secretarys line of
recognizing Pakistans occupation of J&Ks northern territories including Gilgit.
Dean Rusk, Assistant to General Marshall, upheld the validity of J&Ks accession to another
British delegation that visited him in 1948.
It was Britain that played the perfidious role of letting Pakistan continue to occupy J&Ks northern
territories as a bulwark against the feared invasion by the Soviet Union, the argument being that
Islam is incompatible with Communism.
The change in US policy towards Indias legally rightful claim to the entire J&K State came only
after Nehru was persuaded by Mountbatten to agree to a cease-fire and to consider partitioning J&K
leaving Gilgit in Pakistan.

Charges against Kashmir Valley Clique!

The charges against the Kashmiri clique are many. Writing in the May 2000 issue of Voice of
Jammu Kashmir magazine, J.N.Bhat, retired judge of the J&K State High Court, alleged that:

1. Thousands of plots carved out in the suburbs of Jammu have been allotted to Kashmiris, all the
beneficiaries belonging to one particular community.
2. In some localities of Jammu city, water is supplied after a gap of three to four days, and not even
enough of it to quench the thirst of the people. Obviously, funds got for development get misused.
3. In the Jammu region, Hindu minorities of Doda and Poonch districts have been tortured and
many of them have found, according to sources, conversion the only option, though they prefer death
to forced conversion.

Another eminent person who has made more serious accusations is Hari Om, Professor of History in
Jammu University, and a member of Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR). In a recent
newspaper article, the Professor complains that -

1. Though Kashmiris constitute roughly 22 per cent of the States total population, the mechanism
cleverly devised by Sheikh Abdullahs National Conference Party in 1951 enables it to capture nearly
half of the total Assembly and Lok Sabha seats. The trick lies in 46 Assembly segments having been
created in the small Valley as against 41 segments combined in Jammu and Ladakh regions that are
far bigger and more populated than the Valley. This mechanism is apparently contrary to the rules
framed under the Indian Parliaments Representation of Peoples Act and those under the relevant
State Act of 1957.
2. Kashmiris hold over 2, 30,000 positions out of a nearly 2, 40,000 positions in government and semigovernment organizations in the Valley. In addition, they corner nearly 25 per cent of the jobs in the
regional services of Jammu and Ladakh.
3. All the professional and technical institutions, universities and all the big public sector industrial
units like the HMT, television, telephone and cement factories located in the Valley are the sole
preserve of the Kashmiris. Besides, they manipulate for themselves more than 50 per cent of the seats
in Jammus ill-equipped and under-staffed medical and engineering college, and the Agricultural
University in R.S.Pura. No such institution exists in Ladakh.
4. The Kashmiris control trade, commerce, transport and industry, and own big orchards as well as
landed estates. None of them is without a house. Likewise, the per capita expenditure on woolen
clothes in Kashmir is perhaps the highest in the world. Till date, none in Kashmir has, unlike in UP,

Bihar and Orissa, died either of hunger or cold.

5. Interestingly, yet not surprisingly, a vast majority of the Kashmiris don't pay even a single penny
to the State in the form of revenue due to it. It is Jammu and Ladakh that contribute over 90 per cent
to the State exchequer, but a major part of this money is spent not in the extremely backward and
underdeveloped Jammu and Ladakh but in the highly prosperous and developed Kashmir Valley.

As a result of the above, Prof. Hari Om says that it is the Kashmiris and Kashmiris everywhere and
all others in the State exist nowhere.

The dismal scenario above has apparently prevailed so long that even editors of our national daily
newspapers refer most casually to J&K merely as Kashmir, forgetting the fundamental fact that
J&K is not Kashmir and that Kashmir is not J&K

FALSE TRUTHS UNMASKED by a well wisher.

A The India Today issue of August 14 would have us believe that J&K acceded to India in 1947 in
return for Nehru's promise of plebiscite and Article 370's nomenclature of "prime minister" of J&K
was changed to "chief minister" in 1964. The Centre extended jurisdiction over J&K in 1953. Sheikh
Abdullah died in 1983 and his son Farooq became J&K's chief minister in that year.

Facts

1. Firstly, J&K's accession to India had nothing to do with the promise of plebiscite by Nehru or
anyone else. It was instead directly linked to the tribal invasion from Pakistan that threatened the
very survival of Srinagar city, forcing its ruler to ask India's military help and offer accession for
that purpose. And Nehru's promise of plebiscite was made in his All India Radio broadcast of
December 23, 1949. (It is a different matter that according to a former chief justice of India, M C
Mahajan, the Instrument of Accession, designed by the British and the Indian Independence Act,
1947, of the British Parliament
gave no legal or constitutional authority to Nehru or Mountbatten, the then governor general, to
make that promise).
2. The draft Constitution of India was presented to our Constituent Assembly for debate in February
1948 and, therefore, Article 370 being promised in 1947 is poppycock.
3. The Centre's jurisdiction over J&K was extended, not in 1953, but on January 26, 1950, by a
Presidential Order issued under Article 370.
4. The nomenclature of 'prime minister' of J&K was changed to 'chief minister' not in 1964 but April
1965 by the sixth amendment to the J&K State Constitution, 1957.
5. Finally, Sheikh Abdullah died, not in 1983, but on September 8, 1982. Similarly, his son Farooq
became J&K's chief minister, not in 1983, but on September 9, 1982.

Had the India Today correspondent read a authoritative book on J&K like that of Chief Justice, Dr
A S Anand, (done his PhD on the subject approved by London University.) he would have saved the
need to repeatedly clarify. But the media in our country!

B. Shekhar Gupta, editor-in-chief of the The Indian Express. In his column of August 5, one of his
brazen accusations is that "We had defied the UN resolutions on a plebiscite."

Facts 1. India has never defied the UN resolution on plebiscite. Rather, it was Pakistan that did so by
just not fulfilling the resolution's first condition requiring it to withdraw its tribesmen and nationals
from the J&K state territory it had invaded for the purpose of fighting in October 1947 (resolution
adopted on August 13, 1948, by UN Commission for India and Pakistan).
2. Gupta's second accusation is that, "We had consistently and calculatedly diluted the autonomy
promised to Kashmir under the Instrument of Accession and Article 370."

Facts 2. That charge is based on a lack of comprehension of the essence of Article 370 which, while
guaranteeing the sanctity of the accession deed, also permitted an extension of the Indian
Parliament's laws to J&K with the concurrence of the government of that state or in consultation
with it. Let it be known here that Article 370, as it stands, had the approval of the four
representatives from J and K appointed on the Indian Constituent Assembly in June 1949 by the
Sadar-i-Riyasat on the advice of his council of ministers. Let it be known too that all the
parliamentary laws extended to J&K so far have the latter's nod. Let it be known finally that the
enlargement of various provisions of Indian laws to J&K via Article 370 was upheld by that state's
high court in 1959 and by the Supreme Court in 1961 as well as in 1970.

C. J N Dixit - he advocates autonomy to J&K in the framework of the Sheikh Abdullah-Indira

Gandhi agreement of 1975. But in summing up the contents of that accord, he says that one its
clauses laid down that with regard to those provisions of the Indian Constitution as had been made
applicable to J&K, only those affecting the unity of India were unalterable, thereby implying that all
others of those provisions were alterable.

Facts 1. But such an open general licence just doesn't exist in the text of that agreement published in
The Statesman, Calcutta, of February 25, 1975. That text says clearly that only alterations and
modifications to such provisions of the Indian Constitution as had been made applicable to J&K can
be repealed after considering the merit of each; those provisions made applicable to J&K without
modifications were unalterable.

Dixit conceals more than he reveals with his assertion that Maharaja Hari Singh's decision to accede
to India did not represent the view of the Kashmiri people. This is another of those opinions from a
reputedly high source that harms India's cause. Under the monarchical system, the act of accession is
the prerogative of the prince and that his people had no legal right to be consulted on the issue of
accession. He also fails to mention that when the duly elected Constituent Assembly of J&K
unanimously ratified in February 1954 the state's accession to India, the people of J&K had endorsed
their Maharaja's action of October 1947.

Our next intellectual in the list is Praful Bidwai, professional journalist, anti-nuclear activist, and
anti-Hindutva warrior. In a round about way, so typical of committed leftists, he supports autonomy
to J&K as a way to reverse the damage allegedly caused by New Delhis repeated failure to fulfill its
constitutional commitments and political promises over the last 53 years. In that signed article in
The Times of India of 29th July, he does not elucidate that charge but cites how Delhi had effected
42 amendments to the Constitution of J&K, no less, and some of them without legal warrant and
propriety.

Its a marvel, really, the way these learned leftists like Bidwai produce fiction from fact. And the
facts are that (i) President of India has issued 43 orders from 14th May, 1954 making several Central
Acts applicable to J&K (ii) 24 amendments, not 42, have been made in the J&K Constitution till 13th
April, 1997, and all of them have been made by the State Legislative Assembly, not by Government
of India and (iii) since the 43 Presidential Orders were issued as per the procedure of State
government consultation/concurrence set out in Article 370, not a single one of them can be tainted as
being illegal or improper.

What is truly a marvel about all the shallow and superficial intellectualism we have seen in this
commentary today is the unwillingness of opinion makers to open books and dig deep? The
reputation of being this or that seems to be license enough to just sit at the lap top and fire away at
the keyboard. And never mind even if the subject is as sensitive as J&K, the cause of so much
heartburn and fighting and killings all these 53 years.

It is also interesting to speculate why, in all the sound and fury of State autonomy, nobody is
questioning why Karnataka and Tamil Nadu didnt even ask the Central governments assistance in
securing actor Rajkumars release and capturing Veerappan once and for all. Or is that what State
autonomy is all about?

Geography
The three major regions of Jammu & Kashmir are the Ladakh, Jammu and the Kashmir valley all of
which are rich in natural landscapes, religions as well as diversity in people. The state is divided into 2 main
divisions (Jammu and Kashmir) and 14 smaller districts for administrative purposes. Most of Kashmir
valley is covered with thickly forested mountains, lakes & waterways as well as stepped/terraced fields.
Jammu region is composed of plains, mountains and the foothills boasting of the famous hilltop shrine,
Mata Vaishno Devi. Coming onto Ladakh, it accounts for nearly two-third of the area and is essentially a
cold desert. This region is encompassed by several oasis villages and a couple of ancient Buddhist
monasteries.
There are several low lying basins in the region; for instance the Poonch Valley, Tawi Valley, Sind Valley,
Chenab Valley and the Liddar Valley are some of the notable ones; but the most notable one of all is the
basin of Kashmir which spans 100 kilometers wide and 15520.3 sq. Kilometers in area. The average height
of the Kashmir valley is around 1700 meters above sea level. The River Jhelum along with its tributaries
flows through this Kashmir valley. A few other major rivers flowing through this region include the Indus
and the Chenab.
Location
The expanse of J&K is over an area of 222235 sq kilometers. Jammu and Kashmir is encircled by China in
the north, by an autonomous region of Tibet in the east, by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and
Punjab in the south, and by the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi towards the west. Towards the North Western
side of J&K, Afghanistan is located.
Jammu & Kashmir was divided into two parts during 1947 and again in the 1965 Indo-China war a large
part of the land was severed. The state today consists of three parts namely, the Indian controlled Kashmir
(IcK), the Pakistan controlled Kashmir (PcK) and the China controlled Kashmir (CcK). Pakistani

administration first divided thePcK into Azad (Free) Kashmir (AK) and Northern Areas (NA); later it
donated a large chunk of this land (Shaksam valley of 5180 sq km) to China during its border agreement in
1963; although according to the signed document, the Sino-Pak agreement ceding a part of Kashmir is
provisional and that it will be renegotiated with China once the Kashmir dispute is settled.
Thus in order of percentages, 48 percent of the territory is under Indian occupation, 35 per cent is under
Pakistan and rest 17 per cent is under the control of China.
Climate
The weather conditions of Jammu and Kashmir vary greatly owing to its irregular topography. In the
southern regions around Jammu, the climate is typically monsoonal, though the region is sufficiently far
west compared to the average 40 to 50 mm (1.6 to 2 inches) of rain per months during the months of
January and March. In the hot seasons, Jammu town is very blistering and can reach temperatures of 104
F whilst in Aug and July, very heavy and erratic rainfall occurs with monthly extremes of up to 650
millimetres (25.5 inches). By September, rainfall declines, and by beginning of October, conditions are hot
and extremely dry, with minimal rainfall and temperatures of around 29 C (84 F).
Across from the Pir Panjal range, the South Asian monsoons are no longer a factor and most of the
precipitation occurs in the spring from the southwest cloud bands. Due to its closeness to the Arabian Sea,
Srinagar receives as much as 25 inches (635 millimetres) of rain from here, with the wettest months being
March through May with around 85 millimetres (3.3 inches) per month. Across from the main Himalaya
Range, even the southwest cloud bands break up, and the climate of Ladakh and Zanskar regions is
extremely dry and cold. Annual precipitation here is only around 100 mm (4 inches) per year and humidity
is also very low. This region lies above 3,000 metres (9,750 (ft)) above sea level as such the winters are
extremely cold. In Zanskar regions, the average January temperatures are -20 C (-4 F) to the extremes
reaching up to -40 C (-40 F). All the rivers freeze during the time and locals carry out river crossings
because of their high levels from glacier, which melt in summers inhibiting their crossing. During summers
in Ladakh and Zanskar the days are typically warmer around 20 C (68 F) but due to the low humidity and
the thin air nights can still be quite cold.
Soils
In Jammu and Kashmir the soils are generally loamy with very little clay content in them. Poor in lime
content but with a higher concentration of magnesia; the soils are treated with chemical fertilisers and
enriched with green manure legumes before beginning with cultivation on them. There is sufficiently high
nitrogen content and organic matter in the soil of Kashmir due to animal excretion, natural vegetation,
crops stubble and plant residue. Kashmir showcases different kinds of the earth like the Floating garden
soils, Surzamin, Lemb, Nambaal (Peats), Sekil (Sandy), Bahil (Loam), Gurti (clay) as well as Karewa soils.
Forests
Forests are one of the most important resources of Jammu and Kashmir. Spread over 2,236 (sq). Kms of
demarcated forest area; it accounts for 20% of the total geographical area of the state on this side of the
Line of Control. More than 99% of forest area is confined to the province of Jammu & Kashmir only, with
the largest area of 5848 sq. kms in the district of Doda and smallest area of 481 sq. kms. in the district of
Budgam. Over 19,236 (sq). Kms is under coniferous softwood (Pine) and another 946 sq. km is under nonconiferous softwood.

In the coniferous category, Fir accounts for 3355 sq. km, whereas Kail for about 1874 sq. km, Chir accounts
for around 1773 sq. km and finally Deodar for 1122 sq. km. Since forests require an abundance of moisture
in the soil, they are found in the areas where there is sufficient rainfall or along the banks of the rivers
where water is easily available. In the State of Jammu and Kashmir forests are mainly found where annual
rainfall is about 100 cms. However, scrub forests do occur in regions, where rainfall is less than 100 cm.
The valley of Kashmir has deciduous vegetation. The Walnut, Mulbery, Partal, Chinar, Kail Fir, Pine,
Poplar, Deodar, and several others grow all across the valley region. Baramulla & Anantnag has 71% and
60% of their area covered by dense forests respectively.
Bigger forests provide timber and fire-wood in the valley. Grassy meadows in the forest provide fodder for
the cattle. Herbs like the menthol, digitalis, balladona, the hyoseyamus are under hot growth. Besides there
also are rubus, trilliu, polygola, podophyllum, hops and askuth that grow in abundance in the region.
Production houses and mainstream industries across India like herbal drugs, wood carving, furniture,
joinery sports goods, paper, silk industry and manufacture of agricultural implements, as well as,
construction of railway sleepers depend mainly on these forests.
The thick undergrowth in the forests seen here store the rain water and allow it to flow slowly. This is
because the rivers that have their sources in these forests do not run dry in the hot summer seasons, as well
as, to help check floods during the rainy season.
Sonamarg, Pahalgam and Gulmarg, are some of the famous places. Apart from these there are Kokarnag,
Verinag and Achhabbal that are some of the famous health resorts located in the thick forests of the region.
Mountains and Their Passes
Mountains have a special geographical importance to the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Kashmir valley
is enclosed by high mountain chains on all the sides except for a few passes and a narrow gorge at
Baramulla. There are the Siwalik hills to the south and very lofty mountains in the north; the peaks of
which always remain covered with snow. Volcanic mountains that caused havoc in the past are also seen in
the geography of the State.
Some of the famous mountains and their passes are:
1. Karakoram (8615.17 M) and Kyunlun Ranges
Both these mountains ranges lie towards the north and north-east of Jammu & Kashmir, separating it from
Russian Turkistan and Tibet. In the north-west, Hindukush range spreads towards Karakoram Range that
have the K2 peak considered being the second highest mountain peak in the world. High peaks of
Gashorbram and Masharbram also lie here. People of Ladakh travel through Karakoram pass that is 5352
metres high and the Nubra pass while going to Turkistan and Khattan in China. Tibet can be reached from
Ladakh through Kharudangala pass and Changla pass.
2. Zanskar Range
It lies at about 600 meters above sea level and separates Indus Valley from the valley of Kashmir;
preventing the south-west cold winds from reaching Kashmir. The Ladakh region terminates at the Zojila
pass (3529 metres) from where begins the valley of Kashmir. The Poat pass (5716 metres) lying in this very
range is also another famous mountain pass in this region.
3. Nun Kun Range

Lying between the Ladakh and Kashmir border, it is 7055.1 metres above mean sea level. To its south-east
lies Kulu and towards the north-west, Kargil tehsil of Ladakh is situated. One has to pass through
Bawalocha pass (4891 metres) in order to reach Leh (Ladakh) from Kulu. In 1947, when Kargil was
attacked by Pakistan, Indian forces, arms and ammunition were sent to Ladakh through this pass.
4. Nanga Parbat Range
This range spreading in Gilgit with height of about 8107.68 metres above mean sea level is utterly devoid of
vegetation. It was conquered by the Italian mountaineers in 1954. This region is now under the unlawful
possession of Pakistan.
5. Harmukh Mountain
A range of the Himalayas situated at a height of 5141.3 metres above mean sea level lying towards
Bandipore between the River Jhelum and Kishan Ganga valley.
6. Burzil Mountain
It bifurcates Kashmir and Ladakh on which theBurzil pass is situated at a height of 3200 metres.
7. Amarnath Mountain
Famous for its holy Amarnath Cave, situated at a height of 5372 metres above sea level it is visited by
thousands of pilgrims every year on Rakshabandan. One has to pass the Mahagunas pass (1475 metres) on
their way to Shri Amarnathji. Gwasharan (5450 metres) is situated in the Lidar valley towards Pahalgam;
on which lies the famous Kolahi glacier. Sheeshnag Mountain also spreads in this valley. It is called
Sheshnag as its peaks resemble the heads of seven big snakes.
8. Toshmaidan
Toshmaindan (4270 metres) and Kajinag (3700 metres) mountains lie in the Inner Himalayas. They remain
snow-covered throughout the year, but during summers when the snow melts, it flows down into the Jhelum
river.
9. Afarwat
This mountain spreads through the Gulmarg valley. The famous Alpatharspring lies on its peak, from
which Nullah Nagal comes out and flows down into the WullarLake.
10. Pirpanjal Range
Separating Kashmir valley from the outer Himalayas, and this is about 2621 Kms in length and 50 Kms in
the breadth. The famous Banihal pass (2832 metres) lies in the shape of a tunnel on its peak; covered with
snow during winters making it impassable. At a height of 2200 metres above sea level a new tunnel 'Jawahar
Tunnel' was constructed that is 2825 metres long; it was opened to traffic on 22nd Dec 1956.
On the other end of this range, Baramula pass (1582 metres) and Hajipir pass(2750 metres) are located.
During 1965 Indo-Pak war, the Indian army had occupied this pass which was later handed over to
Pakistan.
11. Siwalik Range

These hills extend from the north of the outer plains to middle mountains of the State reaching heights
between 600 metres to 1500 metres.
12. Volcanic Mountains
Soyamji' (1860 metres) is one active peak in the North Machhipura (Handwara); that erupted for about 13
months in 1934. The other 'Kharewa' peak is a dormant one lying in Tehsil Pehalgam.

General Administrative Profile of Jammu and Kashmir State

A) Name of State: Jammu and Kashmir
B) Total Geographical Area: 2,22,236 sq. kms.
C) Number of Cities with Million Plus Population: Two (2) (Srinagar & Jammu)
D) Number of Districts: Twenty Two (22)
E) Number of Tehsils: Eighty Two (82)
F) Number of Blocks: One hundred and forty three (143)
G) Number of Panchayats: Four thousand one hundred twenty eight (4128)
H) Number of Urban Agglomerations: Seven (7)
I) Number of Villages: Six thousand five hundred fifty one (6551)
J) Number of Towns: Eighty Six (86)
K) District Wise Name, Area, No. of Tehsils, Blocks and Panchayats
Table 1: District Wise Name, Area, No. of Tehsils, Blocks and Panchayats, 2011-12
S.No

District

Area (sq.kms.)

No. of Tehsils

No. of Blocks

No. Panchayats

1)

Srinagar

1183

10

2)

Ganderbal

1045

103

3)

Budgam

1371

283

4)

Anantnag

2917

297

5)

Kulgam

1067

159

6)

Pulwama

1086

186

7)

Shopian

312

103

8)

Baramulla

4190

12

365

9)

Bandipora

398

114

10)

Kupwara

2379

11

356

11)

Leh (Ladakh)

82665

93

12)

Kargil

14036

95

13)

Jammu

2336

296

14)

Samba

910

100

15)

Kathua

2502

244

16)

Poonch

1674

189

17)

Rajouri

2630

295

18)

Udhampur

2473

204

19)

Reasi

1700

147

20)

Doda

2985

231

21)

Kishtwar

7737

134

22)

Ramban

1346

124

Total

222236

81

143

4128

L) District wise name of Tehsils and Blocks

Table 2: District wise name of Tehsils and Blocks, 2011-12
S.No

District

Tehsils

Blocks

1)

Srinagar

Srinagar (N), Srinagar(S)

Srinagar

2)

Ganderbal

Ganderbal, Lar, Kangan

Ganderbal, Lar, Kangan, Wakura

3)

Budgam

Budgam, Chadoora, Khag,

Beerwah,
Chrarisharief,
Khansahib

Budgam, Khag, Chadoora, Narbal, B.K pora,

Khansahib, Beerwah, Magam

4)

Anantnag

Anantnag,
Kokernag,
Dooru,
Bijbehara,
Pahalgam, Shangus

Shahabad, Achabal, Shangus, Breng, Qazigund,

Khovripora, Dechnipora

5)

Kulgam

Kulgam, Devsar, D.H Pora

Kulgam, D.H Pora, Quimoh, Pahloo, Devsar

6)

Pulwama

Pulwama, Tral, Awantipora,

Pampore

Tral, Kakapora, Keller (Partly), Pulwama,

Pampore

7)

Shopian

Shopian

Shopian, Keller(Partly)

8)

Baramulla

Baramulla, Pattan, Uri,

Tangmarg, Boniyar, Sopore,
Rafiabad

Baramulla, Pattan, Tangmarg, Uri, Binyar,

Sopore, Wagoora, Rehama, Rafiabad, Kunzar,
Singpura, Zaingeer

9)

Bandipora

Bandipora, Sonawari, Gurez

Bandipora, Hajan, Sumbal, Gurez, Tulial

10)

Kupwara

Kupwara,
Karna

Handwara,

Kupwara, Sogam, Trehgam, Langate, Kralpora,

Tangdar,
Ramhal,
Rajwar,
Teetwal,
Kalroos/Machil, Waavora

11)

Kargil

Kargil, Zanskar, Sanko

Kargil, Drass, Shergol, Shankarchiktan, Sanko,

Tseru,
Zanskar,
Lungnuk,
Gundmangalpora(Treshpone)

12)

Leh

Leh, Nubra, Khalsi

Leh, Khalsi, Nubra, Nayoma, Durbuk, Kharoo,

Sapol, Panomic, Chuchol

13)

Jammu

Jammu, Akhnoor, RS Pora,

Bishna

Dansal, Bhalwal, Satwari, Khour, Akhnoor,

Bishna, RS Pora, Marh

14)

Samba

Samba

Samba, Purmandal, Vijaypur, Gagwal

15)

Kuthua

Kuthua, Bilawar, Basooli,

Bani, Hiranagar

Lohimalhar, Bani, Bashorli, Billwar, Kuthua,

Hiranagar, Barnote, Duggan

16)

Udhampur Udhampur,
Ramnagar,
Chinani, Majalta

Udhampur, Panchari, Ramnagar, Gordi, Dudubasantgarh, Majalta, Chinani

17)

Reasi

Reasi, G.G Garh

Reasi, Pouni, Mahore, Arnas

18)

Doda

Doda, Baderwah, Bhalesa,

Thathri

Doda, Thathri, Assar, Bhajwah, Bhalessa,

Marmat, Gundna

19)

Ramban

Ramban, Banihal

Ramban, Banihal, Okheral(Ramsoo), Gool

20)

Rajouri

Rajouri, Thana Mandi,

Nowshera,
Sunderbani,
Budhal, Kalakote, Dharhaal

Drahaal, Manjakote, Sunderbani, Budhaal,

Rajouri, Nowshera, Kalakote, Thanamandi,
Doongi

21)

Poonch

Poonch,
Mandhar,
Surankote, Mandi

Poonch, Mandi, Surankote, Mandhar, Balakote,

Bufliaz

22)

Kishtawar

Kishtawar,
Padder, Chatroo

Marwah, Kishtawar,
Marwah,
Padder,
Inderwal(Chatroo),
Drabshalla,
Dachan

Warwan,
Nagbani,

AGRCULTURE OF KASHMIR
Background: The Department of Agriculture in Jammu and Kashmir State came into existence during the
pre-independence era. Till the year 1981 there was a single Directorate of Agriculture for the whole State.The
Department was assigned specific mandate to bring about increase in crop production in a planned way to
feed its fast growing population. In the year 1981-82, separate Directorates of Agriculture were established
for both Jammu as well as Kashmir Divisions due to diverse agro-climatic conditions prevailing in these
Divisions. This facilitated formulation of policies and programmes aimed at optimization and rational
utilization of land and water resources for sustained agricultural production. Initially the department was
exercising jurisdiction in the following wide fields:
Agri
Development
and
Extension
Development
of
Seed
multiplication
Programmes
Research
on
Agriculture.
Maintenance
of
Botanicals
gardens
and
development
of
Poultry.
Development of Horticulture & Management of Rakhs and Farms
With the passage of time some of the schemes like parks and gardens, Horticulture Development, Poultry
Development got separated during the early sixties. Subsequent to 60's the department got tremendous
expansion in various schemes under the agenda of crash Programmes, intensive agri production, drought
prone area programme plant protection management and with particular attention to development area
under vegetable development programme and involving high yielding varieties of paddy and cereal seeds,
besides introduction of farm Machinery subsequently from machinery was withdrawn and a separate
corporation namely AIDC came into existence during late 60's. During April 1982, the department got
bifurcated in to two directorates one each at provincial level of J&K State followed by another bifurcation in
the form that all the research schemes of department were transferred to a new organization known as
SKAUST J&K in the month of 08/1982.
The Department of Agriculture, Kashmir envisages to help growers in the filed of agriculture with:
Land being a limited resource, would continue to be under stress in future. A very high priority will, therefore,
be accorded to exploring possibilities and potentialities of crop diversification in different agroclimatic zones
with a view to maximizing the return per unit area of the land to the farmer, consistent with ecological and
environmental considerations. In high cropping intensity areas including irrigated areas, knowledge intensive
precision farming techniques shall be prescribed and promoted for adoption. Use of hybrid varieties shall be
encouraged in order to break yield barriers. Farmers will be advised about suitable technological packages
including choice of crops, varieties and the requisite inputs to ensure high productivity with elastic cropping
mechanism. The pattern of incentives in these areas and input packages shall be reviewed and tailored to suit
the changing needs.
In rain-fed areas, diversified and value-added agriculture system shall be advocated. Incentives and technical
messages shall converge on promotion and adoption of the full package of recommended practices including

the choice of crops and varieties, rain water management including in situ- moisture conservation, water
harvesting and recycling. The principle of management on water- shed basis shall be adopted for this purpose.
Available surface and ground water resources shall be tapped through public and private investments with a
focus on providing irrigation facilities for appropriate crops in Karewa areas. Ground water resources shall
be properly mapped with assistance from the concerned central agencies .Extensive awareness programme
shall be planned and implemented for judici.ous and efficient use of irrigation water. Energy needs for ground
water exploitation shall be met on priority under single window clearance. Existing canal systems will be
brought under participatory irrigation management. Special incentives will be provided for popularization of
water-harvesting structures, storage tanks, watersaving methods of irrigation like sprinkler, drip and
underground pipelines.
Agro-met advisory services shall be initiated for all the agro-climatic zones covering medium and long range
weather forecasts for timely operations, in co-ordination with the state Agriculture universities and National
Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast.
Major thrust will also be laid on increasing farm power as a supplement and substitute to reduced availability
of draught animals for farming operations. Appropriate energy efficient, user-friendly and sturdy implements
suiting the suiting the needs of various regions shall be developed and popularized.
Stress will be laid on quality at all stages of farm operations from sowing to primary processing. Quality
consciousness among farmers and agroprocessors will be promoted through effective use of the media and
personal contact by the departmental functionaries and instituting a scheme of awards for recognizing
outstanding performance.
Integrated Nutrient Management practices using chemical fertilizers in conjunction with organic resources
like farm-yard manure, enriched compost bio-fertilizers and green manuring will be popularized. This will
optimize crop production in irrigated as well as rain-fed areas, besides improving soil productivity.
Integrated Pest Management package will be popularized for adoption through special incentives. This would
check the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides and out-break of secondary pests, pollution in food
materials and eco-system and add a new dimension of organic produce for promoting marketing of fruits and
vegetables.
Farmers will also be educated about the concept of integrated development of their farm household by taking
a holistic view of their assets and potential. For this purpose, bringing about convergence of various schemes
for development of the rural sector will be a priority.
It is necessary to bring out proper convergence in the implementation of various schemes for upliftment of
rural masses and poverty alleviation. Necessary intuitional mechanism will be devised to bring out the
requisite convergence.
Jammu Division has a total geographical area of 26,293 sq. kms, which comprises about 12 percent of the total
geographical area of the State. Land use statistics is, however, available for a total reported area of 17.94 lac
Ha.(17940 sq.kms) as per village records. The net area under cultivation in this Division is 3.90 lac Ha. out of
which an area of 1.00 lac Ha. is irrigated.
Jammu Division - Physiography:
Jammu Division is located between an altitude of 300 meters and 4200 meters above Mean Sea Level(MSL).
Ranbirsingh Pura in Jammu district and Sumcham (Padder) in Doda district are the lowest and highest

permanent settlement points for human population. Settlement pattern is mostly gregarious. Human
population of the Division as per Census 2001 is 43.96 lacs. In physiography , following broad physical
divisions are generally recognized from agricultural point of view :
1) Subtropical Zone: It spreads between an altitude of 300 meters and 1000 meters above MSL and enshrines
Jammu district as a whole and parts of Kathua, Udhampur and Rajouri districts. This zone is characterized
by hot summer, heavy summer monsoon and relatively dry but pronounced winter with pre-ponderance of
alluvial soils. Normal summer monsoon ranges between 1200 to 1500 mm from mid June to mid September.
This zone is further divided into two sub zones comprising the following areas :
Irrigated Sub-tropical Zone: It includes irrigated areas of Kathua, Barnoti, Hiranagar, Ghagwal, Samba,
Vijaypur, Purmandal,Satwari, Bishnah, R.S. Pura, Marh & Bhalwal, Blocks on the right hand side of Jammu
-Pathankot National Highway and Akhnoor, Khour, Nowshera, and Sunderbani Blocks on the Jammu Poonch Highway
Unirrigated Sub-tropical Zone: It includes Kandi and unirrigated areas of Kathua, Barnoti, Hiranagar,
Ghagwal, Samba & Purmandal to the left hand side of Jammu-Pathankot National Highway and Bhalwal,
Akhnoor,Khour and parts of Kalakot, Nowshera and Sunderbani Blocks on Jammu-Poonch Highway and
Ramban in Doda district
Most of the canal irrigation system being located in the Sub tropical zone, production and productivity of
crops is high in this zone. The aromatic rice crop "Basmati" is also a speciality of the RS Pura, Bishnah,
Satwari and Marh blocks of this zone and has high export value.
2) Intermediate Zone: This zone is located between an altitude of 1000 meters and 1500 meter above MSL. It
consists of some parts of Basholi, Billawar, Ramnagar, Udhampur, Reasi, Pouni, Chenani ,Panchari, Ghordi,
Mahore, Gool and large area of Kalakot, Budhal, Rajouri, Doda Darhal, Thathri, Balakot, , Ramsoo,
Assar,Bhagwah, Ramban, Mahore, Mendhar, Poonch, Gordi, Panchari and Manjakot Blocks within the said
altitude.
Barring some Blocks of Doda district i.e. Doda, Bhagwah, Assar and Ramban and some Blocks of Udhampur
district i..e Mohre, Gool & Pouni which are drought prone, this zone has mild summer, fair monsoon during
summer and relatively wet winter. Soils are spodosolic, undulating and prone to erosion.
Due to fair degree of monsoon and relatively wet & cool winters this zone has a fairly good level of productivity
of Maize and Vegetable crops. In respect of Maize, an exceptionally high level of productivity (i.e.128
qtl/ha.)was obtained by a farmer in Rajouri district.
3) Temperate Zone: This zone includes all other areas of Jammu Division which are located above 1500 meters
altitude. Of special mention are the Blocks of Warwan, Marwah,Dachhan, Chhatru, Paddar, Kishtwar,
Thathri, Bhaderwah, Banihal, Mendhar, Manjakot, Bani, Basohli and parts of Bhagwah, Assar, GoolGulabgarh, Mahore,Dudu-Basantgarh, Darhal, etc.
This zone is characterized by relatively mild but dry summer with little monsoon and fairly cold- wet winter
due to the 'Western Weather Disturbances'. It is mostly a monocropped zone with low production &
productivity. However, other agriculture enterprises like pomology, apiculture & animal/sheep husbandry
are very common and rather supplement the modest agricultural income obtained through arable farming.
The area is also suitable for seed production of temperate vegetable crops.

Saffron (Crocus sativus), possessing innumerable medicinal and aromatic properties is grown in the Kishtwar
plateau of Doda district in an area of about 70 ha. Rajmash (Phaseolus vulgaris) possessing flavour and
organo-leptic qualities having high market potential is also widely grown in the higher altitudes of this zone.
Climate: Jammu Division has a varied climate. Whereas it is hot in the sub-tropical belt during summer
months, it is dry and cool in winter months. Intermediate zone has a mild climate both during summer as well
as during winter. But in the temperate zone, whereas summer is mild and dry, winter is extremely cold & wet
due to heavy snowfall.
Top 25 Places to Visit in Jammu & Kashmir
People have written zillions of words to best describe the beauty of Jammu & Kashmir; however the truth is
that the power of words can never comprehend the mysticism that this state possesses. This northern-most
state of India has been endowed with natures best and that is why it has been an object of interest for many
travel enthusiasts. Today many honeymoon couples visit Jammu & Kashmir to seek a perfect romantic
getaway, whereas the adventure enthusiasts are often seen here with a determination to create history. Some
take it as a challenge, for others it is a dream destination, well no matter what you are seeking and what
your interests are; our list of top 25 places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir can help you learn about your
options better.
Srinagar Redefines Beauty
Srinagar-dal-lake
The capital city Srinagar is the prized possession of the Vale of Kashmir. Imbibing many colors of the state,
it reflects the authentic Jammu & Kashmir. The city sits quietly on the bank of Jhelum and contemplates
the vivaciousness. The canopied Shikara boats, plush houseboats, snow-capped mountains and the sparkling
water of Dal and Nageen Lake come together to bring the picture of authentic Srinagar come alive. The
blessing of Prophet Mohammad from Hazratbal Shrine and Jama Masjid, the divinity of Shankarcharya
temple, glimpse of floating vegetable market and the bountiful flora and fauna, all honour the capital city
with a title of Paradise on Earth. Srinagar also renders great options for activities like bird watching
(Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary) water skiing (Dal Lake, Nagin Lake and Bod-dal), golfing (Kashmir Golf
Course), trekking (towards Pir Panjal, 89 kms from Srinagar) and boating (Shikara ride on Dal Lake and
Nagin Lake) and thus makes holidays in Jammu & Kashmir a successful expedition.
Leh Land of Queer Beauty and Sheer Adventure
Leh
Complimenting the northern periphery, Leh is a land of queer beauty and sheer adventure. The lofty
mountains, the alpine lakes, divine Gompas and the quaint settings make Leh one of the best places to visit
in Jammu & Kashmir. Located 434 kms from Srinagar, it majorly intrigues adventure enthusiasts and
people with artistic bent of mind. The architectural grandeur of spiritual places like Alchi Monastery,
Hemis Monastery, Matho Monastery, Spituk Monastery and Thiksey Monastery dazzles visitors, whereas
General Zorawar fort, Stok Palace and Jama Masjid has the potential to surprise spectators. At Leh, one
would get a perfect blend of adventure and spirituality, which is of course accompanied by natural scenic
beauty. Trekking and Mountain Biking couldnt excite adventure seekers more; there are several beautiful
trails that instigate opportunity for brilliant adventure experience. Clad with beauty of nature, Leh also
provide opportunity to witness the Himalayan panaroma.

Jammu City A Blessed Land

Jammu-city
Protected and blessed by Mata Vaishno Devi, who seems to have found her earthly abode on the Trikuta
Hills, Jammu City is indeed amongst the top places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir. Dubbed as the City of
Temples, Jammu invites those seeking peace and tranquility. The unmatched divinity at Raghunath temple,
Ranbireshwar temple, Mahamaya temple, Peer Baba and Peer Khoh touches every corner of Jammu
invigorates visitors. One must visit the Bahu temple, which is situated inside the majestic Bahu Fort. The
temple is dedicated to presiding deity of Jammu, Goddess Kali or Bawe Wali Mata as she is popularly called
in the region. Besides the temple, a travel enthusiast can witness architectural grandeur of Bahu Fort and
Mubarak Mandi Palace. The Aquarium at Bagh-e-Bahu (Bahu Fort) also catches the eyes of the tourists as
it is the largest underground aquarium in the country. A trip to Jammu is no less than an expedition to a
holy land.
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RajauriThe Rural Beauty
Rajouri
The refuge of several Gujjars and Bakerwalas, Rajauri is situated around 154kms away from Jammu. The
district shares border with Pakistan and thus remain an intriguing travel destination. Rajauri is blessed
with many charming places to visit; Dehra Ki Gali, Thanna Mandi and Kotranka Budhal are few places
that are apt for sightseeing. One can retire to these remote places in summers as the weather remains
pleasant here all year round. The magnificent Rajauri Fort, Balidan Bhavan, Dhanidar Fort and Rama
Temple are few places that can be visited in the vicinity of Rajauri. An absolute delight for travel and
adventure enthusiasts, Rajauri is amongst one of the top places of interest in Jammu Kashmir.
Gulmarg Entailing Adventure and Excitement
Gulmarg
Dubbed as skiers paradise, Gulmarg is indeed amongst the best places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir.
Located approximately 52kms away from capital city Srinagar, Meadow of Flowers as it is popularly called
Gulmarg is a haven for adventure enthusiasts. Along with prominent skiing options, trekking,
snowboarding, golfing, mount biking and fishing are the prime options that Gulmarg overwhelms you with.
Visit Kongdori, Shark Fin and Apparwath Peak not only for skiing but also to witness the splendid natural
landscape of Gulmarg. Other places to see the blessings of majestic nature near Gulmarg are Nagin Valley
(for which you have trek), Khilanmarg, Frozen Lake and Bota Pathri. Baba Reshi and Gulmarg Gondola
(Cable car) also makes for a must visit in Gulmarg.
Udhampur Recalling the Glorious Past
Udhampur
Named after Raja Udham Singh, Udhampur city is the second-largest city in Jammu region. Set amidst lush
green surroundings and fringed by eucalyptus trees, Udhampur is one of the best tourist attractions in
Jammu & Kashmir. A delight for history lovers, the city offers many relics dating back to the time of epic
of Mahabharata. The Krimachi group of temples are said to be the oldest structures in the city. Udhampur
is also famous for the underground river Devika, which is considered the sister of Ganga. Visit the

Ramnagar fort, located approximately 40kms from Udhampur and built by Raja Suchet Singh. Moungri
Cave shrine, Pingla Mata and Sudh Mahadev temple are other prominent places that must be visited in
Udhampur.
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Kathua Enthralling Expedition Experience
Owing to the existence of a large number of Sufi shrines, Kathua is dubbed as the City of Sufis. The city is
beautifully situated on the bank of river and offers itself as one of the best places to visit in Jammu &
Kashmir. True to its title, Kathua houses several religious places including Jasrota temple (inside Jasrota
fort), Mata Sundrikote, Mata Bala Sundri, Sapt Sarober and Airwan temple. It is ideal to pay homage to
one of these sacred places as in to understand the spirituality prevailing in Kathua. A recreation park called
Dream has also been set up in Kathua promising an enthralling rafting experience. The Ujh Barrage located
20kms away from Kathua is an idyllic picnic spot. Kathua also invites the history lovers to Jasrota Fort to
witness the grandeur built tastefully by Maharaja Ranbir Singh. Also the temple of Maha Kali in the
Jasrota village has emerged as a popular pilgrimage centre in the region. Kathua is a perfect blend of
culture and tradition and offers an authentic picture of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kupwara Rightfully the Crown of Kashmir
Kupwara
Noted for natural beauty and charm, Kupwara is indeed a vital part of Jammu & Kashmir tourism. The
lush meadows, alpine mountains and the gushing clear water make Kupwara an important tourist
attraction in the state. Boasting of lofty mountain peaks like Shamsbari (12000ft above sea level), Nastachun
(10273ft above sea level) and Dajalonjun (16000ft above sea level), this district exemplifies the beauty of
Kashmir. The Ainch Mountain offers the opportunity to get a panoramic view of the Vale of Kashmir from
its top. There are also many historical villages that allow the history lovers to contemplate including Gushi
(Built by Kashi Shah), Karnah (mentioned in Raj Tarangini written by Kalhana) and Keran. However, the
Lolab Valley steals the limelight and Kheer Bhawani Asthapan, Hazrat Mehmood Shah Shrine, Shaloora
shrine and many other make for other brilliant option for sightseeing in Kupwara.
Badgam Sheltering Natures Best
Blessed with exotic locales that invigorate visitors and locals alike, Badgam is the reflection of authentic
Kashmir. One can be spoilt for choices when it comes to tourist attractions in Jammu & Kashmir, especially
in the Budgam district. It boasts immensely of picturesque places like Yusmarg, Sang-e-safed, Pehjan and
Khag. One can visit the beautiful Nilnag lake located 4kms down the hill from Yusmarg. Doodhpather is
another great haunt for the nature lovers in Badgam district. There are number of natural trails in the
region that offers good opportunity for trekking. Adventure enthusiasts can trek to Sang-e-safed (base for
Mount Tatakutti) Doodhpather and Mount Tatakutti.
Kargil The Brave and Beautiful
Kargil
Brave heart Kargil is situated at India-Pakistan border at an altitude of approximately 2800m above sea
level. Connected to the Zojila Pass, Kargil holds important place in the history of India. Set up in the
Ladakh region of the state, Kargil is one of the most interesting places to see in Jammu & Kashmir. It offers

great opportunity to trekkers, campers, rafters and mountaineers. The Nun Mountain allows
mountaineering expeditions whereas, Kargil offers brilliant option for trekking to Pensi-La Lake and Suru
valley. Excursion can be made to Drass and see features like Tolo-ling, Mushkoo Valley and Tiger Hill. A
short walk to Goma Kargil provides breathtaking views. Mulbek Gompa, Shergol, Urgyan Dzong and
Wakha Rgyal are prime attractions of Kargil.
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Sonmarg The Kingdom of Untainted Beauty
Sonmarg
Needless to say that without a visit to Sonmarg, a trip to Jammu & Kashmir would be incomplete. Blessed
with unmatched landscape, Sonmarg make for an extravagant visual treat. Famed for many excursion
options, there is a large number of trek and short routes that lead to places like Gangabal Lake, Kishansar
Lake, Vishansar Lake, Naranag, Haramukh Mountain and the famous Baltal and Thajiwas Glacier. Baltal,
which is located 15kms away from Sonmarg, is used as the base camp for pious Amarnath Yatra. Sonmarg.
Do not miss out on the opportunity to visit Zojila Pass, which is situated near Sonmarg and connects
Kashmir and Ladakh.
Pulwama Where the Fields are Saffron and the Sky is Blue
Pulwama
Congenial climate, fragrant saffron fields and affable people welcome you to Pulwama district. Lose
yourself in the beauty of sprawling saffron fields and the rich culture that dwells here. Pulwama gives you
quite a large number of places for sightseeing including Nagberan, Tarsar Lake, Marsar Lake, Shikargarh
and Aripal Nag. Where, Nagberan is a small scenic town that draws lot of nature lovers to it, there
Shikargarh is known for attracting wildlife lovers. On the other side, Tarsar and Marsar are two legendary
lakes that must be visited for its unmatched beauty. Another allure of Pulwama is Aripal Nag, which is
situated 11kms from Tral town and is famed for natural water springs. If you cherish visiting historical
places and shrines then the Avantishwar Temple is a must visit for you.
Pahalgam Tucking Refreshment and Excitement
Pahalgam
The green meadows and the lofty mountains are followed with tranquility and serenity in Pahalgam. The
beauty of this small exceptional town does by no means can be a disappointment for an ardent nature lover.
Blessed with good accommodation option, Pahalgam is indeed one of the best places to visit in Jammu &
Kashmir. Expect a lot of greenery, hotels and resorts and lot of beauty surrounding you. Aru Valley, Betaab
Valley, Baisaran, Sheshnag and the Tulian Lake excursion can invigorate your senses and activities like
horse riding; trekking and golf make sure that you remain engaged all through your journey. Chandanwari,
which is located 16kms away from Pahalgam is the base camp for Amarnath Yatra, a trekking route of
approximately 30kms lead up to the holy shrine of Amarnath from here. Pahalgam is the most developed
region of valley of Kashmir and thus dont expect it to be quite like other destinations in Kashmir.
Doda Gem of Jammu
Doda

With varying landscape, Doda has won the hearts of many. A perfect place for both nature lovers and
adventure enthusiasts, it is indeed a great option for spending holidays in Jammu & Kashmir. You can take
up easy trekking routes, to keep your holiday relaxing and at the same time adventurous. However for those
who want to add an extra edge to their trip can also go for activities like mountaineering and rock climbing.
Along with Bhaderwah and Chinta, the beautiful Kishtwar valley draws lot of tourists. The two Hindu
shrines namely, Chandi Mata Temple and Athra Devi Temple can also be visited here.
Poonch Swathed with Sheer Beauty
poonch
If you are a travel enthusiast in real sense, then Poonch is one place that you must visit. Situated on IndiaPakistan border, Poonch certainly has something that draws travel aficionados from all over the world.
Fringed by Pir Panjal range, it is one of the most scenic places that we encounter in J & K. Verdant green
meadows, alpine mountains, stunning natural lakes to cut it short, Poonch is just enchanting! The
waterfall at Behram Galla named as Noori Chhamb, the seven lakes (Sukhsar, Neelsar, Bhagsar, Katorasar,
Kaldachnisar and Nandansar) at Girgan Dhok, the 18th century Poonch Fort and small villages like Mandi
and Surankote are the highlights of the valley. There are many shrines and temples like Budha Amarnath in
Mandi, Gurudwara Nangali Sahib, Gurudwara Deri Sahib, Ziarat Sain Illahi Bakhsh Sahib, Battalkote that
are quite popular and should be visited in Poonch.
Anantnag A Paradise in Paradise
Anantnag
Anantnag is rightly the paradise in paradise! Strategically positioned and organized, Anantnag has some of
the most picturesque towns of the valley of Kashmir. Kokernag, Pahalgam, Verinag and Daksum are few
places that adds feather to the cap of Jammu & Kashmir tourism. Visit Kokernag for the most interesting
Claw-like formation of the streams that divide from here, rest the place has lush gardens and largest fresh
water springs in Kashmir. Standing at 2438m, Daksum is apt for those seeking perfect peaceful ambiance.
The prominent feature of the Anantnag city is the Martand Temple, which is a must see. A few kilometers
away from the city are Daksum, which is the heaven for nature lovers. Here is at solitude finds its real
meaning. A tour to Verinag can leave you stunned; the variety of flowers and the sparkling Verinag springs
is truly worth seeing here. It is needless to mention that holidays in Jammu & Kashmir are incomplete
without a visit to Anantnag district, where lays a true heaven!
BaramullahReflecting Perfectly the Beauty of Kashmir
Baramulla
Reckoned to be the Gateway of Kashmir, Baramullah is another bright gem from the Kashmirs treasure
trove. Both the city and the district of Baramullah are generously blessed with natural endowments.
Gulmarg, Khilanmarg and Tangmarg are also places of interest in Jammu & Kashmir tourism along with
being important tourist attractions in the district. Where Gulmarg is an idyllic skiing resort, there
Khilanmarg is a flower-spangled wide valley, you will get ample of opportunities to click beautiful pictures
here. If in Baramullah, you must also visit Wular Lake, which is considered Asias largest fresh water lake
and if you enjoy bird watching, you can also visit Manasbal Lake. Vijimarg, Mahalishamarg and Uri are
some ideal picnic spots. However, it can rightly be said that a journey to Uri is more interesting rather than
the destination.

Katra More than Just a Base Camp

Katra
It is often seen that whenever Katra is discussed; it is referred merely as a base camp for devotees who visit
Vaishno Devi. But, there is certainly more to explore in Katra. Situated around 42kms from Jammu, Katra
is one of the most picturesque places in Jammu. A nature lover would love to visit Baba Dhanasar located
just 10kms away from the city. Known for its scenic beauty, it is an ideal picnic spot. Shiv Khori is another
must visit; this place stand second to Vaishno Devi in religious value and is famed for its 4ft tall naturally
formed Shiva Linga. Katra is indeed a place that should be visited in Jammu & Kashmir as it reflects
perfectly the divinity of Jammu.
Patnitop Where Nature Meets Adventure
Patnitop
Perched on a hilltop at an altitude of 2024m, Patnitop offers overwhelming view of the Shivalik Range. It is
one destination in Jammu region that is widely acclaimed for its immense beauty and the abundant fun
activities. For people who want to some quality time contemplating the marvels of nature, Patnitop is just
right for them. Visit Gourikund, which holds great spiritual value, one can also see the holy Kailash Parvat.
A leisure walk to the Pine forest is ideal for the nature lovers. Enjoy trekking at Shivgarh and paragliding,
abseiling (rappelling), rock climbing and camping at Sanasar. At a little distance from Patnitop, there is a
village called Kud that is famed for vivid varieties of sweets, make sure that you try some of it and take it
back home as a memoir of Patnitop.
Hemis Live the Spirit of Ladakh
Hemis
Located about 45kms away from Leh, Hemis is amongst the best places to visit in Jammu & Kashmir.
Situated on the western bank of River Indus, this small village is famed for its prestigious monastery and a
national park. Better known as Hemis National Park, it extends in a 600 sq km of area and provides shelter
to many rare species like the snow leopards and bharals. An apt place for nature lovers and naturalists, this
sprawling National Park is an asset to Hemis Village. Travel enthusiasts have the opportunity to visit the
spectacular Hemis Monastery, which is the largest monastery in Ladakh. The best time to visit Hemis is
during the month of June or July, when the entire region is imbued in the color of Hemis festival.
Kishtwar The Land of Saffron and Sapphire
Kishtwar
Kishtwar is another gem from the crown of Jammu & Kashmir. Situated approximately 255kms away from
Jammu city, Kishtwar is surrounded with lofty mountains and dense deodar and pine forests. A perfect
place for those who enjoy taking short or long walks or contemplating the natural beauty, Kishtwar is a
paradise in its own right. Chowgan, Paddar, Chingam, Sinthan Top, Warwan and Marwah are the places
that you must visit. Also a 400 sq km land is under National Park in Kishtwar. There are also two sacred
voyages namely, Machail Yatra and Sarthal Yatra that begins from Kishtwar.
Nubra ValleyRedefining Ladakh
Nubra-valley

Exotic is what comes in mind, whenever Nubra Valley is mentioned. It is situated where River Shyok and
River Siachen meet, so you can expect an impressive view. The most fascinating feature of Nubra is its
diversity; its an absolute surprise to spot a desert in Ladakh! Hunder, which is situated in Nubra Valley, is
a long stretch of desert area, where one can enjoy ride on the Bactrian camels. Another brilliant experience
is passing through Khardung La, which is one of the highest motorable roads in the world. Do not miss out
on Panamik, which is the last village that is accessible to tourist. Ensa, Samstemling, Diskit and Hunder
monasteries are also worth visiting here.

HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PROJECTS

The hydroelectric power sector in India and J&K in particular, has faced problems for reasons, besides the
project specific issues. As demand for power grows and concerns on the environmental impact of thermal
power and its sufficient growth, as long the investment climate improves. There is a greater reservation that
increased reliance needs to be placed on beings source of energy such as hydro power.
Jammu & Kashmir has abundant water resources and great potential for hydro power, estimated at over
20000MV. Of this, less than 10% has been exploited and efforts are being made to effectively tap and
harness the untapped hydro-power potential of state.
Despite the significant potential of hydro power and its benefits it has still not been harnessed in a
meaningful way due to long gestation periods for hydro-power projects, unavailability of reliable
hydrological data under projects offered, skewed tariff profile, instability in the potential environment of
the state and remoteness from large consumption centers.
JAMMU & KASHMIR STATE POWER DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED
The Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited has been incorporated as Private
Limited Company on 16th February, 1995.
The corporation was incorporated to takeover, execute, complete, operate and maintain all power stations
and power projects of the state.
The assets of all the power projects in the state, both existing and under implementation were transferred to
the corporation.
OBJECTIVESTo plan promote and organize an integrated and efficient development of electric power in all its aspects.
To investigate, research, design, and preparation of preliminary feasibility and detailed project reports.
Construction, generation, operation and maintenance of power stations and sale of power thereof.
Construction of transmission lines and ancillary works for timely and coordinated supply of power.
SOME MAJOR HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER PROJECTS IN J&K ARE1. SALAL HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION:- stage 1 of 345 MW(115*3) and stage 2 of 345
MW(115*3), is constructed on river Chenab. In 1978 construction of the project was entrusted to
NHPC on agency basis. After completion of project, it was handed over to NHPC on ownership basis
for operation & maintenance. Stage 1 of the power was commissioned in 1987. First unit of stage 2 of
the project was commissioned in 1993, second in 1994 and third in 1995.

Power from the project is transferred to the northern grid where it is distributed to the states of J&K,
Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himichal Pradesh, Rajistan & UP and the union terrority of chandighar.
2. DAL HASTI:- Dal Hasti is a 390 MW hydro electric power plaant in Kishtwar district built by
NHPC. The power plant is a run of the river type on the swift flowing Chenab river in the Doda
region, a rugged, mountainous sector of the Himalayas and several hundred kilometers from larger
cities. It consists of a 70m (230ft) tall gravity dam which diverts water through a 9.5 km (5.9 miles)
long headrace tunnel to the power station which discharges back into the Chenab. The project
provides peaking power to the northern grid with beneficiary states being Jammu & Kashmir,
Punjab, and Haryana, UP, Uttrakhnad, Rajasthan, Delhi & union terrority of Chandigarh. It was
constructed between 1985 and 2007.
3. URI DAM- is a 480 MW hydroelectric power station on the Jhelum River near URI in Baramullla
district. It is located very near to the line of control, the de-facto border between India and Pakistan.
The station is largely buly under a hill with 10 km tunnel. It is of the run of the river type without a
large dam. On July 4 2014 a 240 MW Uri 2 power project was inaugurated. The project was
awarded by the national hydroelectric power corporation in October 1989 to a European consortium
called Uri civil led by Swedish Skanska and including NCC and ABB & British Kvearner Boving. It
was partially funded by the Swedish and British governments.
4. BAGLIHAR DAM- also known as Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Projects, is a run of the river power
project on the Chenab River in the Southern Doda district. This project was conceived in 1992,
approved in 1996 and construction began in 1999. The project is estimated to cost USD$1 billion. The
first phase of the Bgilar Dam wascompleted in 2004. With the second phase completed on 10 october
2008, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India dedicated the 900 MW Baglihar Hydroelectric
power project to the nation.
5. CHUTAK HYDROELECTRIC PLANT- is a run of the river power project and the Suru River (a
tributary of Indus) in Kargil district in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir (224 km 139 m) from
the state summer capital Srinagar. The barrage of the project is at sarze village and the powerhouse
is located on the right bank of the Suru near Chutak village. The project construction began on
September 23 2006, and the first three generations were commissioned in November 2012. The
fourth was commissioned in January 2013. The project will be connected to the Northern Grid by the
220 kv Leh-Srinagar transmission line, which is to be scheduled for commissioning along with
projects commissioning.
6. KISAHNGANGA HYDROELECTRIC PLANT- is part of a run of the river hydroelectric scheme
that is designed to divert water from the Kishanganga River to a power plant in the Jhelum River
basin. It is located 5 km ( 3 mi) north of Bandipore in Jammu & Kashmir and will have an installed
capacity of 330 MW. Construction on the project began in 2007 and is expected to be complete in
2016. Construction on the dam was halted through by the Hagues Permanent Court of Arbitration
in Ocrober 2011 due to Pakistans protest of its effort on the flow of the Ksahnganga River( called
Neelam River in paksiatn). In februrary 2013, the Hague ruled that india court divert a minimum
amount of water for power generation.
7. NIMOO BANGO POWER PROJECT- is a run of the river power project on the Indus river situated
at village Alcchi, 70km from Leh. The project was conceived on july 1, 2001 and approved on june 8
2005 and construction began 9 2005. The project nvolves construction of a 57 meter (187 ft) high
concrete dam with five spillway blocks of 13 meters (43 ft) each having ogee profile. The project was
inaugurated on 12th august 2014 by Prime Minster of India Narendra Modi, in a ceremony attended

by senior offcials including chief minister of J&K Omar Abdullah, National Securty Adviser Ajit
Kumar Doval and others.
8. DUMKHAR HYDOELECTRIC DAM- previously nstalled projects on the indus river were not
generating enpugh power so as to meet the increasing demand of power in the satet. Also the water
management of the range was not in a formulated manner. In order to initialize a proper
development scheme, Dumkhar dam was proposed in 1997 and it look almost six years for the
project to get completed.
9. PAKAL DUL DAM- is a proposed concrete face rock fill am on the Marusadar River, a tributary of
the Chenab River, in Kishtiwar district. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power
generation. It will divert water to the south through a 10 km (6.2 miles) long headrace tunnel and
into power station on the reservoir of the Dul Hasti Dam, on the Chenab.
10. RATLE HYDROELECTRIC PLANT- is a run of the river hydroelectric power station currently
under construction of the Chenab River, downstream of the village of Ratle in Doda district. The
project includes a 133 m (436 ft.) tall gravity dam and two power stations adjacent to one another.
Water from the dam will be diverted through four intake tunnels about 400m (0.25 mi) southwest to
the power station.

RIVERS OF JAMMU & KASHMIR

1. THE TAWI- the River originates mainly at the Kaplas Kund in Bhaderwah area. It goes through
low hills and turn north west to reach Bhaderwah in Doda. From there it decends to Sudh
Mahadev and run along national highway 1A. After passing through Udhampur, it proceeds to
Jammu and enters Pakistan at 30 - 45 N and 74 38 E.
2. The Chanab- the Chenab River rises in the Himalayas at the Bara Lacha pas (4891 m) in
Himichal Pradesh. Actually two rivulets originate from there: the Chander, which flows down
south and the Bhaga that goes north. In J&K ther are motor able roads near the river in the
stretches between Atholi and Malhori, Poonch and Ramban and Anhnoor and Jourain. They also
travel to Reasi, where it has been dammed at salal for a hydro-electric project. The ice cold
Ranbir Canal branches off from the Chenab near Akhnoor and irrigates Jammu districts. Lastly
the river enters Pakistan and AK.
3. Ravi- the Ravi River leaves the Himalayas at Basholi and constitutes the boundary between J&K
and Himichal Pardesh and brefly between J&K and Punjab. It passes close to Madhopur and
Kathua. Basholi has the most special relationship witj the river. The huge reservoir formed near
thein dam which changed the scenario of Basholi town.
4. Ujh- A brach of Ravi comes from Ramkot passes throufh Taj Bagh and enters Pakistan. It
collects drainage water from hills and sometimes flooded n rainly season. Besides above river
there are many little rivers flow through the district, Rajouri. Among the important ones are The
Tawi, the Jamola, Darhal Tawi, the Ans and the Khandli. In district Udhampur, the Ans , the
Tawi and Devika flow. The Devika flows through Udhampur town and passes through
Purmandal and Vijaypur.

KASHMIR REASON-

1. The Jhelum- It originates on Verinag, at the feet of Punjal Mountains in Anantnag district in
southern Kashmir. Up to a distance of 25 km, it is like a stream, after Khannabal, a number of
tributaries join it. Later it leaves Kashmir valley at Kichhama near Baramulla town. Its total
length in the valley is 177 km and at Baramulla, the river is 10 deep and roughly 100 meters
wide. Today the 105 megawatt lower Jhelum hydel power is fed by this river. The 480 megawatt
Uri hydel project also draws its energy from the Jhelum.
2. The Sind River this is the tributary of river Jhelum. It has two sources. The northern one
originates near the Zojila when the snow melts. The other stream comes from Dachinpara area.
The two streams comes merge at Baltal to become Sind. It flows with considerable speed at this
point and forecity over large rocks. Near Sonamarg, the valley begins to open up and river begins
to widen. The Sind merges with the Jhelum at Shadipur.
3. The Liddar River- the Liddar river originates from the glaciers of the mountains of Pahalgam. Its
tributaries include the Aru and Chandanwari and join it. It flows into the Jhelum north of
Anantnag town. The areas in around Pahalgam are known as the Liddar valley and include
fascinating lakes like the Sheshnag.
LADAKH REGION1. The Kishan Ganga- the Kishan Ganga known as the Neelam river originates in Drass(Kargil). It
flows through the Kashmir region and enters Pakistan in the Gurez sector of the line of control. It
emerges itself into the Jhelum at Domel. Its water is extremely cold and play host to large
quantities of trout. During the winters the upper part of the river above Gurez fort gets frozen
completely. The Kishan Ganga receives the water of many little streams.
2. River Drass- river Drass originates near the Zojila. The Mushkoo and gamru stream join it
before it merges with River Shingo.
3. The Shingo River- the Shingo river flows east from the Chotta Deosai Plains. It joins Suru river
in north Kargil and later merges with the Indus.
4. The suru- the river suru forms when the kreha stream and melting water of shafat glaciers merge
toghther. The river then travels west, draining the suru valley till it reaches kargil town. Enroute
it pcks up three tributaries, the chalong stream, the Phulangama and the wakheehu at kargil
town. The river suru in turn, merges with river shingo . from there they travel together. The area
from where it flows s not allowed for torist movements. It then passes through AK and finally
reaches Chathalung and submerges into ndus river.
5. The shyok river- the man source of shyok river is the rimo glacier which is situated in east of
siachin. The stream from the rimo flows south and join river chip chap. The chip chap flows
along the northern limit of the depsang plains to reach gapshang. Both these rivers from shyok.
The shyok is often called the river of death. Till 1929 A.D, the chong kumdan blocked the flows of
the river and acted as a natural dam. In 1929 the river cut through the glaciers and destroyed
several villages.
6. The nubra river- the nubra river is a tributary of the shyok river. The river descends in a siuth
eastern direction through a valley. On its left is the great karakoram range and on its right the
saltro range. It is an enormous river with islands within. It merges with shyok at lughzheum.

LAKES OF JAMMU & KASHMIR

1. WALUR- the walur lake in Kashmir is the largest freshwater lake in india. It is about 16km long
, 9.6km wide with ill-defined shores. This lake lies between bandipore & sopore at a distance of
75km.
2. Dal the dal lake is a beautifl lake near srinigar. It is 8km long and 6.4 km wide. It is the flood
lung of the Jhelum. The famous Mughal garden are situated around it. Floating gardens, found in
this lake, grow a large variety of vegetables.
3. Nagin the nagin lake is located at a view distance from the dal lake. Both the lakes are
interconnected by a small water channel. Like dal lake, it also freezes in the winter.
4. Anchar the anchar lake is swampy area. The sind nallah enters this lake from one side and
flows out from the other. It is about 8 km long and 3 km wide. Ganderbal is a famous township
on its north west bank.
5. Mansar- the mansard lake 62 km from jammu is over a mile in length and half a mile in width.
Besides being a popular excursion destination, it is also a holy site, sharing the lengend and
sancitity of lake mansarovar. On its eastern bank lies the shrine of mythodological
sheshnag.people take a holy dip in it on festive occasions.
6. Surinsar this s a small lake 42km from jammu city. There is a small island in the lake. Each inch
of it is covered wth vegetation. There are taboos against boating on or swimming in this holy lake.
7. Harwan the harwan lake is situated at a distance of 21 km from Srinagar. It is 27 m long, 137 m
wide and 18 m deep. This lake is a source of water supply to Srinagar city.
8. Hokarsar- the hokarsar lake lies on the baramulla road about 13 km from Srinagar. It is about
5km long and 1.5 km wide. Willow trees are grown in abdundance around its banks.
9. Vishno pad- the konsurnag or vishno pad lake is situated in the pir panjal range at a height of 13,
124 ft (4000m) above sea level to the south of shopian. It is about 5km long and 3km wide and is
the source of the river vishav. It is at a distance of 34 from shopian.
10. Gangabal - the gangabal lake is situated at a height of 11,713 ft on the peak of harmoukh
mountains.
11. Sheshnag the sheshnag lake is situated near vavjan, enroute to shri amaranth cave. It is at a
distance of 28 km from pahalgam.
12. Neelang the nelang lake is situated in tehsil badgam at a distance of 10km from negam. It is
bounded by dense forests. There are two more lakes, tarsar and mansard, lie on the northern
slope of the harmukg mountains. Mansard lake is the origin of the canal sharabkul that provides
water to the fountains that play in the Mughal gardens. Mansar lake flows into the lidar, which is
one of the largest tributaries of Jhelum.
13. Shokh and dokh- sokh and dokh are two frozen lakes situated at harmukh mountains. These are
said to be two headrops of parvati one a warm drop indicating happiness and another cold one
showing grief.
14. Pangong- the pangong is a salty lake in ladakh. It is about 6.4 km long and 3.2 to 6.4 km wide at a
height of 4267 m above sea level. The other lakes of ladakh are patlong, thadel, longzang, pangor
and tsimoriri.
IMPORTANT SPRNGS
KASHMIR valley abonds in numerious springs of which verinag9 the source of Jhelum),
martand( anatnag) , achhabal( anantnag), kokernag ( anantnag), chashms shahi 9 famous for its
fresh and desegtve water, situated near srinigar on one side of boulevard road). Tullamulla or

khirbhawani ( a sacred spring). Vicharang, sukhnag, vishnosar and chirmagad vasaknag in

anantnag are very famous.

Special Provisions for Jammu and Kashmir provided in

the Constitution of India
The Temporary, Transitional and Special provisions are provided in part XXI of our constitution Article
370 deals with the State of Jammu & Kashmir which forms a part of the territory of India as defined in
Article 1 of the Constitution, being the fifteenth State included in the First Schedule of the Constitution, as it
stands amended.
Nevertheless, the special Constitutional position which Jammu & Kashmir enjoyed under the original
Constitution has been maintained, so that all the provisions of the Constitution of India relating to the States
in the First Schedule are not applicable to Jammu & Kashmir. This is the only State which has its own
Constitution.
Article 370 Regarding Jammu and Kashmir:
No law passed by the Parliament regarding the state of Jammu and Kashmir can be applied to the state
without the Order of President of India in concurrence of the State government.
No such conditions exist in the case of other states. In the original Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, the
provisions of Article 370 were described as temporary measures. Under the agreement of 1975 signed
between Sheikh Abdullah and Indira Gandhi it was agreed upon that Abdullah will give up the demand for
plebiscite and special status of Jammu and Kashmir will continue; it would no longer remain a temporary
measure.
But the agreement could not be implemented owing to the differences and the Order of the President could
not be issued. Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in the country having a Constitution of its own within
the framework of India Union.
The important provisions of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir can be summarised as follows:
(i) Territory of Jammu and Kashmir consists of all those areas which were under the sovereignty of
erstwhile ruler. These areas include that territory which is at present under the occupation of Pakistan.
(ii) Out of 123 assembly seats of Jammu and Kashmir, 25 allotted to the Pakistan occupied portion of
Kashmir, remain vacant because the situation is unsuitable for the election there;
(iii) Though the executive and legislative powers of the State government cover the entire state, yet these
powers do not apply to those areas which come under the jurisdiction of Parliament;
(iv) The permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir enjoys all rights which are guaranteed in the
Constitution of the Country.

(v) A majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of the house can amend the Constitution by
passing a bill. But the bill cannot make the changes in provisions relating to the relationship between the
state and the Union.
The Course of Integration:
The constitutional relations between Jammu and Kashmir and India, originally based on the Instrument of
Accession executed by the State, were reflected in the Constitution of India which made it clear that only
two of its articles, viz.
Article 1, which declared Jammu and Kashmir to be a part of Indias territory and Article 370 which
defined the States special status, would apply in full to this State. The Presidential Order of 26 January
1950 stipulated that the legislative authority of the Union Parliament would be confined, in respect of the
state of Jammu and Kashmir, to those items of the Union and Concurrent Lists which corresponded to
matters specified in the Instrument of Accession.
In effect, this meant that no laws passed by Parliament except those relating to any 36 to the 37 items in the
Union List would be enforceable in Jammu and Kashmir. Naturally, Parliament was to have no residuary
legislative jurisdiction; nor could Parliaments laws on concurrent matters apply to this State except with its
own concurrence. Of the 22 pars of the Constitution, as many as nine, including the Preamble, Part II
(Citizenship), Part III (Fundamental Rights), Part XIII (Trade Commerce and Intercourse within the
Territory of India) Part XVIII (Emergency provisions) were wholly inapplicable to Jammu and Kashmir,
the remaining thirteen parts being only partially applicable to it.
The above arrangement was to continue until the State elected its Constituent Assembly and the President
of India abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution or modified it in accordance with the latters
recommendations. The first major step in this direction was taken by means of Presidential Order issued in
1954.
This order determines the Constitutional relations of the State with India. Under this order the Preamble
and parts I, II, and III of the Constitution of India were made applicable to Jammu and Kashmir with
certain modifications. Part V of the Constitution was made applicable to the State in almost its entirely.
Further, Part CI (Relations between the Union and the States) and bulk of Part XII (Finance, Property,
Contracts and Suits) were extended to it. The Presidential order 26 February 1958 carried the process of
integration a step further by extending the jurisdiction of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India to
Jammu and Kashmir and making Part XII, XIII, and XIV of the constitution wholly applicable to the State.
Until recently, the head of the state in Jammu and Kashmir was designated Sadar-i-Riyasat and not
Governor as in other States while the head of the Government was known as Prime Minister. These
anomalies have now been removed and Jammu and Kashmir has a Governor and a Chief Minister like
other States.
Special Position of Jammu & Kashmir:
A whole state of Jammu and Kashmir enjoys special status among the states in India under Article 370 of
the Constitution. This state enjoys special position because of the special circumstances under which it was
brought under the governance of the Union of India.

During the British period the state of Jammu and Kashmir was ruled by a hereditary king. Like many
rulers Maharaja Hari Singh joined Dominion of India by signing the Instrument of Accession on October
26, 1947.
India agreed to accept the accession of Jammu and Kashmir on the request of Maharaja, who had found it
necessary following the attack of the Azad Kashmir forces in the wake of the formation of Pakistan.
Accordingly the subjects of Defence, External Affairs and Communication in respect of Jammu and
Kashmir like other states which joined India as per the Instrument came under the jurisdiction of Dominion
of India. With the implementation of the Constitution in 1950, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was
included in the Part B of the first Schedule.
Despite being a member of the Part E3 states, the part in which the erstwhile big Princely states were
placed, special provisions were devised for the governance of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
These provisions were different from those meant for other states of the part B. These were incorporated in
the Article 370 of the Constitution. According to the provisions of this article, the state of Jammu and
Kashmir was given a separate Constituent Assembly.
It consisted of the representatives of people of the state. The aim of the Constituent Assembly was to write
the constitution of the state and demarcate the jurisdiction of Union of India over the state of Jammu and
Kashmir. The provisions of the Constituent Assembly were; applied as interim arrangements.
Even as in the cases of erstwhile princely states, the Government of India was empowered to exercise control
over all issues mentioned in the Union List, in this case the Government of India had given public assurance
that the Accession of this state to the Union of India would be subject to the confirmation by the people of
Jammu and Kashmir.
The Government of India in turn put the condition on the Maharaja that following the accession the
Maharaja would introduce a popular government. It meant that he would abolish the hereditary rule.
The accession was confirmed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir through their representatives in the
Constituent Assembly of state. But it was done on the condition that Jammu and Kashmir would be
governed by different rules to be framed by the Constituent Assembly.
The suggestions of the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir were incorporated in Article 370 of
the Constitution of India. The continuation, amendment or the suspension of this article cannot be done
without support of a majority not less than two thirds of the membership of legislation Assembly of Jammu
and Kashmir, which means people of the state.
The President of India assented the recommendations of the Constituent Assembly by making Constitution
(Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1950, in consultation with the Government of Jammu and
Kashmir.

This Order specified that the Parliament of India would be competent to make laws relating to three areas
Defence, Foreign Affairs, Communication, i.e., issues agreed upon in the Instrument of Accession. All other
issues were to be administered according to the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir.
Again, in 1952, an agreement was signed between the state government and the Union of India. This
agreement brought all issues mentioned in the Union List, not only three issues of Defence, Foreign Affairs
and Communication, under the jurisdiction of the Union Government, pending the decision of the
Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir.
In 1954, the Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir ratified the Accession to India as well as the
agreement between the state government and the Union of India. The President in consultation with the
state government made the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1954.
This Order implemented the agreement of 1952 signed between the state government and the Union
government and ratified the Constituent Assembly. This Order also super-ceded the earlier Order of 1950.
The Order of 1952 expanded the scope of jurisdiction of the centre from just three subjects of Defence,
Foreign Affairs and Communication mentioned in the Instrument of Accession of Jammu and Kashmir to
all subjects mentioned in the Union subjects in the Constitution of India.
This Order was amended seven times between 1963 and 1974. The amended Order brings the entire
constitutional position of the state of Jammu and Kashmir within the framework of the Constitution of
India, excluding the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir which was made by the Constituent Assembly of
the state.
The state of Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in the country which has its own Constitution. It is also
the only state, which had a Constituent Assembly, which drafted the constitution of the state. The
Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, was elected by the people of the state. The Constituent
Assembly met for the first time on October 31, 1951.
The Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir performed two main functions:
(i) It abolished the hereditary rule of Maharaja and replaced it with the elected head, Sadar-i-Riyasat, this
post later was changed into the governors post. As per the conditions of the Instrument of Accession, the
Maharaja introduced a popular interim government, after inviting Sheikh Abdullah, President of the All
India Jammu and Kashmir Conference to form the interim government.
Later the interim government changed into a full-fledged cabinet, and Sheikh Abdullah became its first
Prime Minister. But Sheikh Abdullah was not satisfied with it. He wanted the Maharaja Hari Singh to
resign.
Since abolition of the hereditary post was one of the conditions of the Government of India in the
Instrument of Accession, in June 1949, the Maharaja abdicated in favour of his young son Yuvraja Karan
Singh.
The Constituent Assembly elected the Yuvraj as Sadar-i-Riyasat on October 3, 1951. However, by the
Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, 6th Amendment Act, 1965, the post of Sadar-i-Riyasat was abolished.

(ii) It framed the Constitution of the state. The Draft Constitution of the Constituent Assembly for state was
adopted on November, 17, 1957 and given effect from January 26, 1957.
Special Relationship of J&K with the Indian Union:
(i) J&K have its own Constitution framed by a special Constituent Assembly set up by the State.
(ii) Parliament cannot make any law without the consent of the State Legislature relating to:
(a) Alteration of name and territories of the State.
(b) International treaty/agreement affecting the disposition of any part of the territory of the State.
(iii) The residuary power in respect of J&K rests with the State Government and not with the Union
Government.
(iv) The Fifth Schedule pertaining to the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled
Tribes and the Sixth Schedule pertaining to the administration of Tribal Areas are not applicable to the
State of J&K.
(v) The provisions of the Indian Constitution regarding denial of citizenship to person who migrated to
Pakistan do not apply to Permanent residents of J&K who after having migrated to the territory, now
included in Pakistan, return to the territory of that State or permanent return issue by or under the
authority of any law made by the Legislature of that State and even such person shall be deemed to be a
citizen of India.
(vi) Certain special rights have been granted to the permanent residents of the State of J&K with regard to
employment under the State; acquisition of immovable property in the State; settlement of the State etc.
(vii) No proclamation of emergency made by the President under Article 352 on the ground of armed
rebellion shall have effect on the State of J&K without the State Governments concurrence.
(viii) The Union has no power to suspend the Constitution of the State on the ground of failure to comply
with the direction given by the Union. In the event of the breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in the
State, Governors Rule is to be imposed. However, in 1964, Articles 356 arid 357 was extended to that State
in the event of a breakdown of Constitutional machinery to take over the administration of that State.
The Parliament was also provided the power to legislate for the State during emergency under Article 356.
The first occasion when Presidents Rule under Article 356 was imposed in J&K was in 1986 to follow
Governors Rule. The Union has no power to make a proclamation of financial emergency in the State.
(ix) The provisions of Part IV relating to the Directive Principle of State Policy do not apply to J&K.
(x) No amendment of the Constitution of India can extend to J&K unless it is so extended by the order of the
President under Article 370 (1).

(xi) The High Court of J&K enjoys very limited powers. It cannot declare any law unconstitutional or issue
writs, except for the enforcement of the Fundamental Right.
Note:
By amendments of the Constitutional order, the jurisdiction of the Comptroller & Auditor- General,
Election Commission and the special leave jurisdiction of the Supreme Court have been extended to the
State of J&K.
Present Position:
Jurisdiction of Parliament:
It is confined to the matters enumerated in the Union List, and the Concurrent List, subject to certain
modifications, while it shall have no jurisdiction as regards most of the matters enumerated in the
Concurrent List.
While in relation to the other States, the residuary power of legislation belongs to Parliament, in the case of
Jammu and Kashmir, the residuary power shall belong to the Legislature of that State, excepting certain
matters, specified in 1969, for which Parliament shall have exclusive power.
The power to legislate with respect to preventive detention in Jammu and Kashmir belongs to the
Legislature of the State instead of Parliament so that no law of preventive detention made by Parliament
will extend to that State.
By the Constitution (Application to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 1986, however, Art. 249 has been
extended to the State of Jammu & Kashmir, so that it would now be competent to extend the jurisdiction of
Parliament to that State, in the national interest (e.g., for the protection of the borders of the State from
aggression from Pakistan or China), by passing a resolution in the Council of States.
Autonomy of the State in Certain Matters:
The plenary power of the Indian Parliament is also curbed in certain other matters, with respect to which
Parliament cannot make any law without the consent of the Legislature of the State of Jammu and Kashmir,
where that State is to be affected by such legislation, e.g., (i) alteration of the name of territories of the State
(Art. 3). (ii) International treaty or agreement affecting the disposition of any part of the territory of the
State (Art. 253).
Similar fetters have been imposed upon the executive power of the Union to safeguard the autonomy of the
State of Jammu and Kashmir, a privilege which is not enjoyed by the other States of the Union, thus, (i) No
Proclamation of Emergency made by the President under Art. 352 on the ground of internal disturbance
shall have effect in the State of Jammu & Kashmir, without the concurrence of the Government of the State,
(ii) Similarly, no decision affecting the disposition of the State can be made by the Government of India,
without the consent of the Government of the State, (iii) The Union shall have no power to suspend the
Constitution of the State on the ground of failure to comply with the directions given by the Union under
Art. 365.
In the event of a breakdown of the constitutional machinery as provided by the State Constitution, it is the
Governor who shall have the power, with the concurrence of the President, to assume to himself all or any of
the functions of the Government of the State, except those of the High Court, (iv) The Union shall have no

power to make a Proclamation of Financial Emergency with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir
under Art. 360 (v) Articles 356-357 relating to suspension of constitutional machinery have been extended to
J & K by the Amendment Order of 1764.
Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles:
The provisions of Part IV of the Constitution of India relating to the Directive Principles of State Policy do
not apply to the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The provisions of Art. 19 are subject to special restrictions for
a period of 25 years. Art. 19(1) (f) and 31(2) have not been omitted, so that the fundamental right to
property is still guaranteed in this State.
Separate Constitution for the State:
While the Constitution for any of the other States of the Union of India is laid down in part VI of the
Constitution of India, the State of Jammu & Kashmir has its own Constitution (made by a separate
Constituent Assembly and promulgated in 1957).
Procedure for Amendment of State Constitution:
While an Act of Parliament is required for the amendment of any of the provisions of the Constitution of
India the provisions of the State Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir (excepting those relating to the
relationship of the State with the Union of India) may be amended by an Act of the Legislative Assembly of
the State, passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of its membership; but its such amendment seeks
to affect the Governor or the Election Commission, it shall have no effect unless the law is reserved for the
consideration of the President and receives his assent.
It is also to be noted that no amendment of the Constitution of India shall extend to Jammu & Kashmir
unless it is so extended by an Order of the President under Art. 370(1).
Alteration of Area Boundary:
No alteration of the area of boundaries of this State can be made by Parliament without the consent of the
Legislature of the State of J & K.
Other Jurisdictions:
By amendments of the Constitution Order, the jurisdictions of the comptroller and Auditor-General, of the
Election Commission, and the Special Leave Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court have been extended to the
State of Jammu and Kashmir.

List of people from Jammu and Kashmir

Royalty
1. Gulab Singh:Gulab Singh (17921857) was the founder of royal Dogra dynasty and first Maharaja of the princely
state of Jammu and Kashmir, the second largest princely state in British India, which was created after the
defeat of the Sikhs in the First Anglo-Sikh War. TheTreaty of Amritsar, 1846, formalised the sale by the
British to Gulab Singh for 7,500,000 Nanakshahee Rupees of all the lands in Kashmir that were ceded to
them by the Sikhs by the Treaty of Lahore

Early career Of GULAB SINGH

Gulab Singh was born on 18 October 1792 in a Hindu Jamwal Dogra Rajput family. His father, Kishore
Singh Jamwal, was a distant kinsman of Jit Singh, the Raja of Jammu. Gulab Singh grew up in the care of
his grandfather, Zorawar Singh, from whom he learned the arts of horse riding and warfare. In 1808, when
the Sikh army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh invaded Jammu, the 16-year-old Gulab Singh fought alongside his
clansmen in the unsuccessful defense of Jammu. Following this defeat, the Raja of Jammu had internal
autonomy of the principality, which became a tributary of the Sikh Empire. In 1809, Gulab Singh headed
towards Kabul to join the army of the Afghan King, Shah Shuja as a mercenary. When his men refused to
cross the river Indus, he gained employment with Sardar Nihal Singh Attariwala. Soon thereafter, Gulab
Singh was found employed as a running footman in Ranjit Singhs court. He distinguished himself in several
campaigns, including the conquest of Multan (1816). He also led an independent campaign in 1816 to
conquer the hill-town of Reasi.
In 1816, following another conflict, Jammu was annexed by Ranjit Singh. Raja Jit Singh, who was expelled,
found refuge in British India, and later received in appendage the estate of Akhrota. Ranjit Singh appointed
a governor to administer the newly conquered area which was expanded in 1819 with the annexation
of Kashmir by a Sikh force. In 1820, in appreciation of services rendered by the family, and by Gulab Singh
in particular, Ranjit Singh bestowed the Jammu region as a hereditary fief upon Kishore Singh. Apart from
their sterling services, the family's intimate association with the region commended Kishore Singh's
candidature to the Lahore court
In 1821, Gulab Singh captured conquered Rajouri from Aghar Khan and Kishtwar from Raja Tegh
Muhammad Singh. That same year, Gulab Singh took part in the Sikh conquest of Dera Ghazi Khan. He
also captured and executed his own clansman, Mian Dido Jamwal, who had been leading a rebellion against
the Sikhs.
Raja of Jammu

Kishore Singh died in 1822 and Gulab Singh was confirmed as Raja of Jammu by his suzerain, Ranjit
Singh. Shortly afterwards, Gulab Singh secured a formal declaration of renunciation from his kinsman, the
deposed Raja Jit Singh. The declaration, drafted in Persian, reads:
"I, Raja Jit Singh, grandson of Raja Sahib Ranjit Devji, on this occasion and out of internal
inclination and dignified favors, in my own lifetime, and as a token of intrinsic love and heartfelt
affection, hereby renounce proprietorship to all the protected territories of my ancestors, and my
own inheritance, in favor of my prosperous barkhurdar, Raja-i-Rajgan Raja Gulab Singhji, and
Raja Sahib Dhian Singhji and Raja Suchet Singhji, by way of dharam andniyam, mutual agreement
and on oaths of my predecessors and Thakurs andGurus
Thus, the declaration transferred the headship of the Jamwal Rajputs to a junior branch of that clan.
Intrigue at Lahore
In 1824 Gulab Singh captured the fort of Samartah, near the holy Mansar Lake. In 1827 he accompanied
the Sikh Commander-In-Chief Hari Singh Nalwa, who fought and defeated a horde of Afghan rebels led by
Sayyid Ahmed at the Battle of Shaidu. Between 1831-39 Ranjit Singh bestowed on Gulab Singh the jagir of
the salt mines in northern Punjab, and the nearby Punjabi towns like Bhera, Jhelum, Rohtas, and Gujrat.

On the death of Ranjit Singh in 1839, Lahore became a center of conspiracies and intrigue in which the
three Jammu brothers were involved.They succeeded in placing the administration in the hands of
Prince Nau Nihal Singh with Raja Dhian Singh as prime minister. However, in 1840, during the funeral
procession of his father Maharaja Kharak Singh, Nau Nihal Singh together with Udham Singh, son of
Gulab Singh died when an old brick gate collapsed on them.
In January 1841 Sher Singh, son of Ranjit Singh, tried to seize the throne of Lahore but was repulsed by the
Jammu brothers. The defence of the fort was in the hands of Gulab Singh. According to his European
artillery commander Alexander Gardner:
"The Dogras on the walls began to look over and were jeered at by Sher Singhs troops, the little fort
was surrounded by a sea of human heads. Gulab Singh made contemptuous replies, and roared out to
Sher Singh, demanding that he should surrender... With a wild yell some 300 Akalis swept up the Hazuri
Bagh and crowded into the gate. Just at that moment, when the crowd was rushing in on us, their swords
high in the air, I managed to fire the ten guns, and literally blew them into the air... Then Sher Singh
fled and grievous carnage ensued. The Dogras, always excellent marksmen, seemed that day not to miss
a man from the walls... we counted the bodies of no less than 2800 soldiers, 200 artillerymen, and 180
horses."
After peace was made between the two sides, Gulab Singh and his men were allowed to leave with their
weapons. On this occasion, he is said to have taken away a large amount of the Lahore treasure to
Jammu. Subsequently, Gulab Singh conquered the fort of Mangla (near the present Mangla Dam on the
Jhelum River).
Clashes with the Afghan tribesmen
In 1837 after the Afghan armies attacked Sikh Fort of Jamrud in the Battle Of Jamrud, Maharaja
Ranjit Singh sent Gulab Singh and his brother Dhyan Singh as reinforcement to the North West
Frontier Province (in modern day Pakistan), Dhyan Singh proceeded towards the Khyber Pass, Prince
Akbar Khan of Afghanistan fled with his armies back to Kabul on the arrival of Wazir Dhyan Singh,
Gulab Singh himself proceeded to Khyber Pakhtunwa region where Afghan tribesmen leader Painda
Khan Afridi had raised revolt after the killing of Hari Singh Nalwa at the Khyber Pass. Maharaja
Ranjit Singh ordered Rajah Gulab Singh to crush the revolt in the Khyber region. He proceeded with
10,000 Sikh and Dogra troops towards Hazara, the revolting tribesmen fled to the mountains with their
families and valuables, Gulab Singh set his base camp in Hazara and looted almost whole of the North
West Frontier Province and set on fire all the houses. He made Katuha his headquarters and hunted for
Muslim Pashtun tribes.He offered one rupee for the head of every Yousafzai man brought to his feet. He
had some of the women spared, but others were kept for Raja Gulab Singh's harem and the rest were
sold as slaves in Lahore and Jammu. It was reported that this expedition resulted in the loss of tens of
thousands of Pashtun rebels and thousands of women were sold into slavery
2. Ranbir Singh
Ranbir Singh,(Urdu; ) CIE (August 1830 12 September 1885) was the son
of Maharaja Gulab Singh, Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir and head of the Jamwal Rajput clan.
The trans- Himalayan territories of Gilgit, Astore, Hunza-Nagar were conquered and made part of
Jammu and Kashmir in his time. He was noted as a great scholar of classical Persian, and was also
learned in Swedish and English

3. Pratap Singh of Jammu and Kashmir

Pratap Singh (18 July 1848 23 September 1925) was the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, and head of
the Jamwal Rajput clan.
Some elements in the British Empire made an attempt to implicate the Dogra Maharaja in a conspiracy case
involving the Russian Empire. At the end a ruling council was forced on Jammu and Kashmir, which
included a British agent and the Maharaja's brother Amar Singh
Singh's reign
Before Pratap Singh's accession, the British Government was represented in Kashmir by an Officer-onSpecial Duty who had only limited functions to perform. The Government of India had made many attempts
at the time of Ranbir Singh to raise the status of the Officer to that of a full-fledged Political Resident. The
Maharaja had, however, successfully resisted these. But now taking advantage of the fresh succession they
were able to post a Political Resident in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the time of Pratap Singh, the first major step of improvement was taken in 1889 when the Jhelum
Valley Cart Road, "the most wonderful mountain road in the world", from Kohala to Baramulla was
completed. It was extended to Srinagar In 1897. In 1922, another great highway, the Banihal Cart Road,
which connected Srinagar, the summer capital, with Jammu, the winter capital of the state was thrown open
to the public. Besides these, many feeder roads in the state including those connecting Srinagar with Gilgit
and Leh were also constructed. The impact of these roads on the life of the people of Jammu and Kashmir
may be judged from the fact that before Pratap Singh, there was not a single wheeled conveyance, including
even a hand-cart. By the time his reign came to a close, motor cars became the principal means of
conveyance.
Besides construction of roads, several efforts were made to link the Valley with the railway system but
nothing substantial came out owing to the prohibitive costs. Even a project to build a seventy nine mile long
mono-cable steel ropeway from Jammu to the village Doru (or Shahabad) and then connecting it with
Srinagar by a forty six mile long light railway could not be taken up to But Jammu was linked to Sialkot in
the Punjab in 1890.
In 1887, the State Government carried out the first land settlement. As a result, the rights of the
agriculturists were clearly' defined and the state's demand was fixed for ten years. "Begar" or forced labour
in its more objectionable form was abolished.
By 1912 practically every tehsil and district was settled either for the first time or in revision. The share of
the state was fixed at 30 per cent of the gross produce and the revenue was to be collected in cash. The land
settlement gave much needed security to the cultivators and became responsible for their increasing
prosperity. The revenue of the state also increased by more than 100 per cent.
A model agricultural farm was set up at Srinagar for the spread of knowledge about the scientific methods
of cultivation. Establishment of the Department of Agriculture and the introduction of Cooperative Societies
were the other measures taken up to further improve the lot of the cultivators. By 1929, the number of
Cooperative Credit Societies in the state alone rose to about 1100 with a membership of 27,500.
Jammu and Kashmir is rich in forests. But till the accession of Pratap Singh, practically nothing had been
done to exploit these on scientific lines. In 1891, the State established the Forest Department which soon
began to give a very good account of itself. Its surplus revenue for the first year was about a quarter of

million of rupees. The same rose to about two million for the year 1921-22 and to a record figure of about
five million for the year 1929-30.
Efforts were made to popularise education. In pursuance of the suggestions made in the report of 1916,
many changes were made in the system of education. A number of new schools for both boys and girls were
also opened. The imparting of education in the primary schools was made free. Several measures were taken
for the education of Muslims especially. Grants were also budgeted. For the training of unqualified teachers
at the Training College and normal schools at Lahore. Later normal schools were established at various
places within the State.
One degree college each at Jammu (Prince of Wales College, established in 1907, and Srinagar (Sri Pratap
College established in 1905) and Amar Singh Technical Institute at the latter (1914) and Sri Pratap
Technical School at the former (1924)16 were maintained to meet the demands for higher education. By
1938, Sri Pratap College, with 1187 students on its rolls, achieved the distinction of being the second largest
college affiliated to the Punjab University.
Modern hospitals for both males and females were also established at Srinagar and Jammu. In other towns
and important villages, medical dispensaries under the charge of qualified doctors were opened. These
establishments went a long way in improving the health of the people.
Smallpox used to take a very heavy toll of life in the valley. Vaccination on an extensive scale was introduced
in 1894 to prevent it."' Modern water works were also established at Jammu and Srinagar. The Church
Missionary Society set up in Kashmir in the time of Maharaja Ranbir Singh, also contributed much to the
promotion of public health and education. It opened its own schools and hospitals in the valley and ran them
on modern lines. A great spill channel was constructed in 1904 to divert the flood waters of the a number
Jhelum. It was followed by the construction of smaller channels and several irrigation canals in both the
provinces of Jammu and Kashmir. The longest and most important of these was the Ranbir Canal in
Jammu with a total length of 251 miles including that of its tributaries, it was fully completed in 1911 at the
cost of Rs. 35,36,714. This Canal also helped in propelling the turbines of the Jammu hydro-electric
installation. Besides, 250 tanks were constructed in the Kandi areas of Jammu with a view to removing the
great distress of the residents of these arid tracks. The power obtained from the hydro-electric works
established at Mohara in 1907 was used not only for lighting and industrial purposes but also for dredging
operations which were carried out in the Jhelum below Baramulla in order to remove silt and boulders.
Besides, agriculture, sericulture, viticulture and horticulture were given great encouragement, and these
made much progress going onto become flourishing state industries. A silk factory set up at Srinagar
attained the distinction of being "the largest of its kind in the world" .
In order to feed it with the best quality of cocoons seeds were imported from Italy and France. A beginning
was made in local self-government by establishing municipalities at Jammu, Srinagar, Sopors and
Baramulla. These organisations did a lot towards improving the local sanitary conditions. For sometime
past, the inhabitants of Srinagar had been facing great difficulty in obtaining fuel supply. From 1919 the
State Forest Department undertook to supply firewood to the city people at fixed rates. Many oppressive
taxes, including the Muslims Marriage Tax, were abolished. Certain State Monopolies such as the shawl
industry were also done away with.
Pratap Singh left no issue of his own when he died on September 23, 1925, but he was succeeded by his
nephew Hari Singh, son of Raja Amar Singh.
4. Hari Singh

Hari Singh (Urdu; ; 23 September 1895 26 April 1961) was the last ruling Maharaja of
the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir in India.
He was married four times. With his fourth wife, Maharani Tara Devi (19101967), he had one
son, Yuvraj (Crown Prince) Karan Singh
Early life
Hari Singh was born into the Hindu Kachwaha caste, part of the Rajput community. He was born on 23
September 1895 at the palace of Amar Mahal, Jammu, the only surviving son of General Raja Sir Amar
Singh Jamwal (14 January 1864 26 March 1909), the younger son of General Maharajadhiraj Sri
Sir Ranbir Singh and the brother of Lieutenant-General Maharajadhiraj Sri Sir Pratap Singh, the
then Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir.
Education and preparation for the throne
In 1903, Hari Singh served as a page of honour to Lord Curzon at the grand Delhi Durbar. At the age of
thirteen, Hari Singh was dispatched to Mayo College in Ajmer. A year later, in 1909, his father died, and the
British took a keen interest in his education and appointed Major H. K. Brar as his guardian. After Mayo
College, the ruler-in-waiting went to the British-run Imperial Cadet Corps at Dehra Dun for military
training. By the age of twenty he had been appointed as commander-in-chief of the state of Kashmir.
Reign

The last Maharaja of Kashmir

Following the death of his uncle Sir Pratap Singh in 1925, Sir Hari Singh ascended the throne of Jammu
and Kashmir. He made primary education compulsory in the State, introduced laws prohibiting child
marriage, and opened places of worship to the lowcastes.
Singh was hostile towards the Indian National Congress, in part because of the close friendship between
Kashmiri political activist and socialist Sheikh Abdullah and Jawaharlal Nehru. He also opposed the
Muslim League and its members' communalist outlook illustrated in their two-nation theory. During
the Second World War, from 19441946 Sir Hari Singh was a member of the Imperial War Cabinet.
In 1947, after India gained independence from British rule, Jammu and Kashmir had the option to join
either India or Pakistan or to remain independent. He originally manoeuvred to maintain his independence
by playing off India and Pakistan. There was a widespread belief that rulers of the princely states, in
deciding to accede to India or Pakistan, should respect the wishes of the population, but few rulers took any
steps to consult on such decisions. Jammu and Kashmir was a Muslim majority state, and Pashtun
tribesmen from Pakistan invaded Jammu and Kashmir with the help of Pakistan's government under the

impression that Hari Singh would accede to India. Hari Singh appealed to India for help.[1] Although the
Indian Prime Minister Nehru was ready to send troops, the Governor-General of India, Lord Mountbatten
of Burma, advised the Maharaja to accede to India before India would send its troops. Hence, considering
the emergent situation, the Maharaja signed an Instrument of Accession to the Dominion of India.
Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947, acceding the whole of his princely state
(including Jammu, Kashmir,Northern Areas, Ladakh, Trans-Karakoram Tract and Aksai Chin) to
the Dominion of India. These events triggered the first Indo-Pakistan War.
Pressure from Nehru and Sardar Patel eventually compelled Hari Singh to appoint his son and
heir, Yuvraj (Crown Prince) Karan Singh, as Regent of Jammu and Kashmir in 1949, although he remained
titular Maharaja of the state until 1952, when the monarchy was abolished. Karan Singh was appointed
'Sadr-e-Riyasat' ('President of the Province') in 1952 and Governor of the State in 1964.
Hari Singh spent his final days in Kashmir at the Hari Niwas Palace in Jammu, before going to Hajj, where
he died on 26 September 1961
3. Karan Singh
Dr Karan Singh (Urdu;
( ) born 9 March 1931) is a member of India's Upper House of Parliament,
the Rajya Sabha. He is a senior member of the Indian National Congress Party who served successively
as Sadr-i-Riyasat and Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. Singh is the son of the last ruler of the
erstwhile princely state of Kashmir and Jammu, Maharaja Hari Singh. In the 26th amendment[1] to
the Constitution of India promulgated in 1971, the Government of India abolished all official symbols
of princely India, including titles, privileges, and remuneration (privy purses).[2] Singh received the Padma
Vibhushan in 2005.

Academics and science

Subhash Kak
Subhash Kak (Hindi: ; Subh Kk) (born March 26, 1947 in Srinagar, Kashmir) is an Indian
American computer scientist. He is Regents Professor and a previous Head of Computer Science
Department at Oklahoma State UniversityStillwater who has made contributions
to cryptography, artificial neural networks, and quantum information.
Kak is also notable for his Indological publications on the history of science, the philosophy of
science, ancient astronomy, and thehistory of mathematics. Alan Sokal labeled Kak "one of the leading
intellectual luminaries of the Hindu-nationalist diaspora."
His brother is the computer scientist Avinash Kak
Amitabh Mattoo
Professor Amitabh Mattoo (Urdu, ( ) born 26 June 1962 in Srinagar) is one of India's leading
thinkers and writers on international relations. He is currently Advisor to the Chief Minister of Jammu and
Kashmir, with the status of a Cabinet Minister.[2] He is also Honorary Director of the Australia India
Institute @Delhi.[3] He has been the Chief Executive Officer & inaugural Director of theAustralia India
Institute and Professor of International Relations at the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.[4] He
is the co-chair of the Australia India Leadership Dialogue.[5] Amitabh Mattoo is widely regarded as an

inspiring and innovative builder of institutions and the foremost Indian intellectual seeking to build peace in
the South Asian region.
He is on leave from New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University where he serves as a Professor of
Disarmament Studies at the School of International Studies.[6] Mattoo has been a Member of the National
Knowledge Commission, a high-level advisory group to the Prime Minister of India, and Vice-Chancellor of
the University of Jammu.[7]
Mattoo is also President of the Indian Association of International Studies. From November 2002 until early
December 2008, he was the youngest ever Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jammu, and the second
youngest Vice Chancellor in the history of modern India. Only Syama Prasad Mookerjee was a younger
Vice Chancellor, when he became VC of Calcutta University in 1934 at the age of 33.[8]
Mattoo serves on the Governing Council of the Indian Council for Social Science Research (ICSSR), [9] the
Executive Committee and Governing Council of Pugwash, the Nobel Prizewinning NGO, and is a member
of the Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Well Being.[10] Mattoo is a member of the Academic
Council of Vishwabharti University as well as the Executive Council of the Central University of Karnataka.
He was appointed a member of India's National Security Council's Advisory Board by Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee, he has been a Director of the India-Afghanistan Foundation (established by the
governments of India and Afghanistan) and was a member of the task force constituted by Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh on Global Strategic Developments. The Task Force examined global trends in
strategic affairs and their implications for India. His expertise and advice has been sought on matters of
national security and foreign policy across parties and governments.
Idrees ul haq
Idrees ul Haq is a Kashmiri innovator and activist. He is best known for Innovations, Social Work and was
honoured in 2005 by the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir in recognition of his social work; however, he
renounced his award in July 2013 in protest at the Ramban firing incident. He was the first youth from
Jammu and Kashmnir to be invited for the Technology Transfer program at Israel.

Arts
MC Kash
Roushan Illahi, known by his stage name MC Kash, is a rapper/emcee from Kashmir. He took his name
from his home province,Kashmir. He considers himself a street poet.
Alla Rakha
Ustad Qureshi Alla Rakha Khan (29-April 1919 3 February 2000), popularly known as Alla Rakha, was
an Indian tabla player. He was a frequent accompanist of Ravi Shankar.
Personal life and education
Alla Rakha was born in Ghagwal, Jammu and Kashmir, British India. His mother tongue was Dogri. He
became fascinated with the sound and rhythm of the tabla at the age of 12, while staying with his uncle
in Gurdaspur. Finding little chances for grooming and appreciation, the determined young lad ran away
from home, became a disciple of and began studying tabla with Mian Kader Baksh of the Punjab gharana.
Sabir Rakha, a brother, also played the tabla.

He studied voice and Raag Vidya under Ashiq Ali Khan of the Patiala gharana. His regimen of practice and
dedication were legendary: hours upon hours of hard, disciplined practice, that would later pay off.
He was married to Bavi Begum and their marriage produced three sons, Zakir Hussain, Fazal
Qureshi and Taufiq Qureshi; two daughters, Khurshid Aulia ne Qureshi and Razia; and nine
grandchildren. They all survived him except Razia; it was the news of her death the day before that is
thought to have caused his fatal heart attack.[1][2] By a woman from Faisalabad, Pakistan, he also fathered a
daughter, Roohi Bano, who was a popular TV actress in 1970s and 1980s.
Bhajan Sopori
Bhajan Sopori (born 1948 in Srinagar, Kashmir)[1] is an Indian instrumentalist. He is a player of
the santoor, an ancient stringed musical instrument.
Personal life
Sopori hails from Sopore in Kashmir Valley and traces his lineage to ancient Santoor experts. He belongs to
the Sufiana gharana of Indian classical music.[3] His family has played santoor for over six
generations.[4] His first public performance was at a conference organised by Prayag Sangeet Samiti &
the University of Allahabad when he was 10 years old.[3] Sopori's son Abhay Rustum Sopori is also a santoor
player. Both father and son have given several performances together.
Dina Nath Walli
Dina Nath Walli (Dinanath Walli) also known by his pen name Almast Kashmiri (19082006) was
renowned water colour artist and poet from Srinagar city in Kashmir valley. He was the part of the modern
art movement in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and was known for painting everyday scenes of
Kashmir.[1][2]
He lived in Badyar Bala area of Srinagar, which has been home to many Kashmiri Pandit artists including
S.N. Bhat and Mohan Raina
Early life and education
His father died at very early age. He had his early education in Srinagar, then he continued his three years
course at Amar Singh Technical Institute, Srinagar and then he moved to Calcutta in 1930 for his further
training, where he learned various forms of art under the guidance of Percy Brown, principal of
the Government College of Art & Craft at the University of Calcutta.
Ghulam Rasool Santosh
Ghulam Rasool Santosh (Kashmiri:

(Devanagari), ( Nastaleeq)) (1929 March 10, 1997) was a prominent Kashmiri Indian painter. He was best known for his themes inspired
by Kashmir Shaivism.
Early life
He was born Ghulam Rasool in a Kashmiri Muslim family of modest means in the Chinkral Mohalla habba
kadal neighborhood of old Srinagar. He dropped out of school after his father's death and took up odd jobs
like writing, painting signboards, weaving silk and whitewashing walls. In 1954 he won a scholarship to
study fine arts under a celebratedIndian painter, N. S. Bendre in the city of Baroda, in the state of Gujarat,
in western India.

Around the same time he did what was considered unusual and unacceptable in conservative Kashmiri
society - he married his childhood sweetheart, Santosh, who was aKashmiri Pandit, and also assumed her
name.
Malika Pukhraj
Malika Pukhraj (Urdu: ( ) b1912 - 2004) was a highly popular Ghazal and folk singer of Pakistan.
She was generally called as "Malika" meaning "The Queen." She is extremely popular for her rendition
of Hafeez Jalandhri's song, Abhi to main jawan hoon ("I am still youthful"), which is enjoyed by millions not
only in Pakistan, but also in India.[1] Her popular numbers were,Lo phir basant aaya and Quli Qutub's Piya
baaj piyale piya jaye na and Faiz Ahmed Faiz's Mere qatil mere dildar mere paas raho.
Early life
Malika Pukhraj, was born in Mirpur, on the banks of the River Chenab, 16 miles from Jammu Punjab
region, British India, in a Kanjarfamily of traditional singers.[2] As she grew up her mother moved to
a Kotha(brothel) in Rajinder Bazar, Kanak Mandi area of Jammu, where she spent early years of her life.
She was given the name "Malika" at birth, by 'Majzoob', Baba Roti Ram, a spiritualist,
inAkhnoor area,[3] and named Pukhraj by her Aunt.
Shivkumar Sharma
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (born January 13, 1938[1]) is an Indian Santoor player.[2][3] The Santoor is a folk
instrument[1][4] from Jammu and kashmir.

Defence forces
Bana Singh
Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Bana Singh, PVC (6 January 1949) is a retired Indian soldier, and a
recipient of the nation's highest military award, the Param Vir Chakra. He has held the ranks Naib
Subedar, Subedar Major and Honorary Captain in the Indian Army. As a Naib Subedar, he led the team
which conquered the highest peak in the Siachen area as part of Operation Rajiv. The peak was named as
"Bana Top" in his honour.
Rajinder Singh
Maharaja Sir Rajinder Singh, GCSI (25 May 1872 8 November 1900) was Maharaja of the princely
state of Patiala from 1876 to 1900. In 1897, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Star of India for his
bravery, by the colonial government.[1] Described as "the first reigning Prince to blend the elements of the
English gentleman and Indian potentate", he implemented reforms, including endowments for a woman's
hospital, orphanages, and training of troops.
He was the first Indian to own a car, in 1892, a French De Dion-Bouton as well as being the first man in
India to own an aircraft.
Singh died following a riding accident. He was known for playing polo, cricket, field hockey and English
billiards. The maharaja had a total of 365 wives,[2] and defied his subjects and the British government when
he married the Irish-born daughter of his horse master, persuading her to convert to the Sikh faith. He was
a close friend of William Beresford and of Frederick Roberts.[3] The Irish composer Thomas O'Brien
Butler (18611915), who spent some time in India, dedicated a song composition to him.

He was the son of Maharaja Mahendra Singh of Patiala, a member of the Phulkian Dynasty. One of his sons
was Maharaja SirBhupinder Singh.
Chewang Rinchen
Colonel Chewang Rinchen MVC (Bar), SM was an officer in the Indian Army from the Ladakh region
of Jammu and Kashmir.
Rinchen joined the Nubra Guard in 1948,[2] and served in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 alongside Indian
Army units. Fighting in the Nubra Valley, he was promoted through the ranks, and was awarded a Mahavir
Chakra for bravery.
Rinchen also served in the 1962 India-China War, where he was awarded a Sena Medal. In the IndoPakistani War of 1971Rinchen, now a Major in the Ladakh Scouts led the capture of the Chalunka complex
of the Pakistani Army and the strategic outpost of Turtuk.[3][4] For these actions, he was awarded a bar to
his MVC, being one of only six Indian soldiers so honoured.
Rinchen retired as a full Colonel in 1984. He was appointed honorary Colonel of the Ladakh Scouts. The
Indian Army has named an army shopping complex after him in Leh
Nirmal Chander Vij
General Nirmal Chander Vij (born January 3, 1943, in Jammu) was the 21st Indian Chief of Army
Staff during 1 Jan 2003 - 31 Jan 2005.
Banda Singh Bahadur
Banda Singh Bahadur (born Lachman Dev, also known as Banda Bairagi, Banda Bahudar,[2]Lachman
Das and Madho Das) (27 October 1670 9 June 1716, Delhi) was a Sikh military commander.
At age 15 he left home to become an ascetic, and was given the name Madho Das. He established a
monastery at Nnde, on the bank of the river Godvar, where in September 1708 he was visited by, and
became a disciple of, Guru Gobind Singh, who gave him the new name of Banda Singh Bahadur. Armed
with the blessing and authority of Gobind Singh, he assembled a fighting force and led the struggle against
the Mughal Empire. His first major action was the sack of the Mughal provincial capital, Samana, in
November 1709.[3] After establishing his authority in Punjab, Banda Singh Bahadur abolished
the zamindari system, and granted property rights to the tillers of the land. He was captured by the
Mughals and tortured to death in 1716.

Law and justice

Adarsh Sein Anand
Adarsh Sein Anand (born 1 November 1936) was the 29th Chief Justice of India, serving from 10 October
1998 to 31 October 2001.
Anand completed his studies in Jammu, Lucknow University, and University College London, and enrolled
as an Advocate at the Bar Council on 9 November 1964. Having practised in Criminal Law, Constitutional
Law, Election Law at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he was appointed as Additional Judge, Jammu
and Kashmir High Court from 26 May 1975. He became the Chief Justice, Jammu and Kashmir High Court
on 11 May 1985 and transferred to the Madras High Court on 1 November 1989. He was appointed a Judge
of the Supreme Court of India, on 18 November 1991. He enjoyed one of the longest tenures as Chief
Justice, since JusticeY. V. Chandrachud.[2]

On 17 February 2003, he took over as the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission and was
succeeded by Justice Rajendra Babu on 2 April 2007.
On February, 2010, he was appointed as chairman of a five-member committee set up to examine the safety
aspects of theMullaperiyar Dam in Kerala. The panel submitted the report on 25 April 2012.
Mehr Chand Mahajan
Mehr Chand Mahajan (born December 23, 1889, Tika Nagrota, Kangra district1967) was the third Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of India. Prior to that he was the Prime Minister of Jammu and
Kashmir during the reign of Maharaja Hari Singh and played a key role in the accession of J&K to India.
He was the Indian National Congress nominee on the Radcliff Commission that defined the boundaries of
India and Pakistan.
Justice Mahajan made his name as an accomplished lawyer, a respected judge, and an influential politician.
As a judge he was incisive and forthright and had many leading judgments to his credit.

Literature
Agha Shahid Ali
Agha Shahid Ali (February 1949, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir - 8 December 2001 Amherst,
Massachusetts) was a poet.[1][2] His collections include A Walk Through the Yellow Pages, The Half-Inch
Himalayas, A Nostalgist's Map of America, The Country Without a Post Office, Rooms Are Never Finished, the
latter a finalist for the National Book Award in 2001.
The University of Utah Press awards the Agha Shahid Ali Poetry Prize annually "in memory of a celebrated
poet and beloved teacher"
Basharat Peer
Basharat Peer, (born 1977) is a Kashmiri journalist and script writer hailing from Kashmir and currently
based in New York. He is also an author and political commentator.
Early life
Peer was born in Seer, Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir. He attended school in the valley of Kashmir and
continued his education after matriculation in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh away from his strife-ridden
birthplace. He studied Political Science at Aligarh Muslim University and Journalism at Columbia
University.[4] Basharat Peer's father is a retired officer of the Indian Administrative Service
Deen Bandhu Sharma
Deen Bandhu Sharma (Hindi: ) (30 October 1934- 11 November 2000) was an Indian writer from
the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Bandhu Sharma is best known for writing the award-winning book, Meel
Patthar (English: Milestone). Meel Patthar is a collection of short stories that won him the
prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award, the second highest literary award of India.
Rafiq Anjum
A pediatrician by profession, Dr. Rafique Anjum (alternate spelling Dr Anjum Awan) is a Gojri poet,
scholar and researcher of Jammu and Kashmir. He received state level award for Excellence in Literature
in 2007, and is a member of General Council of Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and

Languages. He has served as Registrar and Consultant Pediatrician in GMC Strinagar and is serving JK
Health services as Graded Child Specialist at Rajouri.
Habba Khatoon
Habba Khatoon (15541609) was a 16th-century Kashmiri Muslim poetess and ascetic, who is also known as
'Nightingale of Kashmir'. She was born in the small village of Chandrahar (Chandhaur) located
outside Sempora in present Jammu and Kashmir state, and was known by the name Zoon (the Moon)
because of her immense beauty until her marriage with Yusuf Shah Chak, who later became ruler of
Kashmir, after which she was called Habba Khatoon. When her husband was captured by Mughal
emperor Akbar taken away to Bengal (and later buried in Bihar) never to return, she became an ascetic.
Biography
Habba Khatoon was a 16th-century Muslim poet from the village of Chandrahar of Kashmir. She was born
in the small village Chandrahar, and was known under the name Zoon (the Moon) because of her immense
beauty until her marriage with Yusuf Shah Chak, who later became ruler of Kashmir, after which she was
called Habba Khatoon.
Her songs are popular in Kashmir and she is almost a legendary figure in Kashmiri literary history.
Perhaps the influence she has exerted over the popular imagination had much to do with the difficult life she
had as a peasant girl who had received some basic education. Habba Khatoon was a peasant girl who, after
a difficult first marriage which ended in divorce, married Kashmir's last independent King, Yousuf Shah
Chak. When the Mughal King Akbar conquered Kashmir through deceit/treachery and exiled Yousuf Shah
Chak, Habba Khatoon spent the rest of her life wandering across the Valley singing her songs. Even though
there is some dispute about biography, the texts associated with her name are widely popular
across Kashmir.
She grew up in the midst of the saffron fields and in the shade of the chinar trees. She was not raised as a
typical peasant girl. She had learnt how to read and write from the village moulvi. At an early age her
father married her to a peasant boy. But this illiterate peasant boy could not keep Zoon happy. He could not
understand the longings of her heart. Just like Lal Ded, Zoon also was sad. Lalla became desperate and left
her home. Zoon divorced her husband and started singing songs in Kashmiri.
Zoon used to sing in the shade of a chinar tree. One day Yusuph Shah Chak was out hunting that way on
horseback. He happened to pass the place where Zoon was singing under the chinar tree. He heard her
melancholic melodies, and went to look at her. He was stunned by her beauty. As soon as their eyes met,
they fell in love. Later, Zoon and Yusuph Shah were married. She changed her name and became Habba
Khatun.
Habba Khatun introduced lol to Kashmiri poetry, lol is more or less equivalent to the English 'lyric'. It
conveys one brief thought. It is full of melody and love.
Habba Khatun kept Yusuph Shah under her control. The couple was very contented, and Yousuf Shah
became the ruler of Kashmir.
Their happiness did not last long. Akbar came into prominence in Delhi, and he called Yusuph Shah there.
In 1579, Yusuph Shah was compelled to go to Delhi. In Delhi, Akbar arrested him via treachery. Earlier the
Kashmiris had soundly defeated the Mughals consistently. He was kept in prison in Bihar. Poor Habba
Khatun was separated from Yusuph Shah. The songs of Habba Khatun are full of the sorrow of separation.

It is claimed that Habba Khatun introduced the 1ol into tho Kashmiri (language) After her came Arnimal
who also sang mournful lyrics.
Habba Khatoon spent her last days singing her songs in the Valley, songs which are popular to this day.
Even now you can see young Kashmiri singers turn to such popular lyrics as Mye ha kaer chey kit and Che
Kamiu Sonei Myani.
Javaid Rahi
Dr. Javaid Rahi (born in, Chandak, Poonch, J&K in India) is an Indian researcher and prolific scholar. He
has been the recipient of a number of national awards, including aNational Fellowship from Union Ministry
of Tourism and Culture, New Delhi, in 2000 for his outstanding contributions in the field of Tribal and
Nomadic Research. He has done pioneering work for the preservation and propagation of
the Gujjar Culture.
Lalleshwari
Lalleshwari born;1320, died;1392, was a mystic of the Kashmiri Shaivite sect.[1] She was a creator of the
mystic poetry called vatsun or Vakhs, literally "speech" (Voice). Known as Lal Vakhs, her verses are the
earliest compositions in theKashmiri language and are an important part in history of Kashmiri
literature.[2][3] She inspired and interacted with many Sufis of Kashmir.
Lalleshwari was born in Pandrethan (ancient Puranadhisthana) some four and a half miles to the southeast
of Srinagar in a Kashmiri Pandit family.[8] She married at age twelve, but her marriage was unhappy and
she left home at twenty-four to take sanyas (renunciation) and become a disciple of the Shaivite guru Siddha
Srikantha (Sed Bayu). She continued the mystic tradition of Shaivism in Kashmir, which was known
as Trika before 1900.
Padma Sachdev
Padma Sachdev (born 1940) is an Indian poet and novelist. She is first modern woman poet of Dogri
language.[1] She also writes in Hindi. She has published her several poetry collection including Meri Kavita
Mere Geet (My Poems, My Songs) that has won theSahitya Akademi Award in 1971.[2][3] She has also
received the Padma Shri, the Indian fourth highest civilian award in 2001.[4] and the Kabir Samman for
poetry for the year 2007-08, given by Government of Madhya Pradesh .
Hakeem Manzoor
Hakeem Manzoor (January 17, 1937 2006) was a prominent Urdu writer, poet & administrator. Born
in Srinagar in the Indian state ofJammu and Kashmir, he wrote more than 15 books. Some of his famous
books in Urdu are Na Tamaam, Barf Ruton Ki Aag and Lahu Lamas Chinar. Hakeenm Manzoor served in
the state administration in various capacities. He headed the Education Department and worked as the
District Development Commissioner Baramulla and the Custodian General besides the Jammu and
Kashmir Resident Commissioner in New Delhi.

Politics
Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad
Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad (19071972) ruled the State of Jammu and Kashmir as Prime Minister for
eleven years from 1953 to 1964.

Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad was educated at C.M.S Tyndale Biscoe School. He started his career as a school
teacher in far flung areas ofJammu and Kashmir like Skardu and Leh and later served in the Kashmir
branch of the All India Spinners' Association. In 1927 he joinedSheikh Mohammed Abdullah in the
agitation for securing civic and political rights for the State's Muslim population, which was then under the
autocratic rule of the Dogra rulers, culminating in the formation of the Muslim Conference in 1930. Bakshi
Ghulam Mohammad displayed a great talent for organization and capacity for sustained hard work during
this period. He organised the students and workers and set up their unions. He was arrested several times
during the freedom struggle including a sixteen-month term in Reasi sub-Jail. Within the National
Conference party he earned the sobriquet "Khalid-e-Kashmir" after Khalid bin Walid, the great Muslim
general.
By 1938, people of all communities had joined the demand for responsible government, which had spread all
over the State and the Muslim Conference's name was altered to National Conference. Bakshi Ghulam
Mohammad worked underground during this period, keeping a step ahead of the State Police. In 1946,
during the "Quit Kashmir" movement, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad escaped to British India when a
warrant was issued for his arrest. He visited many places mobilizing public opinion in favour of the
Kashmir agitation. After Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Kashmir the warrant against him was withdrawn and
he returned home after seventeen months exile.
In October 1947, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah was released from prison and made Prime Minister. Bakshi
Ghulam Mohammad becameDeputy Prime Minister and was entrusted with the Home portfolio.
Prime Ministership
In 1948 during the Sheikh's absence from the State to represent India's case at the UN, Bakshi Ghulam
Mohammad took over as the Chief Administrator. In August 1953, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah was
dismissed and arrested, and Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad became Prime Minister of the State and also
President of the National Conference by majority vote of the State Cabinet. The famous Kashmir
Conspiracy Case against Abdullah and others was started during his premiership.
Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad proved to be an able administrator and is remembered as the "Architect of
Modern Kashmir" because of his constructive work in the State. He set Kashmir on the road to progress,
gave a practical shape to the ideal of "Naya Kashmir", and earned fame and goodwill at home and outside
Kashmir. He had a unique knack of establishing a direct rapport with people at grass-root level land gained
tremendous popularity among people of all regions.
On the political front, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad had to face a stiff challenge from the Plebiscite Front
which was formed in 1955 but he remained in the saddle with a tight grip over the state machinery. In May
1963 the Congress lost three important Parliamentary by-elections, including a "prestige" contest in which
a Union Minister was defeated. Perturbed at the reverses, the AICC, under the Kamaraj plan, decided that
some Congress Union Ministers and State Chief Ministers should resign and give all their time to party
work. The final selection was left to Jawahar Lal Nehru. After eleven continuous years of Prime
Ministership, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad was persuaded to offer just a token resignation in order to
strengthen Nehru's hand even though he did not belong to the Congress party. In a move that typifies the
strange relationship between Kashmir and New Delhi, his resignation was accepted along with those of five
State Chief Ministers and six Union Ministers.
The eleven years of the Bakshi's Premiership have been the longest continuous stint by any Prime Minister
or Chief Minister and are generally acknowledged as a period of stability in the State's post-independence

history. Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad had steadfastly resisted any attempt to undermine Jammu and
Kashmir's special status within the Union of India.
In the Opposition
In 1964 Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad headed the opposition to the Government of Chief Minister Ghulam
Mohammad Sadiq. In the late summer of the same year the majority of the legislators compelled him to
move a vote of no-confidence against the Government but he was arrested and detained under the Defence
of India Rules despite the support of the majority of MLA's in the State Assembly which was prorogued by
the Governor. Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad was released on health grounds in December. In June 1965 he
made an announcement that he had decided to retire from politics.
Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad's popularity, however, remained undiminished and in 1967 he was elected to
the Lok Sabha on a National Conference ticket defeating the ruling Congress nominee, Ali Mohammed
Tariq, by a big margin. He remained a member of the Lok Sabha till 1971.
Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad died in July 1972.
Karan Singh
Dr Karan Singh (Urdu;
( ) born 9 March 1931) is a member of India's Upper House of Parliament,
the Rajya Sabha. He is a senior member of the Indian National Congress Party who served successively
as Sadr-i-Riyasat and Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. Singh is the son of the last ruler of the
erstwhile princely state of Kashmir and Jammu, Maharaja Hari Singh. In the 26th amendment[1] to
the Constitution of India promulgated in 1971, the Government of India abolished all official symbols
of princely India, including titles, privileges, and remuneration (privy purses).[2] Singh received the Padma
Vibhushan in 2005.
Farooq Abdullah
Farooq Abdullah (Urdu: ni 7391 rebotcO 12 nrob , Soura, Jammu & Kashmir, British
India)is the son of veteran statesmanSheikh Abdullah, is a doctor of medicine and has served as chief
minister of Jammu and Kashmir on several occasions since 1982. He is married to Molly, a nurse of British
origin. Their son, Omar Abdullah is also involved in state and national politics, and has been a member of
the Lok Sabha and was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Abdullah was a novice in the political arena of Jammu and Kashmir when he was appointed president of
the National Conference in August 1981. His main qualification was that he was the son and heir of
the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference leader Sheikh Abdullah. After his father's death in 1982,
Farooq Abdullah became the Chief Minister of the state. In 1984, the Abdullah government was dismissed
by the Governor and replaced with a pro-Congress government under Ghulam Mohammad Shah. In 1986,
that government was dismissed and a new National ConferenceCongress government was sworn in with
Abdullah as the Chief Minister. A new election was held in 1987 and the National ConferenceCongress
alliance won the election amid allegations of fraud. This period saw a rise in militancy in the state, with the
return of trained militants from Pakistan and incidents that included the kidnapping of the daughter of the
Union Home Minister. Subsequently, the Abdullah government was dismissed once again and the state was
brought under President's rule.[1] In 1996, Abdullah was once again sworn in as Chief Minister of the state,
his fifth time.

Leadstart Publishing & Crossword Bookstore Launch the Poetry Writing Series with Honourable
Dr.Farooq Abdullah
.In 2002 Abdullah was elected to Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir for his first six-year term. He was
subsequently re-elected in 2009.[2] Abdullah joined the United Progressive Alliance government as a Cabinet
Minister.
Besides Farooq leashed Zuljanah in Grand Ashura Procession In Kashmir before militancy period in
1980s. With the fact his own political fans used to participate in religious Shitte procession.
Ghulam Nabi Azad
Ghulam Nabi Azad (born 7 March 1949, in Jammu and Kashmir, India) is an Indian politician from
the Indian National Congress and was the Minister of Health and Family Welfare[1] Presently he serves as
the Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha.[2]
He was the Parliamentary Affairs Minister of India in the government of Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh until 27 October 2005, when he was appointed as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. After
delivering victories in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, after which Andhra was divided in two parts
(Telangana and Coastal Andhra). He led the party successfully in the 2002 Assembly election in Jammu and
Kashmir.
Azad's forte is his organisational skills, having been the AICC general secretary for a record nine times and
member of the powerful Congress Working Committee for 18 years.[
Omar Abdullah
Omar Abdullah (Urdu, ( ) pronunciation (helpinfo); born 10 March 1970) is
an Indian politician and the scion of one of the state's most prominent political families, the Abdullah
family,[4][5][6] who became the 11th and the youngest Chief Minister of the Indian State of Jammu and
Kashmir, after forming a government in coalition with the Congress party, on 5 January 2009.[6][7]
He is currently Member of the Legislative Assembly from Beerwah constituency of Budgam district.[8]
He was a member of 14th Lok Sabha, representing Srinagar constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He
was a Union Minister of State for External affairs in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government, from 23 July
2001 to 23 December 2002. He resigned from NDAgovernment in October 2002 to concentrate on party
work.[9]
Omar joined politics in 1998, as a Lok Sabha member, a feat he repeated in subsequent three elections and
also remained a Union minister; he took on the mantle of National Conference from his father in 2002,
though he lost his own seat of Ganderbal during the 2002 state assembly elections, and so did his party, the
political mandate; four years later, he contested once again from the same seat and won in the 2008
Kashmir Elections.

Shamma Jain
Shamma Jain (born 10 September 1959) is an Indian diplomat, currently serving as the Ambassador of
India to the Republic of Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.[1] She was earlier India's Ambassador to Ivory
Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone andGuinea from 2008 to 2011
Sheikh Abdullah
Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah (Urdu, ( ) Born, 5 December 1905 Died, 8 September 1982)
was an Indian statesman who played a central role in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost
Indian state. The self-styled "Sher-e-Kashmir" (Lion of Kashmir), Abdullah was the founding leader of
the National Conference and thrice served as the head of government in Kashmir. He agitated against the
rule of the Maharaja Hari Singh and urged self-rule for Kashmir.
He was the Prime Minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir after its accession to India in 1947[3] and was
later jailed and exiled. He was dismissed from the position of Prime Ministership on 8 August 1953 and
Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad was appointed as the new Prime Minister. The expressions Sadar-i-Riyasat
and Prime Minister were replaced with the terms Governor and Chief Minister in 1965.[4] Sheikh
Abdullah again became the Chief Minister of the state following the 1974 Indira-Sheikh accord and
remained in the top slot till his death on 8 September 1982.
Films and television
Jeevan
Jeevan is an Indian first name meaning 'life' or 'bringer of life', that may be used by males or females. The
name originates from the Sanskrit language but is more often used as a Punjabi name or sometimes a Hindi
name. Alternative spellings are Geevan, Gevan, Givan, Jevan, or Jivan.
Mohammed Iqbal Khan
Mohammed Iqbal Khan (born 10 February 1981[1]), more commonly known as Iqbal Khan, is
an Indian television and Bollywood actor.
Khan was educated at the Lawrence School, Sanawar. He was a part of Falguni Pathak's "Indhana Mirwa"
music video. His he played Angad Khanna in the serial Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai. He went on to play the character
of Shaurya in Kavyanjali and Raghu forKahiin To Hoga. After the ending of Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai he went on to
do another serial Karam Apnaa Apnaa, where he played the role of Shiv Kapoor.
He exited from Karam Apnaa Apnaa at the end of 2006.[citation needed] He made a come back on television
with Chhoona Hai Aasmaan as an Airforce officer by the name of Abhimanyu Adhikari. He appeared
in Waaris and portrayed the lead role of Rudra on the serial Sanjog Se Bani Sangini . He portrayed a role of
Dr. Viren Roy in Yahaaan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli from MarchJune 2012.
He had a major tole in the film Unforgettable.[2]
Khan is married to Sneha Chhabra,[3] whom he met at a shoot of a video album.[4] They have a daughter
who was born in 2011.[5
Mushtaq Kak
Mushtaq Kak (Dogri/Kashmiri: (Devanagari), ( Nastaleeq); b. 1961 in Jammu &
Kashmir, India) is an Indian actor and director.[1] Kak's parents are from Jammu&Kashmir,in India; his
father is a Kashmiri, of the Kak caste, while his mother is a Dogra.[2]

Earlier, he was associated with Shri Ram Centre, New Delhi as the artistic director. He has also received the
best director award for Andha Yug, Malika, and Pratibimb. Of his plays, Maha Brahmin and Alladad were
adjudged best plays for the years 1999 and 2000, respectively. His production "Andorra" with Kartik
Chaudhry as Pyder was a big hit. He Directed more than 100 plays all from different writers. Few of them
are short stories by Saadat Hasan Mantos, Anton Chekhov's Cheery ka bagicha, Vijay Tendulkars ghansi
ram kotwal, Krishan Chander's Gadhe Ke Wapsi, Sharad Joshi's alladad, Vasant Kanetkar's Kasturi Mrig,
Moti Lal Kemmo's Nagar Udaas, Federico Garcia's The Blood Wedding. He has also acted in Hindi Movies
like Hijack, Sikandar and Hollywood movie Amal.
Sports
Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina (born 27 November 1986) is an Indian professional cricketer. A left-handed middleorder batsman and an occasional off-spin bowler, he plays for Uttar Pradesh in all forms of domestic cricket
and is the vice-captain of Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. He has also captained the
Indian cricket team and is the second youngest player to captain India. He is the one of the two Indian
batsmen to score a century in all three formats of international cricket.
Raina made his ODI debut in 2005 against Sri Lanka at the age of 19. However, his Test debut came only
five years later, in 2010, against the same opposition. He scored a hundred on his Test debut.He was a part
of the Indian squad that won the 2011 World Cup. Gary Kirsten, once said : Raina won us the world cup
with that quarterfinals knock against Australia. Raina is planning to turn Playback singer with Bollywood
film Meeruthiya Gangsters
Parvez Rasool
Parvez Ghulam Rasool Zargar (born 13 February 1989) is an Indian cricketer who plays as an allrounder for Jammu & Kashmir.[1]
He is a right-hand batsman and offbreak bowler.[2] Rasool is the captain of Jammu & Kashmir team and a
regular member of the India A team. He was bought for 95 lakh (US$140,000) by the Sunrisers
Hyderabad in the 2014 IPL auction.[3] Rasool was the first cricketer from Jammu & Kashmir to have played
in the IPL.
He got his call-up for the national team in 2013 for the Zimbabwe tour. Rasool finally represented national
team againstBangladesh on 15 June 2014 at Mirpur
Mehrajuddin Wadoo
Mehrajuddin Wadoo (Kashmiri: (Devanagari), ( Nastaleeq)) (born February 12,
1978 in Sarai Balla, Amira Kadal, Srinagar) is an, Indian football player from the Indian state of Jammu
and Kashmir who represents the Indian national team.

END.