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Indian scenario:
India is no exception to this phenomenon. The decadal growth
of Muslim population on average remains thirty percent where as national
average of increase is twenty two percent (22%). After partition the Muslims
constituted ten percent of the total population of India. The population in
2001 has crossed thirteen percent and is likely to go above fifteen percent by
2011.
All religious 439, 234, 547, 949, 665, 287, 838, 583, 1, 028, 610,
communities 771 809 849 988 328
Muslims
46,940,799 61,417,934 75,512,439 101,596,057 138,188,240
and their
(10.7%) (11.2%) (11.4%) (12.1%) (13.4%)
percentage
Dec 2008
Districts
Deposits (in crores) Share
Anantnag 1120 4.33
Kulgam 323 1.25
Pulwama 654 2.53
Shopian 260 1.00
Srinagar 6710 25.92
Ganderbal 259 1.00
Budgam 540 2.80
Baramulla 1155 4.46
Bandipora 194 0.75
Kupwara 463 1.79
Leh 543 2.10
Kargil 258 1.00
Jammu * 8199 31.67
Samba * 674 2.60
Udhampur * 452 1.75
Kathua * 1009 3.90
Doda 440 1.70
Ramban 299 1.16
Kishtwar 244 0.94
Rajouri 724 2.80
Poonch 489 1.89
Reasi 452 1.75
2. Literacy?
It is also an established fact that relative literacy levels also have a bearing
on increase of population. More literate a community is, less level of increase of
population is witnessed within it. Thus as compared to national average of twenty
two percent (22%), Kerela - the most literate state of India has 9.42% decadal
population growth. As per Census of 2001, it is also true in context of Kashmir
as well. Kupwara and Budgam being least literate districts show higher growth of
population.
In Jammu and Kashmir, however, overall census figures portray an
altogether different picture. On an average, Muslim districts of the state have sixty
one percent literacy ratio (Economic Survey 2008-09). The literacy ratio within
non-Muslim districts of the state is above 70 percent. It is obvious that even in
terms of literacy; non-Muslims of the state are far ahead of Muslim state subjects.
Given this scenario, the Muslim population should have seen an increasing trend
or at least the same trend as is the national average for the Muslims. But figures
defy this criterion as well.
Districts Literacy rate, 2008 (percent)
Anantnag 67.16
Kulgam 56.40
Pulwama 63.28
Shopian 67.08
Srinagar 75.21
Ganderbal 54.59
Budgam 51.83
Baramulla 58.39
Bandipora 56.30
Kupwara 50.05
Leh 71.94
Kargil 61.33
Jammu 83.73
Samba 81.91
Udhampur 67.13
Doda 64.74
Ramban 66.74
Kishtwar 63.12
Kathua 69.86
Rajouri 48.37
Poonch 61.28
Reasi 55.47
Source: Economic Survey of J&K (2008-09)
6
In the words of Prem Nath Bazaz, while the liquidation of Muslims was in
operation in all its fury, Sheikh held the victims responsible for their horrible fate.
His only regret was that innocent Gujjar Barbers and vegetable vendors were also
killed along with supporters of Pakistan. (P N Bazaz, The Struggle for Freedom in
Kashmir, Kashmir Publishing Company, New Delhi 1954 P. 514)
Being an emergency administrator and Prime Minister, Sheikh Abdullah
himself should have shared the responsibility for this holocaust. He however
organized a week long freedom celebration (Jashn-e-Azadi) in May 1948. (Ram
Chandra Guha, India After Gandhi PICADOR India, 2007. P 76)
7
Jammu and Kashmir also experienced a similar trend in growth rate. It remained
29.69% and 29.65% in 1960s and 1970s whereas at the peak of conflict it remained
30.34% and 29.98% in eighties and nineties of previous century. The impact
however can’t be exclusively ruled out and demands a probe through impartial
international agencies. It is probably the authenticity of these factors that scares
Indian state to allow International Human Rights agencies to work in Kashmir.
Because of this procedure, people within the state develop a feeling that they
may be outnumbered by migrants. This feeling is not specific to Kashmir’s but
shared by natives of various Indian states as well. It is this feeling that creates
agitation within Maharashtra and other parts of India against people from Hindi
regions. State justifies this approach on the logic that there is a single citizenship
within India. Practically, however, dual citizenship exists in context of Kashmir
and some other states and has been acknowledged under the Indian Constitution.
The Constitution authorizes the State of Jammu and Kashmir (Article 35 A)
to pass any laws for protection of interest of State-subjects. The law can’t be
declared invalid on the ground that it is in conflict with any provisions of Part III
(Fundamental Rights) of the Constitution of India. We do get charts of migration
but these do not suffice to give us accurate understanding of the composition
of J&K population. Census procedure needs to be rectified and substituted by a
procedure that indicates as to who within a particular number is a state subject or
a non state subject. It was promised by the Census officials when Saif-ud-Din Soz
raised this issue but the figures provided by the department in 2001 or too hazy
to give an accurate account of non-state subjects working within the state. With
ever increasing rush of migrant workers it is indispensable to keep a record of such
figures. It will not be out of place here to suggest that it must be made obligatory
for a non state subject to secure a work permit prior to embarking upon any job
within the state. The permit must also be associated with some fee in order to
make the migrant workers to pay for the civic amenities they avail. It can also give
understanding of the real requirements of essential commodities and amenities to
the planning officials. Right to information as part and parcel of right to freedom
of expression entitles everyone to know the real figures of increase of population
among natives and as well as the details of non natives working in the state.
department of India. Census of 1971 depicts population of those who use Gojri
as their mother tongue as 330485. In 1981 census, the number of those who use
Gojri has become extinct to the extent that census department didn’t feel need to
portray Gojri within the linguistic mosaic of the state. It is obvious whole of the
nomad Gojar population has been projected as part of Hindi speaking group. To
make up the deficiency within the manipulated numbers non-state subjects and
Punjabi speaking people have been added to the figures.
Source: Portrait of Population Jammu and Kashmir By: J. N Zutshi (Director census
operations Jammu & Kashmir (1971) P 111 & Portrait of Population Jammu and
Kashmir By: Director of census (1981) P. 53-54)
It is interesting to notice that the figures of Urdu speakers have been
reduced from 12740 in 1971 to 6867 in 1981. In spite of being official language of
the state and attracting widest readership of mass media it is inconceivable for one
to reconcile with the figures of census department. Urdu has been target of fascist
forces all along and the manipulation of figure with respect to this language is a
concoction made by their agents within authorities or an attempt by Indian state
to appease them.
Preceding discussion makes it clear that the demography of the state
is portrayed in line with political designs of Indian State. The figures given by
the census department inflate the population figures of non–Muslim districts
where as deliberately depicts figures of Muslim population on lower side. Decadal
growth of Muslims between 1971 to 1981 was depicted as 26.42% whereas
Hindu population increased by 37.47%. (Census India 1981, Series 8 J&K PP 4-6)
Manipulation of population figures is not an allegation but a fact confirmed even
by those politicians who support the status-quo.
Saif-ud-Din Soz, present State Congress president also made these
allegations at a press conference on Sep 06, 2000. (See Kashmir Times, Jammu,
September 7, 2000) Soz alleged that Census is aimed at changing the demographic
character of J&K and appealed Hurriyat and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen to take up this
issue. Similar allegations were made by Dr.Farooq Abdullah in 1986 on the floor
of the state assembly and Sheikh Abdullah in 1983 during district development
board meeting of Srinagar.
12
In his words, census figures had been manipulated to show that the
Muslim population of Jammu and Kashmir is on decline as a percentage of the
total population, and its growth in Jammu region had been dramatically lower
than that of Hindus. (The Hindu, magazine vol. 17, issue 21, Oct 14-27, 2000).
The allegations made by Saif-u-Din Soz were not unfounded. Figures about various
districts of the state depicted a steep rise in Hindu population
figures to three hundred thousand. This too is done with a purpose. In pretext
of rehabilitation of migrants they intend to create settlements of Indian Hindu
population as suggested and planned by Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).
Large numbers of temples around Srinagar city have already been occupied by self
styled prohits from India. These included the notorious Sadhvi Pragya who was
arrested in connection with Samjuata Express and Malegoan bombings.
Russians tried to exterminate Chechens for seventy years, dispersed them into
Siberia but failed to erase their existence. In spite of being behind the iron curtain
of a totalitarian state Chechens maintained their existence and are giving a tough
times to Russian Federation. Manipulations of figures, Human Rights abuses in
Kashmir are surely going to meet the same fate if people of Kashmir remain vigilant
and determined to foil these attempts. In this pursuit Kashmiris need consistent
support of whole of Humanity in general and Muslim Ummah in particular lest
extermination and dispossession of Muslims from their lands turns Kashmir into
another Palestine.
Author:
Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain writes extensively on Kashmir in media and
teaches human rights and international law at Kashmir University.
e-mail: showkat_hussain@rediffmail.com
15
Bibliography
Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir (2008-09)
Census India
Ian Stephens, Horned Moon London Chattoo and Windus 1953
Jawaharlal Nehru Speeches VI Publications Division Government of India
P N Bazaz, The Struggle for Freedom in Kashmir, Kashmir Publishing Company, New
Delh, 1954
Ram Chandra Guha, India After Gandhi PICADOR Indian, 2007
Digest of Statistics 2005-06, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Planning Depart-
ment of J&K
How does China handle its Kashmir, S Gurumurthy, Organizer, August 2, 2009
Portrait of Population Jammu and Kashmir, J N Zutshi (Director Census Operations
Jammu and Kashmir, 1971)
Constitution of India Article 35 A
Constitution of India Part III (Fundamental Rights)
Census 1981
Census 1971
Portrait of Population Jammu and Kashmir, Director Census Jammu and Kashmir,
1981, Series 8 J&K
Kashmir Times, Jammu, September 7, 2000
The Hindu, Magazine Vol 17, Issue 21, Oct 14-21, 2000
Dangers in Kashmir, Vinod Publishers, Jammu (1992)
16
Kashmir at a glance
Location:
It is situated in the heart of South-Central Asia and shares its borders with
Afghanistan, China, India & Pakistan. A small strip of Wakhan separates it from
the Tajikistan.
Area:
85,000 square miles (2, 22,236 sq. km). It is larger than 75 other independent
countries in area. Nearly 2/3rd of its territory is under the occupation of India &
1/3rd under the administration of Pakistan.
Population:
13 million, including 1.5 million refugees in Pakistan and 0.1 million in India &
other parts of the world. It is thus bigger in size than 100 sovereign countries of
the world.
Political Status:
Jammu & Kashmir is a disputed territory within the meaning of international
law.
Indian forces occupied 2 / 3rd of the territory on 27 October, 1947 and obtained
temporary accession of the state from its autocratic ruler while at the same time
promising the Kashmiri people as well as the United Nations that the future
status of the territory would be determined by its people. United Nations Security
Council passed resolutions affirming the right of self determination for the people
of Jammu & Kashmir.
KASHMIR INSTITUTE:
Kashmir Institute is a humble effort on the part of some academicians to undertake,
assist, cooperate and facilitate research activities aimed at social, economic and
cultural upliftment of people of Jammu and Kashmir State.