Jammu Town
Jammu Town, 1908
This section has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Capital of the Jammu province, Kashmir State, and the winter head-quarters of the Maharaja, situated in 32degree44' N. and 74 degree55' E., at an elevation of 1,200 feet above sea-level. Popula- tion (1901), 36,130. It lies high on the right bank of the river Tawi, which flows in a narrow ravine to join the Chenab. The town covers a space of about one square mile, densely packed with single-storeyed houses of round stones and mud with flat tops. In the upper portion are superior houses of brick, and in the Mandi stand the State offices and the palaces of the Maharaja and his brother. The general effect of Jammu is striking ; and from a distance the whitewashed temples, with their gilded pinnacles, suggest a splendour which is dispelled on nearer acquaintance. The most conspicuous of the temples is Raghunathji, but like all the other buildings in Jammu it is common- place.
The Dogras have little taste in architecture, and are essentially economical and practical in their ideas of domestic comfort The railway, which runs to Sialkot, a distance of about 27 miles, starts from the left bank of the Tawi.The river is spanned by a fine suspension bridge, and a good cart-road runs from the bridge as far as the Mandi. The other streets are narrow and irregular, and there is nothing of striking interest. Of late years the construction of water- works, the opening of the cart-road to the Mandi, the suspension bridge over the Tawi, and the railway extension from Sialkot have improved the conditions of life in Jammu ; but there has been no marked response either in population or in prosperity. In the palmy days of Raja Ranjit Deo, towards the latter part of the eighteenth century, it is stated that the population was 150,000. There is nothing in the geographical position of Jammu which makes for prosperity. It lies on the edge of the Maharaja's territories, with an infertile hinterland. Rightly speaking, it should have been the emporium for Kashmir commerce, but the construction of the Kohala- Srinagar cart-road has taken trade away from the Jammu-Banihal route. At present there are hopes of the development of coal-mines to the north, which might bring prosperity to the DogrS capital; and the railway projected from Jammu to Srinagar would restore much business.
The town of Jammu was a considerable centre of industry in the time of the late Maharaja of Kashmir and Jammu, Ranbir Singh ; but now it is merely the residence of the ruling family and of the officials of the State. The governor (Hakim-i-Ala) of the province with his revenue office, the Chief Judge, the Sub-Judge and two magistrates of the first class, the WazIr-i-Wazarat of the Jammu district, the Super- intendent of police, Jammu province, the chief medical officer, and the heads of various departments all live in Jammu, together with the staff of their several offices. A large hall called the Ajaibghar was erected by the late Maharaja for the accommodation of the present King- Emperor, when he visited Jammu as Prince of Wales in the year 1875. The Mandi Mubarak palaces and the palace of Raja Sir Amar Singh, situated on the Ramnagar hill, towards the north of the town, are the chief attractions. The Central jail has a daily average of 268 prisoners, and costs about Rs. 20,000 per annum. The State high school is located in a large building, and is doing fairly efficient work. It contains about 800 pupils. A college to be named after the Prince of Wales is shortly to be opened. A State hospital is maintained, costing annually Rs. 14,800. Great improvements have been made in the drainage system of the town, which is managed by a municipal com- mittee, and more improvements in this respect are under contem- plation.
Demographic changes after 1990
Brig Anil Gupta, Demographic changes make Jammu a “Ticking Time Bomb” 12/01/2017 by Daily Excelsior
Consequent to eruption of militancy in Kashmir in late [1989] and its extension to Doda District and Rajouri -Poonch in nineties migration of Hindu families to Jammu began [in Jan 1990]. This was soon followed by migration of Muslims belonging to the militancy infected areas. Large number of Gujjar settlements also came up close to International Border and around Jammu City.
During [2000-2016] exclusive Muslim colonies have mushroomed around Jammu.
Jammu [city] is basically a Hindu dominated area. In the year 1981, there were only two Muslim dominated localities within the City. As per the official figures of 1986-87, the religion wise breakdown of Jammu was Hindus 88.5%, Muslims 4.5%, Sikhs 6.4% and others 0.6%. Thereafter, due to disturbed conditions in the State proper census could not be conducted in 1991 and 2001. As per Census-2011 which included religion wise breakdown in the population data, the same for Greater Jammu is Hindus 78.36%, Muslims 10.97% and Sikhs 8.74%.
It is essential to identify the factors that have led to this change. Since 1986-87 -the year of eruption of militancy), the Muslim population has more than doubled during the same period. Growth rate is a major factor; Muslim growth rate is 24% against the national average of 18%. Another factor is migration from Valley and other parts of Jammu region. Hindus from Jammu have migrated to other parts of the country. Though the majority of Kashmiri Muslims have acquired property in Jammu, they prefer to spend the summers in Valley and return to Jammu in winters. Many have also shifted to Jammu to ensure smooth and continuous education for their children.
During militancy the nomadic tribes have settled in large numbers around Jammu. Apart from forest land, they have also taken on lease/ bought from the locals land at very high rates and built settlements all along the possible routes of infiltration. They have also been allotted “Pattas”, a system to help landless locals in which state land is leased to them for a fixed annual rent, with the active connivance of the concerned Government officials.
Emotional Migration of Hindus is another contributory factor. The lack of higher educational facilities and job opportunities in Jammu has led to large number of youth moving to other cities/metros of the country leaving behind the parents. When parents grow old and are unable to manage due to inadequate medical facilities they also prefer to leave Jammu to join the children. This makes land/property available for sale and Migrants offer lucrative rates, often more than the prevailing market rate, to buy such properties thus adding to the demographic shift.
Till early eighties there were only two known Muslim localities in Jammu. Thereafter, number of colonies started mushrooming around the periphery of the old city and towards the North. Today there are more than 30 such colonies all around Jammu city in addition to about equal number of Gujjar bastis.
Jammu has also been victim to large scale illegal immigrants. These illegal foreign migrants belong to Bangladesh and Myanmar. The migration took place during the period 1998-2012. The migration to a large extent was backed by the politico-police nexus. Some of them even managed to acquire Citizenship and Voter Cards. Since these are illegal migrants, their figures are not included in the Census-2011. If their numbers are also added to the official figures, the increase in Muslim population will be even higher upsetting the demographic balance. As per Government version 13,400 Myanmari and Bangladeshi migrants are living in Camps in Jammu
Myanmari Immigrants. “Rohingyas” belong to the Arakans region of Myanmar bordering Bangladesh. They follow Sunni Islam and belong to Indo-Aryan ethnicity. In 1982, the Myanmar Government declared them as non-nationals thus rendering them stateless. This led to their migration to neighbouring Bangladesh, Thailand and even Pakistan. However, they were not welcomed in these Muslim countries as well. This led to their influx into India through the porous border with Bangladesh.
As per official estimates there are 36000 Rohingyas settled in seven states in India namely, UP, West Bengal, Andhra, Kerala, Assam, J&K and Delhi. Almost 1700 Rohangiya families comprising approx. 8500 souls (official figures are 1286 and 5000) live in the settlement colonies of Rajiv Nagar, Kassim Nagar, Malik Market, Bahu Fort, Karyini Talab, Channi Rama, Vidhata Nagar, Railway Basti, Kargil Colony and Bhatindi. Bhatindi Ka Plot is the home to highest number of Rohingya migrants-686 in total as stated by the Chief Minister in the Legislative Assembly.
Many of them have acquired refugee status from UNHCR thus adding to plethora of “refugee” communities in Jammu region. As per official estimates approx. 186 families are illegal and not registered with UNHCR. Illegal settlements have mushroomed in areas such as Gol Gujral, Nandini Seora, Tope. Govt of J&K has provided them basic amenities including health care and Anganwari schools. A Madarsa is also being run by a fellow migrant Maulana Shafiq in Narwal Bala. A large number of NGOs and philanthropic organisations also help them besides benefitting from “zakat” (charity). Though majority of them earn livelihood through daily labour and employment in local shops, dhabas, restaurants, car washing stations . Due to fear of being deported they prefer to avoid any controversy
Bangladeshi Immigrants. Jammu and its adjoining areas have also become safe haven for illegal Bangladeshi migrants who were brought here in the nineties by unscrupulous contractors with the promise of migrating to Pakistan through the Jammu border. After repeated failed attempts to cross over to Pakistan, they gradually started to settle in Jammu. As per the government of India figures given in Rajya Sabha in November 2016, there were around 2 crore illegal Bangladeshi immigrants staying in India. Their exact number in J&K is not known but is guessed to be approximately 10,000. Since they are not granted refugee status and are not registered with UNHCR, they are all illegal.
They are staying in Bastis and Jhuggies in the Muslim localities. Majority of the male members work as skilled labour like electricians, plumbers, welders, guards, gardeners, black smith etc., while the female members work as domestic help generally with Muslim families. They speak Hindi fluently and have merged well with local population. They even migrate in summers to the Valley with well to do Muslim families, bureaucrats and police officers. Many of them have managed to obtain ration cards, voter cards, Aaadhar cards and Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC).
To add to these are Muslim migrants from states like Delhi, UP and Bihar. They number about 25 to 30,000 and work mainly as skilled labour and contractors.
Till the honourable return of Kashmiri Pundits to Valley, Sainik Colonies for veterans and issue of Domicile Certificate to West Pakistani refugees [there is an]attempt to change the demography.
(The writer is a Jammu based political commentator, columnist, strategic and security analyst.)
Rohingya Muslims
Words fail 70-year-old Mohammed Younus and a much younger Shah Alam when they try to explain how lucky they are to be alive.
They are among hundreds of Rohingya Muslim migrants from Myanmar, who have taken shelter in and around Jammu and Kashmir’s winter capital.
“Four years ago, I came to Jammu. The junta in Myanmar had unleashed the gravest atrocities on Rohingyas,” Younus said.
The Rohingyas, a stateless ethnic group loathed by many of Myanmar’s Buddhist majority, were forced to leave their homes since a bloody crackdown by the army in their home state of Rakhine. Many came to India, with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.
Several Rohingya families — the majority with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards and some without papers — have found Jammu a safe haven.
“I work at a scrap-dealer’s shop; my wife and eldest daughter work as domestic helps. We have to pay Rs 500 a month for the shanty and Rs 200 for electricity. Some NGOs help us. Life is not easy, but at least we are alive here,” said 45-year-old Shah Alam.
Fellow migrant Maulana Shafiq, 37, runs a madarsa or Islamic school for Rohingya children in Narwal Bala, where a sizeable number of these stateless people live.
A Rohingya Muslim repairs a shanty in Narwal Bala area of Jammu after over 80 shanties were reduced into ashes in a major fire recently. (Nitin Kanotra / HT Photo )
Mohammed Yousuf, a 21-year-old who landed in Jammu in 2012, couldn’t be more thankful to the people of his adopted home. “Here all religions live in total harmony. Death doesn’t stalk us here.”
The state has several charities that help the Rohingyas.
“Here, we get almost all our daily requirements in zakat (charity),” said Mohammed Rafiq, a 43-year-old father of five. “We don’t get any state assistance because we aren’t Indian … but still Jammu is hundred times better than Myanmar….at least we are alive, getting two square meals and a shanty to live in.”
Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti told the state assembly June 2016 that about 13,400 Myanmarese and Bangladeshi migrants are living in camps in Jammu. Bathindi Ka Plot is home to the highest number of Rohingya migrants — 686 in total.
However, security forces see this Rohingya population as a potential threat in the militancy-hit state close to a hostile neighbour.
The insecurity grew after Chota Burmi, one of the two foreign militants killed in a shootout in Tral, south Kashmir October [2015] turned out to be a native of Myanmar. A military official called them a ticking time bomb.
