Dr Varinder Sharma
Since the government agencies responsible for fulfilling housing needs of people of Jammu and Kashmir are unable to cope up with the rising housing demands, the Lieutenant Governor administration must invite private colonisers and builders to set up new housing colonies and high rise apartments in Jammu, Kashmir as well as other districts especially in Srinagar City where there already was a plan to set up a Sainik colony for our soldiers who had been guarding our borders or sacrificing their lives for the nation.
Since the departments like J&K Housing Board (JKHB), Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) are unable to develop new colonies or haven’t done enough in past 30 years to fulfil rising housing demands. Private players must be encouraged to make their presence felt in Jammu and Kashmir in a big way especially when the controversial Article 370 stands abrogated and people across the length and breadth of country especially from Jammu intend to see a Dogra colony – comprising of people of all religions and sects being set up in Srinagar to restore town’s secular and composite credentials in days to come.
Earlier the J&K administration was believed to have identified 25 acres of land in Budgam district to set up Kashmir’s first Sainik colony but the project seems to have been abandoned or lying in cold store. Though the move was resisted by separatists during the regime of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, yet there were many takers of this proposal who wanted to see such colonies coming up in Kashmir region. This added with return of Kashmiri Pandits could have restored the composite culture of Kashmir which was eroded after exodus of minorities from time to time.
Political leaders like Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah had always remained a strong advocate of secularism and this is the high time they during their Jammu visits also assure the people about setting up Dogra colonies for every section of society in Kashmir to prove their secular credentials rather the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) must put this move in their manifesto for the coming assembly elections. These colonies will while encourage people of all sections of life to live and enjoy live collectively, they will also discourage colonies that are set up on communal lines like some have come up in Jammu or its suburbs.
This is not a hidden fact late chief minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was an educated leader who also sought his education from schools set up by erstwhile Maharaja Gulab Singh and his successors. It was during the Dogra regime that each and every part of Jammu and Kashmir flourished and people were living happily with multiple reforms brought by Maharaja Hari Singh during his regime. However, ever since Sheikh Abdullah revolted, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was domed and a bad omen started for its people.
Many colonies have come up on forest lands which now can’t be reversed but once the organised housing colonies by various government departments are developed, everyone will become partner in the progress and development of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Our neighbouring Pakistan which has launched a proxy war in India and lost three wars to us won’t like this move but we must have this cultural and social amalgamation in Jammu and Kashmir for our prosperity and ultimate peace.
While we are continuing to do out bit to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits in Valley we must also start focussing on developing other colonies and apartments and make them available to the public at reasonable and affordable rates. Once such colonies or high-rise buildings are developed in residential and commercial categories everyone would prefer to buy them in Kashmir and contribute in our UT’s economy.
Developing housing colonies in Kashmir is a crucial step towards fostering a unified and composite culture in the region.
By settling people from various parts of India, including the local Dogra community, in Kashmir, we can mirror the cultural diversity seen in other regions like Jammu. This approach ensures that all communities, including those displaced over the years, have an opportunity to reclaim their place in the region.
Learning from the mistakes of the past, such as the failure to protect teachers and other professionals who became targets of militants, it is vital to create a secure and inclusive environment. Large-scale initiatives, akin to the development seen in places like Dubai, can pave the way for sustainable growth and integration in Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring that Pakistan’s interference is minimized and the region’s rightful heritage is restored.
Additionally, it is essential to recognize and honour the sacrifices made by those who have served the nation by granting them land in Kashmir. The establishment of colonies, including Sainik colonies and other similar projects, can provide a foundation for a composite culture where all communities coexist harmoniously. The government’s commitment to offering plots to the families of fallen soldiers is a step in the right direction, ensuring that the region’s land is utilized effectively for the benefit of its people.
Kashmir’s history is marked by a rich tapestry of religious and cultural evolution. Initially a significant Centre of Hinduism, and later Buddhism under the Mauryas and Kushanas, the region saw the rise of Shaivism during the Karkota Dynasty in the 9th century. This Hindu rule lasted until the mid-14th century when Islam began to spread, leading to the decline of Kashmir Shaivism and the establishment of Muslim rule, including periods under the Mughal and Afghan empires.
The Sikhs annexed Kashmir in 1819, followed by the Dogra rule after the Treaty of Amritsar in 1846. Kashmir’s history of diverse dynasties and religious influences culminated in its contested status post-1947, with the region now completely annexed to India.
It is painful to know how a well progressing and prosperous state became a victim of terrorism and ended up being a disturbed area.
Now that situation has returned to normal and people are progressing, I sum this writeup with one of my couplets that mentions how we used to live like brothers and sisters in Kashmir….
(“Gum Ye Nahi Ki Tune Meri Peeth Pe Khanjar Khopa, Gum Ye Hai Ki Tu Jaanta Nahi Main Tera Kon Hu”….)
