SOLVING KASHMIR - 10

The Advent of Islam

1.         A Buddhist prince, Rinchen arrived in the valley from Ladakh and soon ascended the throne.His desire to convert to Shaivism was turned down by orthodox Brahmins and under the influence of a Muslim saint, Bulbul Shah,  converted t o Islam. Rinchen took the name Sadr-ud-Din 

and built the Jama Masjid in Srinagar. Thus began Muslim rule in Kashmir. After his death in 1322, Hindu rule was restored for a short while. After a period of palace intrigues and machinations, Shah Mir proclaimed himself Sultan in 1339 and assumed the name Shamsuddin.

2.         King Shahab-ud-Din came to power in 1354 and conquered Baltistan, Ladakh, Kishtwar and Jammu. He was a secular king, but with the rise of his successor Qutb-ud-Din, the pace of conversion to Islam increased and Muslims from west and central Asia arrived in Kashmir. Thus the influence of Islam in Kashmir increased. However, the Brahmins were still considered as office-bearers and ran the administration.

3.      Sikunder ascended the throne in 1394 A.D and began a systematic destruction of Hindu temples (including the famous Martand temples) and scriptures, largely to appease Timur (successor of Genghis Khan) who threatened to invade Kashmir. Kashmiri Pandits migrated from the valley in large numbers and only eleven families remained. Sikunder, writes an eminent historian was “a ferocious bigot, a cruel fanatic and a religious zealot, who brought the noble traditions of the Kashmiri culture and the fair name of Islam into disgrace”. However, during the reign of his son, Bud Shah, the wonderful traditions and culture of the valley were revived, administrative reforms encouraged and he also strengthened the territorial integrity of his kingdom. Bud Shah was a tolerant king and rebuilt temples and patronised scholars and intellectuals of all faiths. It was during his reign that a branch of sufism known as the Rishi order was founded by Sheikh Nur-ud-Din or Nund Rishi. The Shah Mir dynasty declined with the death of Bud Shah in 1470.

4.       It was during the following period that a degeneration of Kashmir society once again took place and a new dimension of conflict, (besides Hindu – Muslim differences) that of Shias and Sunnis was added. The Magres (Sunnis) and Chaks  (Shias), dominated and only for a short time were united to keep Mughal Emperor Babur at bay.   However, Muiza  Haider  Dughlat  (during  Humayun’s  reign) conquered Kashmir in 1540. In 1555, Ghazi Chak (of Chak dynasty) became king, which signalled the end of the 200-year-old Shah Mirs dynasty. The Chaks regained control of Poonch, Ladakh, Kishtwar and other neighbouring hill states. It was during King Yusuf Khan (of Chak Dynasty) that the summer retreat of Gulmarg was discovered. 

5.       It was in 1558 that Kashmir was incorporated into the Mughal Empire, thus forever, ending its identity as an independent kingdom. Dr RK Param in his book “Muslim Role in Kashmir, 1320-1819” has correctly surmised: -

“ Beautiful Countries have often been the homes of tragedy. Happiness is rarely the lot of a beautiful land. So Kashmir, the desired land of men and monarchs, paid for her beauty. The desperadoes despoiled her, and emperors, like Akbar, embellished her”. 

SOLVING KASHMIR -9

 

                           ABRIDGED HISTORY

‘It is a country where the sun shines mildly, being a place created by Kashyapa as if for his glory. High school – houses, the saffron, iced-water and grapes, which are rare even in heaven, are common here. Kailasa is the best place in the three worlds, Himalaya the best part of Kailasa, and Kashmir the best place in Himalaya’.  

                                                                                                                Poet Kalhana in ‘Rajtarangini’

1.         Kashmir’s remoteness hides its strategic importance. The famed overland trading route, the Silk route, lies to the north linking Central Asia with China by way of Tibet and this route was well worn by successive caravans and conquering armies some of whom included Kashmir in their grand designs. The step down to the plains joins Kashmir with the sub-continent and so the region also came to be prized by the empire builders of India who wanted to secure their north-west and north-eastern frontiers by bringing this ‘iron fort’ within their orbit.

   

2.         The  Kashmir  valley is sandwiched between a number of mountains. To the north lies a ‘sea of mountains’, in which the great Nanga parbat (26,620 feet) stands out. To the east stands Haramukh (16,930 feet), which guards the valley of the Sind. Further south is Mahadeo, very sacred to the Hindus, and south again are the lofty range of Gwash Brari (17,800 feet), and the peak of Amarnath (17,321 feet) the mountain of pilgrims. On the south-west is the Pirpanjal range with peaks ranging up to 15,000 feet, and further North the great rolling downs of the Tosha Maidan (14,000 feet) which is a leading pass to Poonch, and in the north-west corner rises the snowy Kazi-Nag (12,124 feet). Geographically the Jammu and Kashmir State can be divided into four zones. Firstly, the submountaneous and semi-mountaneous plains commonly known as the Kandi Belt ; the second, hills including Shivalik Ranges ; the third, mountains of Kashmir Valley and Pir Panjal Ranges ; and the fourth, Tibetan tract of  Ladakh, Kargil, Gilgit and Skardu. The State is situated between 32 degrees 17 minutes and 36 degrees 58 minutes North latitude and 72 degrees 26 minutes and 83 degrees 30 minutes East longitude. It’s boundaries extend to Russian Turkistan in North, Tibet in East, Punjab in South and Pakistan in West 

3.         Kashmir has the good fortune of possessing an uninterrupted series of written records of its history, reaching back beyond the period of Muhammadan conquests.  The early history of Kashmir is  divided into four periods: the early period of the Hindu kings chronicled in the famous Rajatarangini (River of Kings), the period of the Kashmiri Musalmans known as Salatini Kashmir, the period of the Mughals known as the Padshahi-i-Chagatai or Shahan-i-Mughlia, and the period of Pathans known as Shahan-i-Durani. This was followed by the  Sikhs and Dogra rulers.

4.         Rajatarangini (River of Kings) written by Kashmirian poet Kalhana is the base for Kashmir history. It comprises in eight cantons of Sanskrit works, the history of the various dynasties which ruled  Kashmir  from  the  earliest  period  down  to  the time of the author, who began to write this

book in A.D 1148, in the reign of King Jayasimha. Although Kalhana himself mentions several historians as his predecessors, none of their works have come down to us. The Rajatarangini has thus become direct source of information on the ancient history of Kashmir. Kalhana’s work was continued by Pandit Jonaraja who brought down the history of the valley through the troubled times of the last Hindu dynasties and the first Muhammadan rulers to the time of Sultan Zain-ul-Abedin (1420-70). Srivara’s Jaina-Rajatarangini takes up account of Zain-ul-Abedin’s rule and continues the history of his descendants down to the accession of Fateh Shah (A.D 1486). Prajyabhatta’s Rajavalipataka, records the history of the valley till its conquest by Akbar (A.D 1586). Mughal rule was covered by Persian authors like Haider Malik, Mohammed Azim, Narayan Kul and other authors. And later history was provided by numerous Persian works like the Thawarikh of Birbal Kacheri, the Gulzar-i-Kashmir of the late Diwan Kripa Ram, which besides embodying the accounts found in earlier narratives describe also the history of the valley in the times of the Sikh and Dogra rule.         

5.         Legend in ‘ Rajatarangini ’ and ‘ Nilmat Purana ’ has it that the Valley of Kashmir was once a large lake. According to it, Kashyap Rishi - the revered sage, drained off the water thus making it a place of abode. Great King Ashoka introduced Budhism to Kashmir in Third Century BC which was later strengthened by Kanishka. Control of the Valley passed on to Huns in the early Sixth Century. The Valley regained its freedom in 530 AD but soon came under the rule of Ujjain Empire. On the decline of the Vikramaditya dynasty, the Valley had its own rulers. There was a synthesis of Hindu and Budhist cultures. Islam came to Kashmir in 13^th and 14^th century. Zain-ul-Abedin (1420-70) was the most famous of the Muslim Rulers who came to Kashmir when the Hindu King Sinha Dev fled before the Tartar invasion. Later, Chaks overran Haider Shah, son of Zain-ul-Abedin;   they  continued  to  rule  till  1586   when   Akbar  conquered  Kashmir.  In  1752,Kashmir passed on a feeble control of Mughal emperor of the time to Ahmed Shah Abdali of Afghanistan. The Valley was ruled by the Pathans for 67 years.

6.         Jammu has  been mentioned in the Harappan remains and artifacts of Mauryan, Kushan, and Gupta periods. Dogra Rulers ruled Jammu for years and towards the end of 1782, Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed the territory to Punjab. He, however, later handed over the territory to Maharaja Gulab Singh, a scion of the old Dogra ruling family. The Jammu and Kashmir State was governed by the Dogra rulers with the paramountancy resting up to 1947 as the British Crown’s representative in India.

                       

7.         The period after 1947 is marked by major administrative changes and demographic profile of Jammu and Kashmir. Crises have become endemic to Kashmir. Violence has been the hallmark of this era. An otherwise peaceful era, which could have easily been ushered in under the democratic, federal structure of modern India, has been shattered by spreading Islamic fundamentalism and expansionist designs sponsored and abetted by Pakistan.

8.         The aim of this abridged history of the state is to present the facts as they occurred keeping in focus events of the past that have a direct bearing on the existing situation in Jammu and Kashmir. 

KASHMIR : THE EARLY YEARS

9.         The name “Kashmir” has its roots in early Hindu legend and is derived from “Kashyap-mar” or “the abode of Kashyap Rishi” the ascetic who made the Jhelum Valley his home. The name “Kashyap-mar” evolved into kasmira, kasmir, cashmere and the modern day Kashmir.

10.         The Naga sadhus (Snake-worshippers) were the earliest known inhabitants of the Kashmir valley alongwith the tribes known as Dars, Bhuttas and Damars. In the year 800, the Aryans from central India settled in the valley. The king was the ruler and Brahmins dominated the society. Due to their revered status they came to have great influence on the kings and acted as royal advisers and ministers. Sanskrit was the official language. The Brahmins or Pandits, as they came to be known continued their important role in governance through the years in spite of ongoing political upheavals in the history of Kashmir. 

Early Rulers

11.         Emperor Asoka of Magadh ruled over a vast empire which included Kashmir. It was during his ded perhaps due to their mediocrity. 

reign that Buddhist monks were sent to Kashmir. After the death of Asoka, Kashmir regained independence under Jaluka who, like Asoka, converted to Buddhism and built stupas throughout the land. In the first century AD, the valley was invaded by the Kushans from north-west China and king Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty converted to Buddhism. Art, architecture and learning were given due emphasis during this period. After 178 AD, Brahminism again came to the fore after the decline of Kushan kings. A new religion, Shaivism, came into being which was an amalgamation of the teachings of Buddhism and Brahminism.

12.         The Huns invaded Kashmir in sixth century AD. Mihirakula (the Hun), was defeated by the kings of northern India and after arriving in Kashmir as a refugee, in a short time, upsurped the kingdom for himself. He let loose a reign of terror and cruelty and destroyed Buddhist monasteries. He committed suicide in 530 AD as an atonement for his sins. The following decades were “the golden years” in which intellectual pursuits flourished alongwith poets and studies in astrology. Fourteen of the best known rhetoricians of ancient India (out  of  sixteen)  came from Kashmir.   The  famous  poet Bilhana  lived during  this period.  Lalitaditya was the most celebrated king of the Karkota dynasty and an able administrator (early eighth-Century)  and  was  a predecessor of the European emperor Charlemagne. He is credited with having gone on a spree of expansionism and successfully defending the frontiers of Kashmir from the Tibetans and Dards and had links with the Tang dynasty in China. He was tolerant of all religions and built both Hindu temples and Buddhist stupas including the magnificent temples of Martand. Lalitaditya was followed by the kings such as Jayapida and Avantivarman. It was during the latters reign that an unknown person, Suyya solved the flooding of the Jhelum River and Sopore (Suyya-pur) in named after him. During Sankaravarman rule, forced labour (begar) by villagers was ordered and conquests were the hallmark during this period.

13.         A period of misrule and tyranny commenced from the tenth century. Intrigues and power struggle were the order of the day especially during the reign of Queen Sugandha (A.D 904-906) and Didda (A.D 980-1003). The Utpala dynasty (founded by Avantivarman) ended in 939 A.D and was followed by Yasakara and Parvagupta. Queen Didda, who ascended the throne in 958 AD was infamous for her cruelty and debauchery. Sangramaraja (A.D 1003-1028), belonging to Lohrin near Poonch, was the founder of the Lohara dynasty and it was during this time that the Sultan of Ghazni made two unsuccessful attempts to invade Kashmir through the Toshamaidan Pass.

                                                                                   

14.         The next century (eleventh) was unremarkable with a string of successions and each reign marked mostly by intrigue, cruelty, misrule and moral degradation and the people lived in discontent and misery. Kings such as Kalsa, Utkarsa, Jayasimha ruled during this period during which Kashmir was reduced to a piteous state.

15.         The Mongol invasion commenced in 1320 by Zulqudar Khan (also known as Dulacha) via the Baramulla pass and Srinagar was plundered. King Sahadeva who ruled Kashmir, fled. Dulacha during that time alongwith most of his army perished  in a snowstorm on the Banihal pass. The reign of the Hindu kings came to an end largely due to their policy of isolating the Kashmir valley from the rest of India (thus starving the populace of resources after the plunder of Mongols) and also due to misrule and despotism.

SOLVING KASHMIR-8

STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE

Northern Regions and Ladakh

1.         In the Northern area the main Karakoram Range creates a watershed between the Tarim Basin in Xingjiang autonomous region of China and the Indus River system flowing through Ladakh, on to Pakistan and hence to the Arabian Sea. In the West this range bifurcates to join the Pamirs in Tazikhistan and the Hindukush in Afghanistan.  In the East beyond the famous Karakoram Pass the range dissipates itself into the high plateau of Western Tibet, South of Kunlun Range. The Northern frontiers of undivided Indian ran along the high Karakoram and associated ranges, There are two major routes of ingress across the Karakoram Range into Ladakh. In the East the so-called Ladakh route encompasses the Karakoram and associate passes.  These routes provide ingress into Ladakh from Hotan (Khotan), Sache (Yarkand) and Kasha (Kashghar).  

2.         East of the Karakoram Pass, the boundary is disputed and the area is presently under Chinese occupation.  The Aksai Chin road built by the Chinese, enters this area from Tibet and traverses Soda Plains and Haji Langar before entering Xingjiang.  The Western or the Gilgit route is now under Pakistani occupation. This approach provides a route between Gilgit, Hunza and Kasha (Kashghar), over Mintaka, Khunjerab and Shimshal passes.  The famous Karakoram highway follows this route from Kasha to Gilgit. It is a major artery of communication from Kasha, going through the Indus valley to Karachi.  There is a little doubt the completion of the Karakoram highway in 1978 marked a fundamental alteration of the strategic status of the North-Western frontiers of J&K. This route alongwith the Aksai Chin route provides major avenues of ingress to Chinese forces, into Ladakh region. Both the above routes, before the construction of the Karakoram highway, converged at Srinagar. The Ladakh route entered the Kashmir valley through the Zoji La Pass. From the military point of view both these routes are of vital importance. The political and strategic importance of Gilgit and Skardu in the west, and the Karakoram Pass and Aksai Chin in the east as observation centres to watch Central Asia, Xingjiang and Tibet would be obvious even to a layman. However India has already lost the western areas to Pakistan and in the east, Aksai Chin to China. India presently has only a tenuous hold on the Shyok and Nubra valleys in Turtuk & Siachen in the

''

area of the Karakoram Pass. Indian Army faces two fronts here, one against the Chinese, the other against Pakistan, which includes a precarious perch over Siachen Glacier. Thus between 1947 and 1962 India stood marginalized in this strategically and politically important region. India,perforce has to, therefore, hold and safeguard Shyok, Leh and Srinagar valleys resolutely.  The occupation of North Western areas of Ladakh by Pakistan has precluded a direct overland route between Afghanistan,Central Asia and India. This is a major strategic setback from the Indian point of view; the country cannot afford any further such setbacks.

Valley/Kashmir Division 

3.         The main surface route to Ladakh through Srinagar via the Zojila Pass, remains snowbound for about six months in the year.  The only other route via Manali-Rohtang Pass is under continuous development & repair, long, rough and desolate.  This route traverses several very high passes which remain open for traffic hardly for four to five months in a year.  A convoy takes four to five days to reach Leh via this route from the logistic bases, as compared to two days journey from Srinagar to Leh. In other words,    apart from the valley, including Srinagar, it is important to keep the life lines to Leh and Siachen open. The Pir Panjal and the Siachen ranges are important from our point of view and can not be allowed to be compromised.  The Baramulla gorge, through which the Jhelum flows from the valley, is the only natural opening into or out of the valley.  These lend importance to areas between Baramulla and Uri.  The old Srinagar-Rawalpindi road also follows this route.

Jammu Region

4.         Even a cursory look at the map would indicate the vital importance of the areas of Jammu and Kathua and their strategic linkage with the areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur.  Similarly Kishtwar, Doda and Bhaderwah influence and provide ingress into Himachal Pradesh.  In the obverse lies the importance of the Kotli-Mirpur belt in POK, as an area that puts pressure on Pakistan’s capital region.

(PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT NARRATIVE)

SOLVING KASHMIR 7

 

SURFACE COMMUNICATION

1.            Roads.    Major roads in the state are  :-

   (a)        Jammu-Srinagar

   (b)        Jammu-Poonch

   (c)        Jammu-Kishtwar

   (d)        Srinagar-Uri

   (e)        Srinagar-Karen

   (f)         Srinagar-Tangdhar

   (g)        Srinagar-Gurais

   (h)        Srinagar-Leh

   (i)         Leh-Partapur

   (j)         Leh-Darbuk-Chushul

   (k)        Leh-Upshi-Manali

   (l)         Mandi-Loren-Tosha Maidan

   (m)       Kishtwar-Dukum

   (n)        Bhadarwah-Chamba.

2.            Railways.    Railways are restricted to Pathankot – Samba – Jammu -Udhampur axis. Work is on to extend the railway line beyond Udhampur.Train runs in parts of the Vale presently- with the tunnel commissioned through massive Pir Panjal Range-an engineering feat in itself !

3.            Airfields.   The major airfields in J&K are Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar, Leh, Gilgit, Chilas

Mangla and Skardu.

4.            Landing Strips.   Landing strips available in the region are Kargil,  Chushul, Rajouri, Naushera and Katra. 

  DEMOGRAPHY AND POPULATION CENTRES

1.            General.    For ease of comprehension, the regions have  been divided into the following four zones.

   (a)        POK (including Northern area).

(i)           Population.   As per the 1992 census –     2.656 million. Almost 100 percent of the population is Muslim. 91 percent of the total population is rural and 09 percentage is urban. In POK, a large percentage are Gujjars who remain on the move for better pastures along-with their herds of cattle and sheep.

(ii)          Density of Population.   The density of population is 199 persons per sq kilometer as against 149 persons per sq kilometer during 1981.

(iii)          Literacy Rate.   The literacy rate was recorded as 28.3 percent in 1981 census but was estimated at 43 percent in 1992.

(iv)          Population Centres.   The major population centres are Muzaffarabad, Bagh

Poonch, Mirpur, Kotli, Gilgit including Gilgit Wazarat, Skardu, Hunza and Chilas

   (b)        Ladakh.         

(i)            Population.   Majority of the population is Buddhist. The total population is merely 134372 divided as under :-

(aa)      Leh District                 -  68380

(ab)      Kargil District             -  65992

  

(ii)           Density.   The density of population is extremely low. In Leh district the density is only 02 persons per sq kilometer, and Kargil district has 05 persons per sq kilometer. The religious composition is as under :-

   (aa)      Buddhist                     -     50.88 %   

   (ab)      Muslim                        -     46.05 %

   (ac)      Hindu                          -     2. 83% 

   (ad)      Sikh                            -     0.24 %

(iii)          Literacy Rates.   In Leh literacy is 25.16 percent. Female literacy is 12.09 percent. In Kargil of the 18.85 percent literate, only 3.14 percent females are literate. In both the districts only 2.72 percent are graduates or above, majority being below primary level. Overall literacy rate in Ladakh is 22.06 percent. Ethnically the people of Leh district are closely related to Tibetans. The main spoken language is Ladakhi. Buddhist cultural norms prevail in Leh district. In Kargil people speak ‘Shina’ or ‘Bhatia’ or a mixture of Pahari-Shina-Bhatia. The religion here is ‘Twelver Shia’ which is quite distinct from that of the valley but akin to the people of Baltistan (under Pak occupation).

   (c)      Kashmir Valley.  The valley is divided into six districts as under:-

              

   (i)         Srinagar.  Srinagar district has three urban centres. Srinagar Township is the largest. The other two satellite townships are Badamibagh and Gandarbal. For all practical purposes they now form part of Srinagar town. Srinagar is thickly populated and the centre of all political and economic activities in the valley.

   (ii)        Anantnag.  Anantnag district of Southern Kashmir valley has eight major population centres.These are Anantnag town, Bij Behera, Kukernag, Mattan, Pehalgam, Tral, Achabal, Qazigund.    

              

   (iii)       Pulwama.   Pulwama district is in the South West of Srinagar. It has four small towns namely Pampore, Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam.

   (iv)       Badgam.  Badgam district is adjacent to Srinagar. It was carved out of the Srinagar district. Charari Sharief is the only township in this district.

   (v)        Kupwara.  Kupwara district lies to the North West of Srinagar. This district was created out of old Baramulla district some years ago. The famous Lolab valley is in this district. It has two main towns, Kupwara and Handwara. It has Karnah Tehsil in Tithwal sector and Keran sector along the Line of Control. Various Galis or high and steep mountain passes enter Kupwara district from POK.

   (vi)       Baramulla.     Baramulla district is situated along the main Srinagar-Uri highway and the river Jhelum. It has the following major townships- Baramulla, Sopore, Bandipur, Pattan, Gulmarg, Uri.

   (vii)      The religious composition of the population is as under :-

               (aa)      Muslim                        - 94.06%

               (ab)      Hindu                          -   3.95%

               (ac)      Sikhs                           -   1.05%

               (ad)      Buddhist                     -   0.06%

   (viii)     Density of Population (Approximate).  The highest density in J&K is 318 persons per sq kilometer in Srinagar district. The average is approximately 165-200 per sq kilometer.

   (ix)       Literacy Rate.  About 23.36% population is literate and only 12.54% females are literate. The pattern indicates that the majority is educated only upto the primary level.

   (x)        Language.  Kashmiri and Urdu are commonly spoken. Gujjars and Bakerwals speak `Pahari’ or a mixture of many languages.

(d)          Jammu Plain.   This plain which is locally known as Kandi lies along the Pakistan border between Ravi and Chenab rivers. This plain which is 8 to 24 kilometers wide  has two districts of Jammu & Kathua. This is the second most developed region of the State after the Kashmir valley; and its opening in to the Indo-Gangetic plains distinguishes it from other areas of J&K. It has important industrial complexes all along the railway track which connects Jammu main with Pathankot.  The railway line has recently been extended upto Udhampur beyond the Jammu plains but is not fully operational. District wise details are as under :-

   (i)         Jammu District.  Major population centres are Akhnoor, Arnia, Bishna, Jammu Town,      Ranbir Singh Pura, Samba, Vijaypur, BD Bari.

                    (ii)      Kathua District.   Major population centres are Basoli, Hiranagar,      Kathua,                         Lakhanpur, Parole.

                         (iii)       Udhampur District.  Major population centres are Katra, Ramnagar, Riasi

Udhampur, Rehambal.

(iv)      Rajouri District.  This area is hilly and covered with extensive pine forests.          The major population centres are Naushera, Rajouri, Thanamandi, Sunderbani.

(v)      Poonch District.  This is a mountainous area located on the lower slopes of the Pir Panjal Range in the sub Himalayas region.

(vi)    Doda District.   This region is located at an elevation between 2,500 to 4,500m. It has bare, steep mountain slopes with tree-clad tops. It is prone to seasonal snowfall.  This area borders the Pir Panjal Range and provides various routes into the Kashmir valley over the passes or Galis in this region.  The  area  is  underdeveloped and agricultural activities are restricted to short open season. Settlements are sparsely distributed and people living  in  higher reaches of the mountains are migratory in nature. The main population centres of the district are Banihal, Bhaderwah,    Batot,  Doda,  Kishtwar,Ramban.

(vii)  Demography.  The total population of Jammu division according to 1981   census was 27,18,113. The religious composition is as follows :-

               (aa)      Hindus                        - 66.68%

               (ab)      Muslims                       - 29.60%

               (ac)      Sikhs                           -  3.68%

               (ad)      Buddhists                    -  0.04%

  

(viii)        Density (approximate).  305 persons per sq kilometer in Jammu District. Density in Doda District is only 36 persons per sq kilometer. Average density in Jammu division is between 100-160 persons per sq kilometer.

(ix)          Literacy Rate.  In Jammu division only 30 percent are literate. Female literacy is even lower- 23.13 percent. The literacy pattern shows that the majority of literates are educated only upto the primary level. Jammu District has the highest literacy rate – 42.85%.

(x)           Languages.   Main language is Dogri.  Punjabi is also spoken. People in areas like Poonch, Rajouri, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar use various Pahari dialects.

(NOTE: THERE MAY BE SLIGHT VARIATION IN THE ABOVE FIGURES)