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Jammu
and Kashmir
Area : 2,22,236 sq km
Population : 10,069,987
Capital : Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter)
Principal Languages : Urdu, Dogri, Kashmiri,
Pahari, Punjabi, Ladakhi, Balti, Gojri and Dadri
History and Geography
According to the most popular legend that is also
recorded in Rajtarangani and Nilmat Purana, two most
authoritative books, Kashmir was once a large lake and
it was Kashyap Rishi who drained it off the water,
making it a beautiful abode. But geologists have their
own theory, which says that geographical changes made
way for the outflow of water by subsidence of the
mountain at Khadianayar, Baramulla and thus emerged the
Valley of Kashmir, the paradise on earth. Ashoka
introduced Buddhism to Kashmir in the 3rd century B.C.,
which was later strengthened by Kanishka. Huns got the
control of the valley in the early 6th century. The
Valley regained freedom in 530 AD but soon came under
the rule of the Ujjain Empire. After the decline of the
Vikramaditya dynasty, the valley had its own rulers.
There was a synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist cultures.
Lalitaditya (697-738 AD) extended his rule up to Bengal
in the east, Konkan in the south, Turkistan in the
northwest and Tibet in the northeast. Considered as the
most famous Hindu ruler, Lalitaditya was known for
constructing beautiful buildings. Islam came to Kashmir
during 13th and 14th century AD. Zain-ul-Abedin
(1420-70) was the most famous Muslim ruler, who came to
Kashmir when the Hindu king Sinha Dev fled before the
Tatar 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 from
the feeble control of the Mughal emperor of the time to
Ahmed Shah Abdali of Afghanistan. The Valley was ruled
by the Pathans for 67 years.
The name of Jammu figures in the Mahabharata. Recent
findings of Harappan remains and artifacts of Mauryan,
Kushan and Gupta periods at Akhnoor have added new
dimensions to its ancient character. The land of Jammu
was divided into 22 hill principalities. Raja Maldev,
one of the Dogra rulers, conquered many territories to
consolidate his kingdom. Raja Ranjit Dev ruled over
Jammu from 1733 to 1782. His successors were weak, and
thus Maharaja Ranjit Singh annexed the territory to
Punjab. He later handed over Jammu to Raja Gulab Singh,
a scion of the old Dogra ruling family, who had grown
powerful among Ranjit Singh's governors and had annexed
almost the whole Jammu region. The State was governed by
Dogra rulers till 1947, when the Maharaja Hari Singh
signed the Instrument of Accession in favour of the
Indian Union on 26 October, 1947.
Jammu and Kashmir is situated between 32° -15' and 37°
-05' north latitude and 72° -35' and 83° -20' longitude
East. Geographically, the State can be divided into four
zones. First, the mountainous and semi mountainous plain
commonly known as Kandi belt, the second, hills
including Shivalik ranges, the third mountains of
Kashmir Valley and Pir Panchal range and the fourth is
Tibetan tract of Ladakh and Kargil. Geographically and
culturally, the state has three district regions -
Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
Industry
Handicrafts, being the traditional industry of the
State, has been receiving priority attention of the
Government in view of its large employment base and
expert potential, paper-machie, wood carving, carpets,
shawl-making, embroidery, etc., are among Kashmir's
exquisite handicrafts. This industry, particularly the
carpets earn substantial foreign exchange. The
handicrafts sector provides employment to about 3.40
lakh artisans. The number of industrial units has gone
up. The Rs 19 crore Export Promotion Industrial Park has
been established at Kartholi, Jammu. A similar Park is
being set up at Ompora, Budgam. Jammu has Urban Haats
while a similar Haat is being commissioned in Srinagar.
Software Technology park involving Rs 6.50 crore has
been commissioned at Ragreth Srinagar.
Agriculture
About 80 per cent population of the State depends on
agriculture. Paddy, wheat and maize are the major crops.
Barley, bajra and jowar are cultivated in some parts.
Gram is grown in Ladakh. The area under orchards is 242
lakh hectatres. The State produces fruit worth Rs 2,000
crore annually including export of walnuts worth Rs 120
crore. Jammu and Kashmir State has been declared as Agri
Export Zone for apple and walnuts. Market Intervention
Scheme has also been launched for improving quality
fruit for export by ensuing proper grading.
The horticulture sector generates employment for 25 lakh
people directly or indirectly.
Power
Top priority has been accorded to power sector with
great thrust to tap State's vast hydroelectric potential
estimated at 20,000 MW. New policy announced to promote
private investment in small hydroelectric projects up to
25 MW. Seven hydel projects with generating capacity of
2798 MW have been given to NHPC for execution. The
State’s total requirement met by purchasing power from
national grid.
Education
The State's literacy rate is 54.46 per cent as per 2001
census, with rural literacy of 48.22 per cent and urban
72.17 per cent. Male literacy is estimated at 67.75 per
cent and female at 41.82 per cent. There are five
Universities and 41 Colleges, including 8 in private
sector.
Transport
Roads : The road length maintained by PWD in the
State has reached to 15,012 km.
Railways : At present, rail link extends up to
Jammu only. Work on Jammu- Udaipur railway line has been
completed. Work for extension of railway line to
Srinagar and Baramulla has been taken up. Udhampur-Katra
and Qazigund-Baramulla Rail link project has been taken
up as national project which is likely to be completed
by 2007.
Aviation : Srinagar, Jammu and Leh are the major
airports connecting Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of
the country. The Srinagar airport has been upgraded to
international level.
Festivals
On the tenth day of the bright fortnight Assuj is
celebrated as the day of victory of Rama over Rawana.
Shivratri festival is also celebrated in Jammu and
Kashmir. Four Muslim festivals celebrated in the State
are Id-ul-Fitr, Idul- Zuha, Id-Milad-un-Nabi and Meraj
Alam. Muharram is also observed. The Hemis Gumpa
festival of Ladakh takes place in the month of June. A
special feature of the Hemis festival is its mask dance.
In Spituk monastery in Leh, enormous statues of Goddess
Kali are exhibited once in the year on the occasion of
the annual festival which falls in January. Other
festivals celebrated are Lohri marking a climax of
winter. Sinh Sankranti observed in Ramban and adjoining
villages. Mela Pat observed in Bhadarwah in the month of
August.
Tourism
Kashmir Valley is described as the paradise on earth.
Chashmashahi springs, Shalimar Bagh, Dal Lake, Dachigam,
Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Amarnath shrine in the
Valley, Vaishnodevi shrine and Patnitop near Jammu and
Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh are important tourist
destinations. Ladakh festival on 15 September and Sindhu
Darshan in June are popular events. |
