Jammu & Kashmir
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Area |
2,22,236 sq km |
 |
State
Government Portal |
 |
Population |
10,069,987 |
|
Open Forum Partners
|
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Capital |
Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) |
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Important Contact Numbers |
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Principal
Languages |
Urdu, Dogri, Kashmiri, Pahari, Punjabi,
Ladakhi, Balti, Gojri and Dadri |
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Development Initiatives |
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.
