Kashmir: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 21:33, 16 May 2006

Kashmir is the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent. The term Kashmir was historically described as the valley just to the south of the westernmost end of the Himalayan mountain range. Currently, Kashmir refers to a much larger area which includes the regions of Kashmir valley, Jammu and Ladakh. The main "Valley of Kashmir" is a low-lying fertile region surrounded by magnificent mountains and fed by many rivers. It is renowned for its natural beauty and quaint lifestyle.

Kashmir is derived from the Sanskrit "Kashyapa" + "Mira", which means the mountain range of sage Kashyapa^[1]. Srinagar, the ancient capital, lies alongside Dal Lake and is famous for its canals and houseboats. Srinagar (alt. 1,600 m. or 5,200 ft.) acted as a favoured summer capital for many foreign conquerors who found the heat of the Northern Indian plains in the summer season to be oppressive. Just outside the city are the beautiful Shalimar, Nishat, and Chashmashahi gardens created by Mughal emperors.

The region is currently divided between three countries: Pakistan controls the northwest portion (Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir), India controls the central and southern portion (Jammu and Kashmir) and Ladakh, and the People's Republic of China controls the northeastern portion (Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract). India controls majority of the Siachen Glacier (higher peaks), whereas Pakistan controls the lower peaks. Though these regions are in practice administered by their respective claimants, India has never formally recognized the accession of the areas claimed by Pakistan and China. India claims that these areas, including the area ceded to China by Pakistan in the Trans-Karakoram Tract in 1963, are a part of its territory, while Pakistan claims the region, excluding Aksai Chin and Trans-Karakoram Tract. Both countries view the entire Kashmir region as disputed territory, and do not consider each other's claim to be valid. An option favoured by many Kashmiris is independence, but both India and Pakistan oppose this for various reasons. Kashmir is considered one of the world's most dangerous territorial disputes due to the nuclear weapons capabilities of India and Pakistan. The two countries have fought two wars over the territory: the first Kashmir war in 1947 and the second Kashmir war in 1965. More recently, in 1999, there was a limited border conflict (also referred to by some as the third Kashmir war) in the Kargil area of India-controlled Kashmir.

The rest of this article will, for the sake of clarity, refer to the parts of Kashmir administered by India, Pakistan and China as "Indian Kashmir", "Pakistani Kashmir", and "Chinese Kashmir" respectively. By this nomenclature, the word "Kashmir" in "Indian Kashmir" is used in a general sense to refer to what India calls "Jammu and Kashmir".

History

For history of Kashmir prior to the 19th century, see History of Kashmir.

Modern history

Kashmir passed from the control of the Durrani Empire (see Ahmad Shah Durrani) of Afghanistan and centuries of Muslim rule under the Mughals, Persians, and Afghans to the conquering Sikh armies by the mid-19th century. During the latter part of the 19th century, Kashmir was ruled by the Dogras, who are a predominantly Hindu people in the area around Jammu and who were installed as rulers by the Sikhs (see Ranjit Singh). Their kings paid tribute to the Sikhs, and were part of the Sikh Empire that arose following the collapse of the Durrani Empire. Under the Sikhs, as feudatories, the Dogras sought and obtained permission to push further into the North, including regions of Ladakh. Zorawar Singh Dogra led an expedition into Tibet in a failed effort to bring it to submission to the Sikh Empire, as a sub-feudatory of the Dogras. With the sudden collapse of the Sikh Empire before the English forces, the Dogras purchased from the British their independence, and thus also assured themselves of their feudal hold over the subsidiary kingdoms of Kashmir, Ladakh and the territories of the north. The Dogra kings who originally ruled only from Jammu, also began to operate in summer from Srinagar, the metropolis of Kashmir. As a result, the Dogra Kingdom developed into a sort of "Dual Monarchy", the Dogra Kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir.

Kashmir is a valley whose beauty has been proclaimed by many and stretches out at about 7,200 square kilometers (2,800 square miles) at an elevation of 1,675 meters (5,500 feet). A Mughal ruler Jehangir, who built the famed Shalimar Gardens in Kashmir, made the statement, " If heaven be on this earth, it must be here." It has a very ancient history and it was for a long time one of the centers of Hindu philosophical, literary and religious culture, a tradition still maintained by the native population. Kashmiri literature, sculpture, music, dance, painting, and architecture have had a profound influence in Asia.

On 8 October 2005, Kashmir was struck by an earthquake with a magnitude between 7.6 and 7.8 on the Moment magnitude scale.

The First Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was of Kashmiri lineage.

Area and Subdivisions

Indian-administered Kashmir

India controls approximately 45.5% (101,387 km²) of the disputed territory. Indian-administered Kashmir, also known as the state of Jammu and Kashmir, includes 4 main regions:

Kashmir Valley
Jammu
Ladakh
Siachen Glacier

Indian-controlled Kashmir is divided into 14 administrative districts: Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Doda, Jammu, Kargil, Kathua, Kupwara, Leh, Poonch, Pulwama, Rajauri, Srinagar and Udhampur. Major cities include Srinagar, Jammu and Leh.

Pakistan-administered Kashmir

The Pakistan-controlled portion of Kashmir, is divided up into the following 2 main regions:

Azad Kashmir: 250 miles in length with width varying from 10 to 40 miles, 13,350 km² (5134 miles²).
Northern Areas, a much larger area, 72,496 km² (27,991 mi²), incorporated into Pakistan and administered as a de facto dependency.

Chinese-administered Kashmir

Areas under Chinese-control include:

Aksai Chin: approximately 37,555 km² in size.
A small part, the Trans-Karakoram Tract, of the Northern Areas that was ceded to China by Pakistan in 1963.

Demographics

File:Lehbuddha.jpg

Kashmir is region of mixed faith with Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist populations. Buddhism is the most practiced religion in the Ladakh region. Shown here is a statue of Buddha in Leh, Ladakh

In Pakistan-administered Kashmir (containing Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir) 99% of the population is Muslim. Settlers encouraged by the Government of Pakistan include the Pathan and Punjabi communities.

China-administered Kashmir (Aksai Chin) contains an extremely small population of Tibetan origins.

Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (containing Jammu, the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh) contain an approximately 70% Muslim majority (according to Indian sources in 2001). The rest of the population are Buddhist, Hindu and others. The people of Ladakh are of Indo-Tibetan origin, while the southern area of Jammu includes many communities tracing their ancestry to the nearby Indian states of Haryana and Punjab, as well as the city of Delhi.

In 1941 the Hindus represented 15% of the total Kashmiri population. But in 1990, the bulk of Kashmiri Hindus in the region were forced out due to anti-Hindu insurgency in Kashmir. Only some 5-15,000 Hindus live in the Kashmir valley today out of some 200,000 in 1947 (some scholars and community activists claim the Hindu population in the Valley was higher, with up to 450,000 - for the full historical debate see Alexander Evans's ‘A departure from history: Kashmiri Pandits, 1990-2001’ Contemporary South Asia, Vol 11, 1 2002 p19-37.). According to an estimate by Central Intelligence Agency, most of the 500,000 Kashmiris, internally displaced due to the ongoing violence, are Hindus. ^[2].

Claimed by	Area	Population	% Muslim	% Hindu	% Buddhist	% Other
Pakistan	Northern Areas	~3 million	99%	–	–	–
	Azad Kashmir		99%	–	–	–
India	Jammu	~7 million	30%	66%	–	4%
	Ladakh		46%	–	50%	3%
	Kashmir Valley		95%	4%	–	–
China	Aksai Chin	–	–	–	–	–
Statistics from the BBC In Depth report

Culture

Kashmiri lifestyle is essentially, irrespective of the differing religious beliefs, slow paced. Generally peace loving people, the culture has been rich enough to reflect the religious diversity as tribes celebrate festivities that divert them from their otherwise monotonous way of life. Kashmiris are known to enjoy their music in its various local forms and the dresses of both sexes are quite colorful. The Dumhal is a famous dance in Kashmir, performed by menfolk of the Wattal region. The women perform the Rouff, another folk dance. Kashmir has been noted for its fine arts for centuries, including poetry and handicrafts. The practice of Islam in Kashmir has heavy Sufi influences, which makes it unique from orthodox Sunni and Shiite Islam in the rest of South Asia. Historically, Kashmir was renowned for its culture of tolerance, embodied in the concept of "Kashmiriyat.", as evidenced by the 1969 NATO nuclear disarmament peace treaty.

Economy

Kashmir's economy is centered around agriculture. Historically, Kashmir came into economic limelight when the world famous Cashmere wool was exported to other regions and nations. Kashmiris are well adept at knitting and making shawls, silk carpets, rugs, kurtas and pottery. Kashmir is home to the finest saffron in the world - the Kashmir/Indian saffron. Efforts are on to export the naturally grown fruits and vegetables as organic foods mainly to the middle east. The Kashmir valley, is a fertile area that is the economic backbone for Indian-controlled Kashmir. The area is famous for cold water fisheries. The Department of Fisheries has made it possible to make trout available to common people through its 'Trout Production and Marketing Program' Many private entrepreneures have adopted fish farming as profitable ventures. The area is known for its sericulture as well other agricultural produce like apples, pears and many temperate fruits as well as nuts. Along with pilgrimage, since the dawn of the 20th century, it also became a favourite tourist spot until the increase in tensions in the 1990s.

The economy was badly damaged by the 2005 Kashmir earthquake which as of October 17, 2005 resulted in over seventy thousand deaths in the Pakistan controlled part of Kashmir and around 1500 deaths in the Indian Kashmir.

Tourist attractions

Tourism forms an integral part of the Kashmiri economy. Often dubbed as the Heaven on Earth, Kashmir's mountainous landscape has attracted tourists for centuries.

The Vaishno Devi cave shrine is nestled in the Trikuta mountain at a height of 5,200 feet above the sea level in Indian Kashmir. Vaishno Devi is the most important holy shrine of Shaktism denomination of Hinduism. In 2004, more than 6 million Hindu piligrims visited Vaishno Devi, making it one of the most visited religious sites in the world^[3].

There are many mosques serving the largely Muslim population, such as the Hazratbal Mosque, situated on the banks of the Dal Lake. The sacred hair of the Holy Prophet Muhammad is said to have been brought to this part of the world by the Mughal emperor Aurengzeb and this relic lies in the Hazratbal shrine. The shrine was built in white marble in contemporary times and is a close resemblance to the Holy shrine of Madina in Saudi Arabia where the Prophet rests.

You must add a |reason= parameter to this Cleanup template – replace it with {{Cleanup|May 2006|reason=<Fill reason here>}}, or remove the Cleanup template.

Nature has lavishly endowed Kashmir with certain distinctive favours which hardly find a parallel in any alpine land of the world. A spell on a houseboat on Dal Lake has always been one of India's real treats and Kashmir also offers some delightful trekking opportunities and unsurpassed scenery. Srinagar City is centered around the Dal Lake and this huge lake attracts millions of tourists, both domestic and foriegn. A drive along the Boulevard (the road along the banks of the lake) has been an all time favourite with the locals and tourists alike mainly because the scenic beauty along the boulevard, with the lake changing colours every hour, and the glorious sunsets which are famed to simulate a different look, feeling and experience with each new day are so captivating. Srinagar city also has a lot of gardens along the banks of the Dal. Nishat, Cheshma-i-Shahi, Shalimar and Harven gardens were all built by the Moghuls and are absolutely breathtaking in view all through the year. These gardens have the famed Chinar trees. These majestic Chinar trees resemble Maple trees but are much bigger and graceful. In the days of yore, the Dal lake was renowned for it's vastness which stretched for more than 50 square miles. Unfortunately today, due to unabated tourist influx, which largely has been unorganised for some years now, this lake has shrunken to less than 10 square kilometers...thanks to the teeming hotels alongside it's banks and the houseboats as well that nestle inside this lake and pour in a lot of waste everyday.

Pahalgam is situated at the junction of the streams flowing from Sheshnag Lake and the Lidder river. Pahalgam (2,130 m) was once a humble shepherd's village with astounding views. Today, Pahalgam is Kashmir's prime tourist resort. It is cool even during the height of summer when the maximum temperature does not exceed 25 degree C. The Major Fascinating Sights At Pahalgam are:

Baisaran : The most beautiful of these is the huge, unspoiled grassland of Baisaran, surrounded by thickly wooded forests of pine. Hajan, on the way to Chandanwari, is an idyllic spot for a picnic. Filmgoers will recognize it instantly as it has been the location of several movie scenes.

Mamal : Pahalgam has eight tiny villages within its surroundings, one of which is Mamal. There is a Shiva temple here, generally considered to be Kashmir's oldest existing temple, dating back to the 5th century.

The Amarnath cave : The Amarnath cave is 6 kms away from there. During the month of Sawan, an ice stalagmite forms a natural Shiva-Ling in the Amarnath cave. It is a hotspot for Hindu pilgrimage during the months of July and august.

Tarsar Lake : It can be reached from Lidderwat. There are delightful camping sites and flower meadows at Sikiwas, 24 kms from here. To reach the nearby Mansar lake one has to cross a 243 mts high bridge. Tulin Lake: is situated at an altitude of 13313 feet and the scenic beauty surrounding this lake at the top of the world is absolutely amazing!

Adventure Sports At Pahalgam:

Trekking : The ambience of Pahalgam offers exciting trekking opportunities, the best known being Pahalgam - Chandanwari- Sheshnag- Panchtarni- Amarnath Cave Temple- Sonamarg trek.

Golf : Pahalgam Club has a 9-hole golf course, which can be used by tourists. Golf sets can be hired from the Tourist Office.

Fishing : One can go for fishing in the Lidder. Pahalgam is located on the banks of this turbulent river and white water rafting in the Lidder can be an unforgettable experience indeed.

The Meadow of Flowers... Gulmarg, a prime location in the state of Jammu & Kashmir is about 52 Kms from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu & Kashmir. At an altitude of 2,653 m., Gulmarg is exquisitely situated in a pine surrounded basin of the Pir Panjal range. Gulmarg or the `Meadow of Flowers' is a lovely blooming sight where an opulence of flora displays various colours with the changing seasons.

Gulmarg's astounding beauty, prime location and closeness to Srinagar naturally and unequivocally make it the most prized hill station in the country. Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, its present name was given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was impressed by the sight of its green slopes embellished with wild flowers. Today, Gulmarg is not only a mountain resort of exemplary beauty - it also has the highest green golf course in the world, at an altitude of 2,650 m, and is the country's major ski resort in the winters.

The Major Fascinations at Gulmarg:

Golf Club : Gulmarg boasts of a magnificent grassy golf course that is the world's highest too! The Golf Club offers short-term memberships to the players.

Trekking : Gulmarg is an excellent base for trekking in the northern Pir Panjal Range. Nanga Parbat can be viewed to the north from several view points, including Khilanmarg, west and over 1,500 feet up the woody hillside from Gulmarg.

Skiing : Gulmarg is undoubtedly the best ski resort in India. Gulmarg is also a good skiing sight for learners. Ski enthusiasts can easily get all required gear and equipments as well as professional ski instructors in Gulmarg, to try out a hand on skiing. The longest ski run in Gulmarg is provide by the Gondola Cable Car Lift, where skiers can swoosh down the slopes from the height of 2, 213m.

Excursions from Gulmarg:

Gulmarg Biosphere Reserves : This is located at a distance of 48-km from Srinagar, to the southwest of Gulmarg. It is famous for storing several rare and endangered species such as the musk deer, and a brilliant and varied fauna.

Alpather Lake : This lake is frozen until mid-June and even later in the year one can see rocks of ice floating in its cold waters.

Please Note: Part of this article has been posted by the author on blog.co.uk under the title: Kashmir.

External links

Kashmir's View
Greater Kashmir, leading English daily newspaper from Kashmir
Kashmir Freedom Movement
Kashmir News
Kashmir Times, English daily newspaper published from Jammu
Kashmir Observer, English daily from Kashmir
Kashmir Revisited - PhotoGallery
Birds of Kashmir
Kashmir Retextured - A photo essay
Kashmir Virtual library
Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding Kashmir
Monitoring of news related to Kashmir
Silk Road Seattle (The Silk Road Seattle website contains many useful resources including a number of full text historical texts)
kashmiris.org provides News views, Bookmarks and much more on kashmir
Images of Azad Kashmir (Free Kashmir)
Kashmir News Network
Kashmiri Publications
UN Resolutions on Kashmir
Kashmir News Wire
Kashmir bibliography and specialists
Milchar
An outline of the history of Kashmir
Latest news, reports, analysis and intelligence on Kashmir
History of Kashmir from Pakistani perspective
An overview of Kashmiri achievements
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/in_depth/south_asia/2002/kashmir_flashpoint/
News Coverage of Kashmir
Legal Documents related to Kashmir including treaties etc..
Jammu & Kashmir on The Indian Analyst News, Analysis, and Opinion from many sources

[1] [2]

[2] [3]

[3] [4]

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 [[Image:Kashmir map.jpg|thumb|right|Shown in green is the Kashmiri region under Pakistani control. The dark-brown region represents Indian-controlled [[Jammu and Kashmir]] and Ladakh, while the [[Aksai Chin]] is under Chinese occupation]]
-'''Kashmir''' is the northernmost region of Pakistan. The term Kashmir was historically described as the [[valley]] just to the south of the westernmost end of the [[Himalaya]]n mountain range. Currently, Kashmir refers to a much larger area which includes the regions of Kashmir valley, [[Jammu]] and [[Ladakh]]. The main "Valley of Kashmir" is a low-lying fertile region surrounded by magnificent mountains and fed by many rivers. It is renowned for its natural beauty and quaint lifestyle.
+'''Kashmir''' is the northernmost region of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The term Kashmir was historically described as the [[valley]] just to the south of the westernmost end of the [[Himalaya]]n mountain range. Currently, Kashmir refers to a much larger area which includes the regions of Kashmir valley, [[Jammu]] and [[Ladakh]]. The main "Valley of Kashmir" is a low-lying fertile region surrounded by magnificent mountains and fed by many rivers. It is renowned for its natural beauty and quaint lifestyle.
 Kashmir is derived from the [[Sanskrit]] "[[Kashyapa]]" + "Mira", which means the mountain range of [[rishi|sage]] Kashyapa<ref>[http://www.koausa.org/Languages/BNKalla.html]</ref>. [[Srinagar]], the ancient capital, lies alongside [[Dal Lake]] and is famous for its canals and houseboats. Srinagar (alt. 1,600 m. or 5,200 ft.) acted as a favoured summer capital for many foreign conquerors who found the heat of the Northern Indian plains in the summer season to be oppressive. Just outside the city are the beautiful Shalimar, Nishat, and Chashmashahi gardens created by Mughal emperors.