Keeping dirty politics by politicians aside, the fact is that Jammu region always has had special ties with Kashmir valley and its people. The sacred prasad distributed at the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra contains dry fruits that comes from the orchids of Kashmir valley and further Kashmiri Muslims constitute a large section of potters that ferry Hindu pilgrims on their ponies to the sacred cave of Mata Vaishno Devi. The two regions (along with Ladakh) are linked together in fraternal ties that has unfortunately been damaged and destroyed by the political class of J&K, especially its long-established political parties, who are responsible for deliberately communalizing Jammu region by pitting people and communities of Jammu against each other and those of Jammu against the people of Kashmir valley. The looming specter of violence against Kashmiri people in Jammu region in light of tragic loss of lives in Pulwama has once again brought forward into the limelight, the much politicized and damaged ties between the people of Jammu region and Kashmir valley.
It is really sad to see images of violence and arson by fringe elements of Jammu towards Kashmiris living in Muslim dominated colonies like Gujjar Nagarin reaction to the unfortunate carnage that occurred at Pulwama. Two wrongs definitely don’t make a right. This violence also goes against the composite and secular culture of Jammu region, where people of different religions and ethnic groups live together peacefully with each other. While the tragedy of Kashmir conflict has torn apart the social fabric of Kashmir valley and taken away our Pundit brothers and sisters from us, Jammu region on the other hand has thrown open its doors and hearts to everyone regardless of his or her religion or ethnicity.
Jammu is today home to Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists as well as Dogri, Pahari, Kashmiri, Gujjar &Bakarwal and Ladakhi community, all living peacefully. Also, while Muslim minority lives in communal harmony in Hindu dominated plains of Jammu, the Hindu minority lives in complete peace in Muslim dominated Pir Panchal and Chenab valley regions of Jammu as a symbol of Jammu’s unique and proud Hindu-Muslim-Sikh: “Dogri – Pahari” secular culture. The Jammu region should be proud of its composite culture and its tolerance and accommodation for ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities from all parts of J&K and therefore any act of violence against Kashmiris living in Jammu should be seen by the people of Jammu as attack on the self-respect and self-esteem of the people of Jammu.
In addition to a large number of Kashmiri Pundits and Kashmiri Muslims, who live permanently in Jammu, the region becomes home to thousands of Kashmiris who migrate to Jammu city during winters including Kashmiri government employees, students, medical patients and traders. Hundreds of Kashmiris also use Jammu city as a transit point for their onwards journey from north India to Kashmir valley. The love that Kashmiri people have for Jammu city can be seen on streets, markets, cinema halls, malls and gardens of Jammu during winter season, when every nook and corner of Jammu city is populated by the people of Kashmir valley. Economically also, Jammu region gains a lot from this seasonal migration of Kashmiris to Jammu, who contribute immensely to the economic growth and development of Jammu. In fact, if one were to say that Jammu is a “second home” for many Kashmiri people, that won’t be wrong.
It is really unfortunate to see how the enemies of humanity and the political class of J&K have over the years done everything to create hatred among people of Jammu region and Kashmir valley towards each other on communal lines. While the National Conference and Congress laid foundations for creating a monster of “Muslim Kashmir” versus “Hindu Jammu” for nearly four decades, other political parties only exacerbated this divide for their own political gains for which the people of J&K eventually paid the huge price. The vilification and demonization of the people of Jammu in Kashmir valley and of Kashmiri people in Jammu region has created a deep wedge between the people of two regions, who otherwise love each other and don’t harbor any animosity towards each other.
The fact is that both Jammu region and Kashmir valley (along with Ladakh) are integral parts of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. These are neither two separate countries nor two separate states but are part of one and the same state of J&K. The people of Jammu region are brothers and sisters of those from Kashmir valley (and Ladakh) and vice a versa. It is a shame for the political elite of J&K that has so badly divided the people of this province on regional, ethnic and religious lines that today, all three units of our state treat each other as alien and enemy entity. Islam is as much a part of the culture of Jammu as Hinduism is part of the culture of Kashmir valley and therefore all attempts to create communal division between two regions based on Hindu – Muslim divide is not only artificial but also unsustainable.
Furthermore, last three decades have been devastating not just for the Kashmir valley alone that has been totally ravaged by the violence, a large part of Jammu region in Chenab valley has also been impacted by the happenings in Kashmir valley. Also, worst has been the condition of people living in villages of Jammu region located near the LOC, who continue to suffer a frequent and violent shelling from across the border that has devastated their lives. Thus, both Jammu region and Kashmir valley are intertwined together in a shared destiny of pain and suffering and they have no other option but to stick together and collectively fight, the adversity and misfortune that has struck the state of J&K.
Such is the commonality of shared cultural, social and economic links between the people of Jammu region and Kashmir valley, that they must come together to defeat any kind of communal agenda to divide them on religious, regional and ethnic lines. They should rather work towards shattering decades old artificial wall of hatred, exclusiveness and animosity created by all kinds of vested interests between the people of Jammu region and Kashmir valley. Succumbing to temptations of violence and communal hatred will mean playing into hands of these vested interest and enemies of humanity that will benefit neither Kashmir valley nor Jammu region.
Jammu region in particular must not compromise with its glorious secular credentials that makes it the most cosmopolitan region of J&K. The violence by fringe elements of Jammu against Kashmiris will only tarnish the image of the people of Jammu and it is also something that is not a part of the accommodative and hospitable character of Jammu region. The people of Kashmir and Jammu region are brothers and sisters and they must stay together and fight all enemies of peace with an aim to make our Jammu & Kashmir state, peaceful and prosperous – once again.
The author is a Political Activist and has worked as PRO to Ex Chief Minister of J & K. He has been highly active in mainstream Politics of state for last 6 years.
