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| Why not the status of shehr-e-khas to Jammu city? | | White paper on Dogra heritage | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 26: The Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS), which was founded in Jammu in 1904 by public-spirited citizens with the maharaja of the state as its patron, on Wednesday raised an important issue. It urged the PDP-BJP coalition government to come out with "White Paper" containing details on the condition of Dogra heritage sites, including the historical Mubarak Mandi complex, the seat of Dogra power.
It appears it was the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) devised by the PDP and the BJP for running the administration that motivated the DSS leadership to demand white paper on the Dogra heritage sites, which are in a very bad shape.
The CMP says that the coalition government would "rebuild shehr-e-khas (in this case Srinagar) as a heritage destination by dovetailing craft heritage and tourism" and make "Dal lake a world heritage site". It doesn't say that Jammu city, which was the centre of Dogra culture and seat of power for centuries, will also rebuild this shehr-e-khas as a heritage destination. It only says that the state government would "develop, preserve, and promote the Dogra Heritage and Ladakh's Hemis festival".
Jammu city -- apart from being the original capital of Jammu and Kashmir --, unlike Srinagar city, is also known for its liberal ethos, spirit of accommodation, hospitality and peaceful co-existence of various communities. Unlike Srinagar city which has become the hub of anti-national activities and where no non-Muslim dares to settle or work because of the prevailing hostile environment as the Pakistani agents there have created an atmosphere of fear, Jammu city has always accommodated those who fell victims to Pakistan-sponsored militancy and helped not only Srinagar but the entire Kashmir Valley enrich their economy. In early 1990, almost the entire non-Muslim population vacated the Valley and migrated to other places, including Jammu city.
Ironically, no government in the state ever appreciated the historical importance of Jammu city and its contribution to the Kashmir's economy and the fact that it over the period became a city of refugees. Contrarily, all the governments in the state willfully ignored Jammu and its contribution with their Jammu-based henchmen in the administration and political circles extending their unflinching support to the anti-Jammu policies of the state government.
The DSS did a right thing by demanding white paper on the Dogra heritage sites. It didn't cross the line when it accused the authorities in the state of destroying deliberately Mubarak Mandi complex and erasing the last standing heritage of the Dogra dynasty. It would be only appropriate if the ruling coalition took note of what the DSS said and also declare Jammu city as shehr khas so that it gets the status it rightfully deserves. Giving a preferential treatment to Srinagar city and ignoring Jammu city would only strengthen the belief that the Jammu province has no place in the scheme of things even in the PDP-BJP coalition government. |
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