Col Ajay K Raina
SWOT analysis, wherein the acronym stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, identifies and evaluates such characteristics, as these may pertain to an individual, a business, organisation, region, community and similar establishment, to chart the best course ahead. Much regarded and a time-tested methodology, this evaluation relates to the physiognomies that are inherent in an entity and can be modified or controlled to an extent.
Jammu, a long-neglected province, has been crying for attention right from the time when the erstwhile Princely State became a part of the Union of India in 1947. The geographical entity to the South of Pir Panjal, between Ravi River to the East and Jhelum to the West, is a much-truncated version of once a larger swath of Duggar land that included the present-day districts of Hoshiarpur and Pathankot in Punjab and parts of Himachal Pradesh between Dauladhars and Beas. This article looks at Jammu Province as it exists today and doesn’t consider the above-mentioned Duggar land or the great Dogra Empire that extended much further and beyond the Great Himalayan Range. As far as demography is concerned, DOGRA includes all the residents of today’s Jammu Province, irrespective of their natal belief, faith, religion, caste, creed and sub-regional identities. Like we have Indian Gorkhas or Indian Buddhists, we, too, have Dogra Hindus, Dogra Muslims, Dogra Poonchis, Dogra Kishtwaris and so on. Jammu, incidentally, is a micro-India when it comes to diversity and co-existence of numerous sub-identities of various alignments.
Strengths
Soldierly traits: Dogras were identified as a martial race by the British. While I detest such a divisive view that the Brits took of us, the fact that the Princely State of J&K contributed the highest number of volunteers (around 50,000 from Poonch belt alone) as also its regular units towards war effort during WW II, proves the claim; yes, we make soldiers of the finest quality.
-Strong Sense of Nationalism.
-Low crime rate.
-Tolerant, all-encompassing way of life.
-Hard-working populace that inhabits harsh terrains like Kandi, mountains and some really unproductive strips of land.
-Natural resources to include beautiful landscapes, perennial rivers, potential to tap solar and wind energy even though much of it remains unexplored.
-Healthy mix of plains and mountainous terrain.
Weaknesses
-Divisions running through communities-inter and intra-frat. The larger Dogra identity is not something that every fraternity across the landmass associates itself with for different reasons.
-Lack of credible leadership that can stand on its own and bear the flag of the province. General mistrust in the local leadership is prevalent.
-Tendency to be accommodative and tolerating even when a certain development may not be good for the region. Dogra traits of being shy and remaining non-assertive have their own pitfalls.
-Lack of infrastructure and basic amenities as these pertain to agriculture (especially in Kandi areas where many irrigation projects stand stalled), health, power supply and rural life in general.
-Virtually non-existent high-value raw materials that can be processed into goods in demand. Such a weakness keeps investments away.
-Lack of employment opportunities.
-Hyphenated association with troubled Kashmir. As a result, the focus remains on Kashmir, and Jammu keeps getting punished for no fault of its own. A case in point is curbs on communications that may be a requirement in Kashmir but have no relevance in Jammu. Yet, all such degressive orders get implemented in Jammu whenever the situation flares up in Kashmir.
Opportunities
-With the abrogation of Articles 35A and 370, doors are now being opened up for the investors to come in and invest in the UT. Being contiguous to Punjab, Jammu has the potential to attract outsiders if a competitive environment is created.
-Dovetailing the tourism potential into an already thriving religious tourism.
-Unexplored sectors like water sports in our dams, rivers and reservoirs, hiking and camping in Pir Panjals, homestay and rural hospitality models and such like initiatives can create colossal employment and empowerment opportunities for multiple segments of the society.
-Innovative horticulture like ‘summer apple’ can enhance the rural economy of the region.
-With grassroots level elections happening for the first time and new leadership emerging, local leadership is likely to undergo a refreshing change.
Threats
-Misuse of religion as also inter-community differences to fan trouble in the province.
-Vulnerability of certain sections to subversive propaganda being unleashed by anti-national elements.
-Lack of Jammu’s own identity tends to scare the investors even while Jammu may be peaceful, but whenever Kashmir may see some kind of trouble. The muddle in the minds of national media and commentators remains a big threat to the cause of Jammu.
-Large scale corruption that, despite being a relatively recent phenomenon, has the potential to derail and disrupt development in the region.
-Historic step-motherly treatment to the region at the hands of politicians and even bureaucrats who are primarily seen as unduly sympathetic towards Kashmir.
Deductions and Way Ahead
The pointers listed above are, in no way, exhaustive and all-inclusive. A vast region with such diversity is bound to have many more issues. Within the limitations of time and space, the above mentioned figurative representation may be seen as a fair depiction of some of the vital issues. This brief analysis, thus, leads us to some of the actions that Dogras need to take so as to be seen and heard as an entity that should have been recognised for its valour, hard work and nationalism many decades back. The same are listed below:
-Our inherent strengths hold immense potential for us. Unfortunately, except Indian Army that has regiments and units like Dogra, JAK Rifles, JAK LI and so on, the soldierly qualities and a strong sense of nationalism of Dogras have not been utilised fully. In a trouble-torn UT, strong border and village defence committees need to be created to augment the national effort. Half-hearted steps like SPOs in police and their long-pending issues don’t mean much.
-In the era of science and engineering marvels, dependence on sheer hard work will take us nowhere. Genuine requirements related to agricultural infrastructure, industrial expansion, power supply and connectivity need to be fulfilled. Due pressure must be built upon local authorities who have been vested with powers to make such differences. With the dismal past record, it is time for the local communities, panchayats and self-help groups to stand up and be counted. There may be no real merit in waiting endlessly for the knights in shiny armour (read politicians).
-Instead of looking up, we may look around and pick up ideas and innovations that are sweeping the landscape in our neighbourhood. Summer apples from Bilaspur in Himachal, for example, can be grown across the lower hills. Such adaptations can change the economy of our rural countryside.
-We need to unite, and there is no other option available. The key to survival lies in such a unity that must cut across dividing lines of all kinds. Such unification is a workable possibility in a land where Muslims have played roles in Ram Leela and the eldest sons of Hindu families given to Sikhi in the past. Further, while the horrifying manslaughters of 1947 remain unreported, those tales are very much part of folklore. Such a past also helps us understand that religion-based hatred and faith-driven cleansing have benefitted no one in the past and will not benefit anyone in the future.
-Politicians need to understand the responsibilities that they have towards the populace. Unless we demand accountability and ask questions, most of the leadership will remain comfortably billeted in their cocoons. Local issues need local remedies, and that is one single point that must dictate our voting patterns. Our false sense of loyalties will take us nowhere. The leaders who don’t stand for the Dogra cause must simply be shunned irrespective of their backgrounds.
-Bureaucratic machinery must recognise the fact that Jammu shouldn’t be hyphenated with Kashmir and vice-versa. Two different regions that have nothing in common need to be treated equally, if not on a pro-rata basis. Propping up one at the cost of another has been the root cause of inter-province mistrust and psychological distance.
-Lack of high-value resources needs to be offset by acquiring high-value skill sets.
-Civil society needs to understand the importance of self-sustenance and must look beyond politicians to resolve its issues. The Panchayat system is one powerful tool that can help us do the same.
This SWOT analysis touches only the tip of the iceberg. So humungous are our issues that only a massive change may appear to be the sole solution. Such changes, unfortunately, tend to cause disruptions and are best avoided. Therefore, a better and more sensible approach would be to play and build upon our strengths and reduce our weaknesses, making use of the opportunities while remaining alive to the threats and countering them effectively. This is a long-drawn process and needs to be led by the youth of our land.
(The author is a military historian and the Founding Trustee of The Military History Research Society ® India)
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