Human history is replete with instances of destiny playing inexplicable tricks with communities and nations. Very often explanation for the rise is as mystifying as of the fall. Yet we, the mortals, must keep moving on and carry the historical baggage per necessity. The rise and fall of great Kashmirian kingdom of ancient times is one of such poignant instances. Anybody with elementary knowledge of that ancient kingdom will quickly bring to mind the crucial role played by ancient Darabhisara region in its history. That terminology no more remained in vogue with later historians. To them, now it is known as the twin-districts of Poonch and Rajouri — the ancient Parnotsa and Rajpuri (Kashmiri Prunts and Razver) of Sanskrit/Sharada texts. To medieval Muslim historians, this historical region lay on the other side of the “Indian Mountains”. Pir Panchal nomenclature is of much later coinage with them. In the making and unmaking of Kashmirian kingdom of ancient and medieval times, Poonch-Rajouri region invariably played a decisive role. Its inhabitants were soldiers, intrepid and brave, who were forced to abandon their soldierly profession once their satrapies and principalities got dissolved with the passage of time. They settled on both sides of the Panchal range and eked out living as herdsmen now called Gujjars, Bakarwals and Paharis etc. Poonch-Rajouri region met with geographical scissoring after 1947, and then became western border districts of Jammu province. The truncated region receded in importance when state politics pandered to sub-regional and sub-national propensity.
Culturally and linguistically Poonch-Rajouri region is a bridge between the Dogra and Kashmiri streams. Naturally it had tremendous capacity of becoming a hub of cultural fusion between them. But the pre-requisites that could have contributed to social cohesion were neither conceptualized nor formulated. Cartographic engineering of 1947 devastated the pristine identity of the region too harshly. In absence of authoritative and resolute local political leadership in post-independence era of democratic arrangement, people of the region began to feel orphaned and disowned. Stupefied by the lingering memories of the nightmare of 14-month long Pakistani siege of Poonch (1948-49) and the holocaust in Rajouri on the Diwali festival (1947-48), benumbed the spirit of the people who have lost even their voice of protest.
Today six decades and more after the independence, Poonch and Rajouri districts remain neglected and sidelined in the great development fervour that has gripped the policy planners at the helm of affairs. The entire region remains unexploited for its mineral resources, forest wealth, tourist potential, connectivity network, rail and air link, road widening plan, youth and sports development and many more areas. Even in the field of culture in which the region has enviable history, be it journalism, literature, dramatics, sports or entertainment, rarely any befitting mention is made or homage paid to the illustrious sons and daughters of this land. The much publicized State Cultural Academy hardly ever organized commemorative functions to remember the contribution of so many illustrious sons of Poonch-Rajouri in their respective fields like Maj. Gen Pritam Singh, Krishen Chander, Charag Hasan Hasrat, Thakur Punchhi, Dayanand Kapoor, Ramanand Sagar and others. This fertile soil should not have been left to go parched and barren.
Our politicians are approaching the people of this region not on inclusive historical and national basis but on the basis of their ethnicity, language, creed or class. They divide them into segments to become recipients of their largesse. They drive the wedge between the people who for thousands of years shared common destiny. One would have wished that our politicians joined heads to forge innovative plans of development for the entire region. We wish that the rich natural resources of the region are properly explored and exploited with the sole purpose of improving the quality of life of the people. It has vast scope for industries and tourism and it contains rich forest wealth. This entire booty remains neglected. The only redeeming feature amidst this dismal scenario for the region is that somehow after decades of dilly-dallying, the State Government finally gave nod to the building of the Mughal Road which will connect Rajouri with Shopian and thus establish alternative link connecting Kashmir and Jammu regions This link is bound to boost economy of the entire region spread over the districts of Poonch and Rajouri. That should pave the way for installing various industries and open employment opportunities for the youth. At least there does exist a network of educational institutions in the region but much more remains to be done to productively employ the youth talent in the region.
It is also important that political leadership of the region intensifies joint efforts for economic development of respective constituencies. They will have to raise their voice to be heard and responded. They have to ask for their genuine share in administrative structure and in developmental plans and projects. There remains much to be done to improve the infrastructure of the region and to provide remote habitats with road connectivity, water supply and electric power. Being close to the LoC, they are facing hardships day in and day out besides the constant threat of unprovoked firing across the border. The State Government may need to constitute a special committee to prepare a comprehensive report on multi-sided development of the region, the problems of border population, their security and welfare. A new discourse shall have to be initiated for re-defining strategic, political, economic and social status of Poonch-Rajouri region.
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