Th K P Singh
I read Prof RR Sharma’s article, “Amazing Vision of Jammu : Janus Faced” in Daily Excelsior on 28 November 2020 with disdain wherein a Dogra has blatantly denigrated Dogras reminding me of the proverbial adage, “a diamond cuts diamond”. I find following statements of Professor Sahib unpalatable/ unpardonable:-
(i) “I am not a biased Bengali but Dogra of Jammu”. If Dogra, why praise all others and belittle Dogras, is my question?
(ii) “No Dogra had excelled in brave deeds, in India, it were Razia Sultana and Jhansi ki Rani. Gen Zorawar Singh is an adored warrior. He recorded victory after victory, reached Leh and then Tibet. The moot point is that Gen Zorawar Singh did well against smaller hostile forces. There are some warriors, who compare him with Napoleon. This indeed is a misnomer”. First glorification and then demeaning is suspect !! How great a warrior Gen Zorawar Singh was, even greater than Napoleon has been explained by Col J P Singh in his tribute in the editorial column of Daily Excelsior on 12 December 2020 and a must read to understand Prof Sharma’s bias.
(iii) “Jammu can’t be labeled as ‘Valorous City’, attributed to the bravery of Dogras. It is the dirties city. Leningrad and Volgagrad in Russia are the only two valorous cities because I have lived there for 4 years”. Was he a student and guest of Communist Party of Russia? and a Leftist. He needs to be reminded that Brig Rajinder Singh, MVC is the ‘Saviour of Kashmir’ and Jem Parkash Singh Chib was the winner of ‘Victoria Cross’ of WW II. 7 JAK Dogras defended Skardu Fort till 15 August 1948 against Pak onslaught by fighting last man-last bullet. Jammu is a ‘valorous city’, having Balidan Stumbh, statues of warriors in almost every village and lot of distinguished Generals/ Soldiers. Jammu contributes highest number of martyrs and gallantry award winner. During the Kargil War, out of 521 fatal casualties, Dogras of Jammu are 71, which is 14 times higher than national average. City may be dirty but Jammuites are clean and bravest of the brave.
(iv) “When Karan Thapar talks about ethnic cleansing of the valley, we must recall what happened to Jammu Muslims in 1947. Jammu was Muslim majority city. But literally in weeks, mass killings and forced migration turned Jammu into a Hindu majority city. Two hundred thousand Muslims were killed or expelled”. It is a false and biased statement. In fact mass killings and forced migration had been inflicted upon Hindus in Kotli, Bhimber and Mirpur which were Hindu majority towns. Jammu had never been a Muslim majority city. Killings and exodus of Muslims has been widely debated. No proofs of forced migration and organized killings found. No mass graves found either. When DDC elections are on, such statements amount to inflaming communal violence and hence is based on an agenda and not the historical facts.
(v) “Demand for creation of independent State of Jammu is not only divisive but also a ‘misguided missile with destructive potential'”. It is also biased. Jammu is 27 thousand Sq Kms in area whereas Kashmir is 16 thousand. Jammu’s population is as much as that of Kashmir. Area and population, both favour Statehood claim.
Out of 5 lakh Govt employees, there are 4 lakh from Kashmir and only one from Jammu. There are hardly 10 percent Govt employees in Secretariat. Jammu unemployment rate is 69 percent as against 29 in Kashmir. Tourism potential of Jammu has not been developed etc etc. Jammu was at the mercy of Kashmir till abrogation of Article 370 and now Delhi. Why shouldn’t Jammu have an independent ‘regional voice’ and a Regional Party to take on anti Dogra agenda? It is because of blatant discrimination that seeks Statehood. Indian constitution enshrines equal opportunities for all. Jammu too deserves the same. Hence bifurcation of J&K UT is a fit case for the centre. Intellectuals and prominent citizens should take it up with the Lt. Governor and the PM.
(The author is Chairman Raj Tilak Celebration Committee Jeo Pota Akhnoor)
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