1

Index
Page No Topic

2 Muslim Population: Global Trends

Indian Scenario
3 Jammu and Kashmir: An Exception
Causes for Decline
Affluence?
5 Literacy?
6 Genocide and ethnic cleansing
7 Human Rights Abuses and the Conflict
8 Settlement of Non State Subjects within the state
9 Faulty procedures of counting
10 Fabrication of figures by the Census Department of India
12 A Note on Kashmiri Pandit Migration Population
13 Apprehensions about Census 2011
Tactics needed to be countered
15 Kashmir at a glance
2

Kashmir: Palestine in the making

A Story of Demographic Terrorism

Muslim population: Global trends

Muslims constitute one fifth of the world population. Their share of
human sufferings is more than half. More than sixty percent conflicts across
the world are related to Muslims and fought in Muslim lands. Whenever
one browses through mass media what one finds is killing, devastation, and
destruction be it in Palestine, Iraq, Algeria, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Philippines
Chechnya or Kashmir. Despite this there is an increase in Muslim population.
This increase is across the globe among all Muslim communities be they
minorities or majorities. This increase in Muslim numbers is witnessed in
Europe and America, causing a scare among the Westerners and making
them to resort to some absurd acts like banning of scarfs or minarets out of
Muslim phobia. The increase is because of high rate of fertility among the
traditional Muslim communities and, also, because of conversion to Islamic
faith in Europe and USA. It may also be attributed to religious taboos attached
with different techniques of contraception among Muslims. The increase in
numbers is debated across the globe. Researchers in anthropology and sociology
are dedicating considerable efforts to study this phenomenon from Russia to
USA and China, as they apprehend that if Muslim population continues to
grow at the same rate, it will reach 33% of the global population by 2050.

Indian scenario:
India is no exception to this phenomenon. The decadal growth
of Muslim population on average remains thirty percent where as national
average of increase is twenty two percent (22%). After partition the Muslims
constituted ten percent of the total population of India. The population in
2001 has crossed thirteen percent and is likely to go above fifteen percent by
2011.

Chart depicting Muslim percentage in total population of

India

Census 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001

All religious 439, 234, 547, 949, 665, 287, 838, 583, 1, 028, 610,
communities 771 809 849 988 328

Muslims
46,940,799 61,417,934 75,512,439 101,596,057 138,188,240
and their
(10.7%) (11.2%) (11.4%) (12.1%) (13.4%)
percentage

Source: Census India

 3

Jammu and Kashmir: An Exception

Kashmir is the only exception to this phenomenon. In 1941, Muslim
population of the state stood at 77.11%. On account of division of Kashmir
into Pakistan administered and Indian administered zones the percentage in the
Indian administered zone remained 72%. According to census figures published
by the government of India with every decade the Muslim population of Indian
administered part of Jammu and Kashmir State suffers a decline of above two
percent. In 1951 there was no census in Kashmir. In 1961, the population of
Muslims stood at 68.30 percent of the total population. In 1971, the population
declined to 65.85 percent. And in 1981, it remained only 64.19 percent. In 1991
there was no census and 2001 depicted the percentage of Muslim population as
66.97%. One wonders why Muslim population of Kashmir has shown completely
reverse trend of increase as compared to its counter parts across the globe and within
India. Is this phenomenon real depiction of population ratio or manipulation of
figures by the census department of India?
Chart depicting total population and percentage of Muslim population in
India Administered part of Kashmir.
Year 1941 1961 1971 1981 2001
Total 2,946,728 3,560,976 4,616,632 5,987,389 10143700
Muslims 2,133,611 2,432,067 3,040,129 3,843,451 679320
Hindus 736,865 1,013,193 1,404,292 1,930,448 3005348
Muslims
(Percentage) 72.41 68.30 65.85 64.19 66.97
Hindus 25.01 28.45 30.42 32.24 29.63
Source: Census India

Causes for decline:

1. Affluence?
Excessive increase in fertility and ratio of population is often attributed to relative
levels of affluence and economic development. More affluent a community is, rate
of increase of population is less. Thus the increase in percentage of population is
inversely proportional to the level of affluence.
We have countries with highest rate of literacy and highest per capita income
having least growth of population to the extent of compelling the states to give
incentives for increase in births. This phenomenon is common from Japan to
United Sates within all developed societies.

Country Annual Growth of population

Japan Zero Percent (0%)
Germany Zero Percent (0%)
Russia - 0.5%
USA 0.9%

Source: Google (World Wide Web)

4

Seen in context of this criterion, Kashmiri Muslims are in no way more

affluent than non-Muslims of the state. Their share in government employment,
trade, business, and industry is far less as compared to non-Muslim population of
the state. Their share in the wealth is equally deficient as compared to non-Muslims
of the state. Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir State (2008-2009) reveals
that bank deposits in Srinagar were only 6710 crores (This despite allegation of
flow of Hawala money). Bank deposits of Jammu district remained at whopping
8199 crores. What is true about Srinagar and Jammu cities same is true about
other districts. Despite having a population of sixty five percent, Muslim districts
of J&K only own 55.40 percent of the states bank deposits. Other districts despite
sharing thirty five percent of population own 45% of these deposits.

Dec 2008
Districts
Deposits (in crores) Share
Anantnag 1120 4.33
Kulgam 323 1.25
Pulwama 654 2.53
Shopian 260 1.00
Srinagar 6710 25.92
Ganderbal 259 1.00
Budgam 540 2.80
Baramulla 1155 4.46
Bandipora 194 0.75
Kupwara 463 1.79
Leh 543 2.10
Kargil 258 1.00
Jammu * 8199 31.67
Samba * 674 2.60
Udhampur * 452 1.75
Kathua * 1009 3.90
Doda 440 1.70
Ramban 299 1.16
Kishtwar 244 0.94
Rajouri 724 2.80
Poonch 489 1.89
Reasi 452 1.75

* Hindu dominated districts

Source: J&K Economic Survey (2008-09)

It is obvious that Muslims are not affluent as compared to other

communities of the state. Consequently, their population should have increased
more or at least in same proportion as is the average for Indian Muslims. Had they
grown like their religious counterparts in India, percentage of their population in
Jammu and Kashmir should have been seventy five. Census figures however depict
reverse.
 5

2. Literacy?
It is also an established fact that relative literacy levels also have a bearing
on increase of population. More literate a community is, less level of increase of
population is witnessed within it. Thus as compared to national average of twenty
two percent (22%), Kerela - the most literate state of India has 9.42% decadal
population growth. As per Census of 2001, it is also true in context of Kashmir
as well. Kupwara and Budgam being least literate districts show higher growth of
population.
In Jammu and Kashmir, however, overall census figures portray an
altogether different picture. On an average, Muslim districts of the state have sixty
one percent literacy ratio (Economic Survey 2008-09). The literacy ratio within
non-Muslim districts of the state is above 70 percent. It is obvious that even in
terms of literacy; non-Muslims of the state are far ahead of Muslim state subjects.
Given this scenario, the Muslim population should have seen an increasing trend
or at least the same trend as is the national average for the Muslims. But figures
defy this criterion as well.
Districts Literacy rate, 2008 (percent)

Anantnag 67.16
Kulgam 56.40
Pulwama 63.28
Shopian 67.08
Srinagar 75.21
Ganderbal 54.59
Budgam 51.83
Baramulla 58.39
Bandipora 56.30
Kupwara 50.05
Leh 71.94
Kargil 61.33
Jammu 83.73
Samba 81.91
Udhampur 67.13
Doda 64.74
Ramban 66.74
Kishtwar 63.12
Kathua 69.86
Rajouri 48.37
Poonch 61.28
Reasi 55.47
Source: Economic Survey of J&K (2008-09)
6

3. Genocide and ethnic cleansing:

Decline in Muslim population, if true, can have other reasons
than the normal ones. These can be allegations of genocide made by Hurriyat leaders
of and on. Genocide and ethnic cleansing did contribute to decline of Muslim
population in early years of Indian rule in Kashmir. Hundreds of thousands of
Muslims from Jammu, Kathua and Udhampur districts were massacred, lakhs were
made to migrate. According to Ian Stephens, former editor of Statesman, Delhi-
Calcutta “….Half a million or so, had almost totally disintegrated in the autumn
1947.About 200,000 simply vanished, being presumably butchered or killed by
epidemics and exposure while seeking to get away; the rest had fled into Pakistani
Punjab” (Ian Stephens, Horned Moon London: Chatto and Windus 1953 p. 138)
As a result of this Muslim population of state declined from 78% to 69% between
1941 to 1961. Even Pandit Nehru conceded the acts of genocide in his speech to
the Constituent Assembly of India on 25 November 1947 in the following words,
“I should like to say here that certain events happened near Jammu early in November
which I regret very deeply. The Muslim convoys of evacuees were being taken away
from Jammu when they were attacked by non-Muslim refugees and others and a large
number of causalities were inflicted. The troops escorting them did not play a creditable
role. I might add that none of our troops were present or had anything to do with this.”
(JAWAHAR LAL NEHRU SPEECHES, V.I. PUBLICATIONS DIVISION
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA P. 165). The speech is self contradictory. On one
side Nehru concedes presence of Indian troops escorting Muslim convoys. On
the other side exonerates troops by pleading that they were not present. Sheikh
Abdullah too conceded the massacre and genocide. True to his reputation, he
however put the blame on the victims themselves. In his speech at Jammu on
sixteenth September 1947, he observed:
“Jammu Muslims are, to a large extent, themselves responsible for what has
happened to them, because, though in a minority, they had, by their words and deeds,
let their tongues in favour of Pakistan. But you murdered innocent barbers and washer
men who knew nothing about politics. How unjust it was to kill children and women
who did not even know Muslim league or Pakistan” (P N Bazaz, The Struggle for
Freedom in Kashmir, Kashmir Publishing Company, New Delhi 1954 P. 323)

In the words of Prem Nath Bazaz, while the liquidation of Muslims was in
operation in all its fury, Sheikh held the victims responsible for their horrible fate.
His only regret was that innocent Gujjar Barbers and vegetable vendors were also
killed along with supporters of Pakistan. (P N Bazaz, The Struggle for Freedom in
Kashmir, Kashmir Publishing Company, New Delhi 1954 P. 514)
Being an emergency administrator and Prime Minister, Sheikh Abdullah
himself should have shared the responsibility for this holocaust. He however
organized a week long freedom celebration (Jashn-e-Azadi) in May 1948. (Ram
Chandra Guha, India After Gandhi PICADOR India, 2007. P 76)
 7

Decline of Muslim population of Jammu from 1941 to 1981:

(Prior to creation of new districts)
Districts 1941 1961 1971 1981 2001
7.95%
Jammu 39.59% 10.5% 4.27% 5.68%
Udhampur 43.15% 33.6% 32.9% 26.23% 25.57%
Kathua 25.44% 12.99% 10.85% 6.96% 8.14%
Poonch 90.97% 89.45% 88.85% 89.06% 91.92%
Rajoori 79.28% 79.45% 60.97% 58.29% 60.23%
Shown along
Doda 65.03% 63.59% 57.30% 57.92%
with Udhampur
Source: Census India
In the subsequent period too genocide and ethnic cleansing can’t be ruled
out as a reason for decline of Muslim population in border districts. On account
of inaccessibility of the terrain and highest level of militarization it remains a
possibility within these areas. Banishment of Muslim populations from the areas
in vicinity of the bloody ceasefire line now called line of control is surely another
factor. Disproportionately less levels of population increase in the districts of
Rajouri, Poonch and Kupwara from 1951 to 1971 can be attributed to this policy
of Indian state.

Growth of population from 1951 to 1971 in various districts

Increase of population Increase of population
District District
From 1951 to 1971 From 1951 to 1971
Anantnag 39.9% Jammu 51.87%
Pulwama 37.19% Udhampur 39.44%
Srinagar 39.55% Doda 44.56%
Budgam 38.42% Kuthua 38.04%
Baramulla 41.14% Rajouri 23.21%
Kupwara 35.43% Poonch 15.3%
Leh 26.3%
Kargil 26.54% 39.09%
Jammu & Kashmir state
Source: Census Department as provided in “Digest of Statistics 2005-06
Government of Jammu & Kashmir”: Planning department of J&K, (p.15).

4. Human Rights Abuses and the Conflict:

The death, destruction, and continuing Human Rights abuses caused as a result
of ongoing conflict too remain a contributing factor. These factors remained
prevalent with Indian Muslims as well in the form of communal riots. Thousands
of anti-Muslim riots consuming hundreds and thousands of lives however did not
impede the growth rate of Indian Muslims. Impact of human rights abuses on
population growth is not necessarily negative. It may have a positive impact on
8

growth of population as people tend to produce more children on account of sense

of insecurity created by Human Rights abuses and conflict. Afghanistan, Iraq
has seen a more growth rate in spite of conflict as compared to relatively peaceful
societies of Iran and Indonesia.

Annual Growth Annual Growth

Country Country
of population of population

Afghanistan 2.6% Iran 0.8%

Iraq 2.5% Indonesia 1.1%

Source: Google (World Wide Web)

Jammu and Kashmir also experienced a similar trend in growth rate. It remained
29.69% and 29.65% in 1960s and 1970s whereas at the peak of conflict it remained
30.34% and 29.98% in eighties and nineties of previous century. The impact
however can’t be exclusively ruled out and demands a probe through impartial
international agencies. It is probably the authenticity of these factors that scares
Indian state to allow International Human Rights agencies to work in Kashmir.

5. Settlement of Non State subjects within the

State:
An important factor leading to relatively higher levels of increase in
non-Muslim population remains settlement of non-state subjects from India
in various districts of Jammu. It started immediately after 1947 and becomes
obvious from the figures of the census department it self. The figures on one
side depict sharp decrease in Muslim population of non Muslim districts on
the other hand the average increase of population within these districts remains
similar to other districts. Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) openly advocates
this policy even now. On January 27, 2010 RSS chief Mohan Bagwat called
for settlement of Hindus in Kashmir region in his speech at Bhubaneshwar
(ANI). RSS organ (Organizer) in its August 2, 2009 issue pleads for a similar
approach. It advocates transformation of demography of Kashmir in similar
manner as Chinese in his estimation have done in Xinjiang. “Demography
is destiny” citing August Comte Nineteen century French Philosopher the
organizer pleads that Chinese understood criticality of demography India
didn’t. (How does China handle its Kashmir by: S. Gurumurthy Organizer
August 2, 2009). Given the fact that RSS ruled India by proxy through Bartiya
Janta Party (BJP) and infiltrated its workers into various instruments of state
it is unlikely that the strategy has not been put into practice. Magnifying
importance of Amarnath Yatra and initiation of previously unknown festival
of sindhu Darshan during BJP rule was part of the same strategy Congress
too has often facilitated implementation of RSS agenda. Babri Masjid was
demolished during Congress rule while BJP mobilized Hindu mobs for it.
 9

Decadal Growth of Population in various Districts from

1941 to 1951
Decadal Growth of Population Decadal Growth of Population
Districts Districts
1941-1951 1941-1951

Anantnag 12.15% Udhampur 10.28%

Srinagar 14.49% Jammu 10.23%
Baramulla 9.99% Kathua 8.37%
Ladkh 8.30% Rajouri -3.40%
Doda 16.52% Ponch 5.01%
Source: Portrait of Population Jammu and Kashmir By: J. N Zutshi
(Director census operations Jammu & Kashmir P 21.)

The census shows 29.09% decline in Muslim population of Jammu district

and 12.79% in Kathua from 1941 to 1951. Taking this decline into consideration
the real growth of Jammu comes to 39.09% and that of Kathua 21.16%. The
migrants from Mirpur and parts of Poonch district of PAK were too meager to
sustain this growth rate. Most of them settled in Rajouri and Poonch as well. This
phenomenon led to change of Muslim demography from 90% to 60% in Rajouri.
Decadal growth in Jammu, Kathua and other Jammu areas is simply the result of
settlement of non state subjects within these areas.
This factor too has been conceded by the state administration and a Commission
to probe allocation of state subject (State Citizenship certificate) was established
to pacify public fury. The Commission like every other commission established in
Kashmir didn’t do anything till date, apart from providing avenue of employment
for some honorable retired judges.

6. Faulty Procedures of counting

Census in India enumerates population on the basis of its location, irrespective
of ones place of nativity. Census figures thus depict the population as it is located
at the time of counting. The figures depicted for Jammu and Kashmir include
all those people who are working in the state whether they are state subjects or
not. The figures thus include all those who come from other states and work in
railways, NHPC, air force, security agencies and other central establishments. The
migrant workers too are enumerated within state population. One does not need
to do a research to understand these faulty procedures. The linguistic mosaic of
Jammu and Kashmir portrayed in the censes of 1971 thus contains a list of more
than 50,000 people with Assamese(45), Bengali (828) Bhojpuri(233) Bihari(94)
Chhattisgarhi(202), Gorkhali (2588), Guajarati (131), Kannada(156), Khasi(229)
Madrasi(183) Malayalam(1561), Marathi(694), Oriya (1065), Rajasthani(658),
Tamil(821), Hindi(42470) as their mother tongue. Source: Portrait of Population
Jammu and Kashmir By: J. N Zutshi (Director censes operations Jammu & Kashmir
P. 111, 112) It is oblivious that inclusion of these apart from native languages is
simply on account of enumerating Indians working in Kashmir as locals.
10

Because of this procedure, people within the state develop a feeling that they
may be outnumbered by migrants. This feeling is not specific to Kashmir’s but
shared by natives of various Indian states as well. It is this feeling that creates
agitation within Maharashtra and other parts of India against people from Hindi
regions. State justifies this approach on the logic that there is a single citizenship
within India. Practically, however, dual citizenship exists in context of Kashmir
and some other states and has been acknowledged under the Indian Constitution.
The Constitution authorizes the State of Jammu and Kashmir (Article 35 A)
to pass any laws for protection of interest of State-subjects. The law can’t be
declared invalid on the ground that it is in conflict with any provisions of Part III
(Fundamental Rights) of the Constitution of India. We do get charts of migration
but these do not suffice to give us accurate understanding of the composition
of J&K population. Census procedure needs to be rectified and substituted by a
procedure that indicates as to who within a particular number is a state subject or
a non state subject. It was promised by the Census officials when Saif-ud-Din Soz
raised this issue but the figures provided by the department in 2001 or too hazy
to give an accurate account of non-state subjects working within the state. With
ever increasing rush of migrant workers it is indispensable to keep a record of such
figures. It will not be out of place here to suggest that it must be made obligatory
for a non state subject to secure a work permit prior to embarking upon any job
within the state. The permit must also be associated with some fee in order to
make the migrant workers to pay for the civic amenities they avail. It can also give
understanding of the real requirements of essential commodities and amenities to
the planning officials. Right to information as part and parcel of right to freedom
of expression entitles everyone to know the real figures of increase of population
among natives and as well as the details of non natives working in the state.

7. Fabrication of Figures by the census Department

of India:
We still believe that figures don’t depict the real statistics but reflects
manipulation of statistics by the census department. A clear proof of this
manipulation becomes obvious through a cursory view of the statistics relating
to languages provided in the census. The population of those who have Hindi as
their mother tongue was 42,470 in 1971. Census of 1981 shows the population of
those whose house hold language is Hindi 10, 12,808. At first instance one tends
to believe that the phenomenon may be because of popularization of Hindi during
the decade. But this formulation implies reciprocal decline in the number of those
using other languages as their mother tongue. But this is not the case. Kashmiri
speaking population has increased during the decade by 30% where as Dogri
speaking population has increased by 27%.The increase is in line with 29% decadal
growth of population. By implication the increase, however, is not as a result of
decline in the number of those who speak two major languages of the state. It
simply is reflection of settlement of non-state subjects within the state or faulty
procedures which involves counting of all sorts of migrants within the population
of the state. The most important factor that has led to inflation of Hindi speaking
population within the state remains manipulation of figures on the part of census
 11

department of India. Census of 1971 depicts population of those who use Gojri
as their mother tongue as 330485. In 1981 census, the number of those who use
Gojri has become extinct to the extent that census department didn’t feel need to
portray Gojri within the linguistic mosaic of the state. It is obvious whole of the
nomad Gojar population has been projected as part of Hindi speaking group. To
make up the deficiency within the manipulated numbers non-state subjects and
Punjabi speaking people have been added to the figures.

Speaking population Speaking population Percentage

Language
(1971) (1981 ) of decadal increase

Hindi 42470 1012808 2284.76%

Kashmiri 2406272 3136146 30.33%

Dogri 1139259 1454441 27.66%

Gojri 330485 Does not find mention Gojiri extinct

Punjabi 158418 163049 2.92%

Urdu 12740 6867 -46.09%

Source: Portrait of Population Jammu and Kashmir By: J. N Zutshi (Director census
operations Jammu & Kashmir (1971) P 111 & Portrait of Population Jammu and
Kashmir By: Director of census (1981) P. 53-54)
It is interesting to notice that the figures of Urdu speakers have been
reduced from 12740 in 1971 to 6867 in 1981. In spite of being official language of
the state and attracting widest readership of mass media it is inconceivable for one
to reconcile with the figures of census department. Urdu has been target of fascist
forces all along and the manipulation of figure with respect to this language is a
concoction made by their agents within authorities or an attempt by Indian state
to appease them.
Preceding discussion makes it clear that the demography of the state
is portrayed in line with political designs of Indian State. The figures given by
the census department inflate the population figures of non–Muslim districts
where as deliberately depicts figures of Muslim population on lower side. Decadal
growth of Muslims between 1971 to 1981 was depicted as 26.42% whereas
Hindu population increased by 37.47%. (Census India 1981, Series 8 J&K PP 4-6)
Manipulation of population figures is not an allegation but a fact confirmed even
by those politicians who support the status-quo.
Saif-ud-Din Soz, present State Congress president also made these
allegations at a press conference on Sep 06, 2000. (See Kashmir Times, Jammu,
September 7, 2000) Soz alleged that Census is aimed at changing the demographic
character of J&K and appealed Hurriyat and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen to take up this
issue. Similar allegations were made by Dr.Farooq Abdullah in 1986 on the floor
of the state assembly and Sheikh Abdullah in 1983 during district development
board meeting of Srinagar.
12

In his words, census figures had been manipulated to show that the
Muslim population of Jammu and Kashmir is on decline as a percentage of the
total population, and its growth in Jammu region had been dramatically lower
than that of Hindus. (The Hindu, magazine vol. 17, issue 21, Oct 14-27, 2000).
The allegations made by Saif-u-Din Soz were not unfounded. Figures about various
districts of the state depicted a steep rise in Hindu population

1961 to 1971 decadal growth of Hindu population

Ladakh Baramullah Rajouri Jammu Anantnag
100% 78.25% 67.46 % 42% 41.50%

Source: Portrait of Population Jammu and Kashmir By: J. N Zutshi ( Director

census perations Jammu & Kashmir P. 70,71)
National average for the decade: 29%
Average for J&K: 29.65%
Sikh population too during this period experienced 67.87% overall increase.
Their increase within Baramulla district was 218.42%. Same way their increase
in Doda district remained 131.75%. Their migration from Rajouri district might
have contributed to this increase. The Sikh percentage within Rajouri experienced
2.08% decrease during this period.

8. A Note on Kashmiri Pandit Migrant

Population:
Pandits constituted elite group of Kashmiri population with highest literacy
and land holdings. Prior to 1947 in the words of Josef Korbel they had become
the willing instruments of the policy of unlimited cruelty perpetrated by Hari
Singh and his predecessors.(Dangers in Kashmir Vinod Publishers Jammu(1992) P.
13) Like parsi community of India the pandit population practically experienced
depletion of growth rate. They have always been close to royal courts. With the
end of dynastic rule in Jammu and Kashmir and ascendance of Nehru’s to power
New Delhi provided them an alternative. As a result of receptiveness of this family
they started to migrate from the state since 1947. By 1953 almost one-sixth of their
population (8000) had migrated to India.(Premnath Bazaz, “Struggle for Freedom
in Kashmir”, Kashmir Publishing Co., New Delhi, 1954, P.546). The migration
towards greener pastures continued unabated upto 1990. Despite decline in
growth rate and migrations their population was depicted to be increasing in every
census. It was through manipulation of figures. In spite of these manipulations
by the census department Hindu population within Kashmir valley in 1981 was
124022 (Census India 1981). These included Khatris (Business community),
Sansis (of Bagh-e-Mehtab), Mins (of Kulgam), and Rajputs (of Uri) apart from
Kashmiri Pandits. Eruption of militancy in 1990 provided urban Pandits a pretext
to migrate en mass. Very few among non-Pandit groups however migrated. A
segment of Kashmiri Pandits too remained in the valley and shared ordeals of
the conflict along with their Muslim neighbors. By any stretch of imagination
the migrant population of Pandit’s could not extend one lakh. It is unfortunate
that some organizations pretending to represent migrants inflate the population
 13

figures to three hundred thousand. This too is done with a purpose. In pretext
of rehabilitation of migrants they intend to create settlements of Indian Hindu
population as suggested and planned by Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).
Large numbers of temples around Srinagar city have already been occupied by self
styled prohits from India. These included the notorious Sadhvi Pragya who was
arrested in connection with Samjuata Express and Malegoan bombings.

Apprehensions about census 2011

The impact of public outrage in 2000 was that percentage of growth of
different communities in the state started to reflect the national average in 2001. The
manipulations made in earlier Census figures however remain un-rectified. This
time, too, the Census department seems to be determined to repeat manipulations
of 1961 and 1971 one. Most of those employed to work in the department are
non-state subjects. The practice of engaging local retired staff has been abandoned.
The Chief Minister used to head the Census operation and chief secretary used to
monitor it. It seems that this practice, too, is not followed this time and the state
government has been fully bypassed. People were made to fill up Census forms in
Urdu- official language of the State. The forms this time remained in English, a
language with which most of the people are unfamiliar. Reluctantly Urdu has
been accommodated now. The department does not bother to utilize services of
local revenue officials for drawing maps of various towns and cities.
It seems that whole of the Census exercise is subservient to political
designs of the Indian state. The designs are immediate as well as remote. The
immediate political goal is to inflate the population figures of Non-Muslim
districts and demand delimitation of constituencies for state legislature in line with
inflated numbers. This has already started and BJP and other Hindu Nationalist
organizations are pursuing this demand. In this regard, Jammu and Kashmir
National Panthers Party Patron and former MLC Bhim Singh has also filed a
petition in the J&K High Court.
Through this they plan to de-empower Muslims. The remote designs are
nothing other than delay in resolution of Kashmir problem until Muslims in the
state are depicted or reduced to the status of a minority. Indian state always finds
pretexts to get out of any negotiations on Kashmir in anticipation of such an
eventuality. Even if they discuss Kashmir they plead that the problem to be put
on back burner. The Indian leaders are waiting for a plebiscite to be held only once
Muslim Majority status of Jammu and Kashmir State is erased. It is unfortunate
that some Realists among leaders also support this approach little knowing that by
doing so, they are supporting annihilation of their nation in installments.

Tactics needs to be countered:

Campaigns of extermination of communities and manipulation of figures
have always boomeranged in past. Along with electoral malpractices scandalous
census procedures too have contributed to eruption of insurgency in Kashmir.
Continuation of these is surely going to boomerang in twenty first century. In
the era of information technology, when extremely secure data is vulnerable to
hacking, extermination campaigns and manipulation of figures can’t go unnoticed.
14

Russians tried to exterminate Chechens for seventy years, dispersed them into
Siberia but failed to erase their existence. In spite of being behind the iron curtain
of a totalitarian state Chechens maintained their existence and are giving a tough
times to Russian Federation. Manipulations of figures, Human Rights abuses in
Kashmir are surely going to meet the same fate if people of Kashmir remain vigilant
and determined to foil these attempts. In this pursuit Kashmiris need consistent
support of whole of Humanity in general and Muslim Ummah in particular lest
extermination and dispossession of Muslims from their lands turns Kashmir into
another Palestine.

Author:
Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain writes extensively on Kashmir in media and
teaches human rights and international law at Kashmir University.
e-mail: showkat_hussain@rediffmail.com
 15

Bibliography
Economic Survey of Jammu and Kashmir (2008-09)
Census India
Ian Stephens, Horned Moon London Chattoo and Windus 1953
Jawaharlal Nehru Speeches VI Publications Division Government of India
P N Bazaz, The Struggle for Freedom in Kashmir, Kashmir Publishing Company, New
Delh, 1954
Ram Chandra Guha, India After Gandhi PICADOR Indian, 2007
Digest of Statistics 2005-06, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Planning Depart-
ment of J&K
How does China handle its Kashmir, S Gurumurthy, Organizer, August 2, 2009
Portrait of Population Jammu and Kashmir, J N Zutshi (Director Census Operations
Jammu and Kashmir, 1971)
Constitution of India Article 35 A
Constitution of India Part III (Fundamental Rights)
Census 1981
Census 1971
Portrait of Population Jammu and Kashmir, Director Census Jammu and Kashmir,
1981, Series 8 J&K
Kashmir Times, Jammu, September 7, 2000
The Hindu, Magazine Vol 17, Issue 21, Oct 14-21, 2000
Dangers in Kashmir, Vinod Publishers, Jammu (1992)
16

Kashmir at a glance
Location:
It is situated in the heart of South-Central Asia and shares its borders with
Afghanistan, China, India & Pakistan. A small strip of Wakhan separates it from
the Tajikistan.

Area:
85,000 square miles (2, 22,236 sq. km). It is larger than 75 other independent
countries in area. Nearly 2/3rd of its territory is under the occupation of India &
1/3rd under the administration of Pakistan.

Population:
13 million, including 1.5 million refugees in Pakistan and 0.1 million in India &
other parts of the world. It is thus bigger in size than 100 sovereign countries of
the world.

Political Status:
Jammu & Kashmir is a disputed territory within the meaning of international
law.
Indian forces occupied 2 / 3rd of the territory on 27 October, 1947 and obtained
temporary accession of the state from its autocratic ruler while at the same time
promising the Kashmiri people as well as the United Nations that the future
status of the territory would be determined by its people. United Nations Security
Council passed resolutions affirming the right of self determination for the people
of Jammu & Kashmir.

KASHMIR INSTITUTE:
Kashmir Institute is a humble effort on the part of some academicians to undertake,
assist, cooperate and facilitate research activities aimed at social, economic and
cultural upliftment of people of Jammu and Kashmir State.