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About Jammu & Kashmir
Kashmir is an area on the northern borders of India and
Pakistan; officially known as Jammu & Kashmir.
Kashmir
is famous for its natural beauty and has often been referred
to as the 'Switzerland of the East'. The heart of the area is
the fertile Vale of Kashmir (known as The Valley), which lies
between the Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range. Here
the climate is mild and the soil well watered. Kashmir covers
an area of 222,237 SqKm (85,800 SqMi). Mount Godwin Austen/K2
(8,611m/28,250 ft) and mount Nanga Parbat (8,123m/26,650 ft)
lie in Northern Kashmir. The Indus river flows through
Kashmir. The river Jhelum flows through the Vale of Kashmir.
The mountains have much precious forests.
About 12 million people live in
Kashmir, of which around 70% are Muslims. The rest include
Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists. Hindus live mostly in the south
and around the city of Jammu. To the east is the Ladakh
region, where the majority of the people are Buddhists and of
Tibetan origin. Most of the Kashmiri people work on farms.
Others are engaged in small industries making shawls, rugs and
carpets.
Kashmir is well known for its wool and, in
particular, its shawls and carpets. Much of the farmland is
under intense cultivation, producing corn, wheat, rice and
saffron amongst other crops. Fruit and nuts are also produced
in quantities including pears, apples and walnuts. Kashmir has been the key to the dispute between India
and Pakistan since their independence from the British in
1947. Each country claims Kashmir as a part of its territory.
As a result of a rebellion in 1947 and the subsequent wars
between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, the area is separated
by a Line-of-Control (LOC or cease-fire line). To the east of
the LOC lies the vale of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh which are
administered by India. To the west lies the area now known as
'Azad [Free] Kashmir' which is governed by its own government
with strong ties with Pakistan.
The capitals of Indian-held
Kashmir are Srinagar in the summer and Jammu in the winter;
whilst the capital of Azad Kashmir is Muzaffarabad. Since 1989
the controversy over Kashmir has taken a violent turn in the
valley; the Kashmiri people themselves have taken up arms
against the Indian occupation. India is now deploying more
than 700,000 troops in the valley to crush the Freedom
Movement.
 Jammu and Kashmir has the distinction of
having multifaceted, variegated and unique cultural blend,
making it distinct from the rest of the country, not only from
the different cultural forms and heritage, but from
geographical, demographically, ethical, social entities,
forming a distinct spectrum of diversity and diversions into
Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh, all professing diverse religion,
language and culture, but continuously intermingling, making
it vibrant specimens of Indian Unity amidst diversity. Its
different cultural forms like art and architecture, fair and
festivals, rites and rituals, seer and sagas, language and
mountains, embedded in ageless period of history, speak
volumes of unity and diversity with unparalleled cultural
cohesion and cultural service.
While the Kashmir has been the highest learning centre of
Sanskrit and Persian where early Indo-Aryanic civilization has
originated and flourshed, it has also been embracing point of
advent of Islam bringing its fold finest traditions of Persian
civilization, tolerance, brotherhood and sacrifice. Ladakh on
the other hand, has been the highest and living centre of
Tantrayan Buddhism. Jammu, the same way, has been the seat of
Rajas and Maharajas which have cemented and enriched the
cultural, historical and social bonds of all these diverse
ethnic and linguistic divisions of the state. The ancient
archeological monuments and remnants speak volume of the
district cultural traditions of the state.
Kashmir is rightly said to be Nature's grand finale of
beauty. In this masterpiece of earth's creation seasons in
strong individuality vie with one another in putting up
exquisite patterns of charm and loveliness. Nature has left an
indelible mark on the folk performances of Kashmir as they are
intimately interlined with the moods and movements of the
seasons.
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