Set like a jeweled crown on the map of world, Kashmir is a many faceted diamond, changing character with the seasons - always extravagantly beautiful. Three Himalayan ranges, Karakorum, Zanaskar and Pir Panjal - snow capped, majestic, frame the landscape from northwest to northeast. They are the birthplace of great rivers which flow through the Kashmir valley. The Mughal Emperor exclaimed "Gar Bar-ru-e-Zamin Ast ; Hamin Ast ,Hamin Ast Hamin Asto. Meaning if there is paradise on this earth : This is it, this is it, this is it. Srinagar is at once a collection of images: a son-et- lumiere that tells the story of the love of the Mughal emperors for this paradise vale; deep green rice fields and river bridges of gardens in bloom and lakes rimmed by houseboats; at once summer capital of the state, business center and holiday resort. Srinagar is as much imagination as it is fact, for every season offers new vistas to this city of great antiquity. Spring breathes life again into a frozen world and the air is heady with the fragrance of a million flowers that blossom on trees, shrubs and creepers. Summer heightens the effect and autumn is poignant in its colors of warm introspection. Winter brings with it snow, sometimes the Dal Lake freezes and beneath a leaden sky, roasted chestnuts turn the atmosphere aromatic with the promise of warmth and comfort. The river Jhelum and the Dal and Nagin lakes dominate Srinagar and its life and activities. Here lush wild gardens of lotus and water lily flower amidst bustling lanes. By the lakeside spread the gardens of the Mughals in patterned beauty. And the people move with a tranquility borne of a history laden pulse of activity. Jammu & Kashmir is an enigma in the politics of south Asia, a cancer for all the developing nations in the region closeted together in invective diatribe, striving to fathom their destiny as super nations ; their opportunist politicians flutter their banners of false prestige at each other and feasting on the flesh of the one and a half billion innocent citizens of the subcontinent create a malediction on its societies.
Humiliating line-ups for the total population of the area ends up with body searches, beatings and disappearances of young men picked up. Homes unattended are broken into for pillage and plunder. Kashmir alongside its other constituent parts like Jammu, Ladakh and Gilgit, Baltistan etc. is a conglomerate of valleys laid along the foothills of Himalayan mountains and inhabited in the most part by farmers , craftsmen and shepherds. The estimated population is 12 million, of which 2 million have migrated round as fugitives to all parts of the world but mostly to Pakistan. This beautiful country has been like a 'rag doll' pulled apart by its 'not so friendly' neighbours. After years of obeisance as a vassal state, people woke up to realize their rights as equal humans. An insurrection followed after 5 decades of Indian occupation. Indian army has been used to crush the resistance movement with brute force. When, in 1947 the British granted in
dependence to India, the people had already revolted against their Dogra ruler of the state. He was defeated by the Kashmir Liberation Army on 24th October 1947 and a provisional government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (Free Kashmir) was established. Subsequently, the Indian army moved in to occupy 2/3 of the state which has been under Indian occupation since. The remainder of the state still exists as Azad 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. One photograph, it is said, is worth more than a thousand words. So here is the Jammu & Kashmir story told through pictures. We will be updating the gallery with photographs every now and then, so check back often enough.
