In search of a Dogra - Early Times Newspaper Jammu Kashmir

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In search of a Dogra

Col JP Singh

6/2/2018 10:11:59 PM

20th May 2018 will remain a day of reckoning in the history of J&K on which day thousands walked on foot from Lakhanpur to kootah, a distance of 37 kms in the scorching heat and thousand descended to Kootah from Jammu side 'in the search of a Dogra', vehemently thrust upon them by Kashmiri politicians. At the instigation of Kashmiri politicians, people of Jammu, called Dogras, irrespective of their caste, creed or religion, descended down to the plains of Kathua to discover someone who could restore their maligned heritage and undo the tarnished image of Jammu people, following the Rassana crime, remarkably so because it was forcefully thrust upon them. 'Jammu has no leader' rhetorics and the demographic invasion of Jammu as well as 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans and anti India rants in the state legislature created a scare and a situation in which Jammu people started feeling insecure and compelled to look for a place to migrate. Thereafter unfortunate murder of an eight years nomadic girls took place in Rassana which was projected as a hate crime to scare away nomads. While local investigation team was on the job, it was replaced by a Special Investigating Team (SIT) comprised of tainted and criminal minded cops from the valley. The mayhem caused by high-handed conduct of the SIT led to mass migration from Rassana and formation of Hindu Ekta Manch which started an agitation for CBI enquiry. State BJP President deputed two ministers, two MLAs and some party functionaries to listen to people's grievances. They faced the angry people asking CBI probe to which the ministers virtually conceded and brought it to the notice of party president. But the Hon'ble Chief Minister did not accept the coalition partner's demand for CBI probe. Dogra Swabhiman Rally is product of madam chief minister's denial and fertile imagination of Kashmiri think tank which turned Rassana a fertile ground for revolutionary activities in Jammu for search of a Dogra leader.
I grew up hearing stories of valour and wisdom of Dogras who established a vast and a composite empire in geographically inhospitable and socially diverse regions of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladkah , Gilgit and Baltistan and ruled it successfully for over a century. Dogras rulers era having ended, the leadership of Jammu passed on to various visionary Dogras. Prominent among them were Dr. Karan Singh who represented the Dogra legacy as constitutional head of the state; Pt. Prem Nath Dogra, who led the political aspirations of Dogras and Pt. Tirlochan Dutt who carried the mantle of Dogra pride forward. I have been hearing and wondering why there has been no Dogra leader after Pt. Tirlochan Dutt enabling Kashmiri politicians to take cheap leaderless jokes and jibes at the Dogras. I was shell shocked after I heard the current and former Chief Ministers saying that there is no leader in Jammu and those whom Jammu elects are corrupt and greedy of power & perks. I could only feel sorry for Jammu which was vilified by such conduct. When Yuvraj Vikramaditya Singh, grandson of Maharaja Hari Singh announced his entry into J&K politics, I saw end of stigmatization of Jammu. As he stepped forward, he stepped aside giving more space to the vicious onslaught and left many like me non-plussed. Ironically the Rassana stigma came like a big blow from the blues. Perhaps innocent girl had to sacrifice her life for the sake of a much needed search.
Happenings after 10 January 2018, when girl went missing are well known. Most intriguing and worth mentioning are few for understanding Jammu's or for that matter kashmir's quest for a Dogra. Setting asides all norms of a fair investigations / reporting, victim's name and religion were leaked out to the media to give it a communal discourse and a temple was brought in as place where the victim was subjected to the hate crime to give it a religious tone. It is perceived to be a conspiracy done by Kashmiri minds & Kashmiri media in cohort with national media. Alleged rape and murder of an eight years nomadic girl by Hindus and that too in a temple, alarmed Dogras who in one voice demanded justice by CBI probe but that sane voice wasn't heard. It certainly wasn't a voice to defend the criminals. But the prime time news made it their TRP issue and went berserk with unbearable vilification of Hindus of Jammu little realising that the Newton's third law applies universally and Jammu could bounce back even before the conspiracy, if any, got exposed.
Ch. Lal Singh, the minister sacked for no fault, has taken the issue in public court. He is hell bent upon CBI probe and has succeeded in carrying public sympathy for his struggle. By his appeals and actions he offered himself as the Dogra, the people were looking for. His struggle and quest for CBI probe is being covered by the local media prominently. He is repeatedly appealing the chief minister to order CBI probe in the alleged Rassana hate crime to ally public apprehensions and know the truth as seriously as she got CBI enquiry in Shopian murder and rape case as opposition leader. He also warns her of the consequences if she doesn't. His challenge to the mainstream politicians to hold rallies in Kashmir like him also impresses people. He minces no words in telling that it is because of chief minister's denial that Jammu is maligned. He is the one who is telling people that those who think Dogras will migrate under coercion are living in fool's paradise. His appeals to the common man to unite for self respect resonate in public. He acclaims last Dogra ruler who said 'justice is my religion', as their heritage, also resonate. He exposes Kashmiris for throwing stones at tourists / pilgrims to kill them. Hence he carries the day in a crowd.
While venturing into merits and demerits in quest of a Dogra by inimical forces, they must know the history of Jammu. Jammu is named after Raja Jambu Lochan, a strong Suryabanshi chieftain, who founded the township after having seen a miraculous harmony between a beast and its prey. Once on a hunting trip, he saw a lion and a deer drinking water from the same pond. He found the place, where no living being carried enmity towards each other, virtuous for living. He built his Palace at that site around which Jammu township grew. Through the middle ages Jammu prospered a lot due to its fertile lands and became a major transit stopover for caravans of the silk route to Kashmir and Central Asia. Jammu & Kashmir as single political and geographical entity came into existence following 'Treaty of Amritsar' between the British and Raja Gulab Singh, signed on 16 March 1846. Since then Jammu continues to be acclaimed for peace and communal harmony between two principal communities of the region, the Hindus and Muslims. Jammu thus is an abode of virtuous people by its very nature and temperament. If that be so why suspect their demand for CBI probe. It may also be known that Jammu's importance lay in the fact that apart from guarding India's only direct gateway to Kashmir and vice versa, it also stands at the junction from where a lifeline bifurcates to Rajouri and Poonch. Hindu Muslim tensions and conflicts will have its affect on these lines of communications which are the life line for these areas. Instability in Jammu could jeopardize access to Kashmir, Pir Panjal & Ladakh and vice versa. On the other hand stable and peaceful Jammu, as part of J&K, is great asset to Kashmir. Dogras are a valued resource which should be nurtured by Kashmiri ruling dispensation rather than malign and suppress. Without mincing words I see a deliberate attempt to diminish Dogra heritage and dent communal harmony in Jammu region.
Having walked 37 kms from Lakhnapur to Londi Morh, Ch. Lal Singh has put his best foot forward to lead Jammu to its pristine glory. As on today a Dogra stands identified by the public. He has done 292 meetings / rallies in Jammu after his resignation. Being nationalist and secular to the core, he suggested formation of 'Dogra Ekta Manch' which was readily accepted by audience with a thunderous applause. He has also announced 'Jai Duggar - Jai Dogra' as salutation in Jammu region which has resonated in the public. It seems as if Jammu is bouncing back under the leadership of a versatile Dogra.

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