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| Darbar move preserves last practice of Maharaja, UNMOGIP reflects live conflict | | A TALE OF TWO MOVES | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Apr 29
ET SPECIAL
Twice in a year –in ending April and ending October –the opinion in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in the region is divided over continuation of a practice which has been carried on for more than a century now –the biennial darbar move between Jammu and Srinagar.
However, little is public appreciation about another move of an office in and outside Jammu and Kashmir for last around 60 years. While the darbar move between Srinagar and Jammu is perhaps the preservation of the last legacy of the Dogra Maharajas, the other move underlines that all is still not well in this part of world.
We are talking about the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) which shuttles between Srinagar and Islamabad every six months. Mandated with the responsibility of monitoring ceasefire between India and Pakistan the UN observer headquarter shuts rotates between Srinagar and Islamabad every six months.
The UNMOGIP was established on Jan. 24, 1949 with a task for UN observers to aid local commanders on both sides, in verifying the Cease-Fire line and notification of cease-fire breaches to the two sides.
As a part if its biennial move the UN office shut down in Islamabad last weekend and will now reopen in Srinagar Colonel Jalmo Juhani Helenius, acting Chief Military Observer lowered the UN flag to mark the culmination of their tenure in Pakistan. Senior Pakistan Military officials and a large number of diplomats attended the occasion, as was seen on Pakistan television.
The role of UNMOGIP is to maintain a UN presence along the Line-of-Control, monitor during road reconnaissance and military visit to the forward areas, investigate and report on alleged cease-fire violations, to assist U.N. military and civilian personnel to travel in the mission area and assist both sides in keeping peace. Presently there are 123 personnel including 44 military observers and 28 international civilian personnel who form part of UNMOGIP.
The presence of UNMOGIP in Srinagar continues to reiterate that the Kashmir issue is yet to be resolved. However, its shuttling between Srinagar and Islamabad, instead of Muzaffarad, underlines that Kashmir is as much a part of India as any other state in the country is.
An similar practice, the Darbar move between Srinagar and Jammu is a more interesting feature. Though criticized by may for the expenditure incurred on it twice a year, the Darbar move is perhaps the preservation of the last legacy of the Dogra Maharajas. Criticism notwithstanding, takes government closer to the people in both regions for six months every year.
It has been inherited from the erstwhile Dogra rulers, dating back to the 19th century.
The Dogra rulers, who hailed from Jammu region, used to shift the royal court locally known as “Durbar” to Srinagar about 300 km away for six months with the onset of summer.
In winter, they would shift to Jammu, as the mercury in Srinagar dips as low as minus ten degrees centigrade in winter months while Jammu, in the plains, remains relatively warm.
However, the practice of shifting the capital twice a year is a drain on the exchequer and as in previous years, the question is being raised as to why this move should be persisted with.
According to rough estimates, the move costs the state more than rupees 50 Crore each time the seat of government shifts from one capital to the other. It also involves painstaking labour of over a month. Hundreds of trucks are hired for shifting offices’ material from Jammu to Srinagar and vice-versa. During that time no work takes place in the offices. |
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