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| Will Dogras ever get Central University? | | |
MINCING NO WORDS
NEHA
JAMMU, May 18: We have in the country one political system. Similarly, we have in Jammu and Kashmir one political system. However, both the governments have adopted two approaches as far as Jammu and Kashmir State is concerned. One approach is towards Kashmir and it is more than positive. In fact, both the governments accord a differential treatment to Kashmir and take no time in meeting the demands of the people of Kashmir belonging to a particular religious sect – sect that has been dominating the state’s political system and exploiting to the hilt the Dogras of Jammu province and the far off Ladakhis ever since October 1947, when the State acceded to the Indian Union. Both the governments walk an extra mile to meet the demands of this section of Kashmiri society saying that it is feeling “alienated” and that this section needs to be conciliated and recognized as a great factor in the state’s political situation.
The other approach is for the virtually abandoned Dogras of Jammu province and it is fundamentally negative. In fact, both the governments treat the Dogras with contempt, rigorously exclude them from all walks of life, and even dub them as parochial, narrow-minded, communal and reactionary. So much so that certain elements in both the governments and certain Delhi-based opinion-makers and commentators denounce the Dogras as “anti-Kashmir” and “anti-Kashmiri Muslims” for reasons best known to them. Their grouse against the Dogras perhaps is that they do not support the ongoing secessionist movement in Kashmir or they oppose the demands in Kashmir for greater autonomy and self-rule. In fact, they consider the nationalist and liberal-minded Dogras as a stumbling block.
One can catalogue here innumerable instances to show that the governments in the state and at the centre have been adopting two approaches since October 1947, one for Kashmir and other for the Dogras of Jammu. However, it would be prudent to refer to just one case in this regard, as a reference here to just one instance would be enough to put things in perspective and prove that the life of the Dogras is not one of even social aspirations. Leave alone their political and economic aspirations, which have no place whatever in the State Government’s scheme of things or in the New Delhi’s scheme of things. The case in point is the contradictory attitude of the state government and the union government towards the otherwise sanctioned Central University for the Dogras of Jammu, including Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.
The Union Government sanctioned two central universities for the state, one each for Jammu province and Kashmir division. The Union Government took this decision under pressure from the Dogras. However, when it came to establishing the Central University in Jammu, both the governments dithered, and continue to dither even today. There is nothing on the ground that suggests that the authorities would ever establish the Central University in Jammu. The dithering on the part of the authorities has already wasted two precious years, thus jeopardizing the legitimate academic and social interests of the Dogras. But who cares? Panthers Party chairman Bhim Singh met the Union President a few days ago and requested her to appoint a Jammu-based academician as Vice-Chancellor of the Central University Jammu. It would be seen if his plea moves the concerned authorities.
Compare Jammu with Kashmir and see for yourself the difference. The Central University of Kashmir has become fully functional, with both the governments taking keen interest in it and putting in all possible efforts to meet the needs of the Kashmiri youth. That the authorities are devoting their full attention to the Central University of Kashmir could be seen from the meeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held only the other day Srinagar to review the progress as far as the transfer of land to the said university was concerned. Minister for Revenue, Raman Bhalla; Minister for Higher Education, Abdul Gani Malik; Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development; Nasir Aslam Wani, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, Devender Singh Rana; Vice Chancellor, Central University, Kashmir, Abdul Wahid; Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon; Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, Tanveer Jahan; Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Ajaz Iqbal; District Development Commissioner, Ganderbal, Showkat Ahmad; and other senior officers took part in the meeting to do the needful at the earliest.
The Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of Kashmir informed the Chief Minister and others present in the meeting that three subjects of MSc Information Technology, MA English and MBA are being taught at present and that 5 more subjects of Economics, Mass Media and Journalism, Mathematics and 5 years course of BA, L.L.B are being started from June this year.
What does all this show? The answer is obvious. It is indeed a matter of grave concern that the authorities are according a step-motherly treatment to the Dogras. It is not good for the health of the state. If this trend continues for some more time, the result would be disastrous. It is time for the authorities to refashion their whole approach towards the Dogras and establish the Central University forthwith.
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