Chenab Valley

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
Chenab Valley
Region
Chenab River at Ramban
Chenab River at Ramban
Chenab valley in Jammu and Kashmir
Chenab valley in Jammu and Kashmir
Country India
Union TerritoryJammu and Kashmir
Area
 • Land17,978 km2 (6,941 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total924,345
Districts

The Chenab Valley, also known as the Chenab Region, is the river valley of the Chenab River flowing through the Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban and Reasi districts of Jammu Division in Jammu and Kashmir, India.[2][3]

Name[edit]

The term Chenab valley was used by Erik Norin in a 1926 journal article "The Relief Chronology of Chenab Valley".[4] Later, the term was popularised by various social activists and politicians referring to the erstwhile Doda district formed in 1948.[1][5]

Geography[edit]

The erstwhile Doda district lies between the middle and outer Himalayan range in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is currently divided into three districts: Doda, Ramban, and Kishtwar.[1] In addition, one sub-division of Reasi is also believed[by whom?] to be a part of this sub-region.[citation needed] The valley touches the Anantnag district of J&K to the north, the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, and Kathua district to the South, the Udhampur district to the southwest, and Salal Reasi Subdivision to the West, with Doda in its middle. It consists of six Assembly seats.[6]

Chenab Valley has mostly hilly terrain. The Chenab River flows through all the districts of Chenab Valley including Doda district, Kishtwar District, Ramban District & Reasi district. The area is an active seismic zone.[7]

History[edit]

The demography of Chenab valley which is referred to erstwhile Doda district is complex as compared to its neighbouring districts primarily because of the wide diversity in its population. In the past, Doda was largely inhabited by Sarazi population before people started settling here from Kashmir and other adjoining areas.[8][9] The reasons for kashmiri population settling here in the past in 17th and 18th century is matter of ambiguity between historians.[10] However Sumantra Bose says it was repression by feudal class that drew people to the district of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar.[11][12]

The Chenab valley consists of areas drawn from the ancient principalities of Kishtwar and Bhadarwah, both of which became part of a district by the name of Udhampur in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.

People[edit]

Kashmiris form majority in Chenab Valley but Gujjars, Paharis & Bhaderwahis have also significant population. Chenab Valley is rich in cultural heritage and ethical values, but also has age-old traditions of secularism and tolerance.[11] Though this place has also faced rising insurgency. During the rise of insurgency in Kashmir in the early 1990s; this place was second most affected place in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The main occupations of the people of the valley are farming and cattle rearing.

Languages[edit]

Chenab Valley is home to a variety of ethnic groups. Among the languages spoken in Chenab Valley are the following:[13] Kashmiri and its dialects Kishtwari, Rambani and Pogali are the most widely spoken language in the region. Other languages include Gojri, Sarazi language, Pahari language, Bhaderwahi.

Tourist destinations[edit]

Chenab valley is also the hub of hilly tourist attractions after Kashmir, some of them are as follows;

Chenab valley Divisional Status[edit]

There has been a movement demanding divisional for the Chenab valley by various social and political activists for a long time. The demand rose in 2018 and 2019 when Ladakh got divisional status and the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah added "Two Separate Divisional Status for Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal" to his party's political agenda.[14]

As of 2021, the movement for of divisional status again increased after rumours of second bifurcation of J&K and demand for a separate state of Jammu.

There is a common reason for this demand. People allege negligence in terms of developmental issues by the government if the Chenab valley remains linked to the Jammu division.[1]

Hill Development Council[edit]

In 1996, Dr. Farooq Abdullah as Chief minister promised administrative autonomy to Chenab. Later in 2000, a bill demanding a Hill Development Council for Chenab valley was presented in the legislative assembly by the Sheikh Abdul Rehman (then MLA Bhaderwah).[15]

Natural disasters[edit]

2013 Earthquake in Chenab valley[edit]

  • A 5.8 earthquake hit the Erstwhile Doda on 1 May, 2013, killing two and injuring 69.[16] Seismic activity continued in the valley throughout 2013, prompting teams of seismologists to study the area. A local belief states that the earthquakes were being caused by hydroelectric construction projects in the area.[17]

2017 Thathri flash floods[edit]

  • Flash floods wreaked havoc in Thathri town of Doda district of J&K, inundating vast areas along the Batote- Kishtwar National Highway and washing away half a dozen houses. Six persons were killed in the flash floods.[18]

2021 Hunzar Kishtwar Cloudburst[edit]

  • Cloudburst hits Hunzar hamlet in Dachhan area of Kishtwar district resulting into death of 26 persons and 17 injured on 28 July, 2021. As per reports, only 7 dead bodies were recovered while 19 dead bodies were not found.[19]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ayoob, Anzer (17 July 2021). "J&K: Chenab Valley Seeks Separate Divisional Status as well as Council". NewsClick.in. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  2. "Geelani vows to resist settlement of retired soldiers in Kashmir". Archived from the original on 3 October 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  3. "THROUGH THE PIR PANJAL".
  4. Norin, Erik (1926), "The Relief Chronology of the Chenab Valley", Geografiska Annaler, 8: 284–300, doi:10.2307/519728, JSTOR 519728
  5. Behera, Navnita Chadha (2007), Demystifying Kashmir, Pearson Education India, Map 1-3, p. 28, ISBN 978-8131708460
  6. "Ghulam Nabi Azad promises to develop Chenab Valley as 'Model region'". Economic Times. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  7. "Chenab valley quakes not due to hydro projects: Scientists"
  8. "Sarazi: Endangered Language of the Chenab Valley". Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  9. "Story of Doda misunderstood by Kashmir". Greater Kashmir. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  10. "Mini Kashmir". Kashmir Life. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Snedden, Christopher (2015), Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris, Oxford University Press, p. xxi, 23, ISBN 978-1-84904-342-7
  12. "Sarazi: Endangered Language of the Chenab Valley". Sahapedia. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  13. N. Koul, Omkar. "Spoken Kashmiri — A language course". Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  14. "Separate division for Ladakh: Omar promises two more for Chenab valley, Pir Panjal if voted to power". Times of India. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  15. "Why oppose Hill Council status for Chenab, Pir Panjal valleys?". Brighter Kashmir. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  16. "IIT scientists, NDMA assess damages in quake-hit Erstwhile Doda". The Hindu. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  17. "Erstwhile doda quakes not due to hydro projects: Scientists"
  18. "Chenab Valley: 6 Killed in Thathri Floods". Times of India. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  19. "Kishtwar Cloudburst: Two More Bodies Recovered, Toll Reaches 7, Says Officials". The Chenab Times. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
Information red.svg
Scan the QR code to donate via UPI
Dear reader, We kindly request your support in maintaining the independence of Bharatpedia. As a non-profit organization, we rely heavily on small donations to sustain our operations and provide free access to reliable information to the world. We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to consider donating to our cause, as it would greatly aid us in our mission. Your contribution would demonstrate the importance of reliable and trustworthy knowledge to you and the world. Thank you.

Please select an option below or scan the QR code to donate
₹150 ₹500 ₹1,000 ₹2,000 ₹5,000 ₹10,000 Other