ISSN No. 0976-8602 VOL.-II, ISSUE-IV, OCTOBER-2013 Asian Resonance Identity Crises And Perceptions of Regional Disparity: A Study of Rajouri and Poonch Districts (J&K) Abstract The paper examines the Identity crisis and perception of regional disparity which has been developed among the inhabitants of Rajouri and Poonch Districts. The Paper accommodates the historical background of the Region (Rajouri-Poonch), socio cultural and economic condition of the inhabitants, perceptions of prevailing disparity with the region in multifarious developmental aspects of social life and certain implications which have been constructed to bridge the developmental gape. The whole Region is populated with different religious and caste communities. The State has four types of unique cultural blend comprised distinct parts namely Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh and Rajouri- Poonch. First three parts have been constitutionally recognized and designated as three provinces of the State; the region under study is a part of Jammu province. These four regions of the State are different from each other in socio-cultural, ethnic, linguistic and demographical background with tradition of unity in diversity. Regional development needs socio-cultural and economic development to its fullest potential so that the fruits of development can be shared by all the regions. Regional disparity of the area under study Mohd Zubair Kales is associated with the prevailing developmental process and regional Associate Professor share in the same. Socio-cultural and economic condition of the region is Dept. of Education relatively backward than other three regions of the State. Governmental Govt .College of Education, efforts and limited opportunities could not change the attitude of the Jammu people of the area. The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has tried to mitigate the regional disparity by certain provisions that created intra regional conflict between ignored and reserved sections, as the whole region is socially, educationally and economically backward. Regional equality can be maintained if the autonomous hill development council is established for the region in the ambit of Rajouri-Poonch autonomous Hill development council, on Ladakh Pattern, along with the other developmental opportunities. It would be most effective approach for the development of the whole region. The paper is based on the information collected from historical literature, census of India 2011, economic survey of the State, some project reports of different organizations on the developmental aspects, and field work conducted during 2009 - 10. Keywords: Regional Disparity, Developmental Aspects, Demographical Background, Cultural Blend, Constitutionally Recognized Introduction The Jammu and Kashmir State of North India having area of 222,200 sq. km. including area occupied by China and Pakistan with 10,069,900 population (census 2011), The State has four types of unique cultural blend that differentiate it from the rest of the Country. The Socio- cultural and demographic structure of the State is comprised of four distinct parts namely Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh and Rajouri-Poonch. First three parts have been constitutionally recognized and designated as three provinces of the State, but on account of the erstwhile backwardness the fourth region couldn‟t get its due space in the State. Kashmir has been the highest learning point of Sanskrit and Persian, Ladakh on the other side has been the highest living centre of Tantrayan Buddhism, and Jammu has been the axis of Rajas and Maharajas. On the other hand Rajouri-Poonch has been the principalities, ruled by Muslim Rajputs for centuries representing the actual Indian traditional system. 305 ISSN No. 0976-8602 VOL.-II, ISSUE-IV, OCTOBER-2013 Asian Resonance These four regions have their own separate linguistic Muslim Gujars are considered to be a Potwari tribe in identity, Kashmir is represented by Kashmiri India and Pakistan. The historical background of the language, Jammu is represented by Dogri language community is associated with the Rajputs clan of Ladakh is represented by Ladakhi comprised of Balti, Rajasthan and Gujarat. In India Gujar population Dardi and Shina and Rajouri-Poonch is represented found in Dehli, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal by Phari comprised of Gojri and Poonchi languages. Pradesh, Punjab, western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, For interregional interaction Urdu or Hindi is used as Punjab, northern Madhya Pradesh , Uttera Khand, Communicative language. Though the four region of Rajisthan, Gujrat and Maharashtra. The Bakarwals is the State are different from each other in socio- the Parallel ethnic group to the Gujars, inter section cultural, ethnic, linguistic and demographical marriage takes place freely among Gujars and background but they have maintained the Indian Bakarwals.100% Gujars of Jammu and Kashmir are tradition of unity in diversity. the followers of Islam. While considering the Identity crisis And Social Structure Of The sentimental attitude, physical features, racial and People:- genealogical background of the Gujars and The term identity crisis refers to the situation Bakarwals, it is observed that the clan is purely a where a period of uncertainty and confusion in which Rajput clan. But on account of the regional variation a person‟s sense of identity becomes insecure, their recognition is different from that of the fact; they typically due to a change in their expected aims or do not perceive themselves as Rajputs. Majority of the role in society. In case of the identity crisis of the area Gujjars are illiterate due to which they can be under study the expectations of the people are some exploited easily by their political leaders. The Major what reciting a similar story. economy of the Gujars community is comprised of The whole region is populated with different Agriculture, government jobs, cattle rearing and few religious and caste communities with deeply rooted among them are rearing Sheep and goats and leading customs and traditional system. The whole population semi nomadic life, during winter they migrate with of the region is comprised of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs their herds to the foot hills of Peer Panchal, and in and Christians (Fouk 1941). summer season in search of pasture they migrate to Socio-Cultural and Economic pattern of high up in the mountains. inhabitants of the region are similar to each other, The Gujjars of Rajouri-Poonch are divided Hindu community is divided into four caste groups as into innumerable sub-castes but major among them practised in Indian traditional caste system. On the are, Khatana, Badana Sood, Paswal, Kalas, Benth, other hand Muslim community has been rigidly Bijran, Chauhan, Chechee, Sango, Rana etc. stratified in to four Caste groups, as, Rajputs, Gujjars, associated with the Rajputs clan of Rajasthan and Kashmiries and „others‟. They never practise Gujarat. (Shamsi 1989) exogamous pattern of marriage and are the staunch Kashmiries: - The term refers to the people who are believer of caste system and allied practices. inhabitants of the valley of Kashmir, but generally the Rajputs: - The majority of Rajputs in Rajouri-Poonch term is used in its boarder concept for the people of Districts is Muslim Rajputs their origin is claimed from Jammu and Kashmir by the people of rest of the Rajisthan, Gujrat, Punjab, Haryana and H.P. Though states of India. But in Rajouri and poonch District, the Muslim faith is against belief of a person being Kashmiries are the people who speak Kashmiri born from Sun, Moon, and Fire, but even Muslim language with Paharie language. A small section of Rajputs feel proud of being belonging to Rajput Clan. the people in Rajouri district is speaking kashmiri They often reference the bravery of their ancestors in language They have been migrated from valley of the battle fields of the past and they extend equal Kashmir to Rajouri and poonch districts since the time status to the parallel clan that is Hindu Rajputs. At the immemorial, their major concentration of the time of any conflict with non Rajput communities, the community is observed in Thannamandi Tehsil of Hindu and Muslim Rajputs communities emotionally District Rajouri and other areas like, Buffliaz, unite to protect their prestige. Still they like to serve in Chandhimarh and Loranmandi in District Pooch, as armed forces. these are the adjoining mountainous areas of Kashmir Rajputs of Rajouri-Poonch have been Valley. The old persons of the community are claiming divided into two religious communities, i.e, Hindu themselves as traditional manual labourer working in Rajputs and Muslim Rajputs. Hindu Rajputs have the areas for centuries, majority of the community been classified into various sub castes like Thakers, members leading miserable life in extreme poverty. Manhas, Chauhan Thakyal, Chandial, Charrak, Their historical background is similar to that of other Kamlak, and Chib, Muslim Rajputs have been further Kashmiri Muslim in the valley of Kashmir as they had divided in to various sub castes such as, Jarral, Malik, been converted to Islam from Kashmiri Pandhits. Domal, Thakyal, Khokhar, Janjua, Salahria, Bhatti, Caste stratification among the Kashmiries is not as Feerozal Gakhar, Manhas, Manial, Chib, Thakkar, rigid as among other Muslim communities of the and Kamlak etc. As such there are more than 54 sub- areas. They have matrimonial relations with all the castes of Muslim Rajputs exist in the area. Muslims irrespective of the caste. They are liberal like Gujjars: - The Gujjar is an ethnic