Rajouri district

Rajouri
District
Location of Rajouri District within Jammu & Kashmir state
Coordinates: 33°08′45″N 75°32′52″E / 33.145733°N 75.547817°ECoordinates: 33°08′45″N 75°32′52″E / 33.145733°N 75.547817°E
Country	India
State	Jammu and Kashmir
Region	Jammu region
Headquarters	Rajouri

Location of district in Jammu and Kashmir

Rajouri is a district of Jammu region in Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Line of Control lies to its west, Poonch to its north, the Reasi district to the east and the Jammu district to its south. Rajouri is famous for its kalari (made from milk).^[1] Representing an ancient principality, Rajouri was a joint district, along with Reasi, at the time of princely state's accession to India in 1947. The two tehsils were separated and Rajouri was merged with the Poonch district. Rajouri again became a separate district in 1968.

The Rajouri district comprises six tehsils (boroughs). The land is mostly fertile and mountainous. Maize and rice are the main crops of the area and the main source of the irrigation is the river Tawi that originates from the mountains of Pir Panjal. Though Urdu and English are the main mediums of instruction, the other dialects such as Gujri, Pahari and Dogri are much spoken at the informal level. Gujri is mainly spoken by the Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes who are known for herding goats, sheep and horses. However, the fine line between Gujjar and Bakarwal tribes is that the former are farmers as they own land while the latter are nomads who herd cattle. The population is officially divided along the religious lines – though religiously diverse masses normally live in peace and harmony. The total population therefore, in accordance with the 2001 census, is 68% Muslim, 30 Hindu, 2% Sikhs and others.

History

Ancient History

According to some historians, a second branch of Aryan emigrants crossed the Himalayas in the north and west and settled in Rajouri and Poonch area. Rajouri, BhimberGali and Naushera were integrated within the territory of Abhisar, which was one of the hill states of the Punjab Kingdom. Early records of incomplete nature show that in the 4th century B.C.E., there existed in the north west of India a federal type of political set up in which Abhisar with its capital Rajouri was also incorporated. At the time of Alexander's invasion, Rajouri was at the summit of its splendour. In the Mauryan period, the town of Rajouri was a great trade centre.

Medieval History

During the Mughal rule, the rulers of Rajouri converted to Islam though they retained the title of Raja. Albaruni visited Rajouri with Sultan Masud (Son of Sultan Mahmud) in 1036 C.E. In his book "India" he wrote name of Rajouri as Raja Vari. Srivar, the writer of 'Raj Tirangini' written during the administration of Sultan Zain-Ul-Abdin, also named this area as Raja Vari. It is believed that Raja Vari is a variant of Rajapuri. Mirza Zafarulla Khan, the writer of 'Tarikh Rajgan-E-Rajour' illustrated in his book that this place was in the beginning known as Raj-Avar and then altered from Rajour to Rajouri. But the old people in the villages still label the place as Rajour. With the course of time the name changed from Raja's Raj Avar to Raja Puri, Rajpuri to Raj Vari, Raj Vari to Raj Vara, Raj Vara to Raj Avar, Raj Avar to Rajour and then Rajour to Rajouri. As per Rajtirangini of Kalhan, Rajouri emerged as principality in about 1003 C.E. The first ruler of this kingdom was Raja Prithvi Paul. From 1033 to 1194 C.E. Raja Prithvi Paul defended Pir Panchal Pass at the time of incursion of Sultan Mehmud in 1021 C.E. Raja Sangram Paul safeguarded his Principality Rajouri when Raja Harash of Kashmir attacked his country in 1089 A.D. Sangram Paul fought so courageously that Raja Harash was obliged to return from Prithvi Paul fort without capturing Rajouri. Jaral Muslim Rajas rebuilt Rajouri city at the time of their rule. A number of forts, sarais, mosques and baradaris were constructed.

The area of Rajouri principality included proper Rajouri, Thanna, Bagla Azim Garh, Behrote, Chingus, Darhal, Nagrota and Phalyana etc.

Modern History

In 1813, Gulab Singh of Jammu captured Rajouri for the Sikh Empire of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, by defeating Raja Agar Ullah Khan.^[2] After this, Rajouri became part of the Sikh Empre. But parts of it were given as jagirs to Rahim Ullah Khan (a half-brother of Agar Ullah Khan) and other parts to Gulab Singh.^[3]

Following the First Anglo-Sikh War and the Treaty of Amritsar (1846), all the territories between the Ravi River and the Indus were transferred to Gulab Singh, and he was recognised as an independent Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. Thus Rajouri became a part of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.^[4] Gulab Singh changed the name of Rajouri to Rampur. He appointed Mian Hathu as Governor of Rajouri, who remained in Rajouri up to 1856.^[5] Mian Hathu constructed a stunning temple in between Thanna Nallah in close proximity to Rajouri city. He also built Rajouri Fort at Dhannidhar village.

After Mian Hathu, Rajouri was transformed into a tehsil and affiliated with Bhimber district. In 1904, this tehsil was separated from Bhimber and affiliated with the Reasi district.^[4]

Inside India

After the Partition of India and the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India in 1947, there followed the First Kashmir War between India and Pakistan. The ceasefire line at the end of the War ran to the west of the Rajouri-Reasi district. Subsequently, the Rajouri tehsil was merged with the Indian-administered Poonch district as the Poonch-Rajouri district,^[4] and the Reasi tehsil was merged with Udhampur district.

On 1 January 1968, Rajouri emerged as a new district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir,^[4] representng the original Rajouri principality.

The Reasi tehsil was also separated out in 2006 into a separate district.

Organisation

The Rajouri district comprises the tehsils of Rajouri, Darhal, Sunderbani, Budhal, Nowshehra, Thanamandi, and Kalakot.^[6]

There are nine blocks: Rajouri, Darhal, Sunderbani, Doongi, Nowshehra, Kalakote, Manjakote, Thanamandi and Budhal.^[7] Each block consists of a number of panchayats.

Politics

The district has four assembly constituencies: Nowshehra, Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote.^[8]

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Rajouri district has a population of 642,415,^[1] roughly equal to the nation of Solomon Islands^[9] or the US state of Vermont.^[10] This gives it a ranking of 518th in India (out of a total of 640).^[1] The district has a population density of 235 inhabitants per square kilometre (610/sq mi).^[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 28.14%.^[1] Rajouri has a sex ratio of 863 females for every 1000 males,^[1] and a literacy rate of 68.54% The total population, in accordance with the 2011 census, was 402,879 Muslim (62.71%), 221,880 Hindu (34.54%), 2.41% Sikhs and others.^[11]

References

1. "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
2. Panikkar, Gulab Singh 1930, p. 31.
3. Panikkar, Gulab Singh 1930, p. 40.
4. Sudhir S. Bloeria, Militancy in Rajouri and Poonch, South Asia Terrorism Portal, 2001.
5. Bloeria, Sudhir S. (2000), Pakistan's Insurgency Vs India's Security: Tackling Militancy in Kashmir, Manas Publications, p. 37, ISBN 978-81-7049-116-3
6. Rajouri tehsil map, MapsOfIndia, retrieved 26 November 2016.
7. Statement showing the number of blocks in respect of 22 Districts of Jammu and Kashmir State including newly Created Districts dated 2008-03-13, accessed 2008-08-30
8. "ADMINISTRATIVE SET UP". rajouri.nic.in. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
9. US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 1 October 2011. Solomon Islands 571,890 July 2011 est.
10. "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Vermont 625,741
11. "J&K 2011 census".

Bibliography

• Panikkar, K. M. (1930), Gulab Singh, London: Martin Hopkinson Ltd

External links

• Rajouri Tehsil Map, MapsOfIndia, retrieved 25 November 2016.

Coordinates: 33°15′N 74°15′E / 33.250°N 74.250°E