Various incidents in Kashmir valley have spotted some long-term dynamics and regional differences in J&K.
What is the account of diversified ethnic groups in J&K?
Kashmiri speakers - Muslims and Hindu/Pundits; these people view themselves more cultured and articulate voice of the state (valley based).
Non-Kashmiri speakers - These groups are from the erstwhile State of J&K.
They claim themselves the ‘Kashmiri’ in India, Pakistan, or in the diaspora (non-valley based).
Gujjars groups -Bakherwals are the third-largest ethnic group in the State.
They have always lived on the margins of society because of their nomadic lifestyle.
These people, ethnically, culturally, and linguistically would otherwise identify more with the Jammu region.
Ladakhis - These people are indigenous ethnic groups of the Leh-Ladakh region.
They live in the most remote parts of the state.
What are the prevailing regional differences in J&K?
Valley-based Kashmiris feel it hard to acknowledge the presence and aspirations of other ethnic and identity groups in the State.
Most of the Bakherwals fear their marginalisation in an autonomous political set-up.
They are keen on getting some institutional assurance of their recognition as groups separate from the Valley Kashmiris.
Hindu communal sentiment operating within the broader right-wing nationalist framework has also been visible to bring the State under one flag and one Constitution.
The sense of deprivation and discrimination at the hands of the Valley and the communal sentiment have fed into each other.
With no institutional mechanisms to redress the former, the latter narrative has become predominant.
The binary of a Hindu-Jammu is dispossessed of its rightful share of resources and political power by a Muslim-Kashmir.
The broader national-level communal polarisation has reduced it to Hindu versus Muslim, in which any Muslim gets bracketed with the Kashmiris.
What are the reasons for increasing conflicts in J&K?
Lack of better educational and economic facilities in other regions of the State made Jammu city the focal point of migration over the last two decades.
Even Ladakhis who logically should go to the Kashmir valley, given its geographical proximity, prefer Jammu for their higher education.
Due to better access to education and creeping urbanisation, many of them are settling down, especially in Jammu city and its adjoining districts.
These are the areas where there has historically been a distrust of the Kashmir Valley.
This is because of the real and perceived neglect by the political leadership of the State which has always been Valley-based.
The political parties have served to increase this divide as it resulted in a political vacuum in which there is no voice to speak for both regions and all communities.
Thus the nativist sentiment that it has engendered is fuelled by the already present communal fault lines in the region.
What is the way forward?
Given the historical and socio-economic dynamics, it is inevitable that Jammu city would be where different groups would move.
The argument of demographic change does not make much sense if looked at in the broader context of the whole State.
As people who are moving to the Jammu region are only citizens of J&K itself.
It makes sense only if Jammu city and its adjoining areas are seen as a political entity separate from the rest of the State.
In fact, the forces working towards the division of the State have become more proactive in recent times.
And so this has heightened the question of demography.
Relations between various ethnic groups in Kashmir need to be nurtured to curb political and unhealthy agendas.
