Who is a Dogra?

I had met him at Usman Officers Institute, Jammu Cantt, only once. We can say it was a perfunctory meeting. Now, just a while ago, he had telephoned me ,”I am a regular reader of your column Jammu Jottings. Every Sunday, I am enthused”.
We got talking about the state of Dogri language and Dogra culture in the present day Jammu region when, somewhere along the conversation, I remarked that a particular friend of ours is a real proud Dogra. My friend at the other end, after a brief pause, said : it is a debatable point as to who is a Dogra.
I enquired : who, in your opinion is a Dogra ? I got no definite reply to my question during the long telephonic conversation, but, nevertheless, it set me thinking who should we call a Dogra ?
Of late, I hear some hesitant voices that only those who belong to the clan of the erstwhile rulers are the real Dogras. The rest of us (so they, apparently, and inadvertently mean) are not Dogras ! They are, plain and simple, migrants. Others find such assertions ludicrous. Nevertheless, the former assertions, even if not said in public, are palpable. These are the signs of divisive politics and we must not fall prey to it. To my mind, all those who love Jammu, who live in Jammu are, in essence, Dogras. Except, of course, the Rohingyas who are not Indian nationals and have been thrust upon us, by the willful politicians.
Such issues were non-existent during our young days in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Even if somebody entertained such thoughts in private, these were never shared in the public domain. Not anymore.
Interestingly, the Dogra dynasty never used any identifiable surname. All the Dogra rulers called themselves “Singh” and nothing beyond.
After the abrogation of Article 370, along with Art 35-A of the Indian constitution, the number of settlers from the other states of the country has increased in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. But, this influx is not as much as was expected. And, that too, it is applicable to Jammu only. It has changed the demography of the city, and the province too. There are no changes in the demography of the Kashmir valley, though.
Footfalls of the migrants to Jammu were never hesitant ; the “outsiders” were never discriminated against. It was always, and almost, a free for all situation in Jammu. Anybody, and everybody, was allowed and, even welcomed, to come and stay for ever, if he so desired. No discrimination was shown ; and none was seen.
When we take the case of the entire erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, we find that outsiders have not moved to the Kashmir region, after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A. The migrants have not been allowed to move and stay, leave alone settle, in the Kashmir region. So, it is only the Dograland, which has seen increased population of migrants.
We used to hear the gossip of the financial market players that the property prices will rise manifold in the Dograland once that exclusive Article is removed. The prices have increased, but not manifold.
Property prices in any case keep rising, all over the country, following the financial markets trends. Similar trends are seen in the prices of property in Jammu also. The knowledgeable sources had thought this : “As outsiders come to Jammu, they will start buying land and property, which will increase their prices manifold “. Well, outsiders came, but did not buy the property lock, stock and barrel.
Previously, only the “state subjects” could own property in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the effects of abrogation of Article 370 is that anybody and everybody can own property in Jammu & Kashmir. All they need do is procure a domicile certificate. But, this allowance too has not changed the scenario much.
The “outsiders” would like to rush for acquisition of property in Kashmir rather than in Jammu region. This is because Kashmir, especially the area in and around Srinagar, has received regular attention and funding to develop tourism. That is the basic reason for whatever financial progress we see in this region. Special attention has always been given for developing the tourism industry in the Kashmir region.
Even today, the “outsiders” are not welcome to stay in the Kashmir region, leave alone acquire property there. Therefore, while there is constant change of demography in the Jammu part of the union territory, there is practically no such change seen in the Kashmir region . These are the hard realities of our political and geographical positions, which must be attended to.
We all have read the newspaper reports how certain outsiders, the labourers to be specific, were shot dead as they reached the valley to earn a livelihood, a few years ago.
I was born a hereditary permanent state subject of Jammu and Kashmir. So is the case with my children and the spouse. About two years ago, after the abrogation of Article 370, I telephoned the Srinagar Development Authority (called the SDA), a counterpart of JDA (Jammu Development Authority) and spoke to the vice chairman. I expressed the desire of acquiring some landed property (a flat or a plot) in Srinagar. After the first pleasant experience of a cordial response, all the calls made subsequently, went unanswered. Even my email queries received no response ; not even an acknowledgement .
It is not easy even for a permanent hereditary “state subject” to acquire property in Kashmir, irrespective of the abrogation of Article 370.
Bittoo Naik is a plumber in Jammu. He tries to speak passable Dogri to identify himself as a Dogra to get better business prospects. Otherwise, he hails from Orissa. He says he has been here for over 25 years and has no desire of leaving Jammu ever. Would you consider him a Dogra ?
Take another example of Fazal Ansari. His father came from Bihar, but Fazal was born in Jammu. He is doing his college studies in commerce stream. Both father and son love to live in Jammu. They take turns to visit other members of the family back home in Bihar. Also, let me introduce you to Netarpal, a guy from Uttar Pradesh who sells fruits on a thela in Gandhi Nagar area. He was in Bhuj when the city was devastated in an earthquake over two decades ago. Ever since, he lives in Jammu.
All these citizens from Orissa, Bihar or Uttar Pradesh are fellow Indians, irrespective of the fact that they belong to states other than Jammu and Kashmir. They enjoy similar rights as you and I. If they like to live in Jammu, it is their choice and they are free to exercise such a choice. If they attempt to learn Dogri language, they are more than welcome to speak it and even adopt Duggar culture.
These migrants have no plans to leave Jammu ever. Are they Dogras or not ? Whether they are or they are not should be of no consequence. It is enough that they are fellow countrymen.
I have myself lived in Mumbai for over three decades. Am I a Maharashtrian ? Why should such questions even arise in our minds ? Why can’t we accept fellow citizens simply as Indians ? I was born and raised in Jammu. My roots are in the Duggar Pradesh. I have lived in so many different parts of the country. I may live anywhere, I still remain a Dogra. Dr Karan Singh was born in Cannes, France. Is he a lesser Dogra than any of us ?
A Bihari should be proud of his antecedents just like a Tamilian is proud of his language and culture. But, at the end of the day, they both should remain proud being Indians. What business do we have to ask them, or check, if they are a Dogra or not ? Why should a Jammuite ask another : are you a Dogra ? Such a thought is divisive and devastating.
All Jammuites are Dogras irrespective of the caste and creed they belong to, or the religion they practice or the community they come from, or the language they prefer to speak. There is nothing wrong in being a Dogra or a Bengali, but, at all times, we must remain staunch Indians. This alone can bring unity in diversity.
Let us recall this meaningful couplet by Sarshaar Sailani :
Chaman mein i?htilat-e-rang-o-boo se baat banti hai /
Hum hi hum Hain to kya hum Hain, tum hi tum ho to kya tum ho //
( Intermingling of colours and fragrances gives the garden her beauty /
All the beauty shall be gone if all flowers wear the same colour or give out similar fragrance !

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