Baramulla district
This article possibly contains original research. (July 2020) |
Baramulla district
Varmul district | |
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UTC+5:30 (IST) | |
Vehicle registration | JK05 |
Website | baramulla |
Baramulla district or Varmul (in
Etymology
The name Baramulla, meaning "Boar's Molar Place,"
History
Ancient and medieval
The city of Baramulla, from which the district derives its name, was founded by Raja Bhimsina in 2306 BCE.
A number of prominent visitors have travelled to Baramulla. These include the Chinese visitor
From the very beginning, Baramulla has been a religious center. The construction of Hindu Teerth and Buddhist Vihars made the city sacred to people of both religions. In the 15th century, the noted Muslim saint, Syed Janbaz Wali, visited the valley along with his companions in 1421 CE. He chose Baramulla as the centre of his mission and was buried here after death. His shrine attracts pilgrims from all over the Valley. In 1620, the sixth Sikh Guru Shri Hargobind visited the city. Baramulla thus became an abode of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Sikhs living in harmony and contributing to a rich composite culture.[10]
It was the oldest and the most important town in the north of princely state of
Pakistani tribal invasion (1947)
After the Partition of India in 1947, Maharaja Hari Singh chose to remain independent, not joining either India or Pakistan.
A large number of tribals from Pakistan attacked Kashmir under the code name "Operation Gulmarg," intending to seize Kashmir. The invading tribals started moving along Rawalpindi-Murree-Muzaffarabad-Baramulla Road on 22 October 1947 with Pakistani army men in plain clothes. Muzaffarabad fell on 24 October 1947. They reached and captured Baramulla on 25 October. There they stayed for several days looting, raping, and killing residents; burning and plundering homes and businesses; and desecrating and vandalising shrines and temples. They could have reached Srinagar, just 50 km away, and captured its airfield, which was not defended at all. They raped and killed European nuns (only one survived) at Baramulla's St. Joseph convent and Christian nurses at the missionary hospital. This looting, raping, murder and abduction of girls continued for several days.[11] It is said that the suffering of Baramulla saved the rest of Kashmir, because airplanes carrying Indian troops airlifted from Delhi on the morning of 27 October could land at Srinagar airfield while the invaders were still at Baramulla.
Charles Chevenix Trench writes in his The Frontier Scouts (1985):
In October 1947... tribal lashkars hastened in lorries - undoubtedly with official logistic support - into Kashmir... at least one British Officer, Harvey-Kelly took part in the campaign. It seemed that nothing could stop these hordes of tribesmen taking Srinagar with its vital airfield. Indeed nothing did, but their own greed. The Mahsuds in particular stopped to loot, rape and murder; Indian troops were flown in and the lashkars pushed out of the Vale of Kashmir into the mountains. The Mahsuds returned home in a savage mood, having muffed an easy chance, lost the loot of Srinagar and made fools of themselves.
Tom Cooper of Air Combat Information Group wrote:[12]
...the Pathans appeared foremost interested in looting, killing, ransacking and other crimes against the inhabitants instead of a serious military action.
Biju Patnaik (who later became Chief Minister of Odisha) piloted the first plane to land at Srinagar airport that morning. He brought 17 soldiers of 1-Sikh regiment commanded by Lt. Col. Dewan Ranjit Rai.
"...The pilot flew low on the airstrip twice to ensure that no raiders were around... Instructions from PM Nehru’s office were clear: If the airport was taken over by the enemy, you are not to land. Taking a full circle the DC-3 flew ground level. Anxious eye-balls peered from inside the aircraft – only to find the airstrip empty. Nary a soul was in sight. The raiders were busy distributing the war booty amongst them in Baramulla."
In the words of Gen Mohammad Akbar Khan (Brigadier-in-Charge, Pakistan, in his book War for Kashmir in 1947): "The uncouth raiders delayed in Baramulla for two (whole) days for some unknown reason."[13]
It took two weeks for the Indian army to evict the raiders from Baramulla. Joined by Pakistani regular troops, they had become well-entrenched.
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah spoke in the UN Security Council on 5 February 1948 thus: "...the raiders came to our land, massacred thousands of people — mostly Hindus and Sikhs, but Muslims, too — abducted thousands of girls, Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims alike, looted our property and almost reached the gates of our summer capital, Srinagar..."
Recent years
Roads have been improved and road network has grown considerably in Baramulla town since 1947. New schools and colleges have started and better facilities for education have been created. More bridges on Jhelum river have been constructed or planned to connect the old town on the north bank of the river with the new town on the south bank. Decongestion of the old town has been attempted by moving some residents to houses in the new town.
The most recent development has been creation of railway connectivity with Srinagar, Anantnag and Qazigund and the planned connectivity with Banihal and Jammu.
Administration
Baramulla district comprises sixteen
This district consists of 26 blocks: Uri, Rohama, Rafiabad, Zaingeer, Sopore, Boniyar, Baramulla, Tangmarg, Singhpora, Pattan, Wagoora, Kunzer, Paranpillian, Bijhama, Norkhah, Narwav, Nadihal, Kandi Rafiabad, Hardchanum, Tujjar Sharief, Sangrama, Sherabad Khore, Lalpora, Wailoo, Khaipora and Chandil Wanigam. Pattan tehsil is the largest tehsil of the district Baramulla and was later split to form a separate Kreeri tehsil.
Pattan Town is situated in the centre of the district between Srinagar and Baramulla cities and is surrounded by villages like Palhalan, Nihalpora Hanjiwera Zangam, Sherpora, Sonium and Yall.[14] Each block consists of a number of panchayats.
Politics
Baramullah district has seven assembly constituencies: Uri, Rafiabad, Sopore, Sangrama, Baramulla, Gulmarg and Pattan.[15]
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1901 | 155,387 | — |
1911 | 174,661 | +12.4% |
1921 | 193,132 | +10.6% |
1931 | 215,286 | +11.5% |
1941 | 238,136 | +10.6% |
1951 | 261,935 | +10.0% |
1961 | 285,734 | +9.1% |
1971 | 374,175 | +31.0% |
1981 | 490,057 | +31.0% |
1991 | 638,634 | +30.3% |
2001 | 843,892 | +32.1% |
2011 | 1,008,039 | +19.5% |
† 1951 and 1991 populations are estimated Source: Census of India[16] |
According to the
The district has a population density of 305 inhabitants per square kilometre (790/sq mi).[18] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 20.34%.[18] Baramula has a literacy rate of 66.93%.[18] with male literacy 77.35% and female literacy 55.01%. Total literate in Baramula district were 571,348 of which males and females were 352,289 and 219,059 respectively.
Baramulla town is the largest town in the district and the fourth most-populous town in the state, with a population of 167,986 as per 2011 census.
Baramula district: religion, gender ratio, and % urban of population, according to the 2011 Census.[3] | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hindu | Muslim | Christian | Sikh | Buddhist | Jain | Other | Not stated | Total | |
Total | 30,621 | 959,185 | 1,497 | 14,770 | 140 | 29 | 7 | 1,790 | 1,008,039 |
3.04% | 95.15% | 0.15% | 1.47% | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.18% | 100.00% | |
Male | 28,099 | 495,434 | 965 | 9,078 | 115 | 17 | 4 | 1,021 | 534,733 |
Female | 2,522 | 463,751 | 532 | 5,692 | 25 | 12 | 3 | 769 | 473,306 |
Gender ratio (% female) | 8.2% | 48.3% | 35.5% | 38.5% | 17.9% | 41.4% | 42.9% | 43.0% | 47.0% |
Sex ratio (no. of females per 1,000 males) |
90 | 936 | 551 | 627 | – | – | – | 753 | 885 |
Urban | 16,378 | 157,176 | 536 | 7,865 | 80 | 7 | 7 | 451 | 182,500 |
Rural | 14,243 | 802,009 | 961 | 6,905 | 60 | 22 | 0 | 1,339 | 825,539 |
% Urban | 53.5% | 16.4% | 35.8% | 53.2% | 57.1% | 24.1% | 100.0% | 25.2% | 18.1% |
The most widely spoken language is
Geography and climate
The district is spread from Srinagar district and
Baramulla city is located on the banks of Jhelum river at the highest point of the river. The old town lies on the north (right) bank of the river and the new town lies on the south (left) bank. They are connected by five bridges, including a suspension bridge connecting Gulnar park with Dewan Bagh.
Healthcare
Baramulla has a district civil hospital and a district veterinary hospital with facilities such as
Tehsils
- Boniyar
- Dangerpora
- Khoie Panzipora
- Kwarhama
- Watergam
- Baramulla
- Kreeri
- Kunzer
- Pattan
- Sopore
- Tangmarg
- Uri
- Wagoora
- Dangiwacha
- Rohama
- Zaingeer
References
- ^ due weightin the coverage. Although "controlled" and "held" are also applied neutrally to the names of the disputants or to the regions administered by them, as evidenced in sources (f) through (h) below, "held" is also considered politicized usage, as is the term "occupied," (see (i) below).
(a) Kashmir, region Indian subcontinent, Encyclopaedia Britannica, retrieved 15 August 2019 (subscription required) Quote: "Kashmir, region of the northwestern Indian subcontinent ... has been the subject of dispute between India and Pakistan since the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947. The northern and western portions are administered by Pakistan and comprise three areas: Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan, the last two being part of a territory called the Northern Areas. Administered by India are the southern and southeastern portions, which constitute the state of Jammu and Kashmir but are slated to be split into two union territories.";
(b) Pletcher, Kenneth, Aksai Chin, Plateau Region, Asia, Encyclopaedia Britannica, retrieved 16 August 2019 (subscription required) Quote: "Aksai Chin, Chinese (Pinyin) Aksayqin, portion of the Kashmir region, at the northernmost extent of the Indian subcontinent in south-central Asia. It constitutes nearly all the territory of the Chinese-administered sector of Kashmir that is claimed by India to be part of the Ladakh area of Jammu and Kashmir state.";
(c) "Kashmir", Encyclopedia Americana, Scholastic Library Publishing, 2006, p. 328,ISBN 978-1-84904-621-3Quote:"Some politicised terms also are used to describe parts of J&K. These terms include the words 'occupied' and 'held'." - ^ a b District Census Handbook Baramulla, Part A (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). July 2016. p. 11. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
District Census Handbook Baramulla, Part B (PDF). Census of India 2011 (Report). 16 June 2014. p. 22. Retrieved 21 November 2020. - ^ a b c d e C-1 Population By Religious Community – Jammu & Kashmir (Report). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ "The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020". Rising Kashmir. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ "Divisions & Districts", Jamu & Kashmir Official Portal, 2012, retrieved 21 November 2020
- ^ "About District Baramulla". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ] Foreigners who visited this place pronounced ... The place was thus named as Baramulla meaning 12 bores.
- ISBN 9788176485371. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
That the valley of Kashmir was once a vast lake, known as "Satisaras," the lake of Parvati (consort of Shiva), is enshrined in our traditions. There are many mythological stories connected with the desiccation of the lake, before the valley was fit for habitation. The narratives make it out that it was occupied by a demon 'Jalodbhava,' till Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a boar and struck the mountain at Baramulla (ancient Varahamula) boring an opening in it for the water to flow out.
- ^ Baramulla: District Profile Archived 23 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ The Story of Kashmir Affairs - A Peep into the Past Archived 2014-06-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Tom Cooper (29 October 2003), Indo-Pakistani War, 1947-1949, Air Combat Information Group, archived from the original on 13 June 2006, retrieved 11 April 2012
- ^ 27 October 1947: Dakota in my dell ~ FRONTLINE KASHMIR Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Statement showing the number of blocks in respect of 22 Districts of Jammu and Kashmir State including newly Created Districts Archived 10 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine dated 2008-03-13, accessed 2008-08-30
- ^ "ERO's and AERO's". Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir. Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
- ^ "A-2 Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901". Censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ Baramula Population Census 2011, Baramula, Jammu and Kashmir literacy sex ratio and density
- ^ a b c d e f "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ Census of India 2011, Provisional Population Totals Paper 1 of 2011 : Jammu & Kashmir. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (Report).
Annexure V, Ranking of Districts by Population Size, 2001 - 2011 (Report). - ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
Cyprus 1,120,489 July 2011 est.
- ^ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
Montana 989,415
- ^ a b C-16 Population By Mother Tongue – Jammu & Kashmir (Report). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- Badgam, Tral, Baramulla (all in Kashmir region), Udhampur and Jammu.
- ^ "Finally, Baramulla hospital to be shifted to new building". The Tribune. Kashmir. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2018.