Roots of Bhalessa Final Edit by Sadaket Malik

8/14/2019 Roots of Bhalessa Final Edit by Sadaket Malik

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The main divisions viz a viz locations are Neeli, Jatota,Pingal, Chilli, Nanota and Basnota, these areas seemedscattered owing to the The area is having severalpicturesque places like Bal Padri, Kanthi Dhar, SoinBhagar, Naglotan etc. The area of Bhaderwah and

Bhalessa comprise of glaciated mountain slopes andterraced fields.The Churah and Bhalessa must have been closely linked

in the social and cultural fields as is evident today by alarge of relations between Chamba and Bhalessa. Thereseemed a unity in social structure.

Bhalessa is full of meadows popularly known as Dharlike Kanthi, Naglotan, Soin Bhagar, Roharhi, Dagan, BalPadri, etc. the area is mountainous, it has umpteennumber of trekking routes which pass through placeswith unbelievable captivating scenic beauty.

The place is a comfortable base for trekkers andmountaineers, on their way to the Great Himalayas. Byroad, bus services from Doda connect Bhalessa.

Tiny patches of maize and mustard, like patchworkquilts, straddled the edge of the stream that rusheddown from the snow-capped peaks in the distance withan irrepressible passion to merge into the Chenabbeyond. Children played cricket on improvised pitches onpatches of land left fallow or lazed around on conicalhaystacks.

Weather-beaten Bakkarwal men-with their hennaedbeards and loosely wound turbans, led flocks of hairymountain goats. Their children and womenfolk followedafter them, driving mules laden with pots, pans andbedding their mobile homes. The perfect picture ofserenity. It has a Muslim majority, with a Hindu minorityof a little more than a third of the population.

The history of Bhalessa and Bhaderwah datesback to 200 B.C. When the revered Buddhist scholarNagsena was invited to a discussion by king Mender in his

palace at Sakla.Kishtwar. In the discussions Nagsenareplied all the questions of the king who then embracedBuddhism and became king Milinda. Nagsena recordedthe discussion in Millinda Panha a Pali Treatise on thefundamental principles of Buddhist philosophy.

The principality of Bhaderwah Bhalessa was distributedinto 15 administrative units. The total area of Bhaderwah Jagir (including Bhalessa etc) was 533 sq.miles which


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after amalgamation with Udhampur district in 1931 wasreduced to 213 sq.miles only. The earliest mention of theplace is traced from Rajatarangni around (1112-28A.D.)

Bhalessa had come into existence in the year 1948and its Headquarter is located at a distance of 241 Kmts

from the Jammu winter capital and 282 kmts. from theSrinagar, the summer capital of the state. The area islocated between 32-52 and 41-97 degree longitude.

The altitude of the area varies from 3200 to 15000 ft.from the sea level. The area is surrounded by Chambadistrict of Himachal Pradesh.

The form of the land is rugged andmountainous surrounded by the sprawling mountains ofHimalayas from north to west. These are named as greatHimalayas. Besides there are other lofty ridges andpeaks. The nullahas like historical Kalgoni streem merge

into river Chenab at Thathri. Nullahs called Kalguni isPavitur in the sense that it is surrounded by historicalBasaka Nag temple at the corner of village Kilhotran.

The main river in Bhalessa is Kalgoni strachingfrom Kansozoo that merge into the chenab after.Besides this there are some other small Streems/ Nullahssuch as Beer Sow with its origin from Ludoo Kansar withenormous hight, Kanchu sohow near Makhan Chuchool(local popular name of hindus and muslims) has its originnear Goha Kahagugasar. These rivers flow throughgorges and are mainly exploited for generation of Hydel

Power. Of late Bhalessa is rich in natural resources ifexploited may contribute for the states economy.

The climate is almost dry. The rainfall is scanty,because of this reason the area is declared as DroughtProne Area by the Ministry of Rural Development Govt ofIndia. The temperature remains snow bound for five-sixmonths of the year. Summer is generally without rain andprecipitation often occurs during the winter season.

The soil is generally loose and Gruti and insome places Sandy with very low moisture. The incidenceof soil erosion is very high and roads blockage is frequent

during the rainy season.The places are notorious for fall of slides

during every rainy season and cause inconvenience to all.The Soil conservation Department is surveying the areabut no concrete steps has been put in place by theconcerned officers to aware the people about the soilconservation schemes.


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The role of NGOs is strongly laudable in thisdirection for contributing their bit owing to which manywastelands became green. Bhalessa is rich in coniferousforest wealth.

The forest provides timber of important

varieties viz, Deodar, Fir, Kail, Chir, etc.These also yieldproducts like dhoop, resin, guchian and other products.For rehabilitation of degraded forests and increase theforest area by plantation in the area taken up in a bigway of the forest Department.

There might be some worlds oldest Deodars sin Jitota Zone of Bhalessa. The precious stones in the areaare also expected to be found in the Dudwar area inabundance. The main crops are Maize, and wheat.

There is enough potential to hold back the

tourist in Bhalessa and areas around for at least afortnight. Imagine how much good it could do to the localeconomy. Places of pilgrimage if promoted will helpbringing the tourist to these areas even while theinfrastructure is being developed. Of course The TourismDevelopment Authority required have to be established.

Bhalessa presents beautiful picturesque aswell as attractive fields on way to Padri Top which couldbe promoted as a health resort as well as a picnic spot.This is a connection line of Bhalessa and Bhaderwah. Aneverlasting Glacier, Bal Padri is just 15 Km from Padri

Top/ Dhaar/ Khanni Top on foot/ horse back fromBhaderwah side. It is on huge heights and one could findlarge snow field here even in the month of June. Enoughscope exists for Gandola rope ways. Bhadherwah toKansar could be a good Gandola venture with Khanni Top,Padri Dhaar , Nagni MataTemple and Jaai Valley are lyingaround Bhalessa. Unfortunately, the area has beendivided and has not taken care of geographical proximityor administrative conveniences. The areas like Bonjawah,Kahara, Basnota, Pingal and Cilly. There seemed more orless discrimination meted to people of these areas.

Bhalessa is presently a part of BhaderwahConstituency including some little part of Bhatyas andchilly hamlets, whereas the areas like of Basnota(Kahara) and Bonjawah are part of Inderwal assemblysegment.

Owing to the scatteredness of these areas thecomposite culture has been deteriorated. The regionalchauvinism led its head high due to its political


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dislocation. The local traditional ethos has been damagedand area has been little progressed& planned. It may bedue to poor administrative and political set up. The areaslike Kahara and Bhatyas are disconnected owing toinadequate administrative presence.

Of late, the people in governance are in favor ofcreation of separate constituency under the pretext ofDelimitation Commission report. Administrative reformsare already in place. The recent changes seemed to behappened. The Tehsil Thathri and Tehsil Bhalessa carvedout of Sub- Division Bhaderwah very recently is amilestone in the history. Tehsil Bhalessa has beenupgraded as Sub Division. This way there again remaintwo Sub-Divisions i.e. Bhaderwah and Bhalessa with threeTehsils namely Bhaderwah, Bhalessa and Thathri in

District Doda.As such, in any case one Sub-Division is to have two

Tehsils while the other will remain Sub-Division for oneTehsil. It may be in place to mention that the distancefrom Thathri to Tehsil Headquarter Bhalessa is only 30Kms whereas distance from Thathri to Bhaderwah isaround 60 Kms. Furthermore, the distance from Bhalessato Bonjwah is only 20 kms and is geographically veryclose to Bhalessa.

However, In view of the above considerations thegovernment proposed that new Sub-Division Bhalessa

shall comprise, Tehsil Bhalessa and Tehsil Thathri.Previously, a demand was projected by the public that

twenty three villages falling in three Patwar Halqasnamely Kansoo, Jora and Malanoo be attached with TehsilBhalessa after their deletion from Tehsil Thathri.

The demand for the setting up of Niabats at Bhatyas andKahara is justified as the area is disconnectedadministratively.

Another demand received by the government teamduring its visit to the area pertained to attachment ofeleven villages of Patwar Halqas Patnazi and Jawalapur

commonly known as Bunjawa with Tehsil Thathri aftertheir detachment from Tehsil Kishtwar on the ground ofproximity of the area and convenience of the people.

After considering all counter claims in respect of thesedemands and taking into consideration, the proximity ofPatwar Halqas, administrative convenience and publicdemand, the team recommended strongly that eightvillages of Patwar Halqa Kansoo namely Kansoo, Bathri,


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Indlu, Dichhal, Bhatoli, Dharyouth, Piyakal, Kuthyara withpopulation of 5,744 can be deleted from Tehsil Thathriand added in Tehsil Bhalessa. The demand for attachmentof Patwar Halqas Jora and Malanoo with Bhalessa Tehsil isnot found justified and agreeable. The government find it

unjustified. This was suggested by the committee formedby the government.The area of Bonjawah is in close proximity

with Bhalessa including Bhatyas and Khara.Geographically Bonjawah, Khara, Bhatyas and GandohBhalessa upto khaljugasar is a single geographical unit.

Unfortunately, the area has been divided andhas not taken care of its geographical proximity, Bhalessais presenty a part of Bhaderwah Constituency includingsome little part of Bhatyas and chilly, whereas the areaslike of Khara and Bonjawah are part of Inderwal assembly

segment thereby the local composite culture has beendeteriorated. The regional chauvinism has its head highdue to its political dislocation. The local compositeculture has been damaged and area seemed littleprogressed & planned.

The locals are in favour of creation ofseparate political and administrative unit under thepretext of Delimitation commission by combining TehsilBhalessa, Khara, Bhatyas, Chilly and Bonjawah anddeleting Bhalessa from Bhaderwah and Bonjawah from

Inderwal.It will be a progressive step if Bhalessa-

Bhatyas Bonjawah might be carved as a separatepolitical and administrative unit. The state governmentshould set up a committee for taking into account thesentiments of all three zones viz Tehsil Bhalessa,Bonjawah and Bhatyas Pingal & Chilly areas.

The advantage of separate unit may lead tothe progress as far as developmental arena is concerned.The local community especially the people of all theseareas be taken in confidence while preparing the final

document on achievable motherhood so that the peopleof the area might get solace of the problems ofinadequate development and help to maintain the age oldtradition, folk lore and above all culture and geographicaloneness.


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Deterioration of Identity by theperspective rulersBasnota, Nanota, Pingal, Jitota, Chilly

Nestling amongst high mountainous and cliffy terrain,off shooting high where skies are the limits, it is mostprominent townships like Bonjawah, Basnota, Chilly andPingal in Doda District.

The spirituality attunes the skies resting aside castes,creed and colours and above all religions, The Ruby Gemson mountainous slopes glows and glitters and marble ofThathri twinkle amidst dense, vibrant, lush greenuplands.

The topography of the area is hilly and mountainous.There is Lack of transport communication as compared to

other areas of the erstwhile Doda District.

It is the most backward which is evident from the lowliteracy rate, dilapidated road conditions, poor road network, low per capita income, Non-existence of industriesand lack of adequate agricultural inputs.

There is enough potential to hold back the tourist in thearea for at least a fortnight. Imagine how much good itcould do to the local economy. Places of pilgrimages ifpromoted will help bringing the tourist to these areaseven while the infrastructure is being developed. Of late,

The Tourism Development Authority required to beestablished firstly.Bhalessa presents beautiful picturesque as well as

attractive fields on way to Padri Top which could bepromoted as a health resort as well as a picnic spot. It ison huge heights and one could find large snow field hereeven in the month of June.

Of late, the people in governance are in favor ofcreation of separate constituency under the pretext ofDelimitation Commission report. Administrative reforms

are already in place. The recent changes seemed to behappened. The Tehsil Thathri and Tehsil Bhalessa carvedout of Sub- Division Bhaderwah very recently is amilestone in the history. Tehsil Bhalessa has beenupgraded as Sub Division. This way there again remaintwo Sub-Divisions i.e. Bhaderwah and Bhalessa with threeTehsils namely Bhaderwah, Bhalessa and Thathri inDistrict Doda.


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As such, in any case one Sub-Division is to have twoTehsils while the other will remain Sub-Division for oneTehsil. It may be in place to mention that the distancefrom Thathri to Tehsil Headquarter Bhalessa is only 30Kms whereas distance from Thathri to Bhaderwah is

around 60 Kms. Furthermore, the distance from Bhalessato Bonjwah is only 20 kms and is geographically veryclose to Bhalessa.

However, In view of the above considerations thegovernment proposed that new Sub-Division Bhalessashall comprise, Tehsil Bhalessa and Tehsil Thathri.

Previously, a demand was projected by the public thattwenty three villages falling in three Patwar Halqasnamely Kansoo, Jora and Malanoo be attached with TehsilBhalessa after their deletion from Tehsil Thathri.

The demand for the setting up of Niabats at Bhatyas and

Kahara is justified as the area is disconnectedadministratively.

Another demand received by the government teamduring its visit to the area pertained to attachment ofeleven villages of Patwar Halqas Patnazi and Jawalapurcommonly known as Bunjawa with Tehsil Thathri aftertheir detachment from Tehsil Kishtwar on the ground ofproximity of the area and convenience of the people.

After considering all counter claims in respect of thesedemands and taking into consideration, the proximity ofPatwar Halqas, administrative convenience and public

demand, the team recommended strongly that eightvillages of Patwar Halqa Kansoo namely Kansoo, Bathri,Indlu, Dichhal, Bhatoli, Dharyouth, Piyakal, Kuthyara withpopulation of 5,744 can be deleted from Tehsil Thathriand added in Tehsil Bhalessa. The demand for attachmentof Patwar Halqas Jora and Malanoo with Bhalessa Tehsil isnot found justified and agreeable. The government find itunjustified. This was suggested by the committee formedby the government.

The area of Bonjawah is in close proximity with Bhalessaincluding Bhatyas and Khara. Geographically Bonjawah,

Khara, Bhatyas and Gandoh Bhalessa upto khaljugasar isa single geographical unit.

Unfortunately, the area has been divided and has nottaken care of its geographical proximity, Bhalessa ispresenty a part of Bhaderwah Constituency includingsome little part of Bhatyas and chilly, whereas the areaslike of Khara and Bonjawah are part of Inderwal assemblysegment thereby the local composite culture has been


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deteriorated. The regional chauvinism has its head highdue to its political dislocation. The local compositeculture has been damaged and area seemed littleprogressed & planned.

The locals are in favour of creation of separate politicaland administrative unit under the pretext of Delimitationcommission by combining Tehsil Bhalessa, Khara,Bhatyas, Chilly and Bonjawah and deleting Bhalessa fromBhaderwah and Bonjawah from Inderwal.

It will be a progressive step if Bhalessa-Bhatyas Bonjawah might be carved as a separate political andadministrative unit. The state government should set upa committee for taking into account the sentiments of allthree zones viz Tehsil Bhalessa, Bonjawah and BhatyasPingal & Chilly areas.

The advantage of separate unit may lead to theprogress as far as developmental arena is concerned. Thelocal community especially the people of all these areasbe taken in confidence while preparing the finaldocument on achievable motherhood so that the peopleof the area might get solace of the problems ofinadequate development and help to maintain the age oldtradition, folk lore and above all culture and geographicaloneness.


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Chapter 2:- Period of Awakening

Over time there seemed less political or social

awakening among the elites, the area was littleprogressed, there was no education rather primaryschooling to the people. People used to go to Bhaderwahfor their primary studies.

The political staire was also lacking as peoplerepresented a low income strata and economy was poor.The people seemed out of such activism. Hari SaranZaildar of Batara was regarded as a chief Chowkidar ofthe hamlet. The first teacher was Anirud Singh ofKhaljugasar who was educated from Bhaderwah.

Some families over time migrated from Kashmir.The whole Chenab valley and Bhaderwah Jagir was ruledby Ranas and Thakurs. The area of Bhalessa was a partof Bhaderwah Jagir and Bhaderwah was regarded as amain centre of decentralization.

It is learnt from our elderly that they used to goBhaderwah for ration to feed them.

Owing to the close proximity with Bhaderwah,people maintained healthy relations with Bhaderwah.

However, many families in Kashmir have migratedfrom one part to another in search of habitation andlivelihood. One such family was the Batt family whichmigrated to the Chamba District of Himachal Pradeshwhile a few factions stayed in Bhalessa's Soti village. Thefamily at Soti took up peasant work. Ghulam Rasool Azadwas born in the year 1916 to this peasant family. Therewere only two schools then in Bhalessa - the Primaryschool Kilhotran and the Bhaderwah Amar Singh school.Rasool's father Kh. Khazra Batt sent him to both.

In 1935, Ghulam Rasool Azad passed the graduateentrance examination from Jammu Centre. He graduatedin Mathematics. He did his post graduation from PunjabUniversity in 1943.

Munshi Mohamed Anwer was also enrolled inBhaderwah
http://www.merinews.com/topic/ghulam-rasool-azad.shtmlhttp://www.merinews.com/topic/ghulam-rasool-azad.shtmlhttp://www.merinews.com/topic/ghulam-rasool-azad.shtmlhttp://www.merinews.com/topic/ghulam-rasool-azad.shtml


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Chapter: Bhalessa: Social and Political

awakening

Gone are the days when area like of Bhalessa witnessed a tumultuous days. Of late, there was a

paucity of community leadership on the one hand and sacracity of a membership in assemblyto represent the improvised terrain of Bhalessa on the other.

Mohammad Sharief Niaz- rated high in the realm of Politics was the only torch bearer to

provide solace to the people during the turmoil. Niaz, born in improvised family on 24th ofApril 1944 in village changa Bhalessa, He is a law graduate, being a legal luminary, he was

entrusted the responsibility as Law Minister of the state in 1989. He patronized the improvised

people above the castes and religions.

Packed with outstanding achievements in democratic arena. Niaz, joined student Union, trade

unions and teachers unions. He joined congress party in 1976, worked as a trade union leader

and pleaded the cause of working class, nominated district president of congress committeeDoda in 1979, unsuccessfully contested 1983 assembly elections on congress ticket from

Inderwal constituency but elected in 1987, inducted into the council lof ministers of minister of

state Law in1989, From 1992 to 1996 he remained a member of USERS consultativecommittee in Northern Railway of India, elected to assembly in 2002 . He polled 16,962 votes

and defeated his nearest NC rival Mohammed Aslam by a margin of 6,827 votes He was

inducted as Minister for power in Mufti-led Congress-PDP coalition.


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Paving the way to the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to contest the Assembly

elections, He resigned from the Bhaderwah constituency from where he was elected in 2002.

Mr. Niaz's resignation was accepted with effect from March 1,

It was mandatory for Mr. Azad to be a member of any of the two Houses by the end of April

since he took over as Chief Minister on November 2, 2005. Due to the resignation of Niaz, by-election was held in Bhaderwah constituency on April 24, 2006. He won this seat with an

overwhelming margin of 58,000.

In 2007, Niaz was elected as a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) for Doda replacing

Mohammad Iqbal Bhat.

This is interesting to note that in the aftermath of Jammu agitation while the assemblyconstituency like Bhaderwah witnessed sharp polarization, here the impact was not so deep for

Niaz being the lonely competent condidate for congress high command.

Lo and behold, Niaz reportedly broke down at the declaration of the result,when he wascontesting from Bhaderwah in 2009 By elections as he himself was not expecting to win. Niaz,

defeated Mr. Dalip Singh of BJP by a margin of 2,747. While Mr. Niaz polled 21,966 votes,Mr. Singh polled 19,219 votes, out of total 53,219 votes polled.

Niaz was not only pitched against strong candidates of other parties but also hisown party leaders, workers and a number of close relatives worked against him.

The youth and disadvantaged played a pro-active role to ensure his victory. Niaz

saw a bitter contest with the BJP roping in Ghulam Ali, brother of Ghulam NabiAzad, to campaign for the BJP candidate. Ghulam Ali raised a storm by

supporting the Babri Masjid demolition in his speeches.

Local people opines that he won the election keeping in view the contribution of

Niaz during tamultous days of termoil.

To focus on his contribution to the state in general and Bhaderwah Bhalessa area

in particular before 42 years. We can speak it as Political representation of

Bhalessa in assembly since time immemorial. Things seemed changes due to the

visionary programmes of Niaz.

He resigned as a Teacher and joined Indefinite strike to metigate the suffering

people at that time. when Bhalessa was witnessing atrocities committed no to thepeople by nefirious designs, a fire owing to the turmoil, its he who remained all

along with the people who became prey of violence. The times itself are

witnessing that Niaz has by and large contributed for the peace and amity of theland. He seemed Pro-Active in socio-developmental convas of Bhalessa.

Regarding the Kashmir conflict, he is on the screen as a think tank for Indo-Pak

process viz-a-viz good goverenance in the state. He always raised the issues in his


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that a large number of people living under the constant fear of gun along the

border on both sides, are today are most relieved with this decision. He advocated

that Pakistan should take desired measures to control the militant organisationsoperating from its soil and indulging in bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir.

During his tenure as a cabnit Minister, he ordered a probe into the reasons for thecollapse of the diversion Tunnel Number 2 at the 450-MW Baglihar hydroelectric

project in Kashmir.

Documents

Roots of Bhalessa Final Edit by Sadaket Malik