Akhileshwar Singh Charak
The social fabric of Jammu city in particular and region in general has always been more than the sum of its parts. It is a weave of histories, migrations, faiths, and shared struggles. At the heart of this fabric lies Jammu: a province and a land of Dogras (the true founders of this erstwhile state) that has, for centuries, stood as a gateway, a refuge, and a crucible of coexistence. To understand how this fabric evolved is to retrace not just political events but of its lived realities of its people, their journeys, their struggles, and their resilience.
Jammu: The gateway that shaped identity
Geography gave Jammu its character. As the middle point between the plains of Punjab and the Valley of Kashmir, Jammu became the threshold every traveller, pilgrim, or trader had to cross. Long before railways and tunnels, the road from Pathankot wound its way into the Shivalik foothills, halting at Jammu before climbing further into the Valley.
This role as a “gateway” made Jammu a meeting ground of cultures. Kashmiri shawl traders, Punjabi merchants, Sikh pilgrims, Dogra soldiers, Gujjar herders, and Buddhist monks all paused here, leaving fragments of their traditions behind. Unlike the insulated Valley or the remote plateaus of Ladakh, Jammu thrived on constant contact while absorbing influences and reinforcing its identity as a city of hospitality.
A City Without Rails, Yet Full of Life
Until the late 1970s, Jammu did not have a railway station of its own. Pathankot, nearly 100 kilometres away, was the nearest railhead. Every student leaving for higher studies, every trader taking goods out, every family heading for pilgrimage first made the long journey to Pathankot before boarding a train.
This absence of connectivity slowed formal development but it also created a unique sense of self-reliance. Jammu’s economy rested on agriculture, local crafts, and small-scale trade. The city bustled with markets like Raghunath Bazaar, where Dogra shopkeepers sold spices and textiles alongside Kashmiri dry fruits and Punjabi fabrics. The lack of rails in no way stopped life, but extension of rails to Jammu has certainly given a blow to Pathankot which reduced this vibrant town to a transition station and in turn, turned Jammu to a central economic hub in Jammu & Kashmir.
Shocks That Tested Resilience
This fabric, however, was not untouched by upheaval. The late 20th century brought crises that tested Jammu’s spirit of inclusivity.
In 1984, Operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh riots shook the foundations of Sikh communities across North India. Fear and insecurity travelled across borders, and Jammu became a place of refuge and solidarity. Dogra society, rooted in its tradition of acceptance, extended safety and belonging to Sikh families who sought calm amid chaos.
Just a few years later, the 1990s saw the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley. Families that had lived in Kashmir for centuries, contributing richly to its culture, were forced to leave overnight. Tens of thousands poured into Jammu, straining its schools, housing, and economy. Yet, once again, Jammu opened its doors. Temples became relief centres, schools expanded classrooms, and neighborhoods made space for new families. The strain was real, but the ethos of the Dogra land under the leadership of great leaders like Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak was clear: no one seeking shelter would be turned away.
Beyond these, waves of refugees from Partition in 1947 and subsequent wars along the borders also found home in Jammu. Each influx altered the city’s demography, yet the social fabric adapted, not without friction, but without rupture.
The Dogra Ethos: Shelter and Pride
What explains this resilience? At its core lies the Dogra ethos: a deeply ingrained sense of duty to provide shelter and dignity. For Dogras, land and community were not possessions but responsibilities. This belief turned Jammu into a safe haven for all: Sikhs in the 1980s, Pandits in the 1990s, border families during wars, and even migrants from across international borders.
It was not charity but culture, a recognition that strength comes from diversity, and identity is deepened and never weakened by compassion. This is why Jammu’s temples, mosques, and gurdwaras often stood within walking distance of each other; why Raghunath Bazaar echoed with as many languages as products; why Dogra hospitality became legendary for travellers who paused here.
Insurgency and transformation of Jammu
Today, Jammu is no longer a city cut off by rails. The rail line extends to the city, and highways and tunnels are redrawing geography. The Chenab Rail Bridge and expressways promise to transform accessibility, positioning Jammu not just as a gateway but as a regional hub. Ponds have given way to piped water, though memories of them remain etched in the stories of older generations.
Yet, amid modernization, the lessons of the past endure. Every displacement, every migration, every upheaval has left behind not just challenges but also new strands of resilience in the social fabric. Jammu’s evolution has been a dialogue between geography, adversity, and compassion.
Jammu needs to recognize that the growth of the city over the past century is closely linked to its pluralistic social fabric, which has made it a vibrant and diverse urban center. Unlike Srinagar, which was predominantly a Kashmiri Muslim city and which killed the very idea of “Kashmiriyat” in 90’s, they generally espouse disproportionally. On the other hand, Jammu has long been home to a mix of communities including Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Dogras, and others. This diversity has fostered a dynamic cultural and economic environment that attracted migrants and settlers from various backgrounds, especially during periods of political and religious upheaval of 90’s and resultant demographic shifts in the region. The city’s plural character has contributed to its resilience and adaptability, which in turn spurred population growth. Jammu’s multi-community makeup again became a defining feature of its identity and growth trajectory, underscoring how social diversity can drive urban expansion and vitality.
The Fabric That Holds Us Together
The story of Jammu is not about isolation but about connection. It is the story of a land that has absorbed influences, borne the weight of upheavals, and yet remained open to all who came seeking refuge. From being the middle point on the road to Kashmir, to sheltering displaced communities through some of the darkest chapters of modern India, Jammu (the home of the true founders of this erstwhile state) has lived its identity not in words but in actions.
And this is why the social fabric of Jammu, though tested time and again, has not unravelled. It bends, it stretches, it adapts but it does not break. For in the Dogra land, history has always carried the same message: whoever comes here will find not just a passage, but a place to belong.
What Jammu should count on?
Despite its rich pluralistic social fabric and growing urban significance, Jammu remains largely unaware of the strategic importance of these assets. This lack of recognition limits the city’s ability to fully capitalize on its unique strengths. Without a clear understanding and deliberate effort to leverage its diverse communities and cultural harmony, Jammu risks missing opportunities to position itself as a key player in political stability and sustainable growth. Raising awareness about its strategic value is crucial for Jammu to mobilize resources, engage stakeholders, and that too from the position of strength so as to transform Jammu from peripheral to a city into a vibrant, influential hub both in terms of politics and economics.
Jammu can position its rich and pluralistic social fabric as a strategic advantage by actively promoting its identity as a hub of cultural diversity and communal harmony. Unlike many other cities that may face social fragmentation, Jammu’s inclusive community networks foster trust and collaboration, which are essential for social stability and economic progress. By highlighting this strength, Jammu can arrive at a position where Jammuites need to realize that pluralism is a lived reality of the city and as such, not in need of isolated, occasional showcasing of our tradition. Furthermore, we need to understand that this strategic asset is a plinth to further attract investment, tourism, and talent interested in a peaceful, vibrant, and cooperative environment. Finally, a community needs to be cautious of their assets, strengths and resources of past and present to have a better future. I hope we Dogras are. ARE WE?
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