WHOSE CONSPIRACY?
IS CENSUS AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE DEMOGRAPHY OF THE STATE, DR. SHEIKH SHOWKAT HUSSAIN COMMENTS ON THE CENSUS AND ITS AUTHENTICITY
The subject of Census has been a matter of debate. Not only sociologists or population experts, but it has been seriously concerning some conscious Kashmiris. Representatives of Kashmir, whichever side they belong to, have expressed their worry about some changes which can have far reaching effects on the very character of state in general and state in particular.
In a statement, Senior Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani alleged that the census in Kashmir is simply an exercise of manipulation of figures through which, continuous decline of Muslim population is depicted. It is not for the first time that doubts have been expressed about authenticity of the census process in Jammu & Kashmir. In 2000, Saifuudin Soz, present day Congress President of J&K expressed similar views and appealed Hurriyat and Hizb-ul-mujahidin to intervene in the process. Similar statements were issued by Sheikh Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah in eighties. An allegation of manipulation of census figures is an issue over which pro India and separatist parties have similar views. These allegations have created a deficit of credibility of census process thus deserve a serious notice on the part of all those concerned.
Jammu & Kashmir had 78% Muslims according to 1941 census. Division of Kashmir had its impact upon demography of the state. The percentage of Muslims within Indian administered zone remained only 72%. In 1951, there was no census in Kashmir. According to 1961 census, the Muslim percentage was projected to be only 69%. The decline became manifest with every successive census operation. 1971 census depicted Muslim population to be 67%. The percentage provided by 1981 census remained 65%. In 1991, census was not held in J&K. As a result of uproar and public anger, the percentage depicted positive trends in 2001. Muslim Percentage this time remained 67%. Had this population grown in similar way as Muslim population grew elsewhere in the world and in India, Muslim demography of J&K should have shown positive trends all along. In India, Muslims were ten percent of the total population in 1951. Today, this percentage has become almost 15%. The population growth among Muslims has been higher as compared to other communities across the globe. Apart from religious taboos associated with various means of contraception, higher growth rate of Muslim population within India is attributed to less level of affluence and literacy. Kashmiri Muslims too, remain less literate and less affluent as compared to non Muslims of J&K, yet they are depicted to be having different demographic trends as compared to Muslims of India. Muslims sense of insecurity becomes acute when demands about coercive demographic transformation of state are made by BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and RSS (Rashtriya Swaymsevak Sangh). RSS chief made a specific demand for demographic transformation of J&K on January, 27th at Bhubaneswar. ORAGNISER, official magazine of RSS also pleads for demographic transformation and perceives it to be the only solution of Kashmir problem.
It is in this background that Kashmiris have become skeptical about the census and this scepticism is given a voice by leaders. One doesn’t need to go for a research to understand the manipulations made by census department in context of J&K population. In 1971, J&K had only 42000 people whose mother tongue was Hindi. 1981 census inflates this figure to 1012808. On face of it one can attribute this 2200% increase in the population of Hindi speakers to popularity of Hindi. But once one analyzes the figures provided by census, some different conclusions get reflected. The decadal increase of Hindi speaking population should have been associated with reciprocal decline in the number of those who speak Kashmiri and Dogri- two prime languages of the state. Decadal growth of Kashmiri speakers is 30% and that of Dogri speakers 27%. This increase is in line with decadal growth of 29 % of population of the state as a whole. One wonders where these Hindi speaking persons came from. It is obvious that this increase in numbers is result of manipulation of figures. 1971 census had 360000 Gojri speakers. Gojri doesn’t find a mention in 1981 census. It is obvious the all nomad Gojars and Bakerwals have been depicted as Hindi speakers in the census.
Whatever deficiency remained, that has been made up by enumerating non state subjects along with state subjects within the census. It seems members of security agencies as well as migrant labourers have been added to the figures of state population within the census. The fact gets confirmed when one browses through linguistic mosaic of the state. The census depicts that we have people with Tamil, Telugu, Assamese, Bhojpuri, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam and Kannada as their mother tongue in J&K. It is obvious that this is nothing but reflection of enumeration of non state subjects along with natives within the census. Given the historical facts, this development can’t be seen in isolation. Apart from context of final disposition of J&K state, demographic transformation has another angle as well. The angle pertains to disempowerment of the Muslim majority sought by Right wing Hindu Nationalists. BJP & RSS have been consistently demanding delimitation of constituencies to state legislature on the basis of concocted figures of the census. Prof. Bhim Singh filed a writ petition in J&K high Court for this purpose. J&K High Court dismissed it off but Bhim Singh has proceeded to Supreme Court for this purpose. Manipulation of census figures and subsequent demands for delimitation of constituencies is nothing but RSS plan in practice to transform Kashmir into another Palestine. Reluctance of New Delhi to enter into a serious dialogue for resolution of Kashmir problem is in anticipation of this demographic transformation. Purpose is to defer resolution until the majority of Kashmir is transformed into minority.
A media hype is being created that separatists this time support the census. The supporting exercise without any reservations regarding authenticity seems to be fulfillment of an assignment to authenticate concocted figures of past and future.
Census is a process of enumeration of population embarked upon by the state. It goes on irrespective of support of anyone. Even if there is no exercise of collection of data, states make projections through Sampling Method or taking Mean of previous and future census. The issue is not that of support to census or its opposition, but its authenticity and credibility. We don’t need to stand to be counted. When we participated whole heartedly in 1981, the reward was discount of population our count was 65% and we boycotted in 2001, the count was 67%. Our standing up hardly mattered. Everyone agrees that in J&K census has not been credible either because of manipulation of figures or because of the procedures detrimental to the interests of natives of state and its majority. The leaders instead of making noise about Participation or Non participation should make sure that it doesn’t become an instrument of transforming Muslim majority character of the state. Same is true about columnists. Instead of behaving as poster boys of status quo and writing columns that seem to be nothing other than elaboration of information department posters, the subject demands serious treatment based on facts and figures. This is a duty which we owe to our future generations irrespective of our association with any shade of political opinion.
In a statement, Senior Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani alleged that the census in Kashmir is simply an exercise of manipulation of figures through which, continuous decline of Muslim population is depicted. It is not for the first time that doubts have been expressed about authenticity of the census process in Jammu & Kashmir. In 2000, Saifuudin Soz, present day Congress President of J&K expressed similar views and appealed Hurriyat and Hizb-ul-mujahidin to intervene in the process. Similar statements were issued by Sheikh Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah in eighties. An allegation of manipulation of census figures is an issue over which pro India and separatist parties have similar views. These allegations have created a deficit of credibility of census process thus deserve a serious notice on the part of all those concerned.
Jammu & Kashmir had 78% Muslims according to 1941 census. Division of Kashmir had its impact upon demography of the state. The percentage of Muslims within Indian administered zone remained only 72%. In 1951, there was no census in Kashmir. According to 1961 census, the Muslim percentage was projected to be only 69%. The decline became manifest with every successive census operation. 1971 census depicted Muslim population to be 67%. The percentage provided by 1981 census remained 65%. In 1991, census was not held in J&K. As a result of uproar and public anger, the percentage depicted positive trends in 2001. Muslim Percentage this time remained 67%. Had this population grown in similar way as Muslim population grew elsewhere in the world and in India, Muslim demography of J&K should have shown positive trends all along. In India, Muslims were ten percent of the total population in 1951. Today, this percentage has become almost 15%. The population growth among Muslims has been higher as compared to other communities across the globe. Apart from religious taboos associated with various means of contraception, higher growth rate of Muslim population within India is attributed to less level of affluence and literacy. Kashmiri Muslims too, remain less literate and less affluent as compared to non Muslims of J&K, yet they are depicted to be having different demographic trends as compared to Muslims of India. Muslims sense of insecurity becomes acute when demands about coercive demographic transformation of state are made by BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and RSS (Rashtriya Swaymsevak Sangh). RSS chief made a specific demand for demographic transformation of J&K on January, 27th at Bhubaneswar. ORAGNISER, official magazine of RSS also pleads for demographic transformation and perceives it to be the only solution of Kashmir problem.
It is in this background that Kashmiris have become skeptical about the census and this scepticism is given a voice by leaders. One doesn’t need to go for a research to understand the manipulations made by census department in context of J&K population. In 1971, J&K had only 42000 people whose mother tongue was Hindi. 1981 census inflates this figure to 1012808. On face of it one can attribute this 2200% increase in the population of Hindi speakers to popularity of Hindi. But once one analyzes the figures provided by census, some different conclusions get reflected. The decadal increase of Hindi speaking population should have been associated with reciprocal decline in the number of those who speak Kashmiri and Dogri- two prime languages of the state. Decadal growth of Kashmiri speakers is 30% and that of Dogri speakers 27%. This increase is in line with decadal growth of 29 % of population of the state as a whole. One wonders where these Hindi speaking persons came from. It is obvious that this increase in numbers is result of manipulation of figures. 1971 census had 360000 Gojri speakers. Gojri doesn’t find a mention in 1981 census. It is obvious the all nomad Gojars and Bakerwals have been depicted as Hindi speakers in the census.
Whatever deficiency remained, that has been made up by enumerating non state subjects along with state subjects within the census. It seems members of security agencies as well as migrant labourers have been added to the figures of state population within the census. The fact gets confirmed when one browses through linguistic mosaic of the state. The census depicts that we have people with Tamil, Telugu, Assamese, Bhojpuri, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam and Kannada as their mother tongue in J&K. It is obvious that this is nothing but reflection of enumeration of non state subjects along with natives within the census. Given the historical facts, this development can’t be seen in isolation. Apart from context of final disposition of J&K state, demographic transformation has another angle as well. The angle pertains to disempowerment of the Muslim majority sought by Right wing Hindu Nationalists. BJP & RSS have been consistently demanding delimitation of constituencies to state legislature on the basis of concocted figures of the census. Prof. Bhim Singh filed a writ petition in J&K high Court for this purpose. J&K High Court dismissed it off but Bhim Singh has proceeded to Supreme Court for this purpose. Manipulation of census figures and subsequent demands for delimitation of constituencies is nothing but RSS plan in practice to transform Kashmir into another Palestine. Reluctance of New Delhi to enter into a serious dialogue for resolution of Kashmir problem is in anticipation of this demographic transformation. Purpose is to defer resolution until the majority of Kashmir is transformed into minority.
A media hype is being created that separatists this time support the census. The supporting exercise without any reservations regarding authenticity seems to be fulfillment of an assignment to authenticate concocted figures of past and future.
Census is a process of enumeration of population embarked upon by the state. It goes on irrespective of support of anyone. Even if there is no exercise of collection of data, states make projections through Sampling Method or taking Mean of previous and future census. The issue is not that of support to census or its opposition, but its authenticity and credibility. We don’t need to stand to be counted. When we participated whole heartedly in 1981, the reward was discount of population our count was 65% and we boycotted in 2001, the count was 67%. Our standing up hardly mattered. Everyone agrees that in J&K census has not been credible either because of manipulation of figures or because of the procedures detrimental to the interests of natives of state and its majority. The leaders instead of making noise about Participation or Non participation should make sure that it doesn’t become an instrument of transforming Muslim majority character of the state. Same is true about columnists. Instead of behaving as poster boys of status quo and writing columns that seem to be nothing other than elaboration of information department posters, the subject demands serious treatment based on facts and figures. This is a duty which we owe to our future generations irrespective of our association with any shade of political opinion.
Published in Greater Kashmir dated 04 May 2010
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