Kathua district

Kathua district is an administrative district in the Jammu division of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.^[1] It is surrounded by Jammu to the northwest, the Doda and Udhampur districts to the north, the state of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Punjab to the south, and Pakistan's working boundary to the west. Its terrain is diverse, consisting of rich agricultural areas along the Punjab/Kashmir border, plains sweeping eastward to the foothills of the Himalaya, and the mountainous Pahari region in the east.

Kathua district
District of Jammu and Kashmir administered by India
Mountainous areas in the east of Kathua
Interactive map of Kathua district
Kathua district is in the Jammu division (shown with neon blue boundary) of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (shaded in tan in the disputed Kashmir region[1]
Coordinates (Kathua): 32°35′N 75°30′E
Administering country	India
Union territory	Jammu and Kashmir
Division	Jammu Division
Parliamentary Constituency	Udhampur-Doda-Kathua Constituency
District Headquarter	Kathua
Tehsils	Bani, Basholi, Billawar, Hiranagar, Kathua, Nagri-Parole, Marheen, Dinga Amb, Mahanpur, Lohai Malhar, Ramkote.
Government
• District Development Council Chairperson	Mann Singh (BJP)
• District Collector	Rahul Yadav(IAS)
Area [2]
• Total	2,502 km2 (966 sq mi)
• Urban	43.16 km2 (16.66 sq mi)
• Rural	2,458.84 km2 (949.36 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[3]
• Total	616,435
• Density	250/km2 (640/sq mi)
• Urban	89,713
• Rural	526,722
Demographics
• Literacy	73.09%
• Sex ratio	890
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration	JK-08
Major highways	NH 44(Pathankot-Jammu), Bhaderwah-Basoli Highway, Border Road(Kathua-Bishnah).
Average annual precipitation	921cm ( Annual-Billawar) mm
Website	https://kathua.nic.in/

Kathua district is divided into 8 blocks: Bani, Barnoti, Basholi, Billawar, Duggan, Ghagwal, Hiranagar, Kathua and Lohai Malhar. It has approximately 512 villages.

The traditional language of Kathua is Dogri. Pahari languages are prevalent in the mountainous area of the east. The principal media of education are English, Hindi, and Urdu.

History

Kathua district in J & K

Jodh Singh of the Andotra clan (shares ancestry with Tomar and Som Rajputs) is believed to have migrated from Hastinapur to Kathua nearly 2,000 years ago.

His three sons established the three Hamlets of Taraf Tajwal, Taraf Manjali and Taraf Bhajwal. Their descendants are now called as Tajwalia, Bhajwalia and Khanwalia Rajputs of Andotra sub-caste. Prior to 1921, the Kathua district was known as the Jasrota district. Between 1921–1931, the headquarters of the district was shifted to Kathua without any alteration in the area of governance.^[4][5]

Greek historians, who provide an insight into the ancient history of Jammu hills, prominently record the existence in this area of two powerful empires - Abhisara (present day Poonch) and Kathaioi - at the time of invasion of India by Alexander. Strabo describes Kathaioi as a mighty republic of that era,located in the foothills along the Ravi River. The topography of Kathaioi corresponds with the present day Kathua. Strabo describes the people of this republic as the epitome of bravery and courage, and records that they gave a tough fight to invading army of Alexander.

There are many places which commemorate a visit to Kathua by Pandavas. Lord Krishna is also said to have come to this area, in order to get back from Jamawant the Syamantaka Mani.

Because of its close proximity to the Pakistan border, Kathua District has had a significant Indian Army presence since independence. The Army units were camped at Kathua during militancy in the state when the ultras (extremists) carried out attacks against government installations. Some of these ultras were Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and infiltration across the border from Pakistan was a major concern.^[6] There were many attacks in the region beginning in the late 1980s. Among them, in 2002, in March ten people were killed in an attack in Kathua at a temple, in May thirty-two people were killed in an attack on a bus and Army residential complex, in July twenty-nine people were killed in an attack near Qasim Nagar, in September twelve people were killed when ultras attacked a bus at Hiranagar Morh.^[7] In 2005, three terrorists attacked on army camp in front of District Hospital in Kathua killing two people. By 2008 the attacks had ceased.^[8] But in 2013, ultras attacked a police station, killing four policemen and a civilian, stole a truck and then attacked an army camp in the neighboring Samba District.^[8][9]

Basohli Paintings

Main article: Basohli Painting

Basohli, a town of Kathua district, is widely known for its paintings. Immortalised by their artistic eminences and their connoisseur patrons, Basohli today is a metaphor for a vigorous, bold and imaginative artistic style, rich, stylish and unconventional.

A style of painting characterized by vigorous use of primary colours and a peculiar facial formula prevailed in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries in the foothills of the Western Himalayas in the Jammu and Punjab States.

The earliest paintings in this style originated in Basohli from where the style spread to the Hill States of Mankot, Nurpur, Kulu, Mandi, Suket, Bilaspur, Nalagarh, Chamba, Guler and Kangra. The first mention of Basohli painting is in the annual report of the Archaeological Survey of India published in 1921.

Administration

Kathua is divided into four subdivisions: Bani, Basohli, Billawar/Badnota, and Hiranagar. These sub-divisions are further divided into 11 tehsils:^[10]

• Kathua
• Hiranagar
• Billawar
• Basohli
• Bani
• Nagri
• Marheen
• Dinga Amb
• Mahanpur
• Lohai Malhar
• Ramkote

Politics

Kathua District has five assembly constituencies: Bani, Basohli, Kathua, Billawar and Hiranagar (S.C).^[11]

Demographics

Historical populations

Year	Pop.	±%
1901	144,722	—
1911	142,404	−1.6%
1921	144,675	+1.6%
1931	151,394	+4.6%
1941	166,940	+10.3%
1951	180,968	+8.4%
1961	194,997	+7.8%
1971	256,755	+31.7%
1981	340,494	+32.6%
1991	419,120	+23.1%
2001	511,455	+22.0%
2011	616,435	+20.5%
source:[12] † 1951 and 1991 populations are estimated

Religion in Kathua district (2011)[3] Religion Percent Hinduism   87.61% Islam   10.42% Sikhism   1.55% Other or not stated   0.42%

Sex Ratio in Kathua District in 2011 Census.[3] (no. females per 1,000 males)
Religion (and population)			Sex Ratio
Hindu (pop 540,063)			890
Muslim (pop 64,234)			904
Sikh (pop 9,551)			809
Other (pop 2,587)			873
Total (pop 616,435)			890

Languages of Kathua district (2011)^[13]

  Dogri (81.92%)

  Pahadi (6.94%)

  Gojri (3.50%)

  Kashmiri (2.01%)

  Punjabi (1.86%)

  Hindi (1.03%)

  Others (2.74%)

According to the 2011 census Kathua district has a population of 616,435, roughly equal to the nation of Solomon Islands^[14] or the US state of Vermont.^[15] This gives it a ranking of 521st in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 246 inhabitants per square kilometre (640/sq mi) .^[14] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 20.53%. Kathua has a sex ratio of 890 females for every 1000 males,^[14] and a literacy rate of 73.09%.^[14] The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes account for 22.9% and 8.6% of the population of the district.^[14]

Kathua 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	540,063	64,234	1,828	9,551	24	16	2	717	616,435
	87.61%	10.42%	0.30%	1.55%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.12%	100.00%
Male	285,720	33,728	941	5,280	12	9	1	418	326,109
Female	254,343	30,506	887	4,271	12	7	1	299	290,326
Gender ratio (% female)	47.1%	47.5%	48.5%	44.7%	50.0%	43.8%	50.0%	41.7%	47.1%
Sex ratio (no. of females per 1,000 males)	890	904	943	809	–	–	–	715	890
Urban	82,162	3,272	1,111	3,015	13	6	1	133	89,713
Rural	457,901	60,962	717	6,536	11	10	1	584	526,722
% Urban	15.2%	5.1%	60.8%	31.6%	54.2%	37.5%	50.0%	18.5%	14.6%

At the time of the 2011 census, 81.92% of the population spoke Dogri, 6.94% Pahari, 3.50% Gojri, 2.01% Kashmiri, 1.86% Punjabi and 1.03% Hindi as their first language.^[13]

Places of Interest

Kathua district is known for its scenic beauty and numerous Hindu pilgrimage sites like Sukrala Mata Mandir, Chanchlo Mata Mandir, Jourian wali Mata, Bala Sundari Mandir and Airwan Mandir.^[16] Bani valley, Chhatergala meadow, Sarthal meadow, Dhaggar site are some of scenic spots in this district Kathua for town Billawar.

See also

• Jasrota
• Jasrotia

References

1. The application of the term "administered" to the various regions of Kashmir and a mention of the Kashmir dispute is supported by the tertiary sources (a) through (d), reflecting due weight in 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 978-0-7172-0139-6 C. E Bosworth, University of Manchester Quote: "KASHMIR, kash'mer, the northernmost region of the Indian subcontinent, administered partlv by India, partly by Pakistan, and partly by China. The region has been the subject of a bitter dispute between India and Pakistan since they became independent in 1947";
   (d) Osmańczyk, Edmund Jan (2003), Encyclopedia of the United Nations and International Agreements: G to M, Taylor & Francis, pp. 1191–, ISBN 978-0-415-93922-5 Quote: "Jammu and Kashmir: Territory in northwestern India, subject to a dispute betw een India and Pakistan. It has borders with Pakistan and China."
   (e) Talbot, Ian (2016), A History of Modern South Asia: Politics, States, Diasporas, Yale University Press, pp. 28–29, ISBN 978-0-300-19694-8 Quote: "We move from a disputed international border to a dotted line on the map that represents a military border not recognized in international law. The line of control separates the Indian and Pakistani administered areas of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir.";
   (f) Kashmir, region Indian subcontinent, Encyclopaedia Britannica, retrieved 15 August 2019 (subscription required) Quote: "... China became active in the eastern area of Kashmir in the 1950s and has controlled the northeastern part of Ladakh (the easternmost portion of the region) since 1962.";
   (g) Bose, Sumantra (2009), Kashmir: Roots of Conflict, Paths to Peace, Harvard University Press, pp. 294, 291, 293, ISBN 978-0-674-02855-5 Quote: "J&K: Jammu and Kashmir. The former princely state that is the subject of the Kashmir dispute. Besides IJK (Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. The larger and more populous part of the former princely state. It has a population of slightly over 10 million, and comprises three regions: Kashmir Valley, Jammu, and Ladakh.) and AJK ('Azad" (Free) Jammu and Kashmir. The more populous part of Pakistani-controlled J&K, with a population of approximately 2.5 million. AJK has six districts: Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Bagh, Kodi, Rawalakot, and Poonch. Its capital is the town of Muzaffarabad. AJK has its own institutions, but its political life is heavily controlled by Pakistani authorities, especially the military), it includes the sparsely populated "Northern Areas" of Gilgit and Baltistan, remote mountainous regions which are directly administered, unlike AJK, by the Pakistani central authorities, and some high-altitude uninhabitable tracts under Chinese control."
   (h) Fisher, Michael H. (2018), An Environmental History of India: From Earliest Times to the Twenty-First Century, Cambridge University Press, p. 166, ISBN 978-1-107-11162-2 Quote: "Kashmir’s identity remains hotly disputed with a UN-supervised “Line of Control” still separating Pakistani-held Azad (“Free”) Kashmir from Indian-held Kashmir.";
   (i) Snedden, Christopher (2015), Understanding Kashmir and Kashmiris, Oxford University Press, p. 10, ISBN 978-1-84904-621-3 Quote:"Some politicised terms also are used to describe parts of J&K. These terms include the words 'occupied' and 'held'."
2. District Census Handbook Kathua (PDF). Census of India 2011, Part A (Report). 18 June 2014. p. 8. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
3. C-1 Population By Religious Community – Jammu & Kashmir (Report). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
4. Agrarian Legislation in India, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, 1973, p. 232
5. Office of the Registrar General, Census of India, 1961: Jammu and Kashmir, Manager of Publications, p. 142
6. Kak. M. L. (29 August 2001). "Kathua next target of ultras ISI shifts officer to Sialkot Sector". The Tribune. Chandigarh, India. Archived from the original on 18 January 2002.
7. Sharma, S. P. (1 October 2002). "Attack shows chinks in police set-up". The Tribune. Chandigarh, India. Archived from the original on 21 December 2002.
8. Singh, Ajit Kumar (2013). "J&K: Escalating Failures". South Asia Intelligence Review: Weekly Assessments & Briefings. 12 (13). Archived from the original on 8 January 2014.
9. Hassan, Ishfaq ul (26 September 2013). "All three ultras in J&K terror attack killed, search operations over". DNA (Diligent Media Corporation). Archived from the original on 8 January 2014.
10. "Kathua - Official Site". kathua.nic.in. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
11. "ERO's and AERO's". Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir. Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
12. "A-2 Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901". Censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
13. C-16 Population By Mother Tongue – Jammu & Kashmir (Report). Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
14. "Kathua District Population Census 2011, Jammu and Kashmir literacy sex ratio and density". www.census2011.co.in. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
15. "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Vermont 625,741
16. "Tourist Places | District Kathua, Government of Jammu & Kashmir | India". Retrieved 16 August 2024.

External links

• Kathua district, Official website
• Kathua district on OpenStreetMap
• Gallery for Basohli paintings