This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (June 2011)

Indian municipal organisation by state

Gram panchayats are local self-governments at the village or small town level in India. As of 2002 there were about 265,000 gram panchayats in India. The gram panchayat is the foundation of the Panchayat System. A gram panchayat can be set up in villages with minimum population of 300. Sometimes two or more villages are clubbed together to form group-gram panchayat when the population of the individual villages is less than 300.

Structure[link]

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The Sarpanch or Chairperson is the head of the Gram Panchayat. The elected members of the Gram Panchayat elect from among themselves a Sarpanch and a Deputy Sarpanch for a term of five years. In some places the panchayat president is directly elected by village people. The Sarpanch presides over the meetings of the Gram Panchayat and supervises its working. He implements the development schemes of the village. The Deputy Sarpanch, who has the power to make his own decisions, assists the Sarpanch in his work.

The Sarpanch has the responsibilities of

1. Looking after street lights, construction and repair work of the roads in the villages and also the village markets, fairs,collection of tax, festivals and celebrations.
2. Keeping a record of births, deaths and marriages in the village.
3. Looking after public health and hygiene by providing facilities for sanitation and drinking water.
4. Providing for education.
5. To organize the meetings of Gramsabha(ग्रामसभा) and Grampanchayat(ग्रामपंचायत).

A grampannchyat consists of a between 7 and 17 members, elected from the wards of the village, and they are called a "panch". Peoples of village selects panch, with one-eighth of seats reserved for female candidates. To establish a Grampanchyat in a village, the population of the village should be at least 500 people of voting age.

Sources of income[link]

The main source of income of the Gram Panchayat is the property tax levied on the buildings and the open spaces within the village. Other sources of income include professional tax, taxes on pilgrimage, animal trade, grant received from the State Government in proportion of land revenue and the grants received from the Zilla Parishad.

The gramsevak / gram vikas adhikari is communicator in government and village panchayat and do works for sarpanch. This post is in maharashtra, india. he is responsible person as sarpanch.

Principles of decentralisation[link]

Dr S B Sen committee, a committee appointed by the Government of Kerala in 1996, had suggested the following principles, which was later adopted by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission, for local governance :-

• subsidiarity

]]

• democratic decentralisation
• delineation of functions
• devolution of functions in real terms
• convergence
• citizen centricity

gram sabha is conducted six times in a year ...april, 1st may,1 2TH augest, 20octo,6 nov, 1 jan.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Our Civic Life (Civics and Administration). Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research, Pune^{[clarification needed][year needed]}
• Subramaniam Vincent (2002-02-28). "Ugly duckling to swan". India Together. http://www.indiatogether.org/2003/apr/gov-kardcrefm.htm. 

Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh
Minister of Science and Technology
Incumbent
Assumed office 12 July 2011
President	Pratibha Patil
Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Preceded by	Pawan Kumar Bansal
Minister of Earth Sciences
Incumbent
Assumed office 12 July 2011
Preceded by	Pawan Kumar Bansal
Mumbai Cricket Association
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 July 2011
Preceded by	Sharad Pawar
Minister of Rural Development
In office 19 January 2011 – 12 July 2011
Preceded by	C. P. Joshi
Succeeded by	Jairam Ramesh
Minister of Panchayati Raj
In office 19 January 2011 – 12 July 2011
Preceded by	C. P. Joshi
Succeeded by	Kishore Chandra Deo
Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises
In office 28 May 2009 – 19 January 2011
Preceded by	Santosh Mohan Dev
Succeeded by	Praful Patel
Chief Minister of Maharashtra
In office 7 September 2004 – 5 December 2008
Preceded by	Sushil Kumar Shinde
Succeeded by	Ashok Chavan
Chief Minister of Maharashtra
In office 18 October 1999 – 16 January 2003
Preceded by	Narayan Rane
Succeeded by	Sushil Kumar Shinde
Personal details
Born	(1945-05-26) 26 May 1945 (age 67) India
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse(s)	Vaishali Deshmukh
Children	3
Occupation	Lawyer
Religion	Hinduism

Vilasrao Dagadojirao Deshmukh (born May 26, 1945), popularly known as Vilasrao is the current Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences. He has previously held the posts of Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Panchayati Raj, Government of India and Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of India.^[1] He is member of Rajya Sabha representing Maharashtra. He was also a two-time Chief Minister of Maharashtra, from 1999 to 2003 and from 2004 to 2008. He is a member of the Indian National Congress and originally belongs to Latur district in the Marathwada region of the state of Maharashtra.

Early life and family[link]

Deshmukh was born on May 26, 1945 in Babhalgaon in the Latur district. He graduated with a degree in Science (B.Sc.) and Arts (B.A.) from M.E.S Abasaheb Garware College, (Pune University) and went on to study law (L.L.B.) from the ILS Law College (Pune University).^[2] He started social activities in his early youth with particular interest in drought relief work. He was elected as the Director of the Osmanabad district Central Cooperative Bank and also of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank in 1979.^[2]

His wife is Vaishali Deshmukh, and he has three sons from her, Amit Deshmukh who is a MLA of Latur city, Ritesh and Dheeraj.^[2] His son Ritesh Deshmukh is an actor in Bollywood movies.^[3]

He has one younger brother Diliprao Deshmukh, who is a MLC and served as Minister of Relief, Rehabilitation, Sports, Youth Welfare and Protocol. in the Maharashtra Government.^[4]

Political career[link]

Deshmukh entered active politics and became member of the Babhalgaon Village Panchayat from 1974 to 1979 and its Sarpanch (village chief) from 1974 to 1976. He was a member of Osmanabad Zilla Parishad and Deputy Chairman of Latur Taluka Panchayat Samiti (Latur District Panchayat Committee) from 1974 to 1980.^[2]

As a President of Osmanabad District Youth Congress from 1975 to 1978, he worked for the implementation of Five Point Programme of the Youth Congress. He organised the youth in Osmanabad district and became President of District wing of the Indian National Congress.^[2]

He was Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 1980 to 1995 winning 1980, 1985 and 1990 elections.^[5] During this period, as the Minister of State and the Cabinet Minister, Deshmukh handled departments such as Home, General Administration, Cooperation, Public Works, Transport, Legislative Affairs, Tourism, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development Fisheries, Industry, Rural Development, Education, Technical Education, Sports and Youth Welfare,

He has been a minister in various governments in Maharashtra from 1982 to 1995 holding portfolios of revenue, cooperation, agriculture, home, industries and education.^[2]

He lost the elections in 1995 with a margin of 35,000. He was re-elected to the State Legislature from Latur Constituency in the elections held in September 1999 with a strong comeback winning with a margin of nearly 91,000 in two successive election, the highest in Maharashtra. He took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on October 18, 1999. He was Chief Minister till 17 January 2003, but had to step down in January 2003 and make way for Sushilkumar Shinde, a prominent Dalit member of Congress, following factionalism in the state unit of the party.

He was re-elected to the State Legislative Assembly from Latur Constituency in the Elections held in October 2004.^[5]

He took oath of Chief Ministership for the second time on November 1, 2004.^[6][7]

In the aftermath of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, he took the moral responsibility and offered to resign, which was then accepted by the party.^[8][9]

He subsequently entered the Rajya Sabha and was appointed to the Council of Ministers as Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 28 May 2009.^[10]

He was appointed as Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises on 19 January 2011 cabinet reshuffle.^[11] Later on he was appointed Minister of Rural Development.

He was appointed as Minister of Science and Technology and Minister of Earth Sciences on July 12, 2011

Educational activities[link]

Deshmukh founded the Manjra Charitable Trust which runs a number of colleges in Latur & Mumbai. Some of them are Manajara Ayurvedic Medical College & Hospital Latur, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology at Versova, Andheri in Mumbai^[12] and Sushiladevi Deshmukh Vidyalaya at Airoli, Navi Mumbai. His interests include reading, classical music, volleyball and table tennis.^[2]

Vilasrao Deshmukh- Subhash Ghai land deal[link]

On 9 February 2012, the Bombay High Court has ordered filmmaker Subhash Ghai to return to Maharashtra government 20-acres allotted for his film institute. The court indicted the former chief minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh for "misusing his official position" as chief minister by showing "undue favours" to Ghai. The Bombay high court on Thursday said Vilasrao Deshmukh misused his position to allot 20 acres at Film City, Goregaon, to film producer Subhash Ghai for just Rs 3 crore a decade ago. The Mumbai collector said the market value of the plot, where Ghai's institute Whistling Woods stands, was Rs 66.21 crore in 2000. The court cancelled the land allotment and directed Ghai to immediately return 14.5 acres. The remaining land will be taken back in 2014. In quashing the agreement, the judges were particularly harsh on Deshmukh, who is now the cabinet minister in Central Government. "The role played by Respondent 7 (Deshmukh) in the entire transaction is deprecable. As highest functionary of state executive, (he) must be held to be aware of the legal provisions regarding public property," they said. "(Deshmukh) has clearly misused his official position as CM and it is certainly not acceptable that a chief minister will personally sign an agreement as a witness, though such agreement is completely illegal and does not have any support or authority even in the form of a resolution," they said. The land was allotted to Ghai at a price of Rs 3 crore during Deshmukh's tenure as CM. The judges said the Mumbai collector's report valued the land at Rs 45.56 crore as of January 1, 1995. Even if it were to be given at a concessional rate of 10.75% of the market value per year, the amount would be Rs 2.34 crore every year. By January 2000, the market value, according to the Mumbai collector, shot up to Rs 66.21 crore and the rent, after applying the concessional rate, would be Rs 7.11 crore, said the judges. ^[13]

On 4 April 2012, the supreme court of India has ordered Mr. Subhash Ghai to return the 21 acres allotted to his film academy, Whistling Woods, in Film City, Goregaon, which was given to him in 2000 by then chief minister of Maharashtra Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh. The Supreme Court has agreed with the Bombay High Court's decision in February 2012, that said Mr Ghai would have to return 14.5 acres that are currently vacant at his academy immediately to the government. Another 5.5 acres that are in use are to be given back in 2014 so that students currently enrolled can complete their courses without any disruptions. Mr Ghai had appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court's ruling.

^{[14] [15]}

Supreme Court imposed Rs 10 lakhs fine on Maharashtra government[link]

On 14 December 2010, the Supreme Court imposed a staggering Rs 10 lakhs fine on Maharashtra government on a complaint that the then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh influenced police against registering an FIR against his brother. A bench of justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly chided Deskmukh saying, "The (former) Chief Minister should not have interfered with the criminal justice system." The apex court passed the order while dismissing the Maharashtra government's appeal challenging imposition of Rs 25,000 as fine on it earlier by the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on a petition by Buldhana district's farmers alleging that the police refused to register a criminal case against Deshmukh's brother Dilip Kumar under the Money Lending Act. It was alleged that Deshmukh's personal secretary Amba Das had called up the then district superintendent of police (SP) to inform that the chief minister did not want any FIR to be registered in the case. Accordingly, the SP asked his subordinates not to register any FIR but reportedly recorded the same in its file. Aggrieved by the refusal of the police to register an FIR, the victims approached the Bombay High Court which, apart from ordering registration of an FIR, also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on the state. ^[16]

Justice Ganguly slams Vilasrao Deshmukh[link]

Justice Ganguly, in Mumbai to address lawyer-activists, called Deshmukh's shift by the UPA government from heavy industries to rural development during the recent reshuffle a "shameless act". He further added "It is sad and shocking to see how the government allows and appreciates such ministers. Not only that, (it) also gives them a cabinet post. It is not a dignified act, I would call it a shameless act." ^[17]

Taj Controversy[link]

Vilasrao Deshmukh found himself in controversy after he visited the Hotel Taj after 26/11 attack in 2008, with actor son Riteish and filmmaker Ram Gopal Verma. Opposition Leader of BJP Sudhir Mungattiwar criticized him saying "He has misused his position when he took Ram Gopal Varma to the Taj (Mahal Palace & Tower Hotel) after the terror attack." ^[18]

Probe against Deshmukh for shielding MLA from farmers[link]

On 28 March 2012, the metropolitan magistrate's court has directed the Marine Drive police station to investigate allegations that Union minister Vilasrao Deshmukh shielded a congress MLA from complaints by poor farmers in Buldhana district of Marathwada. The incident in question took place in May 2006 when Deshmukh was the chief minister of Maharashtra. Farmers from Vidarbha, led by one Sarangdharsingh Chavan, filed complaints against MLA Dilip Kumar Sananda and his family for torturing them to recover the loan amount and charging an interest of 10% per month.

As many as 34 complaints were registered against the MLA and his family till June 28, 2006. However, the petitioners alleged that Deshmukh's interference ensured that no subsequent cases were registered by the police, forcing the distressed farmers to move the high court.

The high court held that Deshmukh acted in violation of the law by asking the district collector of Buldhana and Khamgaon police station not to register cases against MLA Sananda and his family members.

The state government appealed against the verdict in the Supreme Court. The apex court, however, dismissed the government's appeal and instead, increased the fine levied on the Maharashtra government from Rs25,000 per head to Rs10 lakh.

In its December 2010 order, the division bench of justices G S Singhavi and AK Ganguly condemned Deshmukh's actions in no uncertain terms and made some hard-hitting observations. The court termed the erstwhile chief minister's actions as “condemnable”, as he acted beyond “all legal norms” for “political consideration” despite the Vidharbha region having a dubious distinction of witnessing the largest number of farmer suicides.

“The chief minister's instructions are so incongruous and anachronistic, being in defiance of all logic and reason, that our conscience is deeply disturbed. We condemn the same in no uncertain terms,” the bench had said.

“The message conveyed in this case is extremely shocking and it shocks the conscience of this Court about the manner in which the Constitutional functionaries behaved in the state of Maharashtra,” the bench had said.

Last year, a private complaint was filed by one Abdul Malik Chaudhary who sought to issue process and also sought criminal proceedings against Deshmukh and the MLA. Chaudhary's lawyer, Ashish Giri, said that the court has directed the Marine Drive police to file a report after inquiry by June 11. ^{[19] [20]}

CAG Report 2012[link]

According to the 2012 Comptroller's and Auditor General's (CAG) Report, Vilasrao Deshmukh, as Chief Minister in 2005, allotted a 23,840 square metre plot of land in Mumbai to a trust held by his family: The Manjra Charitable Trust. The market value of the land was worth Rs. 30 crore, but it was allotted at one-fifth the price, Rs. 6.56 crore. And while the land was given for a dental college, and the construction should have begun within two years as per the law, nothing has been built on the plot until four years after, indicating motivations for a land grab. The CAG report says: "Our scrutiny of land records revealed that the collector while allotting land did not mention the basic condition regarding completion of entire work within the period of two years so as to commence educational activity. It was also revealed that the chief minister had approved the application of Manjara trust for allotment of land in preference to three other applications without assigning any reason for this preferential allotment." ^{[21] [22]}

Adarsh Scam[link]

An affidavit filed in the Bombay high court, on 27 April 2012 alleges that Vilasrao Deshmukh might be owning two flats through proxies in the scam-tainted Adarsh Housing Society in Mumbai. The affidavit was filed by social activist Pravin Wategaonkar, one of the petitioners who have sought action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against politicians and bureaucrats in the Adarsh case through a PIL. "It was noticed in the CAG audit that in most cases decisions that were taken resulted in undue favour to the Society. Many of the officials who were involved in such decisions were direct beneficiaries. Either they or their relatives already were, or later became, members of the Society," it says, quoting the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report. According to the affidavit, Deshmukh, during his tenure as Maharashtra chief minister, recommended three persons—Uttam Ghakare, Amol Karbhari and Kiran Bhadange—for membership in the Adarsh Society, and they were allotted flats in the high-rise. It alleges that Karbhari and Bhadange, who hold adjacent flats 1503 and 1504, appear to be proxies for Deshmukh. "Both these people have received finances totalling Rs. 104.5 lakh from former Congress MLC and chief promoter of the Society Kanhaiyalal Gidwani (an accused in Adarsh case) and the company Apeksha Impex, reportedly owned by the Gidwanis themselves," the affidavit claims. Further, it alleges, allotment of flats to the persons recommended by Deshmukh appears to be a quid-pro-quo for the clearances given to the Society in his capacity as chief minister and minister-in-charge of the Urban Development. Deshmukh recently was rebuked by the high court and later by the Supreme Court in the Whistling Woods land allotment case. ^[23]

Notes[link]

1. ^ "Department of Heavy Industry". Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. http://dhi.nic.in/. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "Shri. Vilasrao Dagadoji Deshmukh". Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. http://dhi.nic.in/min-biodata.pdf. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
3. ^ "Ritesh Deshmukh Biography". apunkachoice.com. http://www.apunkachoice.com//names/rit/ritesh_deshmukh/cid_609/biography/. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
4. ^ "Dilip Deshmukh takes oath as Cabinet Minister". webindia123.com. 1 March 2009. http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20090301/1188874.html. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Election result Analysis 1978-2004". Election Commission of India. http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/electionanalysis/AE/S13/partycomp206.htm. Retrieved 27 January 2010. 
6. ^ "Wheel has taken full circle for Vilasrao Deshmukh". Rediff.com. 30 October 2004. http://www.rediff.com/election/2004/oct/29maha1.htm. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
7. ^ "Deshmukh sworn in Chief Minister of Maharashtra". The Hindu. 2 November 2004. http://www.hindu.com/2004/11/02/stories/2004110209660100.htm. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
8. ^ . Hindustan Times. 5 December 2008. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Chavan-to-be-new-Maharashtra-CM/Article1-356150.aspx. Retrieved 30 October 2010. 
9. ^ "Mumbai: the aftermath". World Press. 5 December 2008. http://inside.org.au/mumbai-the-aftermath/. Retrieved 30 October 2010. 
10. ^ "Big comeback: Deshmukh in Union Cabinet". CNN-IBN. 28 May 2009. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/big-comeback-deshmukh-in-union-cabinet/93527-37.html. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
11. ^ "Vilasrao Deshmukh's promotion in Union Cabinet". CNN-IBN. 19 January 2011. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/maha-cm-gets-rural-development-ministry/140962-37.html. Retrieved 19 January 2011. 
12. ^ "MANJARA Charitable Trust". Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Mumbai. http://mctrgit.ac.in/aboutus.php. Retrieved 6 February 2010. 
13. ^ "Bombay HC slams Vilasrao Deshmukh- Subhash Ghai land deal - Times Of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-10/mumbai/31045559_1_land-allotment-joint-venture-cultural-development-corporation. Retrieved 2012-04-05. 
14. ^ "Supreme Court orders Subhash Ghai to return land, slams Vilasrao Deshmukh". Movies.ndtv.com. http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?ID=ENTEN20120198613&keyword=bollywood&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&nid=193699. Retrieved 2012-04-05. 
15. ^ "Supreme Court orders Subhash Ghai to return land, slams Vilasrao Deshmukh". Ndtv.com. http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/supreme-court-orders-subhash-ghai-to-return-land-slams-vilasrao-deshmukh-193700. Retrieved 2012-04-05. 
16. ^ "SC fines Maharastra Govt Rs 10 lakhs for shielding ex-CM's brother". Sify.com. 2010-12-14. http://www.sify.com/news/sc-fines-maharastra-govt-rs-10-lakhs-for-shielding-ex-cm-s-brother-news-national-kmomObefbcb.html. Retrieved 2012-04-05. 
17. ^ "Vilasrao's cabinet post a shameless act: SC judge - Times Of India". Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-07/india/28366079_1_sc-judge-moneylender-rural-development. Retrieved 2012-04-05. 
18. ^ "BJP demands Vilasrao Deshmukh's resignation - Politics - Politics News - ibnlive". Ibnlive.in.com. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bjp-demands-vilasrao-deshmukhs-resignation/229475-37-64.html. Retrieved 2012-04-05. 
19. ^ "Probe against Deshmukh for shielding MLA from farmers". Hindustan Times. 2012-03-29. http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Probe-against-Deshmukh-for-shielding-MLA-from-farmers/Article1-832360.aspx. Retrieved 2012-04-05. 
20. ^ "Vilasrao Deshmukh faces inquiry for shielding 'friend' Dilip Sananda : West News - India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 2012-03-29. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vilasrao-deshmukh-inquiry-congress-mla-dilip-sananda/1/179823.html. Retrieved 2012-04-05. 
21. ^ http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-04-06/news/31300068_1_land-allotment-cag-report-manjara
22. ^ http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/chaos-in-maharashtra-assembly-after-cag-report-on-land-grab-indicts-ministers-198593
23. ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Deshmukh-might-be-owning-flats-in-Adarsh-through-proxies/Article1-846652.aspx

Naveen Jindal
Naveen Jindal at the World Economic Forum
MP
Incumbent
Assumed office 2004
Preceded by	Kailasho Devi
Constituency	Kurukshetra
Personal details
Born	(1970-03-09) 9 March 1970 (age 42) Hisar, Haryana, India
Political party	Indian National Congress
Spouse(s)	Shallu
Children	1 son and 1 daughter
Residence	Delhi and Kurukshetra
Alma mater	Delhi Public School, Mathura Road University of Delhi University of Texas at Dallas
Profession	Industrialist Politician Philanthropist[1] Sportsman
Religion	Hinduism
Website	Naveen Jindal
As of June 15, 2007 Source: [1]

Naveen Jindal (born 9 March 1970) is an Indian politician and Member of Parliament^[2] (MP) from the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency in the northern Indian state of Haryana. He is the Chairman and Managing Director of Jindal Steel and Power Limited,^[3] which is part of the $15 billion diversified O.P. Jindal Group founded by his late industrialist father.

It was his initiative that led to a revision of the Flag Code of India which now grants every private citizen the right to fly the Flag of India (also known as the "Tiranga") publicly with dignity and honour on all days of the year.^[4]

He is an active campaigner for population stabilisation, women’s empowerment, environmental conservation, health and education. As an acknowledgement of his support to his alma mater, in 2011 the University of Texas at Dallas, renamed its School of Management as the Naveen Jindal School of Management.^[5]

Along with his wife – Kuchipudi dancer Shallu Jindal – he founded the Flag Foundation of India, which is their effort to foster among Indian youth respect for the Tiranga and the values it embodies.

He lives in Delhi with his wife and their two children.

Early life and education[link]

Naveen Jindal was born in Hisar, Haryana, on 9 March 1970, the youngest child of the late industrialist-philanthropist-politician O.P. Jindal, former Minister of Power in the government of Haryana, India, and his wife Savitri Jindal. Naveen studied at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, New Delhi, before graduating in Commerce from Hans Raj College, Delhi University in 1990. He completed an MBA degree from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1992. He was the President of the Student Government and recipient of the Student Leader of the Year Award at the University of Texas at Dallas.

National flag initiative[link]

As President of the Student Government at the University of Texas at Dallas, Jindal displayed the Indian flag whenever possible, inspired by the American tradition that sees a show of the US flag as a mark of patriotism. He continued to do so when he returned to India, flying the flag at his factory premises in Raigarh in present-day Chhattisgarh. However, the Commissioner of Bilaspur objected to this practice, citing the Flag Code of India which at the time permitted private citizens to fly the Indian Tricolour only on Independence Day and Republic Day. Jindal filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court in February 1995 contesting the restraints being placed on him by officials, and later disputed the government position in the Supreme Court too. On January 15, 2002, the Union Cabinet accepted the report of the Dr P.D. Shenoy Committee that it had constituted to look into the matter, and announced that citizens will be free to fly the national flag on all days of the year from January 26, 2002. The Government subsequently issued a new flag code (Flag Code of India 2002) which contained guidelines for flying the national flag. On January 23, 2004, the Supreme Court of India ruled in Jindal’s favour.

The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Parliament in 2005. It was passed unanimously, granting citizens the right to display the national flag on clothes and caps in a duly prescribed manner.

The concept of “monumental flags” has been introduced in India. These gigantic flags are now flown at several locations across India. Following a subsequent campaign, he got a favourable ruling^{[citation needed]} from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on December 22, 2009, permitting monumental flags to be flown at night with appropriate illumination, contrary to the requirement at the time that all flags should be lowered after dusk.

On February 18, 2010, the Rules Committee of the Lok Sabha accepted his proposal to allow MPs to display the national flag as a lapel pin while seated in the House.

On August 9, 2010, the High Court in Bilaspur, observed that not lowering the flag at night is not a violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. The judgment opened the door for the common person to fly the Tiranga at night.

Jindal established the Flag Foundation of India with his wife Shallu to instill pride in the Tiranga among citizens through the arts, seminars and workshops aimed particularly at children and the youth.

Politics[link]

Jindal’s involvement in politics dates began in his student days. His father, the late O.P. Jindal, was a Minister in the Haryana government. After completing his post-graduation in the US, Naveen returned to India and began managing his father’s political affairs. In 2004 he stood for elections from the Kurukshetra constituency in the north Indian state of Haryana on an Indian National Congress ticket. He won, beating his nearest rival Abhay Singh Chautala by a margin of 1.6 lakh votes. He was re-elected in the 2009 general elections. The two-time MP from Haryana is part of the “youth brigade” of the current Lok Sabha. His focus as an MP has been the problems of corruption, over-population, women’s exploitation, environment, health and education. Also on his agenda is the incorporation of the best practices of business management in politics.

Jindal is leading efforts to form a Citizens’ Alliance for Reproductive Health and Rights, as a parliamentarians’ response to take collective action for improved reproductive health for the people of India. The Alliance aims to raise awareness and address reproductive health needs of the people, including the need for healthy mothers and children and planned families.^[6]

Parliamentary responsibilities & initiatives[link]

• Member, Standing Committee on Home Affairs
• Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Defence
• Special Invitee, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Civil Aviation
• Convener, Parliamentary Forum on Children
• Executive Member, Indian Parliamentary Group
• Additional Member, Parliamentary Forum on Population & Health
• Member, Kurukshetra Development Board
• Sports Secretary, Constitution Club of India
• Previously Convener, Sub-Committee on Modernisation of Prison Administration, Ministry of Home Affairs (2007, 2008)
• Based on Jindal’s plea^{[citation needed]}, smoking was banned in the Central Hall of Parliament

Business[link]

With an annual turnover of over US $2.9 billion, Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) is part of the US $15 billion diversified O.P. Jindal Group. JSPL (earlier known as Jindal Strips Limited) was a moderately performing enterprise when Naveen Jindal first took over its Raigarh and Raipur operations in 1993. Today, JSPL operates the world’s largest coal-based sponge iron manufacturing plant in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, and plants in Jharkhand and Orissa. The company has set up captive power plants using waste products from the sponge iron making process to generate power.

Naveen Jindal is the Chairman of Jindal Power Limited (a subsidiary of JSPL) which runs the 1,000 MW O.P. Jindal Thermal Power Plant in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh – India’s first such 1,000 MW plant in the private sector.

Sports[link]

Shooting[link]

Jindal is an international level skeet shooting champion who has represented India on various major global platforms.^{[citation needed]} He has trained under Juan Giha Yarur of Peru. Jindal was part of the team that represented India at the Busan Asian Games in South Korea in 2002. He has also participated in the World Cup in Lonato, Italy (2001). He was part of the gold-medal-winning Indian skeet team at the Singapore Open Shooting Championship in 2007. He is a member of the Governing Body of The National Rifle Association of India.

Personal life[link]

Naveen Jindal is the youngest child of Savitri and the late Om Prakash Jindal. His father was born into a farming family in Haryana’s Hisar district, and became the founder of the steel and power conglomerate, the O.P. Jindal Group. O.P. Jindal stood for elections to the Haryana Legislative Assembly and won thrice in 1991, 2000 and 2005. He stood for elections to the Lok Sabha from Haryana’s Kurukshetra constituency in 1996 and won. He was serving as the Power Minister in the Haryana government when he passed away on March 31, 2005, at the age of 75.

Naveen’s mother Savitri Jindal is a member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly from Hisar and is the Chairperson Emeritus of Jindal Steel and Power Limited and JSW Steel.

Naveen has eight siblings: sisters Saroj Bhartia, Nirmala Goel, Urmila Bhuwalka, Sarika Jhunjhunwala and Seema Jajodia; and brothers Prithviraj, Sajjan and Rattan Jindal who are industrialists like him.

Naveen is married to Kuchipudi dancer Shallu Jindal. The couple have two children, a son and a daughter.

Honours and awards[link]

Individual[link]

• Jindal has been conferred with the Justice P.N. Bhagwati Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to legal education and corporate philanthropy. Instituted by the Capital Foundation, the award was presented by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, December 2011^[7]
• University of Texas at Dallas, renamed its School of Management after Naveen Jindal in 2011. It is now called the Naveen Jindal School of Management.^[8]
• Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the field of Energy and Infrastructure, 2010^[9]

Shooting[link]

International[link]

• Gold medal in the team skeet event for India at the Singapore Open Shooting Championship, 2007
• Silver medal in the team skeet event at the 9th South Asian Federation Games, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2004
• Bronze in the team event at the Singapore Shooting Invitation, 2003
• Silver in the team event at the Singapore Shooting Invitation, 2002

National[link]

• Gold medal in individual skeet event at the 5th Sardar Sajjan Singh Memorial Master Shooting Competition, Jaipur, 2007
• Gold medal in the team skeet shooting event at the 49th National Shooting Championship, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 2005
• Gold medal in team skeet shooting at the 48th National Shooting Championship, New Delhi, 2004
• Gold medal in the individual category (with a championship record) at the National Shooting Championship, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 2003
• Gold medal (with a new national record) in the team event at the 47th National Shooting Championship, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 2003
• Gold medal in the team skeet event (with a new Games record) at the 32nd National Games, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 2002
• Gold medal in the team skeet event (with a new national record) at the 46th National Shooting Championship, New Delhi, 2002
• Gold medal in the team skeet event at the 45th National Shooting Championship, New Delhi, 2002
• Silver medal in skeet shooting at the 33rd National Games, Guwahati, Assam, 2007
• Silver medal in the individual category (with a new national record) in the 300 meter big bore prone position at the 50th National Shooting Championship, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, 2007
• Silver medal in the team event at the 50th National Shooting Championship, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, 2007
• Silver medal at the 50th National Shooting Championship, New Delhi, 2006
• Silver medal in the individual category (with a new national record) in the 300 meter big bore prone position at the 48th National Shooting Championship, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, 2004
• Silver medal in the team event at the 48th National Shooting Championship, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, 2004
• Silver medal in the individual event (with a new Games record) at the 32nd National Games, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 2002
• Silver medal in the team skeet event at the 19th National Games, Mohali, Punjab, 2001
• Bronze medal for Haryana in the team event at the 52nd Big Bore Shooting Championship, Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, 2008
• Bronze medal in the individual event at the 45th National Shooting Championship, New Delhi, 2002

Polo awards for Jindal Steel and Power[link]

• Bhopal Pataudi Cup, 2011, Runners-up Award
• SMS Gold Vase, 2009, 2000, 1999, 1997
• Maharaja Sir Pratap Singh Cup, 2009
• Northern India Championship, 2009
• Baroda Cup, 2007
• Indian Masters Polo Championship, 2005
• Maharaja Hari Singh Memorial Cup, 2004, 2000 & 1997
• Indian Polo Association Championship, 2004
• Maharaja Hari Singh Memorial Cup, 2003
• Indian Polo Association Championship, 2003

References[link]

Narendra Modi નરેન્દ્ર મોદી
Chief Minister of Gujarat
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 October 2001
Governor	Dr. Kamla Beniwal
Preceded by	Keshubhai Patel
Constituency	Maninagar
Personal details
Born	(1950-09-17) 17 September 1950 (age 61) Vadnagar, Gujarat, India
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party
Residence	Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
Alma mater	Gujarat University[1]
Religion	Hinduism
Website	Narendra Modi
As of 9 March, 2009 Source: Government of Gujarat

Narendra Damodardas Modi (Gujarati: નરેન્દ્ર મોદી; born 17 September 1950^[1]) is the current Chief Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat. Born in a middle class family in Vadnagar, he was the third of six children born to Damodardas Mulchand Modi and his wife Heeraben.^[2] He has been a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since childhood also having interest in politics since adolescence. He holds a master's degree in political science. In 1998, he was chosen by L. K. Advani, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to direct the election campaign in Gujarat as well as Himachal Pradesh.

He became Chief Minister of Gujarat in October 2001, promoted to the office at a time when his predecessor Keshubhai Patel had resigned, following the defeat of BJP in the by-elections. His tenure as chief minister of Gujarat began on 7 October 2001, and he is the longest serving Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat.^[3] In July 2007 he became the longest serving Chief Minister in Gujarat's history when he had been in power for 2063 days continuously.^[4] He was elected again for a third term^[5] on 23 December 2007 in the state elections, which he had cast as a "referendum on his rule".^[6][7]

Personal life[link]

Modi was born in a middle class family in Vadnagar in Mehsana district of what was then Bombay State, India.^[8] During the Indo-Pak war in the mid sixties, even as a young boy, he volunteered to serve the soldiers in transit at railway stations.^[9] As a young man, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a student organisation and was involved in the anti-corruption Nav Nirmāṇ ("Reconstruction") Movement. After working as a full time organiser for the organisation, he was later nominated as its representative in the Bharatiya Janata Party.^[10] As a teenager Modi used to run a tea stall with his brother.^[11] Modi completed his schooling in Vadnagar. He earned a masters degree in political science from Gujarat University.^[12]

Early activism and politics[link]

Modi was a pracharak (campaigner) in the RSS during his university years.^[12][13] He took up the challenging task of energising the party cadres in right earnest. In partnership with Shankersinh Vaghela, Modi set about creating a strong cadre base in Gujarat. In the initial period, Vaghela was seen as a mass leader, while Modi was recognised as a master strategist.

The party started gaining political mileage and formed a coalition government at the centre in April 1990. This partnership fell apart within a few months, but the BJP came to power with a two-thirds majority on its own in Gujarat in 1995. During this period, Modi was entrusted with the responsibility of organising two crucial national events, the Somnath to Ayodhya Rath Yatra (a political rally through India on a converted Toyota van) of L.K. Advani and a similar march from Kanyakumari (the southernmost part of India) to Kashmir in the North. After the exit of Shankarsingh Vaghela from the BJP, Keshubhai Patel was made Chief Minister while Narendra Modi was sent to New Delhi as a General Secretary of the Party.

In 1995, Modi was appointed the National Secretary of the party and given the charge of five major states in India. In 1998, he was promoted as the General Secretary (Organization), a post he held until October 2001. In 2001, Narendra Modi was chosen by the party to be the Chief Minister of Gujarat after the removal of chief minister Keshubhai Patel.

Tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat[link]

Personality[link]

Modi is known for leading a frugal lifestyle. He has a personal staff of just three. He is known to be a workaholic Chief Minister and an introvert.^[14] He ordered the demolition of many Hindu temples that were built without proper government sanction which earned him the ire of VHP^[11] He is a crowd puller as a speaker. Modi has also tried to turn his image from an Hindu Nationalist politician to an image of able administrator. He wears business suits and is improving his command over the English language.^[15]

Awards and recognitions[link]

Modi was awarded Gujarat Ratna by Shri Poona Gujarati Bandhu Samaj at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch on celebration of centenary year.^[16]

Development of Gujarat[link]

As a Chief Minister, Modi started various 'yojanas' or plans. This includes:

• Panchamrut Yojana,^[17][18][19] a five-pronged strategy for an integrated development of the state,
• Sujalam Sufalam, a scheme to create a grid of water resources in Gujarat in an innovative step towards water conservation and its appropriate utilisation.
• Krishi Mahotsav – agricultural research labs for the land
• Chiranjeevi Yojana – To reduce infant mortality rate
• Matru Vandana – Providing preventive and curative services under the Reproductive and Child Health Programme
• Beti Bachao – Campaign against female infanticide to improve sex ratio
• Jyotigram Yojana – Provide electricity to every village
• Karmayogi Abhiyan – To educate and train government employees
• Kanya Kelavani Yojana – To encourage female literacy and education
• Balbhog Yojana – Midday meal scheme for students to encourage school attendance from poor backgrounds.^[20]

Vibrant Gujarat[link]

Vibrant Gujarat is a biennial Global Investors' Summit held by the Government of Gujarat in Gujarat, India. The event is aimed at bringing together business leaders, investors, corporations, thought leaders, policy and opinion makers; the summit is advertised as a platform to understand and explore business opportunities in the State of Gujarat. the event has been held continuously since 2003.

Gujarat earthquake[link]

The biggest challenge which he had to face when he took over as the Chief Minister, was the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the areas affected by the massive Gujarat Earthquake of January 2001.

Gujarat violence[link]

On 27 February 2002, a train was burned by a Muslim mob in the town of Godhra leading to 59 deaths, most of them Hindu pilgrims and activists returning from the holy city of Ayodhya.^[21] Riots broke out in the state after it was suspected to be caused by Muslims, leading to 1180 deaths, many of them Muslims. Modi administration was accused of inaction over the riots and for encouraging them.^[15] As an aftermath of the riots, there were calls for Modi to resign from his position as chief minister of Gujarat. The opposition parties stalled the national parliament over the issue. Even Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP), allies of the BJP, asked for Modi's resignation.^[22][23] Modi submitted his resignation to the Governor and recommended the dissolution of the 10th Gujarat Legislative Assembly.^[24][25] In the following state re-elections the BJP, led by Modi, won 127 seats in the 182-member assembly.

In April 2009, the Supreme Court of India appointed a special team of investigators to look into the role Modi had played in the alleged anti-Muslim conspiracy.^[15] The team was appointed in response to the complaint of zakia Jafri, the widow of ex-Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, who was murdered in the riots.^[26] In December 2010, a Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) in its report to the Supreme Court seeking answers pertaining to the Ehsan Jafri case, submitted that they had found no evidence against Narendra Modi.^[27]

However in February 2011, the Times of India reported that a confidential report from the SIT indicted Modi on several counts of alleged complicity in the Gujarat riots of 2002.^[28] Most other sources have noted that the SIT report does not indict Modi for the riots due to lack of evidence.^[29][30] The Indian Express too said the report did not find any Modi involvement in the violence, though it did accuse him of watering down the seriousness of the situation.^[31] According to the Hindu, the report not only found that Modi tried to water down the seriousness of the situation, but Modi also implicitly justified the killings of Muslims, and failed to condemn the attacks on them.^[32] The Bharatiya Janata Party demanded an investigation into the publication of the report, claiming the leak was politically motivated.^[33]

The apex court refused to pass any order on the case and referred it to the Ahmedabad magistrate for a decision.^[34] In April 2012, a Special Investigation Team found absolved Modi of any involvement in the Gulberg massacre, arguably the worst episode of the riots.^[35]. On 7 May 2012, a Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae, Raju Ramachandran observed that Modi can be prosecuted under sections 153 A (1) (a) & (b), 153 B (1), 166 and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code for promoting enmity among different groups during the 2002 Gujarat riots.^[36]. However the amicus report has been criticised by the Special Investigation Team for relying heavily on the testimony of a perjurer^[37].

2007 elections[link]

Modi made a speech at Mangrol in which he justified the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, During the election campaign In response to Sonia Gandhi's speech calling him a "merchant of death",^[38] and referred to Sohrabuddin's killing. For this speech the Election Commission of India, a constitutional body governing election proceedings in India, cautioned Modi as it considered it as indulging in an activity which may aggravate existing differences between different communities.^[39] Modi won the election and continued his post as the Chief Minister Of Gujarat, he won with majority of votes of 122 seats out of 182 total assembly seats.^[40]

Conflicts with Governor Kamla Beniwal[link]

On 25 August 2011 Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal appointed Justice R A Mehta to the post of Lokyukta of Gujarat, a critical anti-corruption post that had been lying vacant since 2003. Justice R A Mehta was recommended for the post by the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court in June. Since Governor Beniwal had made this decision without consulting and getting the approval of the chief minister and his council of ministers, the action angered Narendra Modi and his BJP party.^[41]

This marked the beginning of a strained relationship between Modi and the Governor. On 25 September 2011, Narendra Modi accused the Governor of running a parallel government in the state supported by the Congress. He demanded that she be recalled back.^[42] He also later accused her of delaying the progress of bills by not passing them.

The decision of the governor in the appointment of R A Mehta was challenged in the high court by the Modi government. The two member high court bench gave a split verdict on 10 October 2011. Later, a third member upheld the governor's decision in January 2012.^[43]

Foreign visits[link]

As the Chief Minister of the Gujarat State, to attract foreign investment in the state, Narendra Modi has made visits to foreign countries, including China and Singapore.

Narendra Modi made his first China visit in 2007 to invite investors Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit,^[44] and second visit in November 2011. One month after the second visit to China, the Chinese Government released 13 Diamond traders from India jailed by the Shenzhen Customs, which the Chief Minister described as the consequece of his diplomatic efforts and statesmanship.^[45]

In 2005 Narendra Modi was denied of diplomatic visa to the United States, in addition to this visa denial, he was also revoked from his already granted B-1/B-2 visa.^[46]

Sadbhavna Mission[link]

In the late 2011-early 2012 Narandra Modi practised a series of fasts in the name of Sadbhavna Mission. The mission started on 17 September 2011 in Ahmedabad with 3 day fast with a view to strengthen the atmosphere of peace, unity and harmony in the state. He observed total 36 fasts in 26 districts, 8 cities including Ahmedabad.^[47]

Views and opinions[link]

Modi's position on terrorism[link]

On 18 July 2006 Modi delivered a speech criticising Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "for his reluctance to revive anti-terror legislations" like the Prevention of Terrorism Act. He asked the Centre to empower states to invoke tougher laws in the wake of the blasts in Mumbai.^[48] Quoting Modi:

Narendra Modi has frequently commented that if the BJP came to power at the Centre, they will honour the 2004 Supreme Court judgement to hang Afzal Guru.^[49] Afzal was convicted of terrorism in the 2001 Indian Parliament attack in 2004 by the Supreme Court of India and is in Tihar Jail.^[50]

On account of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, on Thursday 27 November, Narendra Modi held a meeting to discuss waterfront security along the coastline.^[51] The meeting decided to ask the Central government to urgently sanction the following:

• Increase the number of police stations along the coast to 50 (from 10)
• Increase the number of police to 1500 from 250
• 30 modern high-speed surveillance boats.

The 30 coastal boats, under construction at Goa's shipbuilding yard, will have the capacity to run at the speed of 25 nautical miles per hour. These are being manufactured under the Centre's Rs 58-crore grant for coastal security.^[51]

Views on criticism of Modi's governance[link]

In 2003, when Narendra Modi was asked about the conflict of his dreams for Gujarat's future with international criticism of his past activities, Modi said,^[52]

Modi's decision to link Gujarat's violence with the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US drew criticism from some observers, who contrasted it with the then Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's unpleasant apology for Gujarat in London a year ago.^[52] Modi responded to this criticism by The Guardian,^[52]

See also[link]

• Chief Minister
• Gujarat
• Bhartiya Janata Party

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Narendra Modi

Official

• @narendramodi Official & verified Twitter Account
• Narendra Modi Official website
• Narendra Modi Personal blog

Other

• Profile at BBC News

v t e Current Chief Ministers of Indian states (list)     Andhra Pradesh: Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy Arunachal Pradesh: Nabam Tuki Assam: Tarun Gogoi Bihar: Nitish Kumar Chhattisgarh: Raman Singh Goa: Manohar Parrikar Gujarat: Narendra Modi Haryana: Bhupinder Singh Hooda Himachal Pradesh: Prem Kumar Dhumal Jammu and Kashmir: Omar Abdullah Jharkhand: Arjun Munda Karnataka: D. V. Sadananda Gowda Kerala: Oommen Chandy Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chauhan Maharashtra: Prithviraj Chavan Manipur: Okram Ibobi Singh Meghalaya: Mukul Sangma Mizoram: Pu Lalthanhawla Nagaland: Neiphiu Rio Orissa: Naveen Patnaik Punjab: Parkash Singh Badal Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot Sikkim: Pawan Kumar Chamling Tamil Nadu: Jayalalithaa Tripura: Manik Sarkar Uttar Pradesh: Akhilesh Yadav Uttarakhand: Vijay Bahuguna West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee Delhi: Sheila Dikshit Pondicherry: N. Rangaswamy

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Kashmiri Pandit
कॉशुर पण्डित, کٲشُر پنڈت

x100px x100px
Motilal Nehru • Jawaharlal Nehru • Bhagwan Gopinath • Swami Lakshman Joo Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit • Indira Gandhi (née Nehru) • Anupam Kher • Dina Nath Walli• Suresh Raina
Total population
682,000 (estimate)
Regions with significant populations
India * Jammu and Kashmir * National Capital Region
Languages
Kashmiri * Hindustani * Urdu
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Indo-Iranians, Dards, Saraswat Brahmins

The Kashmiri Pandits (Kashmiri: कॉशुर पण्डित, کٲشُر پنڈت, Hindi-Urdu: कश्मीरी पण्डित, کشمیری پنڈت) are a Hindu Brahmin community originating from Kashmir, a mountainous region in South Asia.

History[link]

Background[link]

Photograph of the Surya Temple, The most impressive and grandest ruins in Kashmir, at Marttand-Hardy Cole's Archaeological Survey of India Report 'Illustrations of Ancient Buildings in Kashmir.' (1869)

The Hindu caste system of the region was influenced by the influx of Buddhism from the time of Asoka, around the third century BCE, and a consequence of this was that the traditional lines of varna were blurred, with the exception of that for the Brahmins, who remained aloof from the changes.^[1][2] Another notable feature of early Kashmiri society was the relative high regard in which women were held when compared to their position in other communities of the period.^[3]

A historically contested region, Northern India was subject to attack from predatory Turkic and Arab regimes from the eighth century onwards, but they generally ignored the mountain-circled Kashmir Valley in favour of easier pickings elsewhere. It was not until the fourteenth century that Muslim rule was finally established in the Valley and when this happened it did not occur primarily as a consequence of invasion so much as because of internal problems resulting from the weak rule and corruption endemic in the Hindu Lohara dynasty.^[4][5] Mohibbul Hasan describes this collapse as

The Dãmaras or feudal chiefs grew powerful, defied royal authority, and by their constant revolts plunged the country into confusion. Life and property were not safe, agriculture declined, and there were periods when trade came to a standstill. Socially and morally too the court and the country had sunk to the depths of degradations.^[5]

The Brahmins had something to be particularly unhappy about during the reign of the last Lohara king, for Sūhadeva chose to include them in his system of onerous taxation, whereas previously they appear to have been exempted.^[6]

Zulju, who was probably a Mongol from Turkistan,^[7] wreaked devastation in 1320, when he commanded a force that conquered many regions of the Kashmir Valley. However, Zulju was probably not a Muslim.^[7] The actions of Sultan Sikandar Butshikan (1389–1413), the seventh Muslim ruler in Kashmir were also significant to the area. The Sultan has been referred to as an iconoclast because of his destruction of many non-Muslim religious symbols and the manner in which he forced the population to convert or flee. Many followers of the traditional religions who did not convert to Islam instead migrated to other parts of India. The migrants included some Pandits, although it is possible that some of this community relocated for economic reasons as much as to escape the new rulers. Brahmins were at that time generally being offered grants of land in other areas by rulers seeking to utilise the traditionally high literacy and general education of the community, as well as the legitimacy conferred upon them by association, Moving away from areas where they were under threat of forced religious conversion, the Brahmins were in turn imposing their own religion on their new locales. The outcome of this shift both in population and in religion was that the Kashmir Valley became a predominantly Muslim region.^[8][9]

Butshikan's heir, the devout Muslim Zain-ul-Abidin, was tolerant of Hindus to the extent of sanctioning a return to Hinduism of those who had been forcibly converted to the Muslim faith, as well as becoming involved in the restoration of temples and of Hindu rituals such as sati, which his father had banned. He respected the learning of the Pandits, to whom he gave land as well as encouraging those who had left to return. He operated a meritocracy and both Brahmins and Buddhists were among his closest advisors.^[10]

Exodus from Kashmir (1985–1995)[link]

The Kashmiri Pandits, who had stably constituted approximately 4 to 5 per cent of the population of the valley during Dogra rule (1846–1947), and 20 per cent of whom had left the Kashmir valley by 1950,^[11] began to leave in much greater numbers in the 1990s. According to a number of authors, approximately 100,000 of the total Kashmiri Pandit population of 140,000 left the valley during that decade.^[12] Other authors have suggested a higher figure for the exodus, ranging from the entire population of over 150,000,^[13] to 190,000 of a total Pandit population of 200,000,^[14] to a number as high as 300,000.^[15] The US government has reported on the terrorist threat to Pandits still living in the Kashmir region.^[16]

PRC and the JKMIP Acts[link]

There are zones set up with offices for relief.^[17] Many Orders, Circulars and recommendations have been issued for relief of Kashmiri Pandits.^[18][19][20]

The Jammu And Kashmir Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection And Restraint On Distress Sales) Act, 1997, provides that "Any person who is an unauthorised occupant or recipient of any usufruct of any immovable property of the migrant shall pay to the migrant such compensation for the period of unauthorised occupation and in such a manner as may be determined by the District Magistrate."^[21]

Panun Kashmir[link]

The community had hoped to return after the situation improved, but have not been able to do so for 20 years because normalcy has yet to return to the valley and they fear a risk to their lives.^[22]

In February 2011 Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti President Sanjay Tikkoo said that "We strongly believe that the State and central governments treat Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley as second class citizens."^[23]

Culture[link]

Dress[link]

Early records and archaeological evidence such as terracotta sculptures do not record the present-day dress, which comprises items such as the turban, taranga, and pheran. Instead, records indicate that attire was varied and included leather doublets, woollen cloaks, and clothes made from hemp, cotton, linen and different types of silk. Many items of clothing reflected the cold winter climate of the area.

Kshemendra's detailed records from the eleventh century describe many items of which the precise nature is unknown. It is clear that tunics known as kanchuka were worn long-sleeved by men and in both long- and half-sleeved versions by women. Caps were worn, as well as a type of turban referred to as a shirahshata, while footwear consisted of leather shoes and boots, worn with socks. Some items were elaborate, such as the peacock shoes – known as mayuropanah – worn by followers of fashion, and steel-soled shoes adorned with floral designs, lubricated internally with beeswax.^[24]

There are many references to the wearing of jewellery by both sexes, but a significant omission from them is any record of the dejihor worn on the ear by women today as a symbol of their being married. Kaw has speculated that this item of jewellery may not have existed at the time. The texts also refer to both sexes using cosmetics, and to the women adopting elaborate hairstyles. Men, too, might adopt stylish arrangements and wear flowers in their hair, if they had the financial means to do so.^[25]

Pilgrimage sites[link]

Mount Harmukh

Harmukh is traditionally revered by Kashmiri Pandits and in 2009 there was an attempt by them to revive pilgrimages to the site.^[26]

Festivals[link]

The religious festivals of the Hindus of Kashmir have Vedic roots. The Kashmiri Pandits share most of their festivals with other Hindu communities.^{[citation needed]}

See also[link]

• List of Kashmiri Pandits
• Kashmir Shaivism philosophy
• Bhatt
• Bhat
• Butt
• Dar (tribe)
• Dardic people
• Hari Parbat
• Kaul
• Khrew
• Tulmul
• List of Jammu and Kashmir related articles

Notes[link]

Cited references[link]

• Bose, Sumantra (1997), The challenge in Kashmir: democracy, self-determination, and a just peace, New Delhi: Sage Publications, in association with The Book Review Literary Trust, ISBN 978-0-8039-9350-1, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-EhuAAAAMAAJ 
• Bose, Sumantra (2005), Kashmir: roots of conflict, paths to peace, Harvard University Press. Pp. 307, ISBN 978-0-674-01817-4 
• Madan, T. N. (2008), "Kashmir, Kashmiris, Kashmiriyat: An Introductory Essay", in Rao, Aparna, The Valley of Kashmir: The Making and Unmaking of a Composite Culture?, Delhi: Manohar. Pp. xviii, 758, pp. 1–36, ISBN 978-81-7304-751-0 
• Malik, Iffat (2005), Kashmir: Ethnic Conflict, International Dispute, Karachi and Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pp. xxvi, 392, ISBN 0-19-579622-5 
• Metcalf, Barbara; Metcalf, Thomas R. (2006), A Concise History of Modern India (Cambridge Concise Histories), Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press. Pp. xxxiii, 372, ISBN 0-521-68225-8 .
• Rai, Mridu (2004), Hindu Rulers, Muslim Subjects: Islam, Rights, and the History of Kashmir, Princeton University Press/Permanent Black. Pp. xii, 335., ISBN 81-7824-202-8 
• Zutshi, Chitralekha (2003), Language of belonging: Islam, regional identity, and the making of Kashmir, Oxford University Press/Permanent Black. Pp. 359, ISBN 978-0-19-521939-5 
• Zutshi, Chitraleka (2008), "Shrines, Political Authority, and Religious Identities in Late-Nineteenth and Early-Twentieth-century Kashmir", in Rao, Aparna, The Valley of Kashmir: The Making and Unmaking of a Composite Culture?, Delhi: Manohar. Pp. xviii, 758, pp. 235–258, ISBN 978-81-7304-751-0 

External links[link]

• Official Website of Kashmiri Pandits' Association, Mumbai
• Kashmiri Overseas Association, Inc. (KOA), USA
• Kashmir-information.com
• Indo-American Kashmir Forum – a U.S. based political advocacy group for the Kashmiri Pandits
• Panun Kashmir: A Homeland for Kashmiri Pandits
• Video Documentary 'Lost Paradise' on RefugeeCamps of Kashmiri Hindus by Deepak Ganju
• 'God of Small Things,' Travelogue in The Indian Express, 5 March 2006, by Arjun Razdan