Book Launch: "Jammu and Kashmir in India: The Saga of Development", Authored by Sheikh Khalid Jehangir

Date

4 July, 2024

Book authored by Sheikh Khalid Jehangir On 4 July 2024, International Centre for Peace Studies (ICPS) launched the Book Jammu and Kashmir in India: The Saga of Development authored by Sheikh Khalid Jehangir at the

The Vice Chancellor of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, and the Vice Chancellor of University of Kashmir, Prof. Nelofar Khan, jointly unveiled the book in the auditorium of the University in the presence of students, faculty, media persons and experts.

Both the academicians praised the book for its extensive data and insightful analysis.
Prof. Ganai emphasized that the book addresses a significant research gap in Kashmiri literature, meticulously detailing the allocation of funds by various political parties to different districts in Kashmir. He noted that this work fills a crucial void in understanding the region's developmental history.

Prof. Nelofar Khan highlighted the book's value for its data-driven approach and comprehensive analysis spanning from 1947 to 2020. She underscored its importance for researchers focusing on Kashmir's development, calling it an invaluable resource for future academic endeavours.

Dr Sheikh Khalid Jehangir, the author, provided an overview of the book, accentuating its holistic perspective and its potential to support future research. He articulated how the book amalgamates historical data with contemporary issues, offering a thorough narrative on the region's developmental journey.

The launch, organized by the International Centre for Peace Studies (ICPS), New Delhi/Srinagar, featured several notable guests. Dr Smruti S. Patnaik, Senior Research Fellow, MP-IDSA, commended the book for its extensive data, highlighting the paradox of substantial central funds alongside limited development in Kashmir. She pointed out that the book meticulously documents this incongruity, providing a crucial understanding of the region's developmental dynamics. Assistant Prof. Shela Rashid noted that the book addresses critical questions about the visibility of development despite central funding. She praised the book for its ability to provoke thought and encourage deeper investigation into the region's developmental policies.
Other distinguished attendees included Prof. R. A. Shahardar, Dean of SKUAST; Dr. Dil Mohammad Makdoomi, Director of Extension; and Prof. S.A. Wani, Dean of the Faculty of Horticulture, who all acknowledged the book's contribution to the academic discourse on Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir in India - The Saga of Development is now available in India and abroad.

The present volume brings out data on, and analysis of, the resources allocated and developmental initiatives undertaken by the central government over the years and especially since the abrogation of Article 370. The transformative impact of the democratic and developmental administration in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) ever since it joined the Indian Union 1947, has not so far been discussed and analysed in an unbiased manner. This volume begins with a short account of the economic history of the region followed by the fiscal allocations made by the central government in J&K over the years. The findings suggest that there has been an unceasing attempt by the Indian State to bring wealth and prosperity to the people of J&K even though the state has witnessed a spectre of violence sponsored by Pakistan for the last four decades. The book also concludes that the measures taken by the central administration since the repeal of Art 370 have unleashed the growth potential of the state and if it is carried to its logical conclusion, J&K will be an important engine of growth in India in the coming days.