Immigration Issues in the Chhamb Region Brought by the Conflict between India and Pakistan

Abstract

Indo-Pak war of 1971 resulted in forced migration of the people from Chhamb sector of Jammu region in Jammu & Kashmir. When Indian Army started building up in anticipation then internal displacement was started in the first week of September 1971. These people perceivedthis migration as the temporary one as it had happened before in 1947-48 and 1965 wars with Pakistan. They left their homes with whatever little they could gather in a state of hurry, panic and terror. People even left behind their old, infirm, pet animals and heavy loads in the hope to return back.Duringwar these people were left to fendthemselves and lived under the shadow of guns. Ceasefire was declared on 16 Dec 1971 and at that time Chhamb Sector under Pakistan’s occupation. Meantime,the Govt. of India in consultation with the Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir decided to shift these Displaced Persons (hereafter referred to as DPs) to camps at Manwal and Kishanpur, about 70 kms from Jammu on the Dhar road near Udhampur. They were impossibly cramped in tiny tents. A family of 5-6 persons was a given a tent covering about 13 Sq. ft area with no facilities whatsoever of bathing, cooking, toileting etc. They had no other option but to cope with these sufferings by surviving on their limited means of livelihood. It impacted them socially, economically and psychologically. Most of the people who suffered this displacement were senior citizens, women and children. Displacement, forced women to deal with the harsh realities of war. Suffering became more serious when the lone bread earner was lost. Women continued to be responsible for procuring and preparing of food, rearing children and looking after the elders and the infirm of the family. Faced with fuel and food shortages, lack of electricity, shortage of medicines and lack of safe water, these women faced a daily fight for their survival. Unemployment, loss of income sources, inflation and reduction in actual wages made people more vulnerable to the evils of suffering. People were even forced to sell their jewelry and valuables assets. Since children’s education got discontinued therefore it put the great burden of work on them. This further led to undernourishment and malnutrition in children aged between 10-14 years of age. It also resulted in the early marriage of children as young as 10 years old. This was done to save girls and boys to a certain extent from sexual abuse and exploitation not just from outside but from within the family also. Displacement adversely affected the socio-cultural life of these displaced people. Community feelings and identities were eroded. This erosion was further aggravated when these people were forcibly evicted and rehabilitated in small groups. Continuous disruption of life due to cross border firing and general prevalence of insecure environment at the international border are further making life more problematic. The psychological disorders which became common then and are still prevalent now were depression, hypertension, insomnia, nightmares, hysteria, phobia, etc. These people are nowborder landers not by choice but by compulsion. There is a long trail of sufferings behind them. The intricate linkage between the external causes of war and internal dimension of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has further added ordeals for the border landers. The aim of this paper is to highlight the ordeals of the people who lost their homeland. Their social and cultural lives were shattered. They are still living the life of refugees not accepted by the host communities. Wherever they go people ask them Where are you from? Please tell me about your roots. Now these people are settled all along the International Border shared with Pakistan from Kathua to Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir. This displacement and uprooting had a lasting effect on their mental state.