Historical Travelogue of Reasi

06/12/2021

If we have to pen down various aspects of the historical relevance with reference to J&K, the legends and folklore that resonate around historical mentions cannot be brushed away. The tipsy and tardy available data speaks of very closeness to the realistic picture although it may not be 100% correct. When we speak of Reasi, an important town and district headquarters of Reasi District in present time; It is traced to be linked with Udhaypur Mawar, when one of the royal families migrated to Jammu and went into the services of then Raja Jammu, mentioned as Raja Joj Rai (Tehriek-Dogra-Desh by Narsingh Dass Nargis), that was granted few villages as Jagir, somewhere in 317 AD. It was Raja Baja Dev, from this ancestry of migrated royal families that established a village near Jammu on his name as 'Bajalta'. Raspal, one of the three sons of Baja Dev is mentioned to have converted a cluster of some houses to a town on the left bank of Chenab River and named it as Rasyalsi after his name that changed to Reasi somewhere in 13th century AD.
There is reference by K.D. Maini also, that earlier this area was known as Bhimgarh principality which was established by Raja Bhim Dev in 8th century AD (DE-'The story of Reasi'). We also come across some historical facts about Reasi such as: Around 1185 A.D. Khokhars were under the suzerainty of Jammu, but had rebelled against Chakardev, ruler of Jammu which was quelled by him with the assistance of Mohd. Ghori. By the end of 12th century A.D., Khokars, a warrior tribe of salt range of Punjab after facing a continuous onslaught of Ghaznavid and Ghorid attack from the west have moved further east-world and settled in the vicinity of right bank of Chenab and established political authority adjacent to Reasi and adjoining mountain tract of Jammu. From 1386 A.D. to 1442 A.D.
Talwara area (in Reasi) seems to be the hiding place & headquarters of Jasrat Khokhar, son of Sheikh Jasrath Khokhar, general of Gakharas.
During this period Jasrat and Punjab rulers were on constant rivalry with each other and Raja Bhim Dev (Raja Hamir Dev who has succeeded the throne of Jammu in 1399 at the time when Sultan Mubarak Shah was the ruler in Delhi Darbar, who have bestowed the title of 'Bhim Dev' upon Raja Hamir Dev, hence Raja Hamir Dev was also popular as Bhim Dev) of Jammu always played against Khokhars and even pursued him into the Kashmir hills but Jasrat eluded all of them and combined forces of Muslim. Jasrat came out from Talwara hills and attacked Jammu, ravaged the country, killed the king in the battle, looted the large quantities of arms, treasures and married the daughter of Raja of Jammu in April 1428 AD (History of Jammu region through archaeological evidences - thesis submitted for the award of degree of doctor of philosophy by Arjun Singh in 2012). After Gakhars, Reasi and the region around it continued to exist as an independent principality ruled by Sial Rajputs covering an area of about 5000 sq. miles. It comprised the foothill belt around Trikuta hills. Raspal and his descendants ruled Reasi for centuries together.
Later on Raja Hari Dev of Jammu captured Reasi and banished Rasial Rajas from Reasi Principality and nominated his third son Jaswant Dev as Raja of Reasi. With the passage of time Salal, Gulabgrah and Akhnoor also came under the rule of Rajas of Reasi.
It remained an independent principality till 1822, when Raja Gulab Singh the then Raja of Jammu hill region, under the Sikh empire, consolidated the small states. in 1846 Reasi principality was dissolved in the newly created state of J&K. In 1904 Reasi attained the status of a District and the erstwhile Rajouri principality of Jaral Rajas was merged with District Reasi. In1950 the status of Reasi was reduced to Tehsil by the emergency Government of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah & became a Tehsil of District Udhampur. Reasi again became the district in 2007. It is predominantly a hill District, which enjoys variable climatic conditions, ranging from subtropical to the semi-temperate. Geographical status of it divides the District into 'hilly' and 'low lying hilly' region and is very poor in interior road connectivity. The District is divided into nine Tehsils & it has 22 Niabats. There are 12 Development Blocks with 147 Panchayats. Reasi district has a total population of 3, 14, 667, as per 2011 census, and 91.42 % of the population of Reasi district lives in rural areas of villages. The total area of the district is 1719 Sq.Km. The sex ratio is much below as 890 females against per thousand male. The literacy rate is also not comfortable as it is 59.42%.
We find fluctuating rate of growth of this district and as during the census of 1951-61 the growth rate dipped to 9.32 per cent, shot to 30.07 per cent during the decade 1961-71, and further accelerated to 37.55 per cent during 1971-81, the growth rates relating to decades 1981-91 and 1991-2001 were 24.97 per cent and 23.81 per cent respectively. The growth rate recorded during 2001-2011 is 27.04.
If we move into the interior of the district towards, Jij Bagli, Gaddi Gabbar, Sujandhar, Sukhal Ghati, Narkot, Prankot, Khanikot, Sawalkot, Sari-Tote & more interior of Mahore tehsil, we come across number of beautiful meadows worth tourist spots but these places lack government attention and particularly of local representatives of the people. The cluster of colonies Jyotipuram, Dhyangarh, Bidda and Talwara that came up as a result of Salal Hydel Project are now ruined sites and government or local administration have failed to obtain their optimum use. The district has a huge potential of micro & mini Hydel electricity generation. Salal Hydel Project with 690 MW generation capacities is one of the country's largest projects. Reasi is going to be credited by World's tallest 359 meters railway bridge being constructed over river Chenab that will overtake, the Millau Viaduct (323 meters) in southern France.
Reasi district have many historical places, having cultural and religious significance some of them are: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine (Katra), Shri Shiv Khori shrine, one of the most venerated Holy Cave Shrines of Lord Shiva, Aghar Jitto, the holy place of Baba Dhansar, the holy shrine of Siad (Siarh) Baba, Gupt Kashi having religious importance as that of Kashi or Banaras, Bhimgarh Fort, Mahadev Mandir believed to be 300 years old. There are endless small places worth mentioning but the above account is the main attraction and the write up will provide a vision to the local representation and administration to rethink the development of this district with a revived vision.
(Views expressed are personal.)

Share This Story


Comment On This Story

 

Photo Gallery

  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty