Reconstructing identity and institutional integration: a study of displaced persons of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir of 1947

Introduction

Jammu and Kashmir was the largest princely state at the time of India's independence, comprising the regions of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, and Gilgit. Owing to its strategic geographical location bordering Afghanistan, China, Tibet, Punjab, and the North-West Frontier Province, the state occupied immense geopolitical importance. Following the announcement of the partition of British India in June 1947, the princely states were given the choice of acceding to either India or Pakistan, placing Jammu and Kashmir at the centre of competing political interests. The partition of British India generated unprecedented violence, displacement, and uncertainty across the subcontinent. Maharaja Hari Singh initially attempted to maintain the independence of Jammu and Kashmir by entering into a Standstill Agreement with Pakistan while seeking additional clarification from India regarding accession. However, relations between the princely state and Pakistan rapidly deteriorated amidst growing communal tensions and political instability. In October 1947, Pakistan launched a military invasion of Jammu and Kashmir through tribal militias and regular forces. The invasion resulted in widespread massacres, arson, looting, abduction of women, and the forced displacement of thousands of Hindu and Sikh families from Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Poonch, and adjoining areas. The displaced persons faced not only immediate humanitarian crises but also decades of social exclusion, inadequate rehabilitation, and institutional neglect. The study adopts Structural Functionalism and Social Constructivism as its analytical framework to examine the long-term consequences of displacement. Structural Functionalism explains how forced migration and delayed rehabilitation disrupted social equilibrium and how state institutions attempted to restore it through rehabilitation policies. Social Constructivism helps analyse how the displaced community reconstructed its collective identity through shared memories, oral histories, cultural traditions, and a continued sense of belonging despite prolonged displacement.

Jammu and Kashmir invaded under Operation Gulmarg

Pakistan launched the invasion of Jammu and Kashmir under the codename "Operation Gulmarg" on 22 October 1947 through Muzaffarabad. The attack involved regular Pakistani forces, tribal militias, and deserters from the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces. The objective was the forcible occupation of the princely state. The invasion resulted in widespread killings, destruction of property, looting, and mass displacement of civilians, particularly the Hindu and Sikh population.

The dark morning of 22 October 1947 in Muzaffarabad

Muzaffarabad became the first major target of the invasion. Thousands of armed raiders attacked the district, massacring civilians, burning homes and marketplaces, and abducting women. Many women committed suicide by jumping into the Kishenganga River or consuming poison to escape captivity, while survivors fled towards Jammu. The attack marked one of the darkest chapters in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.

Savagery and brutality in Baramulla

The raiders entered Baramulla in late October 1947, engaging in indiscriminate killing, looting, rape, and destruction. Religious institutions, hospitals, and missionary establishments were attacked without distinction. Thousands of civilians were killed or displaced, leaving a lasting psychological impact on the region.

The carnage of Rajouri

Rajouri became another major site of violence where thousands of displaced Hindus and Sikhs had sought refuge. Pakistani raiders occupied the town for several months, carrying out mass killings, looting, rape, and forced conversions. Even today, Rajouri commemorates these sacrifices annually through Rajouri Day and Balidan Diwas.

The fall of Mirpur

Mirpur witnessed one of the deadliest massacres during the invasion. Following the attack in November 1947, thousands of civilians were killed, while many others were marched to Alibeg as prisoners. Large numbers of women were abducted, and only a small proportion were eventually rescued through Red Cross operations.

Rehabilitation and assistance by the Government

Following displacement, thousands of POJK displaced persons were initially accommodated in relief camps across Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and other regions before permanent settlement efforts began. The Government of India introduced several rehabilitation measures, including land allotments, ex-gratia assistance, housing schemes, compensation packages, and urban settlement programmes. Subsequent rehabilitation packages in 2000, 2008, and under the Prime Minister's Development Package of 2015 attempted to improve compensation and recognise additional displaced families, although implementation remained inconsistent and many displaced persons, particularly those residing outside Jammu and Kashmir, continued to face discrimination and exclusion.

Issues and challenges of POJK displaced persons

The study identifies several continuing issues affecting the displaced community. These include recognition as the first victims of the Jammu and Kashmir conflict, ambiguity regarding their legal status, the absence of accurate population records, exclusion of families residing outside Jammu and Kashmir under Article 35A, erosion of cultural identity and language, delayed ownership rights over evacuee properties, inadequate political representation, and the denial of Scheduled Tribe-II status to eligible sections of the displaced Pahari community living outside designated districts. These issues continue to influence their socio-economic integration and collective identity.

Conclusion

The study concludes that the displaced persons of Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir are among the earliest yet most neglected victims of the Jammu and Kashmir conflict. Forced displacement deprived them not only of their homes and property but also disrupted their cultural heritage, social cohesion, and community identity. Although constitutional changes after 2019 have improved their legal recognition and addressed several long-standing grievances, complete rehabilitation cannot be achieved through financial assistance alone. The authors argue that meaningful rehabilitation requires recognition of the historical experiences, cultural identity, and collective memory of the displaced community while ensuring equal rights, dignity, and institutional inclusion for future generations.