19/11/2025
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 ‘𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗯 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆'
By Ramneek Manhas
The widespread use of terms like “Chenab Valley” or “Chenab Belt” is not accidental. It is a carefully crafted political narrative that has slowly been injected into public discourse. The use of the term Chenab Valley by the Muslim community and similarly the term Chandrabhaga by some people from the Hindu community is unfortunate.
Our leaders, intellectuals, youth, and civil society must understand the implications of accepting such terminology without questioning its origins or motives.
For decades, Kashmir-centric lobbies have attempted to redefine the identity of the Doda–Kishtwar–Ramban region by projecting it as some kind of extension of Kashmir Valley. This narrative is neither historically accurate nor culturally valid.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺
To understand the roots of this misleading concept, it is important to understand the Dixon Plan.
In 1950, United Nations mediator Sir Owen Dixon proposed the division of Jammu and Kashmir on demographic, linguistic, and political grounds. His proposal called for Ladakh to remain with India, the Northern Areas/PoK to go to Pakistan, the division of Jammu, and the addition of Poonch-Rajouri and the Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban belt to Kashmir for a plebiscite.
This created the first major push to separate the these areas from Jammu on linguistic grounds and move it under Kashmir’s political influence. Over the decades, Kashmir-based politicians, writers, and activists kept this narrative alive, intentionally or unintentionally.
During the Sheikh Abdullah administration, a conscious effort was made to introduce Kashmiri language and cultural influences into the region, with the aim of gradually weakening the Jammu-centric identity and creating a narrative connection with Kashmir. Unfortunately, this narrative continues to resonate today, and many continue to repeat it without understanding its origins.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
What is often forgotten—and deliberately ignored—is that this region was never a part of the Kashmiri-speaking zone.
The people of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban have always spoken their own rich ethnic languages like Bhaderwahi, Sarazi, Kishtwari, Pogli, Paddari, Gadeshi and Gojri.
These languages reflect a distinct cultural identity that predates modern political boundaries. The population here takes great pride in its unique heritage—even today.
The so-called “Chenab Valley concept” has no historical foundation, no linguistic logic, and no cultural legitimacy.
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵
Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban are Culturally distinct, Linguistically unique, Historically rooted in Jammu, And never a part of the traditional Kashmiri-speaking regions. The term “Chenab Valley” is a fabricated political construct, not a geographical or cultural identity.
It is time we reject this distortion and assert the true identity of our region—with clarity, confidence, and historical accuracy.
