POPULATION

The Kashmir region of Jammu and Kashmir State comprises of six districts  viz, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Srinagar. The majority of the people have a common racial background and ethnic origin. However, there are refrences rooted in mythology that in the beginning two tribes of the people inhabited the valley and they were known as nagas and pishachas. In course of time, people from the north infiltrated into this valley as invaders, traders, religious missionaries and craftsmen, of whom, many settled permanently in the valley. There is no doubt that majority of the people belong to pure Aryan Race. However, it is also said that some tribes of Jewish stock came to Kashmir, but it is not known whether they really settled here or not. After the advent of Muslim rule some people from Iraq, Iran and Centre Asian countries came to  Kashmir in connection with religion, trade and politics and settled here. However,in course of time, they mixed with local population by inter marriage and lost their distinct ethnic character.

In the earlier times no regular census was taken, but rough estimates were made for the guidance of rulers and administrators. For example the population of Srinagar is estimated as 2 lakh persons during the period of Emperor Akbar. Similarly, during the 19^th century several attempts were made to  estimate the population of the region, but in view of great variations these cannot be treated as reliable estimates. In the year 1873 Charles Elison Bates compiled the famous Gazetteer of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh, in which he showed the population of Kashmir as 4,02,700 persons. Along with the rest of the India, the first regular census on scientific basis was conducted in the year 1891 A.D. and was followed by fresh census operations after every decade. As per census report 1891, Kashmir region had a population of 9,49,041 persons and in 1901 the population had gone up to 10,28,219 persons. The table below gives the population figures both male and female right from 1901 to 1991 when regular census operations  could not be conducted due to administrative difficulties in the State. The figures given for the said decades are estimates made available  by the Standing Committee of Experts set up by Govt. of India on population projection.

 POPULATION OF KASHMIR DIVISION ALONG WITH MALE AND

FEMALE BREAK_UP FROM 1901-1999.

The population figures of Kashmir region of the State have shown  moderate increase till 1961, as it was not more than 18 percent. The demographic trend has drastically increased from 1971, and comperatively speaking, the growth of population registered in 1991 is about four fold to that of 1901. The comprehensive study of demographic indicators of the Kashmir valley. The Kashmir region constitutes 53 percent of the total estimated population of the State as per the estimates of 1991

The split of the Jammu and Kashmir State into three Administrative Divisions and consequent fragmentation of some old districts and tehsils necessitate the reconstitution of its administrative units. The Kashmir Division is divided into six districts with twenty six tehsils for ending 1997-98. However, the ratio of population in all the tehsils and districts is not similar. Some  areas of the region are densely populated and concentration of the population in some areas of the  region are mainly attributed to various factors, such as, fertility, mortality, migration. The supplementary factors for dense population are the location and physical effect, area and boundaries with marked variation in altitudes, climate and rainfall, agriculture productivity, cultural and historical penetration, adequate development of infrastructural facilities and industrialization. The bio-socio and socio-economic context of dense population, makes it compulsory to provide comprehensive state of affairs of population in 22 tehsils as per census of 1981, with sex-wise break up of six districts of Kashmir region.