International Journal of Kashmir Studies (IJKS)

Abstract: The global economic contraction induced by the COVID-19 pandemic severely impaired service-dependent regional economies worldwide, with acute reverberations felt in regions like Jammu and Kashmir where tourism, hospitality, and handicraft commerce serve as vital economic lifelines. This study investigates the macro-economic repercussions of consecutive lockdown measures throughout 2020 and early 2021, evaluating the structural vulnerabilities of micro-enterprises, hoteliers, houseboat operators, and artisan cooperatives. Utilizing financial liquidity indices, municipal revenue reports, and structured interviews with 350 business proprietors across Srinagar, Pahalgam, and Gulmarg, the authors quantify the unprecedented fiscal deficits and employment losses sustained across the tertiary sector. Furthermore, the paper evaluates government-backed economic stimulus packages, credit guarantee schemes, and institutional loan restructuring programs introduced to facilitate business liquidity and revival. The research highlights innovative grassroots adaptation models, including domestic tourist promotional campaigns, digital marketing integration, and niche eco-tourism diversification. The findings underscore that sustained economic recovery is fundamentally contingent upon targeted infrastructural investment, subsidized credit access, and comprehensive resilience planning tailored to fragile regional economies.

Abstract: The legal transformation of Jammu and Kashmir from an autonomous constituent state into federally administered union territories represents one of the most profound structural realignments in contemporary constitutional jurisprudence. This paper undertakes a rigorous comparative doctrinal analysis of federal compacts, examining how asymmetrical federalism functions across diverse democratic polities globally. The authors deconstruct the constitutional mechanisms, presidential orders, and legislative procedures that enabled the reorganization, analyzing arguments concerning parliamentary competence, constituent assembly ratification, and the scope of emergency governance provisions. Through a critical appraisal of ongoing constitutional challenges before apex judicial forums, the study evaluates the implications for minority rights, sub-national legislative powers, and cooperative federalism principles within India's constitutional framework. The paper posits that maintaining judicial oversight and upholding the normative integrity of federal pacts are paramount for safeguarding pluralism and democratic legitimacy in multinational states.

Abstract: The growth of vernacular journalism and print culture in princely Kashmir played an indispensable role in shaping modern political consciousness, anti-feudal agitation, and anti-colonial solidarity during the crucial three decades preceding independence. This historical study examines archival newspapers, pamphlets, press censorship decrees, and memoirs spanning from the early 1920s to 1950. The authors analyze how pioneering editors and political reformers utilized Urdu and Kashmiri publications to articulate socio-economic grievances, advocate for labor rights, and challenge dynastic autocracy. Despite operating under rigorous royal press laws, security bonds, and arbitrary closures, these publications successfully forged an incipient public sphere. The study explores the ideological shifts within print journalism—transitioning from religious reformism to secular nationalism and socialist working-class solidarity. The findings highlight that the historical genealogy of Kashmiri political dissent is inextricably linked to the courage and resilience of early vernacular print practitioners who laid the groundwork for democratic political culture.

Abstract: Kashmiri handicrafts—including hand-knotted silk carpets, authentic pashmina shawls, papier-mâché artifacts, and walnut wood carving—represent an exquisite heritage of master craftsmanship passed down through generations. However, contemporary artisan communities face profound socio-economic marginalization due to low wages, middleman exploitation, industrial power-loom counterfeiting, and generational disinterest among youth. This research paper evaluates the efficacy of Geographical Indication (GI) protection, artisan welfare boards, and craft-cluster development initiatives in safeguarding authentic techniques. Based on household surveys of 280 artisan families across Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal districts, the authors analyze household income disparities and occupational health hazards. The study advocates for institutional credit support, fair-trade certification systems, and modern digital design integration to revitalize traditional craftsmanship and ensure sustainable livelihoods for master artisans.

Abstract: The Line of Control (LoC) dividing Jammu and Kashmir remains one of the world's most heavily militarized de facto borders, serving as a persistent focal point of strategic rivalry between India and Pakistan. This article assesses the efficacy and breakdown of Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs), military hotline communications, and the 2003 ceasefire agreement. Analyzing military escalation patterns, artillery exchanges, and civilian displacement statistics from 2018 to 2021, the authors evaluate the humanitarian impact on border-dwelling populations in districts such as Poonch, Kupwara, and Uri. The study explores the diplomatic significance of the renewed 2021 ceasefire reaffirmation and outlines strategic policy blueprints for institutionalizing bilateral military restraint, disaster-relief cooperation, and non-combatant protection mechanisms to ensure long-term regional stability.

Abstract: The Himalayan ecosystem is highly vulnerable to anthropogenic climate change, manifesting in erratic precipitation cycles, rising temperatures, and shifting snowlines that directly threaten traditional apple cultivation and saffron farming in Kashmir. This study combines meteorological data analysis with empirical farm surveys across Shopian and Baramulla to assess the economic impact of unseasonal frosts and droughts on orchard yields. The authors investigate adaptive farming technologies, including high-density planting systems, drip irrigation adoption, and hail-net protection structures. The findings emphasize that building agrarian resilience requires substantial state investment in climate-smart agricultural extension services, scientific research, and subsidized micro-irrigation infrastructure to protect rural livelihoods.

Abstract: Official diplomatic stalemates between India and Pakistan have frequently necessitated unofficial, backchannel, and Track-II diplomatic dialogues involving retired diplomats, academics, and civil society actors. This paper evaluates the historical contributions and contemporary limitations of informal peacebuilding networks in addressing the Kashmir dispute. Examining case studies of cross-border dialogue forums, academic exchanges, and humanitarian advocacy groups, the authors analyze how unheralded interactions help maintain communication channels and build normative consensus. The research concludes that while track-II initiatives cannot substitute for formal state-level negotiations, they play an invaluable preparatory role in shaping constructive peace architectures.

Abstract: The transition toward digital pedagogy and online education during the pandemic exposed profound infrastructural disparities between urban centers and remote mountainous districts in Jammu and Kashmir. This empirical study investigates student engagement, internet connectivity barriers, and device access limitations across Kupwara, Poonch, and Kishtwar. Surveying 450 school and university educators, the authors document widespread learning losses and digital fatigue. The paper recommends investing in robust rural broadband infrastructure, subsidized hardware grants, and hybrid offline-online teaching models to ensure educational equity.