Changing the Identity of Kashmiris: India’s Systematic Cultural and Demographic Engineering in IIOJK
The region of Jammu and Kashmir has its own unique culture and identity, which it has preserved for centuries. Quite different from the rest of the Sub-continent, this distinctive culture and identity are owned by the brave people of Kashmir. What sets them apart from the rest of the world are their time-honored customs, expressive language and literature, and profound religious values. However, since the day India has illegally occupied the region, their identity has constantly been under threat.
Especially after the revocation of Article 370 and 35A, India has legitimized the illegal actions that it has been using to dilute the Kashmiri identity, which is being erased at a rapid pace. The process of demographic engineering and settler colonialism is the grave steps that allow the settlement of non-Kashmiris in Kashmir, which will, of course, lead to a mixed culture of Kashmiris and non-Kashmiris, with the latter having more influence in society and culture. Furthermore, the language and literature of Kashmir are being equally attacked by changing the curriculum and marginalizing both the Kashmiri and Urdu languages. By renaming different places, they are erasing the core importance that those places have historically and culturally.
This report seeks to analyze the planned attempts of the Indian government aimed at changing the true nature of Kashmiri identity. It also examines the serious effects of these steps on Kashmiri people and the disputed status of Kashmir as a whole. Moreover, it also provides an overview of the international response in this regard, and recommends possible counter-steps and actions to preserve the proud and resilient Kashmiri identity.
Legal Framework for Identity Suppression:
In August 2019, the Indian government abrogated Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution. These articles granted special status to the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), according to which the region had autonomy in its internal affairs and the Kashmiri people had exclusive rights to land, property, jobs, and scholarships within that region. However, after the abrogation of these articles, India illegally declared IIOJK a part of its territory and revoked the exclusive rights of Kashmiris. Since then, people from all regions of India have been able to buy property, obtain jobs and scholarships, and claim other rights that were previously exclusive to Kashmiris.
Furthermore, according to the New Domicile Laws (2020), non-Kashmiris who have resided or worked in Jammu and Kashmir for a certain period of time can get a domicile of Jammu and Kashmir, and become permanent residents. As more and more people from different cultures and identities become locals, they will ultimately dilute the identity of Kashmiris. In April 2025, the Indian government announced that over 83,000 non-residents had been granted domicile certificates in Jammu and Kashmir since the introduction of the new domicile laws in 2020. Moreover, the Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs stated in 2021 that 122,671 non-local individuals were given domicile certificates since August 2019. Additionally, domicile certificates were also issued to 150,000 Hindus who migrated from West Pakistan to the Jammu Region.
According to these figures, a total of more than 350,000 non-locals have been granted domiciles and have become permanent residents of the region. These statistics are quite terrible for the locals who have consistently raised their voices against the demographic engineering in IIOJK. As more and more non-locals (mostly Hindus) get certificates and settle there, the demography of the region is changing rapidly. These steps are part of a long-term strategy to turn the Muslim majority of IIOJK into a minority, and alter the Kashmiri identity as a whole. As these steps continue, the identity of local Kashmiris, which has been the core characteristic of the region, will no longer be visible.
These measures resemble Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories, which aim to occupy these areas by allowing Israeli settlers to become permanent residents. Similarly, the U.S. government used comparable tactics in the 18th and 19th centuries to suppress the identity of Native American peoples and occupy the western regions of the continent. The U.S. government succeeded in its heinous policies and managed to take control of land that originally belonged to the Native Americans. The natives, who were once the rightful owners of that land, are now a small minority in certain parts of the country.
The Imposition of Hindutva Ideology:
The RSS-backed Modi government is trying to impose Hindutva Ideology in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The Indian government has changed the syllabus and curriculum of the education system in the occupied region, erasing the essential Islamic education that is extremely important for Muslim students. Rather, a lot of material related to the Hindutva Ideology has been included in the new curriculum, which is a clear indication of the Indian efforts in imposing the Hindutva Ideology in a Muslim-majority region.
Some of the officially announced changes are described below:
i) According to The Tribune, in Class XI Political Science textbooks provided by NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training), it removed any mention of J&K’s special autonomous status (Article 370) in April 2023.
ii) The Tribune also reported that NCERT deleted references to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad-one of the few Muslim leaders of India at the time of Independence- from the same book in April 2023.
iii) The same report by The Tribune said that NCERT also replaced the term “Azad Kashmir” with Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) in the Class XII Political Science textbook. indiatoday.in
iv) According to a report by The Hindustan Times, Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) omitted the chapter on Sufi saint Sheikh Noor‑ud‑Din Wali (Sheikh-ul-Alam) from Class IX English textbooks in June 2024.
v) In a report, The Business Standard said that JKBOSE revised syllabus for Classes 5–10 to reflect IIOJK’s new illegally declared Union Territory status – e.g., replacing “state” with “UT” in textbooks in December 2024.
Furthermore, to promote Hindutva-aligned historical narratives, Hindu rulers are glorified in the new textbooks, while Muslim contributions are either distorted or entirely ignored. In addition to implementing the Hindutva ideology, another main objective of these measures is to influence the thinking of the new generation of Kashmiri Muslims, so they disconnect from their Muslim identity and forget the freedom movements their forefathers have been fighting for decades.
There has been a tremendous crackdown on activists, journalists, and scholars who have raised their voices against these illegal and immoral actions of the Indian government. As has been the trend in IIOJK since 1947, people are still not allowed to utter a single word against the Indian government and its policies. Those who do speak out must face the brutalities of the government.
Changing language:
In September 2020, the Indian Parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act that made five languages official in IIOJK. These languages are Hindi, English, Dogri, Kashmiri, and Urdu. Urdu has been the sole official language of the region for decades, having deep historical and cultural value, especially among the Muslim population. The addition of these new official languages is another step to marginalize the Urdu language, which is tied to Islamic education, literature, and Kashmiri Muslim culture.
Hindi is a dominant North Indian thatage which is not widely spoken or understood in the Kashmir Valley, but it is being given importance because it promotes the Hindu-centric narrative, aligning with BJP/RSS ideology. Both Hindi and Dogri are closely associated with the Hindutva ideology, and their addition has changed the linguistic identity of the region.
Although in theory these five languages were given equal official status, Hindi is by far given more significance by the government. It is prioritized in official announcements, signboards, and government websites, and Hindi-language media channels are heavily promoted. On the other hand, the local Urdu media is under pressure, and the journalists are facing constant harassment and blackmail.
In addition to that, candidates appearing in competitive exams for high-level jobs are expected to have proficiency in Hindi, which favors non-locals and creates hurdles for competent Kashmiri individuals. Ultimately, this leads to more non-locals occupying higher positions, further suppressing and marginalizing the locals. As a result, it undermines confidence in native languages and imposes the dominance of the Hindi language.
Changing the names of places:
Another step in changing the names of places and institutions is also a part of the broader strategy to change the historical identity of those places and institutions. The new names are usually related to Hindutva and the BJP ideology. Some of those changes are listed below:
i) Chenani–Nashri Tunnel (NH‑44) was renamed as Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Tunnel (Oct 16, 2019). Renamed by the Union government in October 2019 in honor of BJP-founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.
ii) Jammu Airport was renamed as Maharaja Hari Singh Airport, Jammu (resolution passed Mar 3, 2020). Renamed by municipal resolution after Maharaja Hari Singh (the last Hindu Dogra ruler).
iii) University of Jammu renamed as Maharaja Gulab Singh University (resolution passed Mar 3, 2020). Renamed by municipal resolution after Maharaja Gulab Singh (founder of the Dogra dynasty).
iv) Sheikh Nagar (Jammu) renamed as Shiv Nagar (JMC resolution, 11 Jun 2022). Renamed by the BJP-led municipal body, replacing Muslim-origin names with Hindu ones.
v) Amphalla Chowk (Jammu) renamed as Hanuman Chowk (JMC resolution, 11 Jun 2022). Changed after a Hindu deity (Hanuman).
vi) Circular Road / Matador Stand, Panjtirthi (Jammu) renamed as Atal Ji Chowk (JMC notification, 24 Jul 2020). Renamed after former PM, a far-right Hindu nationalist, Atal B. Vajpayee, by a July 2020 order of the Jammu Municipal Corporation.
vii) City Chowk (Old Jammu) renamed as Bharat Mata Chowk (JMC notification, 24 Jul 2020). It is an attempt to illegally align IIOJK with India.
viii) Shahbad Colony (Ward 47, Jammu) renamed as Bahu Lochan Colony (JMC notification, 24 Jul 2020) – Locality. Renamed in 2020 to honor Raja Bahu Lochan (a historical Dogra name).
ix) Ghaas Mandi Chowk (Kanak Mandi, Jammu) renamed as Lala Amarnath Mahajan Chowk (JMC notification, 24 Jul 2020). Renamed after Lala Amarnath Mahajan, a Hindu leader.
x) On 17 July 2021, Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India, signed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization (Removal of Difficulty) Order 2021. This signature renamed the Common High Courts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh to the High Courts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, respectively. The motive behind this step was to align their names with those of other Indian High Courts—another move to integrate the institutions of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) into India.
Waqf Act 2025:
The Indian Parliament passed the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, in April 2025. As soon asthe act was passed by the Parliament, it was immediately signed into law. This act aims to undermine the religious autonomy of Muslims in India and IIOJK, increasing government control over religious institutions and community trusts. According to this act, the government will decide which sites will be considered as waqf properties and all those waqf properties will be under government control.
Although the rules and regulations apply to all of India and IIOJK and affect millions of Muslims overall, it has a significant negative impact on Muslims in IIOJK. A territory whose special status was illegally revoked by the Indian government in 2019, w faces another blow to its Muslim identity through the implementation of the Waqf Act. There are hundreds of religious sites, including mosques, shrines, schools, etc., in Kashmir that are not just religious sites but places where Muslims gather, discuss, and make decisions on important religious matters. As these sites undergo government oversight, Muslims would lose their rights of religious freedom and autonomy, and would not be able to perform their religious activities as usual.
Moreover, the Waqf Act says that the Waqf Board will also include two non-Muslim members along with Muslim members. Adding non-Muslims to a board that oversees Muslim sites is illogical. These non-Muslims would influence the decisions regarding waqf properties even though, from moral and religious perspectives, they have no right to do so.
Conclusion:
India is deliberately trying to change the identity of people in Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and it has been successful to some extent in this regard. By giving domiciles to non-Kashmiri Hindus, it is diluting the Muslim majority in IIOJK and replacing it with a Hindu majority. Attempts are being made to change the thinking of the young generation and reduce the importance of the original language and literature of Kashmiris. Moreover, changing the names of places is another step to reduce the Islamic importance of those places and impose Hindutva ideology by giving new names related to Hinduism and Hindu leaders. Finally, the recent Waqf Act is an attempt to take direct control of Muslim religious places, curbing the religious autonomy of Muslims in IIOJK. Human Rights activists, religious scholars, and International organizations should raise their voice against these illegal and immoral acts, and pressurize India to abstain from changing the identity of oppressed people in a region that it has been occupying for more than 77 years.
The author, Jahangeer Khan, is a researcher at YFK and a student of International Relations at IIUI.
