Two Capitals And A Union Territory
Outlook|September 30, 2019
Even in post-370 J&K, the Dogra tradition of moving the capital twice a year seems set to stay
Naseer Ganai
Two Capitals And A Union Territory

The BJP, which takes pride in having got rid of the special status granted to Jammu & Kashmir through Article 370 of the Constitution, is all for preserving two vestiges of the pre-1947 Dogra monarchy: two capitals and the ‘darbar move’ from winter capital Jammu to summer capital Srinagar in April-May, and from Srinagar to Jammu in October-November. The practice of shifting the seat of government twice a year was started by Dogra king Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1872, alongside the introduction of the Ranbir Penal Code, which continued to be used instead of the Indian Penal Code in J&K so long as Article 370 was in force. “This won’t be changed,” says the BJP’s J&K general secretary Ashok Koul, though the party’s state spokesman Arun Gupta says it is the government’s prerogative to take a call. “But our position is that the arrangement of having two capital cities and the durbar move must continue,” says Gupta.

This story is from the September 30, 2019 edition of Outlook.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 30, 2019 edition of Outlook.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM OUTLOOKView All
Soft Ruins
Outlook

Soft Ruins

'Soft Ruins' is a chapter within the long-term ongoing project \"When Spring Never Comes\", an expansive exploration of memory, identity and displacement in the aftermath of exile within contemporary global politics. It reflects on how the journey as an asylum seeker in Europe mirrors the instability and threats of life under dictatorship, amidst rising right-wing movements and shifting power dynamics, where both certainty and identity are redefined

time-read
1 min  |
January 11, 2025
Building Beyond Homes: Provident Housing's Transformative Approach
Outlook

Building Beyond Homes: Provident Housing's Transformative Approach

Provident Housing leads in crafting thoughtfully designed homes that cater to modern homebuyers' evolving needs. With a focus on timely delivery, sustainability, and innovative, customer-centric solutions, the company sets new benchmarks. In this exclusive interview, Mallanna Sasalu, CEO of Provident Housing, shares insights into the company's strategies, upcoming projects, and vision for India's housing future.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 11, 2025
Syria Speaks
Outlook

Syria Speaks

A Syrian graffiti artist-activist's tale of living through bombings, gunshots and displacement

time-read
3 mins  |
January 11, 2025
The Burdened
Outlook

The Burdened

Yemen, once a beautiful land identified with the Queen of Sheba, is now one of the worst ongoing humanitarian disasters of modern times

time-read
6 mins  |
January 11, 2025
Sculpting In Time
Outlook

Sculpting In Time

Documentaries such as Intercepted and Songs of Slow Burning Earth grapple with the Russian occupation beyond displays of desolation

time-read
4 mins  |
January 11, 2025
The Story Won't Die
Outlook

The Story Won't Die

Is Israel's triumphalism over its land grab in Syria realistic? The hard reality is-Israel now has Al-Qaeda as a next-door neighbour

time-read
10+ mins  |
January 11, 2025
Against the Loveless World
Outlook

Against the Loveless World

In times of war, love exists as a profound act of defiance

time-read
6 mins  |
January 11, 2025
Soul of My Soul
Outlook

Soul of My Soul

What does it mean to continue to create art during a genocide?

time-read
9 mins  |
January 11, 2025
in Dancing the Glory of Monsters
Outlook

in Dancing the Glory of Monsters

By humanising the stories of those affected by war, poverty and displacement, Buuma hopes to foster empathy and inspire action

time-read
2 mins  |
January 11, 2025
All the President's Men
Outlook

All the President's Men

Co-author of All The President's Men and one of the two Washington Post journalists (the other was Carl Berntstein) who broke the Watergate scandal that brought down the President Richard Nixon administration in the United States in 1974, Bob Woodward's recent book War was on top of The New York Times Bestseller list, even above John Grisham.

time-read
3 mins  |
January 11, 2025