Sikhism in Jammu and Kashmir

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Sikh population consists of native residents and communities originated from Punjab through migration, especially during the period of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and the Khalsa army's ascendancy. They are also decendents of Kashmiri Pandits or Muslims who converted to Sikhism.

Origin

The Sikhs of Kashmir, or Kashmiri Sikhs are believed to be residing in Kashmir since the first visit of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, in 1518. most of them converted from the Kashmiri Pandits of that time. Later during the expansion of Sikh religion by subsequent Gurus, and their visits to Kashmir, a considerable population of Sikhs flourished there. During the Sikh Rule, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, also settled a huge number of Sikhs in Kashmir.^[1] These Sikhs predominantly speak Pahari Punjabi, which exhibits a distinct regional accent, setting it apart from the Punjabi dialect spoken in Punjab itself.^[2]

Poonch
Person	Poonchi
People	Poonchiye
Language	Pahari
Country	Pothohar

History

The forebearers of the Sikh community in the valley were indeed native to regions including Poonch/Pothohar, Rawalpindi, Muzzafrabad, and Kashmir. These early Sikh settlers represented a diverse range of castes, including Dutt's, Sasan's, Sudan's, Sadiwal's, Raina's, Reen's, Lou's, Bali's, and many more.^[3][4] Sikhs have a historical presence in Jammu and Kashmir, with their roots dating back several centuries.^[5]

During the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a period of Sikh rule in the early 19th century, there was a migration of Sikhs from Punjab to Jammu and Kashmir. These Sikh migrants included Lubanas, Jatts (primarily Chahals, Deols, and Sandhus), Khatris (predominantly Chawlas).^{[citation needed]}

In 1984, 1986 and 1989 there were riots by Hindus against Sikhs in Jammu and surrounding areas.^[6][7] Since the 1990s, there had been persecution of Sikhs by Islamic militia as well, though most Kashmiri Sikhs have not migrated out of Kashmir.^[8]

Demography

In the 1951 census, the Punjabi-speaking community in Kashmir, which included both Sikhs and Hindus, numbered 1,827,971 individuals, accounting for approximately 40 percent or two out of every five people in the total recorded population of 4.6 million for the entire Kashmir region. However, there has been a consistent decrease in the Punjabi-speaking population, especially among the Sikh community, in Jammu and Kashmir since that time. According to the 2021 census data, the Sikh population stands at 234,848 individuals, while the Hindu population is recorded at 3,566,674.^[9]

The Sikh population in Jammu and Kashmir is estimated to be between 100,000 (as reported by The Hindu on February 13, 1998) and 180,000 (as reported by The Tribune on October 4, 1998). This Sikh population constitutes approximately 1.3 percent of the overall population, which stands at 13 million (as per Kashmir.net, no specific date provided). According to The Tribune, a newspaper based in Chandigarh, the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir faces divisions due to the proliferation of community organizations, with a recent example being the split between the J&K Akali Dal and the Gurdwara Prabandhak Board (reported on October 4, 1998).^[10]

Notable Sikhs from Jammu and Kashmir

• Banda Singh Bahadur, a Sikh leader who led significant military campaigns against the Mughal Empire in the early 18th century.
• Akali Kaur Singh Nihang - Kaur Singh (formerly recognized as Puran Singh) stood as a distinguished figure among the prominent Sikh individuals of Jammu and Kashmir, renowned for his contributions as a religious preacher and scholar. He authored notable works such as Guru Shabad Ratan Prakash and various other literary endeavors.
• Mahan Singh Mirpuri (1810 – 1844) - Notable Sikh military leader, second-in-command to General Hari Singh Nalwa, and renowned for conquests in Haripur, Nowshera, and Peshawar. Hailing from Mirpur, Kashmir.

Religious institutions

Jammu and Kashmir is home to several historic and significant Sikh gurdwaras (places of worship), including the Chatti Patshahi Gurdwara in Srinagar and the Gurdwara Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Jammu. These gurdwaras are not only places of worship but also centers of community and cultural activities for the Sikh population.^[11]