Reterritorializing Kashmir: The Project of Hindu Settlement

In November, the Indian government approved the increased development of Hindu-only settlements throughout the Kashmir valley. On the heels of India`s recent confirmation of Kashmir’s revoked special status, journalist Nevin Kallepalli`s reporting examines the relationship between these new Hindu townships and the local Muslim populace.

Hindu settlements vary in form: Some are designated for Hindu Pandit families who were ethnically cleansed from their homes in the 1990s, many house low-wage laborers from other parts of India contracted by Indian developers, while others are occupied by non-Kashmiri military and government personnel.

Ultimately, this influx of Hindus comprises a tactical plan to remake the demography of the valley all while the Indian army maintains the most heavily manned military occupation of any place in the world.

See also:

Waheed Parra in conversation with Gowhar Geelani, “Fears of demographic change in Kashmir are real,” 15 April 2025

Photo: Hindu temple construction, Kashmir, 2024. Source: Nevin Kallepalli.