The current situation in Jammu and Kashmir under Indian Hindutva rule, marked by relentless attacks on Muslim identity—from physical assaults to policies and propaganda—invites comparisons to the era when the former state was under Dogra rule. The Dogra Kingdom was, for all practical purposes, a forerunner of the Hindutva movement in the territories that eventually came under Indian control. Anti-Muslim policies were central to Dogra rule, evident in the exploitation and oppression of the Muslim population across the state. These policies ultimately led to a large-scale massacre as a solution to the demographic “challenge” in Jammu city.

The massacre, which began in late September 1947 against Jammu’s Muslim population, is known as the Jammu Massacre. It stands as a historical lesson that every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir should remember. The estimated death toll of the massacre is between 200,000 to 260,000. Combined with the mass migration that followed, the entire demographic composition of the Jammu region shifted within a matter of weeks. For Hindutva ideologues, this is a point of pride; they have openly expressed the desire to replicate this in other areas of Jammu and Kashmir.

What sets the Jammu Massacre apart from other violent events in neighboring Punjab and across India and Pakistan was the direct involvement of the Dogra state establishment. Dogra armies participated directly, aided by Hindutva militias from other states, to kill as many Muslims as possible. This fact of the Dogra establishment’s involvement is crucial, as many attempt to blur the reality of the Jammu Massacre by grouping it with other communal killings in the broader India-Pakistan conflict. We must remember that it was different: a deeply communal ruler was directly involved who deployed his forces for an anti-Muslim agenda rooted in the policies of the entire Dogra monarchy from its inception.

It is important to recognize that the Dogra kingdom was a Hindutva kingdom, and the Jammu Massacre was the culmination of its anti-Muslim policies.

Now, coming to the present-day situation in Jammu and Kashmir, we are once again under a brutal Hindutva military occupation that wears a facade of democracy to deceive the world. The policies of the current Hindutva-led Indian establishment are no different from the anti-Muslim policies of the Dogra regime. They operate on the same anti-Muslim principles in Jammu and Kashmir, viewing the region’s Muslim population as adversaries. The current Indian establishment is working to eliminate what they call the “Muslim problem,” following the same practices as the Dogra regime.

Just as Jammu’s Muslims were particularly vulnerable then, they remain so today, along with Muslims in Pir Panjal and the Chenab Valley. These regions, which have experienced numerous communal flare-ups driven by the Indian establishment, have significant Hindu populations, making communal tensions strongest here. Instances of lynching over beef consumption have already occurred in these areas, underscoring the heightened risk. The current Hindutva establishment appears focused on addressing the “Muslim problem” in these regions first, believing that the demographic composition will make their efforts easier to implement.

Whether it was the Dogra regime or today’s Indian establishment, the ultimate ambition has always been demographic change, often pursued through policies that will culminate, if unchecked, in Jammu-like massacres. The groundwork has already been laid by the Indian military occupation and its supporters. The initial steps—narrative building and anti-Muslim propaganda—are complete. Policies are being enacted as we speak, and many are already in effect. The final step, a large-scale demographic shift achieved through violent pogroms, is not far off.

We must avoid living in denial and consider how the Hindutva state treats Indian Muslims. When an Indian Muslim, who genuinely believes in Indian patriotism, faces lynching, killing, imprisonment, home demolitions, and even the threat of concentration camps, what fate can Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir expect? These are people who have openly rejected Indian occupation and have consistently fought for their freedom.

Jammu City and its surrounding areas posed a significant symbolic and practical challenge to Dogra rule throughout history. The reality was that the Dogra kingdom’s main city and the hometown of its kings was a Muslim-majority city, consistently at the forefront of the anti-Dogra liberation struggle. Today, in the vision of Indian Hindutva fanatics, Jammu and Kashmir represents the crown of a future Hindutva kingdom, yet this “crown” remains a Muslim homeland, much to their dismay.

The parallels are frightening yet necessary to acknowledge, as they reveal truths that cannot be ignored. We must be prepared, because our enemy is more than prepared. This fight is coming to us directly, whether we seek it or not.