ACHIEVEMENTS
The Golden Years 1953 - 1964
Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed set Kashmir on the road to progress, pulling its people out of the depths of ignorance,
hunger and backwardness. He gave a practical shape to the
ideal of "Naya Kashmir", remained steadfast on his
principles and earned enormous fame and goodwill at home
and outside Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir made tremendous all-round progress under
Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed. Targets were fixed and achieved or exceeded in
all productive sectors while new avenues of development
were identified and explored.
-The State income rose from a mere INR 2.5 lacs to over
INR 2 crores in a few years with the per-capita income
showing a corresponding increase.
-Education, which had hitherto remained the exclusive
privilege of a few rich families was made free and
compulsary from primary to university level. Interest-free
loans raised the number of techically qualified people
from only 57 in 1952 to 4770 in 1963.
-The system of forced levy of foodgrains known as Mujawaza
was abolished.
-The state got its first Medical College, an Regional
Engineering college, two agricultural colleges, two
polytechnics, an ayurvedic college as well as hundreds of
new schools.
-Hospitals and dispensaries were set up throughout the
state and hundreds of doctors were trained within the
State or nominated to the best colleges in India.
-Roads were constructed and upgraded throughout the length
and breadth of the State. The Jawahar Tunnel, considered
a major technical achievement at the time, was
constructed .
-Tourism infrastructure recieved a major boost.
-Power availability increased from 4,000 kilowatts to
31,000 kilowatts.
-Several corporations were set up to develop the
industrial potential of the State.
-The salaries of government servants were trebled and
dearness allowance was introduced for pensioners.
-Housing schemes were started and over 30,000 homeless
persons were rehabilitated.
-The State Public Service Commision was constituted.
-The Academy of Art, Culture and Languages was set up and
the Tagore Hall was constructed.
-Chrar-e-Sharif, Pakherpora and other shrines were
beautified and connected through by motorable roads to
enable thousands of devotees to reach these holy places
easily.
-The first Multi-Storey Secretariat Building and Sports
Stadium in the state were constructed.
It is difficult to condense all the progress made during the Bakshi Era (1953-1964) in a short space. For a more detailed listing please click here.
What is amazing however is that he achieved all this with
so little.
The Central loans and grants recieved by the state from
1953-1964 totalled
just INR 75.34 crores and INR
27.38 crores respectively !
The introduction of planned progress in the State of Jammu
and Kashmir is the enduring legacy
of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed to his
people.
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