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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Chowgam

Chowgam is a mini town in Anantnag, now in the Kulgam district, with its block located in Qazigund of Anantnag district. It is located 8 km (5 mi) from its main district Kulgam, and 3 km (2 mi) from its block Qazigund and 9 km (6 mi) from district Anantnag. It is one of the oldest town's in Kashmir Valley. It's among the highly pada-likha mini town's of valley. Villages that depend on it are Churat, Sopat, Nawa, Khargund, Gundipora, Brinal Lammer, Bonigam and many other minor villages.

Geography

Chowgam is located at the south-western part of Kashmir as well as Anantnag district. Two main Rivers flow from this mini town:

  • River Lamer, rising from the southern Mountain surrounding this village.
  • River Wyeth, rising from the kund Spring and joining Lamer at the end of the Village.

These two rivers make one unit and join the Jehlum river and continue their journey. Paddy fields are located near the Boundary of the village.

Religion

People mostly follow Islam. There is a shrine of Baba Naseeb Din Gazi who was from Iraq. Baba Naseeb Ud Din Gazi (RA) was a revered saint known for his spiritual influence and teachings in Kashmir. His life and legacy are steeped in mystical tales and spiritual anecdotes, such as the one you mentioned about his burial.

According to the story, after his passing in Chowgam, multiple villages surrounding the area desired to bury him in their own villages due to his spiritual stature. However, his body mysteriously moved from Chowgam and came to rest in Bijbehara village of Anantnag, where he was eventually buried.

Once there were Kashmiri Pandits but migrated to other places during the insurgency in the late 1980s and continued till the 1990s, still there are some Hindu families residing who never left even after the insurgency.

Occupation

Majority of people here are government employees. Mostly teachers and professors in government buildings. Agriculture also plays an important role in the lives of some farmers. Minority of people work in shops, hotels and road transport.

Education

This mini town alone has a number of schools and higher schools but no college. Some of the famous schools are:

  • Hanfia Public High School Chowgam
  • New Age MODEL Institute
  • Govt. Higher Secondary School
  • Girls HIGH SCHOOL CHOWGAM
  • PS ASTANPORA
  • MS BONGAM
  • MS BAGANDHAR

References

  1. ^ "The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Act, 2020" (PDF). The Gazette of India. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Parliament passes JK Official Languages Bill, 2020". Rising Kashmir. 23 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2021.