The demography of district Doda is complex as compared to its neighbouring districts primarily because of the wide diversity in its population. In the past, Doda was largely inhabited by Sarazi population before people started settling here from Kashmir and other adjoining areas. The reasons for kashmiri population settling here in the past in 17th and 18th century is matter of ambiguity between historians. However Sumantra Bose says it was repression by feudal class that drew people to the district of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar. The Doda district consists of areas drawn from the ancient principalities of Kishtwar and Bhadarwah, both of which became part of a district by the name of 'Udhampur' in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. In 1948, the erstwhile Udhampur district was partitioned into the present Udhampur district, containing the Udhampur and Ramanagar tehsils, and 'Doda' district containing the Ramban, Bhadarwah, Thathri and Kishtwar tehsils. In 2006, Ramban was made into an independent district and the hilly area to the east of the present Doda district was separated as the Kishtwar district. The remaining areas include the Doda tehsil carved out of Kishtwar and the original Bhadarwah, now divided into three tehsils. In 1990s, various incidents were reported about the suppression of Hindus by the Militant organizations. In response to the rising terrorism, the government authorities made Village Defense Committee in various villages. However some reports of VDC members indulging in criminal activities have also reported in the past. In a village called Karada, four Muslims were allegedly killed by VDC members. This incident also triggered the militant organisations to target those who supported the VDCs, believing them to be anti-muslim. Since 1990s, many such incidents of killings by militants and VDCs have been reported.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census, Doda district has a population of 409,936, roughly equal to the nation of Malta. This gives it a ranking of 556th in India. The district has a population density of . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 27.89%. Doda has a sex ratio of 922 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 65.97%.
Religion
The district has a Muslim majority 53.82%, with Hindus constituting 45.94% of the population and the remainder consisting of Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. Doda's society is a mixture of all religions with Hindus and Muslims being two major communities. The population ratio between the Muslims and the Hindus as per the census report of 2011 is around 55:45. Muslims of the region are mostly ethnic Kashmiris and are culturally and linguistically connected to the people of Kashmir.
Languages
Prominent Scholar Sumantra Bose states that the majority population of Doda speaks Kashmiri as their mother language. A study conducted in 2014 identified 40% of the population as Kashmiri-speaking. A section of population also speaks a dialect named Sarazi. Other vernaculars include Bhadrawahi, a Western Pahari dialect spoken by about 53,000 people in Doda district, written in both the Arabic and Devanagari scripts. Doda's population comprises of different communities who live together peacefully despite following different religions and speak different languages. Most of the people of the region are well-versed with all the languages spoken in the area.
Tourism
Doda district has various scenic places and tourist attractions. Here are the list of tourist places:
Jantroon, a hill station located 50 KMs far from district headquarters, administered in Chiralla tehsil of Thathri subdivision.
Bhondraag, are the meadows having religious importance located in Thathri.
Shilikundan, is the meadow located in Thathri. It borders with Jantroon.
Chinta valley, located in Bhaderwah tehsil on Bhaderwah-Jai road.
Bhal Padri, located in Bhalessa tehsil.
Thalai, is a natural small lake on the hills of Piyakul area in Thathri.
Kailash Kund, a peak located in Bhaderwah having religious importance. Every year Kailash Yatra observed to this peak.
Administration
Administratively, the district has 406 villages. Doda District has been divided into three subdivisions viz., Doda, Bhaderwah and Bhalessa. It has eighteen tehsils. There are eight Rural Development Blocks comprising Bhaderwah, Ghat, Thathri, Gandoh, Bhagwah, Assar, Marmat and Gundana. The number of Panchyats is 232.
Politics
Doda District has two assembly constituencies: Bhaderwah and Doda. Some areas of Doda district lies under Inderwal constituency of Kishtwar District.
Terrorism
Doda has had an ongoing history of terrorism with one of the highest concentration of militants in Jammu and Kashmir. Millitants targeted the Hindu community while Muslim villagers were also targeted by millitants as well as some anti-social outfits mostly who misused the VDCs. A report said that of the 489 civilians killed in the region till 2005, in which only 54 civilians were Hindus. There have been a number of killings of innocent civilians by militants and some anti-social outfits including:
In August 1998, four Muslims were allegedly killed by VDC members in Karada village.
On June 19, 1998, over 2 dozen Hindus were brutally massacred by Militants in Chapnari village of Doda district.
On 25 October 1998, four muslim civilians shot dead allegedly by Indian troops in Doda, according to Police and local residents.
Massacre of 19 Hindu villagers in Thawa village on 15 May 2006.
On 15 May 2019, Nayeem Ahmad Shah was killed by cow vigilantes in Bhaderwah, while he was not carrying any animal during attack. Eight Hindus were arrested in this case.
As of 29 June 2020, Doda district has been termed as 'terrorist free' district in Jammu and Kashmir, after the killing of the Hizbul Mujahideen district Doda Commander Masood.
