Bairaj Chawalgami
The revival of the historic Darbar Move by the Jammu and Kashmir government marks a momentous development in the region’s administrative and cultural landscape. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s decision to restore this age-old practice has reignited a long-standing debate over tradition, governance, and economic practicality. The move, which involves the biannual shifting of the civil secretariat and other government offices between the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu, was a defining feature of Jammu and Kashmir’s administrative heritage for nearly a century and a half. It symbolized not only a functional necessity in the bygone era but also a cultural bridge uniting two diverse regions-each distinct in geography, climate, and sentiment. The Darbar Move, first introduc