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There are politicians who hold office, and there are leaders whose vision continues to shape generations. Rishi Kumar Koushal belonged to the latter category. On 5 September 2026, on his 100th birth anniversary, we remember a man whose public life was devoted to the people, aspirations and development of Reasi.
Rishi Kumar Koushal was a three-time MLA from Reasi and a veteran nationalist leader associated with the Praja Parishad, Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Janata Party and, subsequently, the Bharatiya Janata Party. Deeply influenced by the ideals of Pt. Prem Nath Dogra, he remained steadfast in his convictions.
Yet, beyond political affiliations and electoral victories, he was fundamentally a public servant who regarded politics as an instrument of service and a means of giving voice to those who struggled to be heard.
A PEOPLE’S LEADER OF THE HILLS
As a young man, Rishi Kumar Koushal would ride his beloved horse from village to village, traversing the hills and remote mountain areas of Reasi. He knew the terrain and, more importantly, the people who lived there.
He met villagers in their homes, listened to their grievances and understood the concerns of communities often beyond the easy reach of the administration. He did not confine his public life to towns or to those who could readily approach him. The inhabitants of remote mountain villages were equally important to him.
His connection with the people was personal and enduring. From the hills of Reasi, his powerful voice carried to the plains of Jammu and into the wider political arena of Jammu and Kashmir.
What made him remarkable was the combination of firmness of conviction and compassion for people. He could be uncompromising when the rights of his people or a matter of principle was at stake, yet he possessed deep empathy for the ordinary citizen.
For Koushal, politics was never a career in the conventional sense. It was a career in public service. He did not enter public life to build personal privilege or political careers for his own family. He lived by the principles he professed, ensuring that his words were reflected in his actions.
That consistency between principle and conduct remains one of his most enduring qualities.
A LEADER WHO STOOD FROM THE FRONT
His commitment to non-violent protest was equally uncompromising.
When an agitation was declared peaceful, Rishi Kumar Koushal personally led from the front. He and his supporters were prepared to face arrests, hardship and police action without abandoning the non-violent character of their movement.
The prolonged agitation for restoration of Reasi’s district status became a defining example of this determination.
A VOICE FOR THE PEOPLE
As a legislator, Rishi Kumar Koushal brought the same determination to the floor of the House.
He possessed a strong understanding of law, legislative procedure and the functioning of government, and used that knowledge to raise issues affecting ordinary citizens and hold those in authority accountable.
His interventions carried weight because they were grounded in facts and public interest. His personal integrity and reputation for incorruptibility meant that his political opponents could disagree with him, but could not easily question his motives.
He was a strong advocate for the interests of Jammu and Reasi, while also engaging with the government of the then State of Jammu and Kashmir in the search for solutions.
The social worker within the politician was always visible. He raised issues because they affected people’s lives, not merely because they offered political opportunity.
THE DREAM OF A SEPARATE REASI DISTRICT
The demand for restoration of Reasi’s district status became one of the defining causes of Rishi Kumar Koushal’s public life.
The Reasi District agitation began in 1980. Koushalji emerged as one of its foremost leaders, keeping the demand alive through years of sustained public mobilisation and peaceful struggle.
He believed that the loss of district status had deprived the people of Reasi of effective administration, adequate development and the recognition they deserved.
His commitment to the cause became deeply personal. As a mark of his resolve, Rishi Kumar Koushal did not shave his beard or cut his long hair until Reasi’s district status was restored. He maintained this personal pledge for many years, turning it into a visible symbol of his determination and the people’s struggle.
His approach to the agitation reflected his character. He believed firmly in peaceful protest and personally stood at the forefront of the movement, accepting hardship and facing the consequences alongside his supporters.
For him, the issue was never merely about an administrative boundary. It was about the dignity of Reasi, accessibility of government to its people and the right of the people of the hills to receive focused attention for their development.
The long struggle eventually bore fruit. Reasi District came into existence on 1 April 2007.
Rishi Kumar Koushal lived for another decade after the restoration of district status and passed away on 10 June 2017. The fulfilment of the demand was therefore achieved during his lifetime—a cause for which he had sacrificed years of personal comfort and political effort.
His decision to maintain his beard and long hair until restoration of the district remains one of the most memorable symbols of his unwavering commitment to Reasi.
REASI TODAY—THE FULFILMENT OF A VISION
It is remarkable to compare the Reasi of Koushal’s early political years with Reasi today.
The district has emerged as a place of remarkable diversity, combining pilgrimage, history, natural beauty, infrastructure, adventure tourism and economic opportunity.
Its religious heritage includes the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Shiv Khori, Kalka Mata Temple, Baba Aghar Jitto, Baba Dhansar, Dera Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Siar Baba, Nau Devi and Ziarat Baji Ismail Sahib.
Kalka Mata Temple, overlooking Reasi town, is particularly significant as both a religious destination and a scenic viewpoint over the historic town and surrounding hills.
Together, these destinations offer the foundations of an integrated pilgrimage and spiritual tourism circuit.
THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL REASI
Reasi is equally rich in history.
The historic Bhimgarh Fort, overlooking the town, remains an important reminder of the region’s Dogra heritage and strategic importance.
The association of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur with Dera Baba Banda gives the district a special place in Sikh history, while the story of Baba Aghar Jitto represents an important dimension of its social and cultural heritage.
Together with local traditions and folklore, these sites provide the foundations of a vibrant heritage-tourism circuit.
The priority must be to preserve this inheritance while providing visitors with thoughtful conservation, interpretation and modern facilities.
THE CHENAB—A GATEWAY TO ADVENTURE TOURISM
If Reasi’s religious and historical heritage represents its cultural strength, the Chenab River and surrounding Himalayan landscape provide enormous potential for adventure and eco-tourism.
River rafting has already demonstrated the possibilities. There is scope for carefully regulated white-water rafting, kayaking, trekking, rock climbing, camping, mountain trails, nature walks and other adventure activities.
The Salal reservoir and Chenab river system could also support selected water-based recreational activities following scientific assessment and subject to environmental, safety and security requirements.
With proper planning, Reasi could develop a distinctive Chenab Adventure Tourism Corridor, creating new opportunities for local employment and entrepreneurship.
The spectacular Siar Baba waterfall, together with the district’s forests, mountains and river valleys, could form part of a wider eco-tourism circuit.
The objective should be to encourage visitors to stay in Reasi, explore Reasi and experience Reasi, rather than merely pass through it.
THE NEW RAILWAY ERA
The arrival of the railway has opened another decisive chapter in Reasi’s history.
The establishment of Reasi Railway Station has brought the district into a new era of connectivity, while two extraordinary engineering landmarks have placed Reasi on the global map.
The Chenab Rail Bridge, rising 359 metres above the Chenab River, is the world’s highest railway arch bridge. The Anji Khad Bridge is India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge.
Both were inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 6 June 2025 as part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link.
These engineering achievements are more than transport infrastructure. They are landmarks in their own right.
Their extraordinary scale, architecture and setting can attract travellers, photographers, engineering enthusiasts and tourists from across India and abroad.
The administration should consider appropriate viewing points, interpretation facilities and controlled visitor areas around these engineering landmarks, while ensuring railway security and environmental protection.
With the completion of the USBRL, the Kashmir Valley has been connected to India’s wider railway network, opening new possibilities for comfortable and convenient travel, tourism, trade, employment and local enterprise.
For Reasi, this connectivity can become a catalyst for a new phase of development.
REASI AS A FUTURE TOURISM DESTINATION
Reasi now possesses an unusual combination of assets.
A visitor can arrive by train and experience, within the district:
Kalka Mata Temple overlooking Reasi, Bhimgarh Fort, Shiv Khori, Baba Dhansar, Baba Aghar Jitto, Dera Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Siar Baba, the Chenab River, Salal reservoir, the Chenab Rail Bridge and the Anji Khad Bridge.
Few destinations can combine pilgrimage, heritage, nature, adventure and modern engineering in such a compact geographical region.
A well-planned Reasi Tourism Circuit could encourage longer visitor stays, generate local employment and promote entrepreneurship through homestays, restaurants, handicrafts, transport, guiding services and adventure activities.
THE NEXT CHAPTER OF REASI’S DEVELOPMENT
The creation of Reasi District in 2007 and the arrival of the railway in 2025 are two defining milestones.
The next challenge is to translate these achievements into sustained economic and social development.
Reasi needs a long-term strategy combining better infrastructure, environmental protection, employment for youth, heritage preservation, promotion of local products, improved civic amenities and responsible tourism.
Development of the Chenab and its surrounding landscape must be carefully planned. The objective should be sustainable growth—not uncontrolled commercialisation.
Reasi’s natural and cultural wealth is its greatest asset. Protecting it must remain central to every development decision.
THE LEGACY OF RISHI KUMAR KOUSHAL
Rishi Kumar Koushal passed away on 10 June 2017, but his vision for Reasi remains relevant.
He belonged to an era when public life was built on personal contact, service, sacrifice and ideological conviction. He believed that political leadership carried an obligation to stand with ordinary people, particularly those whose voices were least heard.
His lasting contribution was his ability to look beyond immediate concerns and work for the long-term interests of Reasi.
He fought for administrative recognition and lived to see Reasi become a district.
Today, as the district enters a new era of connectivity and tourism, his vision acquires renewed significance.
A TRIBUTE ON HIS CENTENARY
On 5 September 2026, as his family, friends, admirers and the people of Reasi remember Rishi Kumar Koushal on his 100th birth anniversary, the most meaningful tribute is not merely to remember what he achieved, but to build upon the vision to which he devoted his life.
He fought for recognition, and Reasi became a district.
He stood for the people, giving a voice to those in the hills and remote villages.
He believed in connectivity, and the railway has opened a new chapter for Reasi.
He understood the value of Reasi’s natural and cultural wealth; it is now for the present generation to preserve that inheritance and turn it into opportunity.
The generation of Rishi Kumar Koushal fought for Reasi’s identity.
Our generation must build upon that identity and create its future.
On his centenary, we remember him not merely as a three-time MLA or political leader, but as a visionary son of Reasi whose dream of a stronger, recognised and developed district continues to unfold.
