Doru Shahabad

At the 2011 India census,[1] Doru had a population of 19,429. Males constituted 53% of the population and females 47%. Doru had an average literacy rate of 70.61%, higher than the national average of 68%; with 83.09% of the males and 58.41% of females literate. 23% of the population was under 6 years of age.

This small township has been home to several notable personalities of Kashmiri history, Kashmiri Literature, Art and Culture.

One of the famous, leading, dynamic and versatile personalities is Ghulam Ahmad Itoo, Numberdar Badermuna . Ghulam Ahmad Itoo was pioneer of Land Reform Movement which worked for the Rights of Kashmiri Peasants who were oppressed by the tyrannical Dogra Regime. He was also jailed for by the Dogra Regime.

Famous Kashmiri poets, such as Rasool Mir (known as the John Keats of Kashmir) Mir's Famous Poem is like this (translated)
This is Rasul Mir, at Shahabad, Doru. He has opened a love-kiosk. Come ye lovers, drink free cup. Love's fire burns me deep
, Mehmood Gami or Mahmud Gami (Jaami of Kashmir), Hamidullah Shahabadi, Asad Mir, Peer Mushkoor, Ghulam Ahmad Wani (Ama Thoker) and many others originated in Doru Shahabad. The pious religious kashmiri pandit scholar Sh. Damodhar Pandita Shahabadi also had his roots in Doru Shahabad. Doru is also inhabited by some present day heirs of Kashmiri poetry namely S.M. Maqbool Fayiz, Yasir Kashmiri, A.G. Nisar Shahbadi, Waahid Kashmiri, Figaar Kashmiri, Armaan Shahabadi.

The famous historian of Zainul Aabideen's court, Mullah Mohammad, who translated Rajatarangini from Sanskrit into Persian, was also from Doru Shahabad. Another great historian of Kashmir, Mir Saidullah, the author of Bagh-i-Sulaiman, was from Doru Shahabad as well, as was Syed Mir Qasim, who served as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister from 1971 to 1975, as well as social activist Abdul Gani Malik.[2]

Syed Hussain, the brother of Syed Mir Qasim, who served the state of Jammu and Kashmir in different capacities is still living at Dooru. He has been M.L.A, M.L.C, chairman of the legislative council and executive member of several committees. He has also been member of Indian Rajya Sabha.

The town has Khankah Faiz Panah which has been originally constructed by Hazrat Mir Mohammad Hamadani, the son of Hazrat Ameer-i-Kabeer Mir Syed Ali Hamadani. The other important shrines of the town include Ziyarat Shah Mohammad Azam Sahib, Syed Jaffer Madani, Shah Asraar etc. The older muhallas (settlements) of the town are: Mirmaidan (birthplace of Rasool Mir ), Arabal, Sehpora, Mirgund, Khudhamam, Nadoora, Arampora (birthplace of Syed Mir Qasim ), etc. and the new colonies like College Road and Iqbal Colony have added up. The well-known Spring and Mughal garden Verinag is located nearby at a distance of 4 km from Doru Shahabad. There are two other Springs in the area namely Shehilnag and Sumnag known as siblings of famous spring Verinag in the locality. The Hindu tirths (shrines) like Luk Bawan (Lokapunya), Vitasta and Goswanigund are located in vicinity of the town.

The grand parents of religious scholar Sonaullah Mantoo alias Wafayi Amritsari and Asia's famous short story writer Sadat Hassan Mantoo did also hail from the Mantoo Dynasty of Shahabad-Doru, who had migrated to Amritsar from Doru in connection with their shawl business.

The eminent religious scholar Mirwaiz Ghulam Rasool Shah Sahib served the people of this soil for decades upholding the Islamic teachings and the religious enlightenment. Another religious scholar born on this soil was Mufti Ghulam Nabi Shah Sahib who was quite good at 'fiqa', Arabic and Persian grammars besides having fermancy in 'Quran' and 'Hadith'. 'Month: August-Year:2013' a collection of Kashmiri poetry entitled "WANSHAJ" penned by Waahid Kashmiri was made public.

• Senior Hurriyat Leader and Acting Chairman Jammu Kashmir Peoples League, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza today visited Dooru Shahabad, Kashmir Watch
• Kashmiri Song (Brem Dith Wajnas Naway), YouTube video of song from Doru Shahabad