Alka Lahori Handoo

 "So, you are called Kashmiri Bandits."

"No, not Bandits, we are Pandits, Kashmiri Pandits"; I leapt to my feet to see facts are put in right perspective.

"Ok, Ok, Pundits: look into future, do you? I mean crystal gazing, astrology and kind of things." He asked with plain simplicity.

Letting out a deep sigh I wondered how different it would have been today had we developed the skill of reading writing on the wall—"No, Pandit means scholar, a person inclined towards academic pursuits."

Jeo Williams was in town recently on a research assignment. He has been commissioned by an international agency to do a series on conflicts and displacement. The subject of his study here was Kashmiri Pandits in context of their displacement in the face of raging conflict in valley. Joe seemed to have done a fairly good deal of background research on the subject. He was referred to me by my friend who is in Middle East working for a global news network. Joe is also a part time journalist and often calls on my friend in Doha.

From his conversation I got a sense that Joe had an entirely different perspective of our post-exodus struggle. He somewhat seemed to have created a mental picture of our leader(s), more or less, in the mould of NBA's Medha Patkar or even Mahatrna Gandhi, ready to go on fast unto death at the drop of the hat.

"Would you, ma'am, kindly arrange a meeting for me with your leader?" He asked.

"But, umm...., ours is not a single leader movement. We have many leaders, I mean, espousing causes pertaining to various aspects of our life in exile. I really wonder which one would you like to meet," 1 said matter-of-factIy.

"Obviously the tall leader", he snapped.

A tall order, I thought, to find a tall leader for my guest. Suddenly a name came to my mind—"Yes, yes, I remember, we do have a tall leader; indeed a tall one."

"How tall is he, err... 1 mean with respect to the amount of service he has rendered to the community."

1 had to use my rustic wit to explain the stature of our leader—"Mr. Williams, if you visit Qutab Minar, which I am sure you will while here, when you look up to measure the height of world heritage minaret your hat falls off your head. Similarly when you try to assess the contribution of this leader to the beleagured community all numbers and figures tumble down from their places. They are rendered worthless."

"Quite interesting, Which aspect of your life is he fighting for", J could see the level of excitement rising in Joe.

"Right to death", 1 replied with grim face.

"W...haaaa..t.," almost falling off his chair and uttered with great difficulty—" But what is there to fight for in death, you can go anywhere and die."

"Exactly, that is what he says, he says every body, right from state to central government, has conspired against us and deprived us of the right to a decent death, especially the rituals and ceremonies that go with it."

"Amazing, but why death why not life; like right to decent and dignified life."

"Perhaps, you will have a difficulty in understanding it. Actually as proud inheritors of world famous Shaivite philosophy, we worship Lord Shiva, the God of Death. We don't see death as end point of existence, but only a small punctuation mark in the cycle of innumerable deaths and births. As a matter of fact we consider death as beginning of another life sojourn. Isn't death to be celebrated more than life?" With the philosophical twist I tried to calm his nerves.

"But what exactly is he fighting for, is he saying give us death, so that we begin a new life". Joe clearly was flummoxed and at his wits end.

"No, you jump to conclusions pretty early; he says we have not only lost right to life but right to death as well. He says we should not die unsung. Governments, particularly the state one, should arrange for decent burials of KPs."

"How have the governments responded so far", he asked.

"They have been at it since 1990, giving the community a decent burial."

"How soon can you fix my appointment with him, he sounds pretty exciting?"

"I am afraid, you may not be able to meet him right now?", I said.

"But why. 1 am short on time. What is he doing right now"?

"Tandav Nritya—Dance of Death."

"Can 1 watch the spectacle", he asked with excitement.

"No, come after some time and watch the communily in smithereens as a result of his dance. Worth a watch, 1 vouch. "

DISCLAIMER:

The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article.

Courtesy: Naad, May 2006 and Alka Lahori Handoo  Editor