Sensitivity is lacking on community's problems. KPS need more to do themselves.

Jagan Nath Dhar Editor Koshur Samachar

Governments, at the Centre and in J&K have not been adequate enough sensitive to realise the difficulties of the Kashmiri Pandits. There seems little chance of the creation of such peaceful conditions in the valley in which Kashmiri Pandits can go back, in the near future, and live in a sense of security, honour and equal citizens like Indians in all other parts of the country.

 

In 1990, when terrorists planned to cleanse the valley of the KPs, the top executive protector of law and order Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah handed over this work to insurgents and, himself, left to enjoy the salubrious scenery of Europe.

 

Kashmiri Pandits were taken for a ride, They were forced to flee in hordes with the minimum goods they could carry with them. They expected to be back in the valley after a short while. That did not happen.

 

As a result of such unbecoming developments KPS lost their five millennia-old roots, their temples and culture. They lost contact with Kashmiri language, their mother tongue. They got compelled to learn the father tongues of the areas where they got temporarily settled.

 

Thinking-type persons apprehend that if conditions continue in the same pattern in the next three decades, as these have been for the past 32 years, Kashmiri Pandits may be considered like aliens in the valley. K.P. children, born after 1988, will become senior citizens in coming 26 years. Ninety per cent of them will not be able to speak Kashmiri. When mother tongue is lost, a lot of culture is lost. This will shaken the idea that KPs are an enlightened homogeneous community. In this regard the process has started. A  KP succeeded, to a large extent, in his demand that the orchards that his father owned in the valley, should be allowed to have their possession, The deputy commissioner, a Kashmiri Muslim, told the litigant: Your plea is a justified one, I want to issue orders that the orchard possession be restored to you, but can you speak Kashmiri? The young man replied that he could not. The D.C. added: Then, first learn Kashmiri speaking and then come to me again.

 

One the one hand, as the acquaintance of the younger generation of KPs with the Kashmiri language is diminishing, on the other, the brotherly feeling that Kashmiri Muslims had for Pandits has gone to dogs. When KPs pay a visit to their neighbours, after a 40-minute talk, the neighbours ask the guest: Panditjee, when are you going back? The neighbours do not want the exiled Pandits to settle in the valley again. In one case a 10-year-old Kashmiri Muslim girl asked her mother: What is hanging in the ears of this visiting lady? The mother replied: It is called. dejihore. Many young Kashmiri youngsters have never seen a dejihore, or a K.P.

 

A top Indian Army general, whose duty has, been to locate terrorists and eliminate them, told that some 12 KPs should join hands purchase plot land somewhere the Srinagar where they construct building. Different participating families should and there, in during summer months. That will a link between the exiled community and the valley. He added that, time likely to come, in another years, when exiled K.Ps will have to go in the valley.

 

He added that joint organization should be appreciated should be led by persons, who are ready to work in nishkaam bhavana (without trying to secure name, fame money for themselves). We have had such leaders, like Sarvashri Amar Nath Vashnavi, Jia Lal Kilam and Kashyap Bandho. That may help solve some our problems. Depending upon the government, alone, not bring the desired results.

 

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Courtesy: Jagan Nath Dhar and Koshur Samachar February 2022