From the President's Desk – Koshur Samachar March 1996  

Niranjan Nath Kaul

Dear Biradari Members,

Namaskar! Kashmiri Samiti Delhi, as you are well aware, has been actively involved in arranging the rehabilitation and relief for our migrant brethren in many spheres Last year, we took up yet another important area-arranging of admission facilities for Kashmiri migrant students. I would like to share with you this month the background of our endeavours in this direction and the extent of success we have achieved.

Very few know that it was Shri Kedar Nath Sahani, the Delhi BJP President, whose personal intervention led to a breakthrough in our efforts. As a result, the number of seats reserved by the Maharashtra Government in the Technical, Management and other Institutes of higher learning for migrant students has already been announced. The Maharashtra Govt is now about to take a similar decision in the case of Medical Institutes in the State. Other State Governments, like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are now following the guidelines laid down by the Maharashtra Government.

The breakthrough in the knotty problem of these admissions came when, accompanied by Shri HN Nehru, my predecessor, I called on Shri Sahani and requested him to suggest to the Gujarat Chief Minister for admissions in Engineering and Medicine for Kashmiri migrants At that time, the immediate provocation was the migration of medical students of Srinagar and Jammu Medical Colleges.

At the time of our meeting with Shri Sahani, we were informed by him that he had already

spoken to the then Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Keshav Bhai Patel and that we should now go and contact him At our request, he phoned the Chief Minister once again in our presence, who informed him that he was already considering the matter and suggested that the representatives of the Kashmiri Samiti should come to Gandhinagar to talk to him personally. We responded positively.

In view of the non-availability of our General Secretary, Shri Sunil Shakdher, due to other preoccupations, Shri Ashok Kak, Secretary, was asked to rush to Gujarat capital From Gandhinagar, Shri Kak reported that the response of Shri Kesho Bhai Patel and other Ministers was very positive and the needful was being done by the State Government. However, as the number of technical institutions in the State was very limited, much could not be expected from the Government there.

Encouraged by the positive signals from Gujarat, we thought of approaching the Maharashtra Govt. as well because this State has a large number of technical institutions in Engineering. Medicine and Management. We, therefore, again approached our benefactor, Shri Sahani, seeking a recommendation from the Maharashtra Ministers. Shri Sahani once again obliged us by giving an introductory letter on Shri Gopi Nath Munde, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Shri Sahani, however, cautioned us that only senior members from the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi should go to Bombay and discuss the matter with the State Government. Despite my ill health and physical handicap, I felt duty bound to go to Bombay personally after getting the approval from the Executive Council. Before leaving for Bombay on the 26th June, 1995, I had instructed Shri Ashok Kak to proceed to Bombay from Gandhinagar instead of coming back to Delhi to help me in my efforts there.

An appointment with Shri Bala Saheb Thackeray was fixed for us for the 27th June, 1995 by Shri Ashok Kak. Both of us called on Bala Saheb and put our request before him. He gave us a patient hearing. In fact, he was very sad about the plight of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits and assured of all possible help.

Next day, both of us went to meet the Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Gopi Nath Munde, at his residence at Malabar Hills. Because the Chief Minister was abroad during that period, there was a huge rush of people at his residence. We sent Sahani Ji's letter through his Secretary and were advised to wait for sometime till the rush of people melted away. After some time, a message came from Shni Munde that he had read Sahani Ji's letter and advised us to contact him again the next day. In the meantime, we learnt that, apart from Sahani Ji's letter, a separate urgent message. had also come to Shri Munde from Bala Saheb Prior to this, a favourable word from Shri Pramod Mahajan, MP, General Secretary of BJP, had also come.

Next day, when we again went to Shri Munde, he sent a word through his Secretary that something would be done for us. Shri Kak maintained contact with the Deputy Chief Minister's Secretariat Office on the 29th June to keep a watch on the developments; I also contacted Shri Munde again and was asked to wait. In the meantime, we pursued the matter with the Ministers. of Higher Education and Technology and Health separately. We also continued our efforts on other fronts too. Another meeting with Bala Saheb was held on the 30th June which made us quite hopeful.

Bala Saheb, while taking to us, advised us to have courage and emulate the bravery of Israelis and Palestinians He remarked that the time had come when Kashmiri Pandits should throw away the pen and pick up the gun to fight for their just rights and to fight the injustices inflicted on them by fundamentalists I smilingly told Bala Saheb that this message was, in fact, for the new generation because the present generation was too old to take up the arms now. Nevertheless, the suggestion has a great message for our community and our new generation, if we have to survive Students seeking admission in technical and medical courses-boys and girls accompanying us were also called in by Bala Saheb when he blessed them Assuring us of a great future in our fight for survival, we came back very hopeful.

Late at night on the 1st of July, I phoned Shri Munde's Office and was advised to contact the Hon'ble Minister at his residence immediately I rushed to Shri Munde's residence at 10-30 p.m. when his Personal Secretary informed me that there was some good news for us which Shri Munde would himself convey. After a few minutes, the Deputy Chief Minister came out and jokingly asked us why we had come without a garland. Without knowing the truth, I still ventured to tell him that I could not arrange for a garland at this late hour to welcome the Hon'ble Minister's announcement. He informed me that the Cabinet had already taken a decision earlier. that day granting special concessions to Kashmiri migrants and the decisions would be announced by him at a press conference the next day.

During the night itself, I advised Shri Kak to reach the Dy Chief Minister's residence next morning along with the aspirant students. The good news was also conveyed on phone to Shri H.N. Nehru and Dr. LN. Dhar, our Vice President at Delhi. We also informed Sahani Ji of this good news, which but for him would not have been possible.

Next morning we went to Shri Munde's house and befittingly garlanded him and shouted slogans in his praise. Brief description of the scheme was then conveyed to us and we were advised to collect a copy of the official notification the next day. We were further advised to go. back to Delhi only after collecting a copy of the notification announcing the decision.

Next day, we collected the original notification which provided for concessional admissions in Engineering. Architecture, Commerce, Pharmacy, Hotel Management and the like as detailed under

1.Degree in Engineering 364

2. Diploma in Engineering 550

3 Pharmacy 36

4. Architecture 26

5 MBA 56

6 Hotel Management etc. 20

As the time for submission of applications by the aspiring candidates was short, the details were sent by us to Delhi and Jammu urgently In Delhi, the office of the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi finalised the format of applications and advised all eligible young boys and girls to submit their applications forthwith.

Admissions in Engineering, Pharmacy, Architecture, Business Management, Hotel Management and other disciplines have since been completed as a result of the Samiti's efforts. The cut off percentage was also brought down first to 63% and then to anything above 50%. This concessional scheme has benefitted about 1000 students. Besides, it has allowed migration of about 40/50 medical students and fresh admission to some students in Degree Courses in Engineering in Gujarat, Rajasthan Government has also provided similar facilities.

Kashmiri Samiti Delhi is now pursuing with the Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Tami Nadu for similar concessional schemes for admission on the Maharashtra pattern. A copy of the Maharashtra notification has been made available to these two States as a model for them to adopt.

In addition, the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi has taken up with the Maharashtra Government the case for refund of excess fees charged from the directly admitted students as they also belong to the migrant community The State Government has agreed to adjust/refund this excess amount in due course to bring them at par with the concessional admissions given to other migrant students. Besides its some Medical/Dental seats have also been proposed.

The scheme has been evolved on the strong advice of Shri Bala Saheb Thackeray and Shri Pramod Mahajan Shri Gopinath Munde has been instrumental in formulating the scheme. The Kashmiri Samiti and the entire Kashmiri Pandit community are extremely grateful to all the concerned ministers and leaders for the benevolent schemes formulated by the Maharashtra Government for the benefit of our wards. It has resulted in a new hope in our struggle for survival. We are indeed grateful to Shri Bala Saheb Thackeray, Shri Pramod Mahajan, Shri Gopi Nath.

Munde, Shri Kidar Nath Sahanı and, above all, to Shri Manohar Joshi, who heads the sympathetic Government in the State of Maharashtra The Govt. of Gujarat is also likely to allot some seats on the Maharashtra pattern in the 1996-97 academic year. The Samiti is in touch with the Gujarat Government in this regard. The Samiti will also approach the Maharashtra Government to provide similar facilities for the new academic year 1996-97.

Yours sincerely,

Niranjan Nath Kaul

President KSD

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Courtesy: Niranjan Nath Kaul and March 1996 Koshur Samachar