Dilemma of an Ordinary KP

Kanhaiya Langer

Kashmiri speaking Pandits can be distinctly divided into three broad groups say A. B. or C. The status of KPS in these groups differs widely in social, Cultural and economical levels. Those who sifted out for job-hunting. between 1947 and 1989 may be called group A. This group is generally well settled, well educated, economically better off, owning properties big- or small. Then, we may consider KPs who got displaced in 1990 or so. Out of these, one group, say "B", consists of KPs who were having their relatives already settled outside the valley and with or without their support, gradually re-organized their torn house-holds, in the rented accommodations. For sustenance, they were either adjusted in posts outside the valley or simply survive on the meagre monthly salary doled out to them plus odd jobs done to supplement family income Most of them however, have no houses/ flats of their own Lastly comes group "C". This group consists mainly of rural KPs, who were having agricultural lands or other properties in the valley for survival. But now, these KPs are mainly confined to ghetto-like migrant camps in Jammu, Delhi and elsewhere, surviving on the meagre monthly "relief" amount etc Educationally and economically, their lot is the worst.

There are indications that the Govts are contemplating to organise shifting the KPS on piece-meal basis in govt built quarters in the valley This has obviously unnerved the community as a whole for obvious reasons of lack of safety, security, religious freedom, women's honour and vocational avenues etc.

As far as the first group A is concerned, there is no question of their return to the valley, for obvious reasons. Even KPs in group "B" will be loathe to shift, despite lot of hardships they face outside. By now, their wards are already admitted in various schools, colleges outside the valley. Their properties in the valley were either burnt, sold for pea-nuts or just conveniently usurped by locals. Only group "C" of KPS is the most vulnerable and some of them, at least, may jump on the bandwagon sooner or later, if inducements given by the Govt, are weighed by them, to be better than those available to them, in migrant camps at present.

KPs are also undergoing virtual metamorphosis due to gradual cultural onslaught from other communities they interact with. For all practical purposes only the older generation can speak Kashmiri language fluently and younger siblings have virtually abandoned their mother-tongue Thus Kashmiri as a language is virtually dead in the younger generation Then there are the inter- caste marriages. Now a days, the proportion of invitation cards of such inter-caste weddings received, is rather alarming. Our age-old culture, customs, rituals, traditions, values, religious beliefs, practices and "Sanskars" are slowly coming to an end in all KP families in general and KPs with inter-caste relationships in particular.

Why have we KPs come to such a sorry state of affairs? Why is our existence as a community threatened to the core? The reasons are not far to seek. The main problem is the very high level of "Ego" in our community Pandits. Even fifteen years after migration, we have not been able to project our major problems on a single platform, through a single united organisation. We have not as yet, even agreed on a common minimum programme. There are plethora of KP Sabhas, Samities, Societies in the same city, in all states of India and abroad. Each KP cherishes to become an office-bearer of one or the other "Sabha. Perhaps because large contributions made by biradari members are there to deal with.

Take the case of Delhi. There are plenty of "Sabhas", "Societies" in Delhi, despite the fact that KSD has been doing a yeoman's service to the cause of KPS throughout. When KSD pulled out of AIK.S., it virtually sent shivers down the spine, all over India. However, good sense prevailed later. An average KP all over India was excited over the recent patch-up. Credit goes to both organisations and the mediators

Take AIKS. It is supposed to be a central, pivotal and frontal organisation, coordinating the activities of all sabhas/societies in the country (and abroad). Some KPs are reportedly controlling huge funds placed in A.LKS Trust, just because they had helped in collecting the kitty, mainly by virtue of their position in A.I.K.S. in the past. What does an average KP expect AIKS to do, devoid of all the locked funds? This also needs immediate mediation and moderation.

Take Kashmiri Samaj, Faridabad, Apart from other excellent jobs done, a replica of "Hari-Parbat" was reportedly constructed there with huge expenditure. How many outstation KPs (and even locals) visit the temple, except a few times in a year? Could not those very funds have been gainfully used for setting up a professional college, a speciality hospital, a hostel or a free lodge for KPs?

Take Panun-Kashmir. It was a memorable mass movement, which could have delivered plenty. But just near the goal, apart from other reasons, it was reported that the then President took his family along to foreign countries "to spread awareness of our lot outside the country". He is reported to have stated that the tour expenses of his family were sponsored by some organisations abroad. Why should a foreign set up sponsor an unknown family? Result was that "Panun Kashmir '' split and with that the movement came crashing down, minus the cherished goals.

Even in Indian States, there is very little "awareness" at present among people that more than three lakh Kashmiri Hindus were forced to migrate en-mass in 1990, and become displaced people in their own country, not to speak of thousands of killings, tortures etc. undergone by them. Wherever, the writer went after 1990, he had to elaborate in detail, our unreported miseries to our astonished neighbours, office colleagues, fellow travellers etc.

Who would enlighten the Indian and foreign public on these issues? The vast print and visual media? Both the media virtually blacked out all the news and tragedies which befell our community during post 1990 years.

Hence the "awareness" of our misfortunes is nil even in our own country, not to speak of "foreign countries'. The only silver lining of course, was the "Koshur Samachar", but its circulation is restricted mainly to our own community only.

Is it practically impossible for all our Sabhas/ Societies with vast financial resources and exceptionally brilliant, intelligent and industrious office-bearers at their disposal, to float a single Pan-Indian, daily or a weekly Newspaper? Can we ever even think in terms of a private KP News Channel on TV, in the distant future?

A Pan-Indian Newspaper, preferably in Hindi (as maximum Indian populace reads Hindi Newspapers only) or in the distant future, a Hindi Channel devoted to our causes, could work wonders, to spread "awareness" among our own country-folk, at least. It could be made possible provided, all the Sabhas/Societies, would amalgamate and pool their resources. In order to tackle "Ego" problems, the posts of President, Vice-President, Secretary etc. could be abolished altogether, in this unified Central Organisation, with all elected members designated as "Executive Members only. But unfortunately, the word "Unity" in not written in the KP dictionary. For an average KP, all the above cited situations are simply disgusting.

As already stated earlier, it is mainly the KPs in group "C", who may opt to go back to the valley. But will they survive there? Will they be secure there? Dalai Lama was able to preserve the sanctity of his faith, by establishing a temporary camp at Dharamshala Why can't KPs too get some major chunk of land allotted in say Himachal Pradesh, till our major concerns can be sorted out in the valley (it can take several decades, as in the case of Tibetans). In this temporary "land", entire group "C" and even willing KP's from groups "B" & "A" could be properly rehabilitated. There we could maintain alive, for coming generations, all our religious practices, beliefs, culture, social mores, rituals, traditions, values, customs and our "Sanskars' ' etc., without any "Terrorist" threats, and settle down. This of course requires a great political will by all KPS and the Govts. In the personal view of the writer, this is the only way. to safe-guard our identity as a distinct community. Otherwise, for all practical purposes, "Kashmiri Pandit '' is doomed, nay dead.

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Courtesy:- Kanhaiya Langer and 2004 August Koshur Samachar