Kashmiri Samiti over the ages

N N Kaul President, Kashmiri Samiti, Delhi

Before independence Delhi had a small but well knit community of Kashmiri Pandits most of whom were living in Bazar Sita Ram and surrounding areas. These Pandits were generally descendants of those who had migrated from the Kashmir Valley as a result of the persecution launched by the Pathan, Afghan and Mughal rul- ers and governors. These people had strong bonds with Kashmiri Pandits living in Lahore, Agra, Allahabad, Kanpur etc. During winter a fairly large number of Kashmiri Muslims would also come to Delhi in search of jobs as labourers. Most of such people lived in Turkman Gate area in local labour sheds constructed by the administration. There was, however, not much interaction between the two groups.

The events in Kashmir following the partition and the tribal raid forced many Kashmiri Pandits to migrate to Delhi and other places in search of employment. Since Delhi was the capital of India and the Central Govt. at that time was the biggest employer, the city came to have the largest con- centration of Kashmiri Pandits. This situation is unchanged to this day.

There was, however, no social interaction be- tween the KPs who had migrated to Delhi except in offices and maybe some functions like mar- riages. The year 1953 marked a significant change in that as an urge was felt to have greater social interaction between Kashmiris living in Delhi. Some Kashmiris living in South Delhi Govt. colonies like Lodhi Colony, Sewa Nagar, etc. used to meet at a place in Sewa Nagar (now Kasturba Nagar). A strange but a sad event intervened to give this urge of greater socialisation a fillip. A young Kashmiri Pandit, Triloki Nath Peshin, was lying seriously ill in Safdarjung Hospital. He was in urgent need of blood. A group of young and not so young KP volunteers got together and arranged a donation of blood for him. Tragically Shri Peshin could not be saved but his suffering and conse- quent death provided the impetus for setting up a socio-cultural organisation.

An with the nomenclature of Kashmiri Sahayak Samiti, South Delhi, came into existence. was constituted of Kashmiris liv- ing in South Delhi. However, with more Kashmiri Pandits settling in other parts of Delhi similar Sabhas came up in these areas. It was at a later stage that Kashmiri Sahayak Samiti was regis- tered as a Society and it changed its name to Kashmiri Samiti, Delhi. All the local Sabhas slowly merged with the Samiti, making it the focal point of all socio-cultural activities. This naturally gen- erated the urge to have a cultural centre of its own. After strenuous efforts, particularly of late Kanth Lal Malla and Shri S.L. Shakhdar the Gov- ernment allotted a 0.24 acre plot to the Samiti at Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar in 1965.

A band of selfless volunteers under the leader- ship of late Kanth Lal Malla and others set about collecting donations for building the cultural cen- tre at Amar Colony. It was on Feb 12, 1967 that the foundation stone for Kashmir Bhawan was laid by the illustrious son of Kashmir, Dr. Hriday Nath Kunzru.

The basic objectives of the Samiti were to fos- ter and preserve Kashmir's composite culture and provide help and assistance to all persons of Kashmiri origin, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Social gatherings were organised on im- portant festivals like Shivratri, Navreh etc.

Another significant event in the history of Samiti was the publication of its own organ "The Kash- mir Samachar". From a mere two page pull out, the 'Samachar' has grown into a full-fledged pub- lication of 100 pages or more having the English, the Hindi and the Kashmiri sections. 'Samachar' one daresay, is the only publication of the com- munity throughout the world which is being pub- lished regularly month after month. It has come to be a very important link between members of the community spread all over the globe. Matri- monial columns of 'Samachar' have provided yeoman's service in match-making. The events of 1986 and later on from 1989 in the Kashmir Val- ley saw 'Samachar' playing a significant role in espousing the cause of the community and pro- viding an all important link between various organisations and groups. 'Samachar' has now come to be the main mouthpiece of the community as a whole.

Due to some misunderstanding in the leader- ship of the Samiti, the organisation as well as the Kashmiri Bhavan were dragged into an unfortu- nate legal tangle. The result was that the Samiti activities were halted and Kashmir Bhavan was locked up. This situation dragged on from 1980 to 1985 much to the annoyance of the average member of the community. It was left to the good sense of Shri JL. Bhatt and a band of selfless youth of the Community who opened the Bhavan in Nov 1985 and organised a 'Havan.' A new life was infused into the Samiti and its activities were revived with renewed vigour and enthusiasm. Fresh elections were held and a regular Executive Committee started functioning.

The 'Samiti' affairs were just settling down when we were faced with the holocaust of Feb. 1986 riots in Anantnag District where houses were torched, property looted and temples desecrated. A historical 'silent march' was taken out by the Kashmiri Pandits living in Delhi inviting Govt. of India's attention to the atrocities being committed in Kashmir Valley. Delegations met Govt. leaders, important bureaucrats and opposition leaders apprising them of the situation in Kashmir Valley, and a fact finding mission, led by J.L. Bhatt, was sent to Kashmir. The mission toured the affected and other areas extensively and collected valuable data which was published in the form of a booklet. It can easily be said that the contribution of the Samiti at that time also helped removal of G.M. Shah as Chief Minister. Simultaneously, the Samiti convened the first international conference of Kashmiri Pandits to decide about the future course of action. Nearly 150 delegates including those from UK, Europe and USA, participated in the conference. It was decided to call upon A.I.K.S. to play an effective role in coordinating the activities of all Kashmir Pandit organisations throughout the world. 'Samachar' became an effective instrument of the community's resolve to fight the forces of disruption and Islamic fundamentalism.

Samiti's significant role in the aftermath of the rise of terrorism in Kashmir Valley and the con- sequent mass migration of Kashmiri Pandits from 1989 onwards is recent history and does not call for any detailed account. The Samiti, it was, which rose to the occasion and provided all possible assistance and relief to the migrants. Once again a delegation led by Brig. R.N. Madan of AIKS visited Srinagar at the height of terrorism and gathered important facts and figures. It was be- cause of the cardinal role played by the Samiti that the Govt. nominated it as the nodal agency for providing relief to migrants. Besides, the Samiti also took up cases of admission of Kashmiri Pandit boys and girls in various technical institutions and, in fact, a number of such admissions were ar- ranged. Presidents of the Samiti who followed Shri J.L. Bhatt namely Shri D.N. Kaul, Dr. P.L. Kantroo, Sh. C.L. Gadoo, Sh. H.N. Nehru and now myself all dedicated their total services to the cause of the community.

The Samiti has now come to be an institution fully identifiable with the hopes and aspirations of Kashmir Pandits.

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Courtesy:- N.N. Kaul and June 1995 Kosher Samachar