KPs survival struggle since 1990 vanavaas

Terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has a process political which specified political commitments aimed to separate Jammu and Kashmir State from India and secure its annexation to Pakistan. The second major dimension of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has been the terrorists' aim to exterminate Hindu population in the Kashmir valley because Hindus do not accept the secession of the state from india and its annexation to Pakistan, nor do they accept to be governed by the authority which derives its sanction from the law and precedent of Islam Hindus have always supported accession of the state to India. They have, undeniably, formed the most powerful support base for India in Kashmir. They were always in the forefront of the struggle against secessionism, communalism, fundamentalism and the various movements for annexation of the state to Pakistan.

The rumblings of the storm, which engulfed Kashmiri Pandits, were heard long before it swept the valley. The ultimate and devastating blow came on January 19, 1990, late in the night, when hell was let loose. The total breakdown of the law and order machinery spread a deep sense of insecurity, which was so severe that most of the Pandits fled the valley and migrated to Jammu and Delhi in the dark hours of the night, with only their shirts on!

We bow to all, who left the valley, for upholding the Dharma and the honour of womenfolk which was in danger, at a very heavy cost. We want to express our gratitude to our community members who shared at a very crucial time the pain and anguish of our brethren who faced forced exodus from the valley At that critical juncture, when hell was let loose in the valley, we stood like a rock together especially in Delhi It was a unique experience of togetherness to find extraordinary spirit and zeal of our community members to find them, all out, in helping mood, when nobody even the Government did not took cognizance of our miseries.

A slow trickle in the year 1989 became a mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in January and February, 1990. The displaced persons sought shelter outside the valley mainly at Jammu and Delhi. Sensing the grim situation of our brethren Kashmiri Samiti organised a meeting of prominent Kashmiri Pandits at Kashmir Bhawan on 25-12-1989 to take stock of the prevailing condition in the valley. A large number of Baradari members attended the said meeting and laid short term and long term measures to help the displaced brethren.

Ever since Kashmiri Samiti is holding similar meetings every year on December 25, known as 'Dedication Day' to discuss and sort out priorities for the welfare of the community members and also for follow up action.

In the 1990s, the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi emerged as the most influential community organisation in the country by managing the large number of migrants who migrated to the capital city and also by negotiating with elected leaders at the city, state, and national levels for relief. Beginning in late 1989, the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi opened the community hall of the Kashmir Bhawan to individuals and families who had nowhere to stay in the capital city, providing temporary shelter for hundreds of Kashmiri Hindus before the municipal government granted the migrants community halls as migrant camps in neighbourhoods throughout the city. Families lived in these camps temporarily, for months or years, before finding rental accommodation elsewhere in the city. Families chose to live in them as long as possible in order to save money, in some cases, and participate fully in the political life of the community, in others.

The Kashmiri Samiti Delhi also coordinated relief efforts by appealing to the Delhi municipal government and the Central Government for the establishment of transit camps, the provision of cash stipends, and the distribution of rations to the migrants. It became recognized by the Union Government as the nodal agency for displaced Kashmiri Hindus.

A blend of old and young Kashmiri Pandits took charge of serving our displaced brethren from the very day when first the batch of Kashmiri Pandits arrived at Kashmir Bhawan, Colony, Delhi from the trouble-torn valley of Kashmir.

Apart from displaced Kashmiri Pandits, Sikhs and other Hindus from the valley started pouring into Kashmir Bhawan. A regular camp for the displaced was started which included boarding and lodging. A 27 member executive council was elected on November 26, 1989, and three stalwarts Sh. Jawahar Lal Bhat, Sh. N.N. Kaul and a young activist Sh. Vijay Tickoo were inducted as co-opted members for efficient working of the Samiti. Among office bears Sh. CL Gadoo, President, and Sh. KL. Swaroop, a retired Police officer from Jammu & Kashmir State, a great Margdharshak and Sh. Dilip Kaul, a charted accountant, Vice Presidents. Sh. SK. Dooda another charted accountant as Treasurer. The two young charted accountants worked together to arrange funds and keep watch on proper spending. Sh. Sunil Shakhdar and Sh. A.K. Fotedar, two young, dynamic Secretaries, worked tirelessly and maintained liaison with concerned different Government Departments.

Apart from the Executive Council members, a large number of dedicated social activists were engaged in community welfare activities who worked tirelessly in Samiti, from time to time Some of them attained Nirvana and others are still working individually or collectively under one banner or other.

In Jammu, where the refugees poured in thousands, the State Government failed to rise to the occasion and provide temporary shelter and relief to the hundreds of thousands of the Hindus sprawling on the streets in the temple city of Jammu. Were it not for the yeoman service of the voluntary Hindu organisations, which immediately swung into action to organise relief for the refugees, hunger and disease would have taken a heavy toll of the unfortunate people, who had suddenly been thrown into the wilderness. No help came from any quarter. Silence of death fell on the liberals, the protagonists of secularism, the radicals and the rest. Gita Bhawan, a temple complex situated in the heart of the Jammu city, adjacent to the Shiva Temple, was converted into a reception-cum- transit camp, where the Hindu refugees arriving from Kashmir, disembarked. The various Hindu organisations of Jammu, which had organised relief for the Hindu refugees arriving in thousands from the Kashmir valley, established a broad-based relief committee constituted of several prominent Hindu leaders of Jammu and Kashmir. The organisation was named the Sahayata Samiti. Pandit Amar Nath Vaishnavi, a prominent Hindu leader and social activist, was appointed the Vice-President of the Samiti. Vaishnavi was actually put in control of the function of the Samiti. In Delhi, the other main place, where the refugees arrived in large numbers, the work of relief and rehabilitation was taken up by the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi, headed by Chaman Lal Gadoo, an indefatigable social worker.

In Delhi, a regular camp was organised at Kashmir Bhawan, the headquarters of Kashmiri Samiti, where thousands of our displaced brethren lived in rotation. A regular free kitchen was started with help of local market association and others. Clothes and essential items like toothpaste, soaps etc. were provided to the persons staying in the transit camp. We are indebted to all who stood together like a joint family to help displaced brethren at a very crucial time of early nineties. This was a unique experience of togetherness of Kashmiri Hindus of Delhi NCR Support came from all Kashmiri Pandit organisations in India and abroad which was diverted to Jammu brethren, where it was needed most Our sincere thanks to all overseas friends who helped and showed concern about happenings back home. We are grateful to all those who supported us. We want to record our sincere thanks to Amar Colony Traders Association under the leadership of Sh. Ram Lal Ji, who hailed from Kotli (POK), who took charge of kitchen at Kashmir Bhawan during those turbulent days.

At Jammu, Sahita Samiti, Geeta Bhawan, headed by Pandit Amar Nath Vaishnavi and Kashmir Pandit Sabha, Amphalla, headed by Dr. Kaushala Wali, took charge of displaced persons from the valley. In Delhi, the main place of refuge, the Kashmiri Samiti, Delhi, took up the work of relief and rehabilitation. A transit I camp was set up at Kashmir Bhawan itself for the displaced persons who were later shifted to 14 other camps in Delhi. Kashmiri Samiti Delhi started registration of refugees at Kashmir Bhawan itself. Registration of Kashmiri displaced persons (1-1-1990 to 30-6-1991) was later taken over by Delhi Administration at a later date.

An all party meeting was held at Kashmir Bhawan on 4rth March 1990. Sarvshri K.N.Sahani, Jatehdar Richpal Singh, Hawing Gorpe, Bhim Singh addressed the Biradari members. All speakers expressed sympathy and assured all possible help .

The Samiti organized seminars, demonstrations, public rallies and raised their voice against Human Rights Violations, Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus. Unheard displaced Kashmiri Hindus, who became refugees in their own country, resorted to peaceful protests and demonstrations for the reprisal for their just demands!

We condemned the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Hindus from the valley. During those turbulent days, we came out in thousands on roads to protest and to be heard. The protest rally on 8 March 1990 in Delhi, the march from Red Fort to Boat Club, when thousands of protestors, young, old, women and even children carrying play cards and raising slogans against Pakistan sponsored terrorism and onslaught on Kashmiri Hindus by Muslim fundamentalists. The rally for survival of the suffering community was unique and first of its kind in the capital city, which throughout the long route caught the attention of the Government and general public at large. The rally converted itself a public meeting which was addressed by Sh. Krishan Lal Sharma and Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra (both from BJP), Jathedar Richpal Singh (Akali Dal, Master Tara Singh Group), Sh. Bhim Singh (Panther Party), Brig RN Madan, AIKS President and by C.L. Gadoo President KSD. Thereafter, a memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister urging him to consider seriously the happening in Kashmir and more so at the plight of Hindu minority of the bleeding valley. 

The rally was followed by visit to Kashmir Bhawan by the members of all Advisory Committee headed by Sh. George Femandes, then the Union Minister of Kashmir Affairs on March 14, 1990. A delegation under the leadership of Sh. C.L.Gadoo met Sh. Femandes on 15 March 1990 at his office. After this meeting, the Government opened the camps and registration for displaced persons immediately. A day long Dhama was organised by Kashmiri Samiti on March 20, 1990 at the residence of Sh. George Fernandes, Minister for Kashmir Affairs. Large number of Kashmin Pandits joined the protest. Deputy Commissioner of Delhi on behalf of the Minister, who was out of Delhi, promised for speedy action, so that cash relief is given to the displaced persons.

Apart from two BJP stalwarts Sh. Kidar Nath Sahani and Sh. Madan Lal Khurana, two sympathetic top officials of NCT Delhi Government Ms. Rita Kumar, Director and Sh.G.S. Negi Development Commissioner of Delhi helped us most. They visited Kashmir Bhawan Camp off and on. They were instrumental in building wash-room cum toilet block at Kashmir Bhawan for the inmates on an emergency basis. Not only that there were instructions with concerned officials to sort out day to day problems of displaced persons at spot. Even after allotment of camps for displaced brethren these officials used to visit those camps and help the intimates. We are thankful to them.

A long, purposeful, fruitful and first of its kind meeting was held with US Congressman Stephen j Solarz, Chairman, House of Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs on 31st May 1990 at New Delhi. The delegation consisted of Dr. M.K.Teng, Dr. K. Warikoo, Dr. Utpal Kaul, and Sh. Vijay Tikoo and led by C.L.Gadoo.

The Kashmiri Samiti Delhi discursively constructs the Kashmiri Hindu community in particular ways through its articles, editorials, white papers, appeals, and reports. This discourse is circulated among community members through Koshur Samachar, a monthly magazine published by the Kashmir Samiti Delhi and circulated among approximately two thousand subscribers at the time of my fieldwork. Koshur Samachar changed dramatically in tone, format, and appearance after the migration of 1990 in response to increasing attention to the plight of the Kashmiri Pandit migrant community. Every issue contained a Sh. George Femandes, then the Union Minister of Kashmir Affairs on March 14, 1990. A delegation under the leadership of Sh. C.L.Gadoo met Sh. Femandes on 15 March 1990 at his office. After this meeting, the Government opened the camps and registration for displaced persons immediately. A day long Dhama was organised by Kashmiri Samiti on March 20, 1990 at the residence of Sh. George Fernandes, Minister for Kashmir Affairs. Large number of Kashmin Pandits joined the protest. Deputy Commissioner of Delhi on behalf of the Minister, who was out of Delhi, promised for speedy action, so that cash relief is given to the displaced persons.

Apart from two BJP stalwarts Sh. Kidar Nath Sahani and Sh. Madan Lal Khurana, two sympathetic top officials of NCT Delhi Government Ms. Rita Kumar, Director and Sh.G.S. Negi Development Commissioner of Delhi helped us most. They visited Kashmir Bhawan Camp off and on. They were instrumental in building wash-room cum toilet block at Kashmir Bhawan for the inmates on an emergency basis. Not only that there were instructions with concerned officials to sort out day to day problems of displaced persons at spot. Even after allotment of camps for displaced brethren these officials used to visit those camps and help the intimates. We are thankful to them.

A long, purposeful, fruitful and first of its kind meeting was held with US Congressman Stephen j Solarz, Chairman, House of Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs on 31st May 1990 at New Delhi. The delegation comprised of Dr. M.K.Teng, Dr. K. Warikoo, Dr. Utpal Kaul, and Sh. Vijay Tikoo and led by C.L.Gadoo.

The Kashmiri Samiti Delhi discursively constructs the Kashmiri Hindu community in particular ways through its articles, editorials, white papers, appeals, and reports. This discourse is circulated among community members through Koshur Samachar, a monthly magazine published by the Kashmir Samiti Delhi and circulated among approximately two thousand subscribers at the time of my fieldwork. Koshur Samachar changed dramatically in tone, format, and appearance after the migration of 1990 in response to increasing attention to the plight of the Kashmiri Pandit migrant community. Every issue contained a an Islamic State out of Kashmir and secede from India. Many houses of the minority community have been looted and burnt down or damaged. Temples, Shrines, Ashrams, cremation grounds etc., desecrated and seized by the terrorists. Another aspect is that Islamic schools, should have been banned, but those are being run in whole of Kashmir that breed whole new generation of rabid communalists full of hatred for the kafir non-believers. The demands also include proper accommodation, regular supply of rations, regular monthly payments of pensions and salaries should be made to the uprooted persons at their current stations and arrears should be released. Admissions to the students must be thrown open at their current places of living. Each displaced family must be helped to tide over their calamity by means of monthly aid in cash to be raised from present Rs. 500 to Rs. 2500. Well established businesses have been completely uprooted. They must be aided and compensated."

'Another prominent association was the Kashmir Sabha Calcutta, which formally adopted its constitution in 1955 and pursued regular activities in the 1960s, including festival celebrations for Navreh, Shivaratri and Krishna Janam Ashtami, children's functions, community outings, and publication of a monthly newsletter. These local associations were brought together under an umbrella organisation called the All India Kashmir Samaj (AIKS), formed in Allahabad in 1979 under the leadership of Justice P. N. Bakshi, who had also founded the Uttar Pradesh Kashmiri Samaj To vent our grievances, hundreds of rallies and protest Dhamas even hunger strikes were organised at Delhi and Jammu during early nineties. Seminars and public functions were organised in different parts of the country and abroad where Kashmiri Pandits migrated. Different delegations of Kashmiri Pandits met Central and State Government at different levels and appraised them the apathy of displaced persons. National Human Rights Commission was also approached to redress our grievances.

In spite of facing unprecedented miseries, the Hindus do not want to abandon their roots, as the Hindus have loved their land with greater spiritual and social commitments than the Muslims, because they are not imposters and they have been living in the valley, generation after generation, over thousands of years. They possess a greater sense of belonging, being the original inhabitants and owners of the rich ancestral heritage and have their roots in the geography of the land. They are not conquerors, they have risen from their soill (Chaman Lal Gadoo, Former President Kashmiri Samiti)

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Courtesy:- C.L. Gadoo  and  Koshur Samachar 2020, January