Margdarshan 91 and KP Bill

 

The proposed legislative bill on KP issue, drafted by Sh. Vivek Tankha, though an appreciable effort still it falls short of real issues of the Displaced and Deracinated Kashmiri Pandit community. The deficiencies in the bill apart, the whole process behind its formulation raises certain fundamental issues. Does this bill reach out to the hearts of common Kashmiri Pandit and touches his sensitivity? Or is that it remains a fanciful indulgence of a group of people who choose to remain oblivious to its possible implications? Again, apart from many grievances the community has against the successive governments, including the present one, both at the centre and the state the Displaced Kashmiri Pandits hold a strong disappointment rather a grudge that they are never consulted or taken into confidence while the State formulates policies for them. No wonder, whatever little the successive governments have tried to do for the KPs has never influenced the majority in the community and has only attracted scepticism. This refrain is not only a majority sentiment within the community but has also been expressed vehemently in no uncertain terms by the very people behind the Bill. This raises a fundamental question. How can one practice something that it doesn't want others to do? Since 1990, the community organisations, groups and individuals have produced a numerous documents detailing the possible solution to the KP issue. It goes without any doubt that nearly all of those stand already forgotten and consigned to history. It, therefore, becomes significant to remember that the only vision that has not only survived but become more relevant with each passing day is the "Margdarshan 91" resolution. The critics in their ignorance may argue and try to create similarities between the 32 "Margdarshan 91", other community documents and the present bill in question by saying all these ultimately remain the creations of the respective organisations only. Is it so? No it is not. There is a fundamental difference between the processes adopted behind "Margdarshan 91" declaration and all other papers. While as all other papers came into existence only due to the deliberations within the organisational setup of that particular organisation without any inputs or endorsement from the general masses, "Margdarshan 91" was the collective vision of so many individuals including eminent intellectuals, technocrats, teachers, physicians, writers, poets and many others. It wasn't just an idea of some individuals in a particular organisation but a collective assertion of a large section of community people. It is also pertinent to note that "Margdarshan 91" remains the only community document discussed, debated and adopted by the community consisting of individuals, political activists and representatives of nearly all the then existent KP organisations in Jammu and elsewhere in India. Not only that, subsequently "Margdarshan 91" became the only vision document adopted by individual KP organisations in different parts of the country. Significantly, "Margdarshan 91" resolution was was further sanctified when 3000 plus delegates, from all over India and abroad, endorsed it during the 1st World Kashmiri Pandit Conference at Siri Fort Auditorium, Delhi. One can conclude by saying unlike others, "Margdarshan 91" continues to remain only community document that was conceived, drafted and adopted in a fully transparent exercise with the full participation of community members irrespective of their organisational allegiances.

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Courtesy: Kashyap Dhar and  Koshur Samachar- 2025, August