Systemic suppression of KPs in 1081 free India

Kashmiri Pandits, being aboriginals to Kashep Mar (present Kashmir), is very well documented in ancient books dating back to over 5000 years. By temperament, a Kashmiri Pandit has remained simple, God fearing, tolerant, non-violent and believed in peaceful co-existence. This particular character has been cashed by introdures and invaders in the past resulting in forced conversion to Islam and distress from time to time. Historical records clearly indicate that this community in the past has undergone through six displacements due to onslaughts of foreign Muslim rulers coupled with destruction of temples, shrines and properties. At a particular point of time a total number people left in the valley is reported to be comprised just eleven families. During the Mogul rule a group of Kashmiri Pandit elders were forced to seek refuge from the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur ji who in turn made the supreme sacrifice for the Pandit cause. Except for king Zain-ul-Abadin (Badasha) all Muslim rulers, have treated this community brutally However during the Sikh and Dogra rule Kashmiri Pandits were comparatively happy and prosperous because of their education, moral values and intelligence.

Kashmiri Pandits in free India

Freedom of India from the British rule by and large brought only misery for this tiny community of the J&K state from time to time at the hands of the ruling political class both from state and centre just because it did not constitute a sizable vote bank. Being nationalist to the core, suppression of the Pandit community at the hands of Muslim rulers of J&K was the reward bestowed. Every effort was made to deprive them of inherited immovable properties, which they had acquired from their parents in the past, overrule the merit acquired in educational institutions and competitive examinations etc. divide and rule, disrespect and abduction of the women folk and finally get rid of them from their birth landlocked, stock and barrel. The process started from 1952-53 and continues. 

Farm lands and immovable properties

Most of the cultivated lands in the valley owned by this community were snatched from them on account of J&K Land Reforms enacted by Sheikh Abdullah from 1952-53 which was periodically amended by successive politicians and reducing the holding size to just 8-10 acres depending upon the land type, dry or irrigated. No compensation of any kind was paid to them and the lands were freely distributed among Kashmiri Muslims, in accordance with the socialist ideology of Nehru in free India. Though such a directive from the Nehru Government was also sent to all states mostly administered by the Congress party then, it was promptly executed only in Jammu and Kashmir while other states ignored the orders. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court of India, the highest temple of justice, at that time, rejected the legitimate plea of Kashmiri Pandit land owners in which they had prayed for due compensation. 

The remaining lands, including the homes left behind by the fleeing community at the time of mass exodus and genocide committed during the eighties of the last century, were grabbed in total violation of the Distress Sales Act enacted during 1997 at throw-away prices while outside the valley. This act was hurriedly passed by the popular government of National Conference headed by Farooq Abdullah. This process got meticulously implemented against huge exchange of money at all administrative levels by resorting to tampering of revenue records, regularising encroachments and mutating the deeds unilaterally. The Pandora box of all these deeds executed during the past three decades by the administration is sure to get exposed if an impartial fact finding committee is constituted with a time bound agenda by the Government of India.

After having been deprived of their immovable assets located throughout the length and breadth of the Kashmir Valley in one way or the other possibility of their return to their original homes and hearths looks bleak unless the Distress Sales deeds executed under the act are not revoked and leftover immovable properties restored by present day popular government headed by PM Narindra Modi ji and Shri Amit Shah ji Home minter at the centre and LG at the JK union territory level because the community in general firmly subscribes to "MODI HAI TO MUMKIN HAI”.

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Courtesy:  Dr B.L. Puttoo  and  Koshur Samachar 2022, April