Editor's Mail -  Awaiting the Golden Period

V K Kashkari  

Sir,

"May the Almighty preserve this small community under the shelter of His powerful wing

Secure against all the changes and chances of the passing years, and may their golden years return".

This account was recorded by Pt. Anand Koul in the preface of his book "The Kashmiri Pandit" on 1st January 1924.

The 'Golden Period for the Kashmiri Pandit is yet to return and history stands testimony to this harsh reality that Kashmiri Pandits have become victims of peripheral atmosphere, deliberately created for them. The surroundings, historical and psychological, have influenced the character of Kashmiri Pandits.

A logical statement that history should be read to learn past mistakes cannot hold good for a Kashmiri Pandit because he is oppressed and not an oppressor Kashmiri Pandit Community's seven years of exile gave them a chance not to be obliterated. On the contrary, the community was induced with an element of confusion by the divergent views of community intellectuals and a numberless organisations. But none can claim to be specialists on the community affairs.

Various community organisations held countless seminars and meetings for seven years of exile and drafted several resolutions, so that "Golden Period" is returned to the community. One organisation resolved to return back to the Valley in their houses when the community was compensated for its losses The other organisation concluded to return back when a separate homeland was given within the valley, where at initial stages, the affairs shall be governed by Central Government Yet other organisations sought permanent settlement outside the state. Other organisations under the compulsion of political affiliations contradict their statements regularly. So are many organisations which are yet to define their terms of return. So many perceptions without sagacity has estranged Kashmiri Pandits in active participation for their struggle of survival in terms of various insights.

Time will not forgive us if right thinking men do not ponder for enduring solutions. Henceforth there should be a sincere effort from the intellectuals of the community to struggle with physical resources available to convert it into useful and effective results. The traditional leaders and men of dedication, identified during these years, should shed all prejudices and differences, and create a collective and cohesive force to change forever the peripheral surroundings which have caused agony unabated to this community for centuries.

Let us all remember the words of Swami Vivekananda, "Give me a few men and women who are pure and selfless and I shall shake the world".

Yours sincerely

V.K. Kashkari  

August 5, 1996

DISCLAIMER: 

The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article.                                                                  

Courtesy: Koshur Samachar, November, 1996