Writes Rameez Makhdoomi
- More than 2.5 lac Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave their homes as a result of ‘situation of the time’. Estimates of Kashmiri Pandits displaced since 1990 range from 2.5 to 4lakh.
- After the exodus the trend of inter-community marriages has proliferated among the youth of Kashmiri Pandits which seems logical. The opinion on ground is that if the trend continues, after few decades the community of Kashmiri Pandits might vanish in thin air.
- According to estimates of Kashmiri Pandit leadership, there are currently just about 650 Pandit families residing in the Kashmir Valley out of 70,000 families. The Kashmiri Pandit leadership estimates that around 35,000 Pandit families in Jammu and about 17,000 in Delhi. While as the other families are scattered in different parts of India and globe.
The winter of 1990 -1991 was harsh in the Valley of Kashmir the bitterness of which is yet to end. The usual bitter cold was not the reason of harshness but the mass exodus of Kashmiri pandits who had been integral part of the Kashmiri society since ages. More than 2.5 lac Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave their homes as a result of ‘situation of the time’.Estimates of Kashmiri Pandits displaced since 1990 range from 2.5 to 4lakh. On the other hand, Walls of hatred were created between the harmonious relations of Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims as a result of venomous propaganda by fanatic elements from both sides that were somehow falling prey to greater propaganda unleashed by India and Pakistan. Today as this Scribe visited the Pandit migrant families in the Jammu city the community is faced with varied issues. The saga of pain is still there but a will to reconcile and go back to their motherland is much vibrant. Amidst all issues confronting Kashmiri Pandit community,what can be termed as a serious issue is the “gene loss” among this community as a result of inter-community marriages and mass migration to different parts of India. After the exodus the trend of inter-community marriages has proliferated among the youth of Kashmiri Pandits which seems logical.The opinion on ground is that if the trend continues, after few decades the community of Kashmiri Pandits might vanish in thin air. According to saner opinion from both sides if this tragedy befalls the nation of Kashmir would be orphaned of its greater cultural values and would be a nation without soul.
ShubhamKoul, a senior leader of the Kashmiri Pandit Community and Member J&K Thinkers Forum, while talking toExecutive Editor Rameez Makhdoomi from The Kashmir Scenario states this pain aptly-“In the past two decades, the Kashmiri Pandit community has gone through hell like situation. For me the bigger issue is the survival of my community which now seems to be quiet endangered. Whether in the future Jammu& Kashmir becomes Independent country or fully a part of India or Pakistan, is an issue of secondary importance. Time is fast running out of our hands and I hope that people residing in Kashmir Valley would aid fully in the return of Kashmiri Pandits.”
Pertinently, the pain through which Kashmiri Pandits have gone through in migrant camps of Jammu and Delhi over the past two decades has been horrible. Hundreds have died in snake bites, disease rate has grown and the percentage of psychological tension among the community has highly proliferated. Often in the discourse some have believed that building comfortable houses in Jammu City and getting the community out of shabby migrant camps is the answer, but the leadership vehemently opposes this as they believe that any ‘comfort Zone’ would not only lessen the urge to return but have serious repercussions on the population trend and other related dynamics. Bhushan Lal Saraf, a noted legal luminary and writer states-“The population trend of the Kashmiri Pandit Community is a matter of great concern as no impressive growth has been witnessed in the population of community. On the other hand, inter-community marriages and mass migration to different parts over the past two decades has ensured that population diminishes.” According to estimates of Kashmiri Pandit leadership, there are currently justabout 650 Pandit families residing in the Kashmir Valley out of 70,000 families. The Kashmiri Pandit leadership estimates that around 35,000 Pandit families in Jammu and about 17,000 in Delhi. While as the other families are scattered in different parts of India and globe. Mushtaq–ul-HaqSikander, a Kashmiri activist state-“The mass migration of Kashmiri Pandits was an unfortunate event for the nation of Kashmir. As a result of migration the Kashmiri Pandit community has been witnessing gene loss and cultural and linguistic dynamics related loss. All of us need to take steps at war foot basis to ensure their speedy return to the Valley of Kashmir otherwise the community if facing severe threat of extinction and that can mean catastrophe for the nation of Kashmir as whole.” In unison, the community is against any move which rehabilitates them in such a manner in the Kashmir valley that separates them from the Kashmiri Muslim community. The Kashmiri Pandit community has made its stance clear that no assurance from the Government of India is going to bring them back but only the creation of conducive atmosphere at local level. “Even a fool will now not listen to the assurances of Government of India as it has lost that credibility to ensure our return to Kashmir Valley. We pine to visit our motherland but only after a congenial atmosphere is created at ground level as we want to live among our Muslim brothers and not in separate settlements like animals”, notes Saraf. The saner opinion at grassroots is that the future of Kashmiri Pandits as a community is highly threatened amidst inter-community marriages and migration to different parts of the world. Box1 ShubhamKoul, a senior leader of the Kashmiri Pandit Community and Member J&K Thinkers Forum , while talking to The Kashmir Scenario states this pain aptly-“In the past two decades, the Kashmiri Pandit community has gone through hell like situation. For me the bigger issue is the survival of my community which now seems to be quiet endangered. Whether in the future Jammu& Kashmir becomes Independent country or fully a part of India or Pakistan is an issue of secondary importance. Time is fast running out of our hands and I hope that people residing in Kashmir Valley would aid fully in the return of Kashmiri Pandits.” BOX2 In unison, the community is against any move which rehabilitates them in such a manner in the Kashmir valley that separates them from the Kashmiri Muslim community. The Kashmiri Pandit community has made its stance clear that no assurance from the Government of India is going to bring them back but only the creation of conducive atmosphere at local level.