news details |
|
|
| Pangs of Displacement | | | Omkar Dattatray | 2/20/2018 9:25:30 PM |
| Displacement is a human problem. Displacement of a community is a black chapter in the history of secular India. It is equally bad that their displacement never attracted the attention of the parliamentarians. It is very painful and horrific event and phenomenon for those who are its victims. Displacement is more painful when it results from ethnic violence and ethnic cleansing. It is most disturbing when people are made to flee their native places because they belong to different faith or ethnic group or because they do not subscribe to the narrow ideology of the fundamentalists. Oustees from the place of their birth are sufferers no matter to which faith or race they belong.
Thus it is a human tragedy and curse. But displacement of ethnic community from their ancestral land and that too in their own democratic and secular dispensation is a great stain and slap on the secular face of India. The agony and pain of separation from their native soil always pricks and pinches them and these unfortunate sons of the soil yearn for peace and return to their native places. The painful memory of the days when they were forced to leave their homes and hearths against their will is ever fresh in their mind. They are waiting for the day when they can return to their homes with dignity. The fresh air, cool breeze, moderate and pleasant climate, fresh, cool and charming ponds, streams and rivers always keep memories in their mind alive and they long for return. They stand uprooted from their home and hearth and deprived of their movable and immovable properties. They also stand deprived of their native land and of its beauty. Their displacement is an irreparable loss to the age old cultural ethos and brotherhood called Kashmiriyat. Kashmiri pandits are the original inhabitants of Kashmir as their history dates back to 5000 years and thus Kashmir belongs to them. So they have a claim on Kashmir. But what has happened has happened and today they are left in lurch and are forlorn and dejected with no end to their suffering and hardships. The part of the world which was once theirs is today a dream for them and their landed properties and residential houses have been taken away from them under a well planned scheme and conspiracy.
There is thus the need for the protection of their properties and strict implementation of the migrant's immovable properties and distress sales act. These unfortunate citizens of India were made refugees in their own land and this is the great tragedy but still our secular bosses do not utter a world of sympathy for these men in distress, not to speak of any material help to them. If they talk for these patriotic people they fear their secular credentials will be suspect. Therefore why should they talk about these hapless souls. These refuges were given bad name of migrants and are made to suffer due to disdain and callous approach of the state and central rulers. The displaced people are rotting in pigeonhole rooms without any proper civic facilities. Those in government service are retiring and the youth of this microscoping community are not absorbed in government jobs. They are forced to bear the unbearable heat to which they were not accustomed being the residents of cold climate. Their number is declining as their birth rate is falling while the death rate of the exiled community is alarming increasingly. These people are suffering from various physical and psychological ailments due to displacement and socio-economic problems associated with it. This is not hearsay but has been authenticated by well known doctors. The community stands widely dispersed because of displacement.
Their culture and traditions are in danger. Their distinct identity is jeopardized and there is danger of extinction of this community in near future if steps are not taken to rehabilitate them in their native places. Even after about three decades of their displacement they feel the pinch and pain of separation from their native land. The longing for valley and return to home is their cherished goal.
It is better if a separate homeland is carved out for them within Kashmir to ensure their safe return. Thus demand for homeland is only viable solution for their ills and problems. Will the government concede this genuine demand of the displaced people? The pangs of displacement will continue till their aspiration is met. The wounds and scars of displacement and forcible exile from their place of birth are very deep. It is the obligation of the rulers of democratic and secular India to come to the rescue of these displaced people. But the genesis of the displacement and Kashmir turmoil lies deep in the special status for J&K state. The special constitutional provisions of article 370, a separate flag coupled with the madarssa system of education play havoc in sowing the seeds of separatism. Pakistan exploited the innocent's masses of the state on account of separate and special status for Jammu and Kashmir and more because of the Muslim majority character of the state. Some sort of alienation and disenchantment among the people of Kashmir also grew because of rigging in elections. All this resulted in fundamentalism, narrow sectarian demands and finally in separatism, militancy, death, destruction and mayhem. It brought an end to age-old values and traditions of Kashmiriyat, brotherhood and religious tolerance. Exodus of a minority is the unfortunate and sad outcome of militancy and terrorism. Thus started their sufferings and hardships in their own county. The displaced should be provided all possible help. Sincere efforts should be made for their safe, honorable and dignified return with constitutional guarantees and safeguards. Till their safe and honorable rehabilitation, there is no end to their pain, agony and loss of homes. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
