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| Visit of Pak Hindu pilgrims removes many misgivings | | |
Yash Bhasin
A group of 111 Hindu pilgrims from Pakistan on a month long visit to India, to pay obeisance at various Hindu shrines in this country, have virtually served as ambassadors of their country, in removing some misconceptions and misgivings in India about the fate of minority Hindus and Sikhs in that country.
The pilgrims who are on Indian visit, on the invitation and motivation of Jammu Yatri Bhawn Trust, had weak long stay in Jammu from June 8 to 15, as the first leg of their religious voyage in India. They visited Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine to pay obeisance at the darbar of the goddess. The pilgrims were hosted a grand reception by Jammu Yatri Bhawan Trust and Management on June 14 at Abhinav Theatre Auditorium, where they had frank exchange of views with a gathering of about 800 enlightened citizens and religious minded people of Jammu. The four hour long program on Sunday besides enthralling Jammuites with the rendering of devotional songs in highly melodious voice by Sushil Kumar, an artist from Pakistan and his teenager son, master Sonu as well as by those rendered by Sham Sajan and other renowned artist from Jammu, gave an inkling of commitment and conviction of Hindus in Pakistan towards their religious beliefs and faith in the divine powers of Hindu gods and goddesses.
Above all by stating that they were free to follow their religion, worship Hindu gods and goddesses in the temples and Shrines built by them, holding jagratas and following all Hindu rituals and ceremonies in their country, they have removed many misgivings among the people in India about want of tolerance of other religions in Islamic state of Pakistan. While interacting with media persons on the sidelines of the programs organized by Jammu Yatri Bhawn and the next day luncheon reception hosted to them by the Phalwan chain of food centers, at their Food Mall Bari Brahamana as well as in their reply to the welcome addresses by JYBT functionaries and other dignitaries they stated that in the Sindh province of Pakistan at least they have full religious freedom and there is no impact of Taliban and Islamic fundamentalism there.
All the 111 Hindu pilgrims belong to a single town Kandhkot in Sindh province of Pakistan. The town has a total population of 2.5 lakhs, out of which 25000 are Hindus, which forms 10% of the total population. They have founded Hindu religious trust and societies and built temples of Hindu gods and goddesses there. All the pilgrims were the members of one or the other Hindu religious trust and groups of social organizations of Hindus. One of them, a teacher by profession and Principal of a prestigious educational institution has formed “Hindu Revival and Reformist Society.” He teaches Hindi to Hindu boys and girls in the town so that they can have easy access to and understanding of their religious scriptures. They, however conveyed the constrain in non availability of Hindu scriptures and religious literature in required quantity as well as want of teachers in Sanskrit and Hindi.
Jammu Yatri Bhawan was quick to come to their aid in this regard, with the President of the Trust, Pawan Shastri announcing that they would donate books on Hindu scriptures including Vedas and Geeta etc in Hindi to them. He also offered to send highly qualified and learnt Sanskrit and Hindi teachers as well as some religious scholars to that country, to help the Hindus there in the matter, provided clearance from the High Commission of the two countries. Alternatively they may send some students and teachers to Jammu or Haridwar for learning Sanskrit and Hindi and getting knowledge of Hindu scriptures and mythology. The trust President offered their free boarding and lodging both at Jammu and Haridwar.
On June 15 before their departure to Haridwar the pilgrims, were the guests at a luncheon at Phalwan Food Mall Bari Brahamana, where again about a hundred locals were present to give them a touching send off. Sh. Yash Pal Abrol of Phalwan chain of food centers and his family members donated some religious books to the visiting pilgrims including a brief version of Geeta in Hindi. Earlier Arya Samaj Bakshi Nagar too gave away to them some copies of Vedas. The Jammu Yatri Bhawan Trust also gave away them a memento in the form of 50 Kg weighing beautiful and splendid idol of goddess Vaishno Devi for being installed in the Mata Mandir at Kandhkot in Pakistan, besides memento given to some individuals. At Haridwar also where they stayed for two days they were the guests of Jammu Yatri Bhawan. From there they proceeded to some other Hindu shrines and pilgrimages on their itinerary.
Jammu Yatri Bhawan has rendered a great service to the cause of international understanding and confidence building measurers between the peoples of two countries of the sub continent. A common emotional and spiritual chord exists between the two peoples. The pilgrims gave the practical proof of freedom they enjoy in professing their religion in Pakistan by rendering devotional songs in praise of Mata Vaishno Devi and other Hindu gods and goddesses, as well as observing all the Hindu rituals and ceremonies during their sojourn to this country. The removal of misconception and misgivings about tolerance of Hindu religious practices by a minority Hindu community in Pakistan can go a long way in overcoming mutual prejudices and strengthening the mutual understanding.
By the way Gurdas Sharma a top functionary of Jammu Yatri Bhawan was instrumental in motivating, facilitating and assisting the visit of this much number of Pakistani Hindu pilgrims to Jammu, Haridwar and other parts of India. Last year Gurdas Sharma had a chance meeting with a group of 30 Hindu pilgrims from Pakistan traveling to Haridwar in the same train, which Gurdas Sharma has boarded. He invited them to stay at Jammu Yatri Bhawn Haridwar. They were highly impressed by the warm hospitality extended to them by the Jammu Yatri Bhawan Trust. On the request and persuasion of Gurdas they arranged a trip of 111 pilgrims to Jammu and other parts of India for one month. Their week long stay and reception hosted to them in Jammu were coordinated by Gurdas Sharma, who also managed special extra coaches for them with Himkund Express, for their comfortable journey from Jammu to Haridwar.
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