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| Cremation grounds in disuse | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 25: Once remaining abuzz with the ritualistic activities, the cremation grounds in the valley have fallen to disuse once the Kashmiri Pandits migrated to other parts of India enmasse. About 95% of the Pandit population left the valley in early 1990 when armed militancy erupted in the state. With their flight the cremation of the dead has abruptly stopped at about 90% of these cremation grounds which has left them in shambles as there is no one to look after most of them.
“There were three cremation grounds in the Srinagar city and they used to remain abuzz with ritualistic cremation. From whole of the city Pandits would take their dead to these grounds for cremation. However, after the eruption of militancy there was almost no activity here owing to the migration of Pandits”, says Kanaya Lal Wali, custodian of Karan Nagar cremation ground who stayed back in 1990. “I some how managed to take custody of Karan Nagar cremation ground so that I could restore its position. I reconstructed three temples in its compound that got gutted in the conflict. I also succeeded in arresting the encroachment on the cremation ground by repairing its fencing”, adds Wali.
However, same is not the case with other cremation grounds that dot the lengths and breadths of the valley. The cremation ground at Wanpoh in Kulgam district looks in shambles because there has not been any cremation of a Kashmiri Pandit here for the last 17 years. The last one cremated here was Pyare Lal Koul who fell to the bullets of unknown gunmen in 1993. “This (cremation ground) is used by non locals for cremation purposes now”, says Abdul Salam Ganai of Wanpoh while pointing to the cremation ground. According to Wali there were more than seven hundred cremation grounds in the valley in 1990 that have shrunk to a handful.
“And most of them lie in disuse and there have been encroachments on them. We have a cremation ground nearby and thank God it lies in our own lands so there is no question of any encroachment. Besides I do visit the cremation ground off and on to keep a watch on it”, says Ashok Kumar Bhat of Verinag.
The cremation ground at Anantnag, located on the bank of Aarpath presents a stinking look. A small building, serving for commissioning of the dead body for cremation has fallen to the disuse to the extent that it is now frequented by the criminal elements and dogs. “When we have any dead body, we clean the place for the ritual and then never visit the place again. For the last 20 years there have been a handful of cremations”, says Kanya Lal Dullo of Anantnag. Interestingly there are only three Pandit families living in Anantnag, once constituting 25% of its population.
“Everybody talks about return of Pandits and their security but no one takes cognizance of cremation grounds which are shrinking due to encroachments”, opines Avtar Krishan of Tailwani village in south Kashmir. “I do take care of the ground and in the last 20 years more non locals were cremated here than the local Pandits”, adds he.
On the encroachment side there are some myths associated with cremation grounds that has spared many from encroachers. “They (cremation grounds) are visited by spirits so we shirk doing anything to its territory”, says Abdul Majeed of Handwara.
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