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| PARANOEA OF THE PANDITS AND THEIR VALLEY | | | Col J P Singh, Retd | 4/27/2011 10:37:11 PM |
| While looking at glorious past of Pandit community of Kashmir vis-a-vis their dismal future, one is reminded of all times great son of the soil, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India; the greatest historian, tallest of political leaders and distinguished statesman. He was a great man who reflected largely the heritage of Kashmiri Pandits. His focus in life was on peace, progress, harmony, social justice, scientific development and brighter future for India. Kashmir had been very close to his heart. Credit for making Jammu & Kashmir an integral part of India, despite many mistakes associated with merger he made (taking issue to UN and pre mature ceasefire), partially goes to him and Sheikh Abdullah besides Maharaja Hari Singh who merged the state in Indian Union by signing the required Instrument of Accession. Why the dismal future of Pandits and his ancestral abode was not predicted by Pt Nehru, why no safeguards thought of and secured for them and their valley; is the irony of history and the tragedy of community, which shall continue to haunt the nation for generations to come.
Minority Pandits are known to have created a unique culture of Kashmiryat based on mutual respect and tolerance between the Hindus and Muslims as a survival strategy. Pandits comprise of intellectuals, scientists, educationist, historians, sages and seers. Their debating and analytical skills, poetic genius and spiritual knowledge can be categorized as remarkable. The world community is aware of their rich cultural heritage, brilliance and creativity which holds them in great respect. The world is also aware of their forced eviction / distress and supports their cause of resettlement in Kashmir. Though suffered a lot, yet their wisdom, creativity and love for paradisial and sacred land of their ancestors will sooner than later take them back to their homes and hearths. And there is realization that their presence in the valley and involvement in day to day life will dampen fundamentalism and end violence.
If we analyse history of past millennium, we see that decline of India as a nation started with the rise of expansionist Islam. India has gone through periods of unprecedented strife, bloodiest battles of history and religious oppression. Kashmir which was an exclusive abode of Hindus was periodically subjected to Islamic tyranny and cruel conversion. There have been repeated attempts to convert Pandits to Islam and to throw them out of their Paradise but every time they were evicted; they managed to return. During 40 years rule of Sultan Sikander Butshikan (destroyer of the idols) 1379–1420 AD, Kashmiri Pandits were converted or killed. Few families survived and fled. Fortunately during the next 50 years, King Zian-ul-Abidin, (Badshah) reversed the process of persecution, recalled the migrants and rehabilitated them honorably by restoring their religious faith. Despite being wronged and uprooted several times, they have withstood the onslaught and maintained cultural identity. One of the greatest achievement of Kashmiri Pandits as community was that they strongly resisted conversion to Islam every time and retained their identity. They went to Sikh Gurus seeking protection from Mughals tirade of conversion. Guru Teg Bahahdur’s supreme sacrifice thwarted Aurangzeb’s plan of their mass conversion. The fact that in whole of India, it is the Valley alone where there are no kshatriya, vaishya or shudra, proves that lesser Pandits converted to Islam unlike these ethnic groups. Unfortunately partition of India had a fallout like that of wild fire all around Kashmir but history is witness that these flames did not engulf the roots of Kashmiri culture. Fortunately post independence political leadership respected the sentiments of minority community and promoted Kashmiryat till ISI sponsored militancy resorted to indiscriminate killings and ethnic cleansing.
The sacred land of Kashmir is a fountainhead of infinite knowledge. It has produced many talented people who migrated to various prosperous urban centers in India and abroad and made a mark in those places. But mass exodus of Pandits, at the gun point, from January 1990 onwards from towns and villages as victims of ethnic cleansing is an unfortunate watershed in the recent times. Thereafter Pakistan is trying every workable ruse to grab Kashmir.
Those who think that Kashmir may go to Pakistan one day because of mechanism of Pakistan / separatists may be living in fools paradise. Polling %ages in ongoing Panchayat election in Kashmir also suggest that people reject separatists agenda and look forward to development and better life which they know is complementary to peace. Kashmir therefore will always be with India despite conspiracies. Infact any sane observer can see that India is all set to be a superpower soon while Pakistan is on the verge of self destruction. It is sitting on the volcano of terrorism, drug trafficking and insurgency. Ethnic tensions and politics of hate will soon take it to extinction. Therefore the decks seem to be getting clearer not only for honorable return of Pandits but for extinction of Kashmir as an issue. But a big question mark remains whether the community will like to go back or explore avenues outside the valley for better prospects. If they wish to go back, and the wish is sincere, they should start preparing for return to their valley of dales. Therefore the idea and demand of a separate homeland will have to be reconsidered and reconciled. Even if few hundred sq kms of land area is given to them in the valley; will the community find itself secure and safe in an exclusive area while it will be dependent on the same govt and same majority community for security and administration. Their so eagerly cherished homeland may end up to be another refugee land instead of homeland. Therefore they should seek social equality with full rights, privileges and protection as minority community by being part and parcel of the society. The Sikh community has not given up their Paradise despite similar effects and consequences.
For everlasting peace in Kashmir, presence of Hindus and Sikhs will have to be increased, Pandits will have to be returned, law and order maintained, good governance ensured and political blackmail given a descent burial. One day a Kashmiri Anna Hazare will emerge, shake up Delhi and do what is to be done to fully integrate Kashmir in the union and tolerate no nonsense. Kashmir is crown of India, the symbol of secularism and negation of two nation theory on the basis of religion. Glory of India will prevail in the valley and world over. Peace and prosperity is the end all and be all of Indian domestic and foreign policy. The time to call a spade a spade is nearing after which Kashmir shall be treated no different from other states. Such Anna Hazare will moblise masses and resolve Kashmir issue by a joint power of 1.2 billion Indians. Kashmiri Pandits must play their part in strengthening New Delhi and their Anna Hazare in drafting new history of Kashmir. They must return and this time anchor more firmly than before. Efforts of state and central govt as well as assurances of Hurriyat leader Ali Shah Geelani also suggest keenness to resettle the community in their homeland and provide them conducive security environment. They are not alone in their endeavors to return to Kashmir, if they so decide; in which case Kashmiri Muslims, whole country and the world opinion will be with them.
( The writer is a columnist, political analyst and social worker, can be assessed at [email protected] )
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