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| Do displaced Pundits really want to return to Kashmir? | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, June 5: The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik has urged the Migrant Pundits to visit Khirbhawani Shrine in large numbers this year. Malik also intends to hold a seminar to ‘pave way’ for their homecoming. Pertinent to mention here the Pundits hold Malik mainly responsible for their exodus. He has been heckled by angry Pundits at New Delhi repeatedly.
The exodus of Kashmir pundits in 1990 added yet another chapter to the beleaguered history of Jammu Kashmir. While everybody ranging from the government to social work activists shed tears over their miserable plight, a very important question remains un-answered. Do they really want to return to the Valley?
Some Pundits candidly admit that they progressed after leaving the Valley. They get jobs and reservation in technical institutions across India. They are not concerned about bread and butter issues. A grave problem has been a matter of concern for them. They are worried about their identity.
The Kashmiri Pundits held a conference at New Delhi two years ago. Around 2500 persons attended the conference. All of them were in tears. They did not weep for government jobs. They did not weep for their security either. They moistened their eyes for a single reason. All of them were concerned about their identity. The new generation has not seen Kashmir. They are neither nostalgic about their roots nor concerned about their identity. In fact the exodus has solved many of their problems. But the people who have lived in Kashmir, shared moments of joy and grief with their Muslim brethren are not only nostalgic but want to protect and preserve their identity anyhow. And, the time unfortunately is slipping from their hands. After three generations, the services of a Bhan (Professor BL Ban has authored a book titled Paradise Lost: Seven exoduses of Kashmiri Pandits) may be needed to remind Kashmiris that thousands of Pundits had migrated to various parts of India and settled at such and such places.
Professor Bhan believes that Kashmiri pundits cannot live in peace outside the Valley. “This is why they returned after every exodus. And this time, the recommendations of the parliamentary committee may prove instrumental in their homecoming if the government implements them in letter and spirit, believe concerned quarters.
A high level Parliamentary Committee has recommended measures ranging from declaring all the properties, movable and immovable, sold by the displaced persons (Kashmiri Pandits) after 1989-90, as “Distress Sales” to restoration of possession to the displaced people.
These measures, Kashmir watchers believe, will facilitate homecoming of the displaced Pundits. But the reality is that the distressed souls have been used as ‘guinea pigs’ by the government and their own self-styled leaders. The separatists too have played politics over the grave issue. Nobody has asked them the important question. Do they want to return?
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