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| Why do we need “ Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Religious Places Management” Bill. | | | Dr Rajiv Bhat | 8/6/2011 11:49:25 PM |
| During the winter of 2008- 09 a seminar cum Photo Exhibition was held in Srinagar depicting extensive damage suffered by the wake of eruption of terrorism in 1998 followed by mass migration of Hindu minorities from the valley. The seminar was organized by Sanjay Tikoo and his associates representing the minuscule Pandit Biradari still living in the valley (Almost like eleven families left behind in distant past following another similar migration as depicted in our recorded history. Photographs of more than two hundred temples and shrines that had been damaged in the valley extensively were exhibited on this occasion. Many leaders belonging to the majority community ideology attended the seminar. Chairman of JKLF Mohamad Yasin Malik presided the during his key note address acknowledged the fact that certain forces within the popular subsequent takeover of the attached properties, of some temples. But put the blame for general downfall of these temples to the continued disuse and vagaries of weather. But he indicated to a silver living which he could forces in the future regarding the return of the Pandits and restoration of these temple to their pristine glory. He did recite a couplet from the Lal Vakhs for a better effect on the audience. Nobody could dispute the observation and conclusions this drawn but unfortunately no solutions were offered to reverse or halt the mechanizations of the particular vested interests in the majority community who were responsible for destruction and subsequent encroachment clandestinely. While revenue authorities always looked the other way, the officials at the ground level changed the records to the satisfaction of the encroacher. No need to give specific instances because anybody interested can look through his window and certainly he will find one such victimized orphaned shrine in the neighborhood.
Yes, for those who are supposed to take action and are at the helm of affairs instances have been referred to in a recent write up in a English magazine by respected Kashmiri Muslim journalist. Similar write ups are being published by the daily Early times from Jammu. In a recent such write up a particular reprt in the Government files was referred to wherein the number of temples damaged or otherwise was being disputed. While certain people believed the number to be 430, others proved it to be more than 500. Not with standing the total number of such properties it is sure that large majority of the Muslim community would like these to be restored back of this we have instances. When Abdul Rahim Rattar was not in power. I am sure he would have been visiting his hometown Badipore often. Therefore would invariably look at the destroyed structures of a once pristine Badipora temple. He, therefore, as leader of the opposition immediately introduced a bill in the Assembly to ensure restoration and up keep of these shrines and temples. Gh Nabi Azad Government made him to withdraw the same assuring introduction by the Government itself. This never happened. And now, since Ab Rahim Rather is in power must not be finding time to visit his hometown, therefore Badipora temple has no place in his thought process.
Omar Abdullah has a different problem all together. For him, Pandits have a problem of residential accommodation or that of relif therefore he will visit Jagti or Sheikpora and to and behold Pandits are satisfied for himHe cannot understand the pain that has been caused. He cannot understand what passes through the mind of a Pandit upon finding his birth place destroyed or his cultural/ religious moorings trampled upon. This understanding could have been imbibed in the bosom of his Grandfather, to whom he invariably refers. But he has not been fortunate enough to imbibe that culture, or language or understanding. Therefore, the restoration of Pandits faith is altogether absent from his list of priorities.
Kashmiri Hindus and Muslims have a very uncommon love hate relationship. While individually my best friends even after twenty years of my exile, are Kashmiri Muslim, I am afraid of their mass attitude. This relationship has developed since ages and cannot be wished away.
This relationship has also developed because we do not teach our children Kashmir history. Yes we teach them about the Indian history about the Great kings that ruled and the great struggle for Independence Pandits is only remembered as a part of autocratic rule with large landholdings Abolition of land holdings in 1951 and 1971 and the Pandits acceptance of these revolutionary steps is not to be remembered.
Therefore, all great temples destroyed then and scattered all through the valley are referred to as “Pandav Lari”, which is not true at all. Had we taught history we would have learnt that Kashmir as a whole was treated as a Tirath sthan and elevated souls would raise ashrams and temples of learning through out. Each hamlet had a temple of its own and now out of all these only 524 are left. These could become “Pandav Lari”. These would be completely wiped off from the “safai Hasti”. Therefore and urgent need to save these Asthapans from vandalisers and unscrupulous elements in the valley. This the local miniscule Pandit population in the valley cannot do. Majority Pandits are not yet ready to cross the Pir Panjal. Therefore, need for formation of a wakaf body through enactment of a legislation who would take care for maintenance of these abodes of peace.
There is a catch though. Urgency in enactment of this act is there. Ab Rahim Rather can know better how many more years it will take for Badipora temple to get completely obliterated. He did visit the family of Pt Som Nath Bhat Nagam to condole Som Nath’s death whom will he visit to condole the death of the Badipora Shrine-an abode of peace.
(Feed back at drrajivbhat @Gmail.com)
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