Kashmir, referred as “Paradise on Earth”, once a province filled with prosperous Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus is now left with only around 2.45 per cent Hindus in the valley as per 2011 census. There is no doubt about the fact that the massacre of Hindus in Kashmir in 1990s had left a mark which can never be erased. But rather than trying to heal their wounds, the majority of the valley always make sure that their dominance, action and intention is filled with filth of hatred towards the minority, that is Pandits/Hindus.
Hindus of Kashmir got compensated everywhere in India except their native holy homeland. One can easily understand the plight of Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus that even till now after 36 years of brutality they are afraid or kind of reluctant on returning to their homeland. Husbands who saw their wife treated as an object, mothers who saw their daughters taken away from their own houses, brothers who saw the honour of their house orchestrated on the roads and the elders who left their houses with eyes full of tears. The exodus of Hindus in Kashmir was not a mere communal riot or some sort of outcome of clash which is general in a way but it was a full fledge attempt to wipe out entire civilisation along with the population. During the process the neighbours of the Hindu families left no stones unturned to help the militants. e.g. B K Ganjoo(a telecommunications engineer) was one of them.
Now the point, “Kashmir never changed” is nothing to do with the political situation but the social situation. The mindset, the way people of the valley think and act. We often see, any incidents that happened in Kashmir especially when causalities target Hindus there is always an invisible hand which gave a base in succeeding that inhumane act. Recently, Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei was assassinated during the war with USA and Israel. The very next moment Kashmir echoes in mourning of him, although we witnessed it in several parts of India.
But in Kashmir where one moment locals argued that they want Kashmiri Hindus to come again in Valley and the same next moment their action shows their real intention. But the Point is we haven’t seen them mourning for the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus or for those Hindus who had been killed in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Kashmir is as beautiful from the outside, it is as painful and ruthless from the inside. The trend of “Raliv, Galiv, Chaliv”(Convert, Die or Leave) which Srinagar witnessed during the 1990s has left the consequences that are still marked and clearly visible today on the lives, houses and temples of Kashmiri Hindus. Not just Hindus they were the pious native of their holy homeland. Though the meanings may have changed but the actions remain same and promote the same and even today, Kashmir wakes up with the same mindset of “Raliv, Galiv or Chaliv”.
Why is it so? Because the gathering and the protests reflects two purpose, first one is their love and compassion towards the other territory which is not their immediate neighbour also while residing in other, and the second one shows their interest when it comes to them. They can stand in solidarity with those who are not even their neighbours but they cannot even argue for their immediate neighbours and instead of protecting them they left no “Kani”(stones) unturned to hurt them.
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and the President of JKNC(Jammu Kashmir National Conference) made remarks “Hua to Hua”(What Happened, Happened) on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus. Again, a very recent statement where he claimed that “Whether migrated Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus would want to return to live permanently as they have built their new lives elsewhere”. If these kinds of obscure remarks passed by those who has a strong political personality in the valley and who was the torchbearer of the government during the incident.
There’s arise a counter question, Whether Abdullah and government want them to return in the valley? Although various remarks were given by current CM Omar Abdullah but the one that he made at an event at the University of California, Berkeley during an argument with Kashmiri Pandits group that “You all ran away”. But don’t he think his father was responsible for the game of ‘run’, ‘burn’, and ‘chase’.
The valley should understand the fact that Kashmir can’t be Kashmir without the Kashmiri Pandits. Their rich prosperous cultural heritage can’t be compromised. Places like Srinagar(Habba Kadal, Rainawari, Babbarshah and Sonwar), Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam and so on still echoes the voice of Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus. When a Muslim majority province or any Mosque claimed that it has the traces of Hindu or earlier it was Hindu province or temple then the next moment trouble started, situation tightens and chances of communal clash increased.
You people can offer Namaz on roads and Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus can’t live in their houses peacefully. Instead of shouting for those who has nothing to do with you and vice versa stand for those who were once your neighbours who lit earthen lamp with you people on Diwali, who hugs you on Eid and the one who once share the same boundary, places, roads and so on. JKNC and Abdullah always wants to have a discontent between two communities. Sometimes CM Praise Modi government and offers prayer at Kheer Bhawani Temple and the next moment when he sees their core voters shows discontent then he made some statements against Hindus to convince them.
This is what Kashmir holds and still not changed even after 36 years has passed. Tributes to those who lost their lives, heart goes out to the women and girls whose honour was compromised. Stand in solidarity with the families who survived.
