Daily Times

Loss of home is one of the worst thing that has ever happened to any human being. Even prophets have expressed their grief on the loss of home. Kashmiri Pandits left the Valley in 1990s and there are unspoken five generations of Kashmiri Muslims, who have also been forced to leave their homes.

Kashmiri Pandits left their homes in the Valley of Kashmir for allegedly two reasons. Kashmiri Pandits maintain that they became insecure in the habitat in early 1990s when Kashmiris started an armed resistance. Kashmiri Muslims should have been able to conserve the sense of security in the Kashmiri Pandits. The other common belief remains that Kashmiri Pandit exodus was planned by the Governor to create soft Muslim targets for the Indian security forces.

Muslims were faced with a full strength Indian military onslaught and were subjected to human rights violations and indignity. It seems that in the prevailing adverse situation they could not hold on to their duties as good neighbours to Kashmiri Pandits and assure security of life, honour and property. However, Kashmiri Pandits too had a duty to their Muslim neighbours and should not have become an instrument in the sinister scheme of Governor, to expose Muslims as soft targets. They should have maintained the dignity of good neighbourly presence.

In either case, displaced Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims have a right to return in safety and dignity to their homes. The international guarantee to all these displaced people is contained in UN Security Council resolution of 21 April 1948. JKCHR has proposed in its February 1997 report that Hurriyat (Muslim leadership) should offer a general apology to Kashmiri Pandits for failing to keep their sense of security.

Unfortunately, Kashmiri Pandits failed to build on the good will of Kashmiri Muslims and surprised us by volunteering as a weapon of false propaganda against Muslims. The radical Hindu politicians of India have exploited the opportunist Kashmiri Pandits (majority is the victim) against Valley Muslims at all forums inside and outside India.

It is important that Muslims in the Valley take positive steps in encouraging the return of Kashmiri Pandits and assuring their security. The security aspect may always remain suspect as long as the Government of India keeps its 780000 security forces in the Valley

It is a welcome sign that Kashmiri Pandits have started realising that they belong to Kashmir and it would not help them to seek a ‘separate homeland’, turn into a ‘fixture’ of espionage for Indian security forces by accepting to settle in ‘separately built Pandit colonies’ or seek rehabilitation through a suspect Government scheme announced by a Governor. The State Governor has dissolved the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, exhausted his first tenure under Governor’s Rule and has been given a fresh tenure through the President’s Rule. He has used his first tenure to wrong the Kashmiri Muslims by amending the Public Safety Act allowing to lodge the Kashmiri prisoners, in prisons outside Kashmir.

The plan proposed by the Kashmiri Pandits led by Satish Mahaldar, for the settlement of 419 families ready to return, in the six districts, namely, Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Sopore, Budgam, Kupwara and Ganderbal, is based on a commendable belief to return to good community relations in the Valley. The plan has been put up to Union Minister of State for Home G K Reddy, BJP’s national vice-president and in charge Kashmir affairs, Avinash Rai Khanna and Dinesh Sharma, centre’s interlocutor on Kashmir. Kashmiri Pandits have discussed their return to these six districts with Kashmiri Muslim leadership. It is a positive development that Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has constituted a committee to work on the planned return of Kashmiri Pandits. Hurriyat chairman Ali Shah Gilani has also offered full support to the returning Kashmiri Pandit families.

These Kashmiri Pandits were in the Valley during their participation in the Kheer Bhawani annual Mela at Tulmul in Ganderbal district. One of the proposed settlements would be in Ganderbal. Kashmiri Pandits have a special religious connection with five famous temples of Tulmulla (in Ganderbal district), Tikker (in Kupwara), Laktipora Aishmuqam (in Anantnag) and Mata Tripursundri Devsar and Mata Kheerbhawani Manzgam (in Kulgam district).

Kashmiri Pandits have a special reason to return to their homes in the Valley. The colour of water in spring, which flows below temple, is believed to be an indication of the valley’s well-being i.e. the colour foretells the events that will unfold in next 12 months till next festival. Black or darkish colour of water in spring is believed to be a sign of inauspicious times for Kashmir valley. This time, the water in spring was of clean and milky white colour, indicative of trouble free times ahead.

It is important that Muslims in the Valley take positive steps in encouraging the return of Kashmiri Pandits and assuring their security. The security aspect may always remain suspect as long as the Government of India keeps its 780000 security forces in the Valley. It does not serve the politics of RSS and BJP that community harmony between Pandits and Muslims is back to normal in Kashmir.

Therefore, Muslims and Pandits shall have to work out a common stand against the presence of India army. Muslims, Pandits, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jews and all other faiths and non-faiths, need to ensure that India army is brought under the control of three restraints placed on their number, behaviour and location by the UN and made to do the four duties agreed at the time of their admission (conditional) into the State.

Muslims in the Valley have a duty to these returning Kashmiri Pandit. Muslims in all these six districts should ensure that any wrong done to the land, property or business of these Pandits should be corrected as a collective effort. Funds should be raised to rebuild their destroyed homes or repair dilapidated properties and help them to re-start the closed down businesses. Kashmiri leadership could make an appeal for all kind of cooperation from Muslims living in any part of Kashmir and the diaspora. Muslims should not fail in their civic obligations.

After a dreadful experience of 29 years of living outside Kashmir, Pandits have a reason to see merit in reclaiming their place as good neighbours in the Valley. It is unhelpful to remain as an instrument of propaganda against Muslims of the valley, in the hands of radical Hindu leadership of India.

Kashmiri Pandits are good historians, and it may help them, to reflect on what Nehru, told at the Yuvak Sabha meeting of Kashmiri Pandits in Srinagar during his visit in 1940. Nehru writes, “I warned them not to fall into the trap which minorities so easily fell. I spoke frankly and freely, for, having been born in a Kashmiri Pandit family, I could take liberties with my own people”. Nehru concludes his introductory article published in the book “Kashmir Eden Of The East” as, “Twelve days in Kashmir, twelve days after three- and-twenty five years. Yet one vital moment is worth more than years of stagnation and vegetation, and to spend twelve days in Kashmir was good fortune indeed. But Kashmir calls back, its pull is stronger than ever, it whispers its fairy magic to the ears, and its memory disturbs the mind. How can they who have fallen under its spell release themselves from this enchantment? “Kashmiri Pandits cannot “release themselves from this enchantment” – that is, the love for their abode in Kashmir.

The author is President of London based Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights – NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations