Category / Kashmir

by Manmohan Dhar

Kashmiri Pandits’ Exodus – An Untold Saga

Needless to mention that Kashmir forms an integral part of Independent India, the incumbent government at the center has affirmed it with a strong message to the world at large. Though, India has been making it amply clear to the international community, there is a stubborn neighbor who would still like to keep its people under the shadow of darkness. No

Kashmir has been used unabatedly by the neighboring country as a tool to keep Kashmir in an unending turmoil and unrest. The youth of Kashmir off late have been identified as the soft target by those who want Kashmir to get submerged under the misery & apathy of terrorism, just to implement their nefarious designs to destabilize the Indian polity.

Well, whatever is happening in Kashmir nowadays, is not the matter of days, months or for that matter years, it is a state of affairs that goes back decades and decades down the history. Kashmir, if we summarize in brief has been a strong and powerful seat of peace, tranquility, religious amity and brotherhood. Even Gandhi Ji once said that if he sees any ray of hope for peace and brotherhood, he can see it coming from Kashmir. But, it happens to be a hard irony that Kashmir got hit by the political highhandedness and subsequent political opportunism made hell, out of what otherwise was a paradise on earth. As a French traveler, Burnier, who visited Kashmir during Aurangzeb’s rule had termed Kashmir as, “Terrestrial Paradise of Indies”

Kashmiris have a mixed history of peace, prosperity, brotherhood, cruelty, torture, oppression, conversions, religious supremacy, community bias, suppression and despite all these ups and downs, what can be made out as the gist of Kashmiris existence in Kashmir is the communal brotherhood and religious harmony.

Jammu & Kashmir enjoyed independence during the British rule in India. When Gulab Singh ruled the independent state of Jammu & Kashmir, he was given complete independence forever by the British on the basis of his good conduct and a settlement of ₹ 7.5 Million to the British. This was on March 16, 1846. Starting then, the state of Jammu & Kashmir stayed an independent state until 1947 when Maharaja Hari Singh signed an agreement with Independent India, transforming power and undergoing accession.

By the time India became independent, Muslims, under the leadership of Mohamad Ali Jinnah wanted a separate country, where they could propagate Islam and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan came into existence. It was only when Pakistan had nefariously thought of bringing Kashmir into its dominion, that King Hari Singh was forced to make an agreement of accession with India. Though India, through Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India, had put a note in the United Nation security council for a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue, the same became unenforceable due to the most impractical suggestions coming from the neighboring country Pakistan.

Pakistan calls it a dispute which it is not, and it is this stubbornness on part of this hostile neighbor that India had to fight war triggered by Pakistan in 1965, 1971 and then again in 1999(Kargil War). 1999(May to July), Kargil War, was an aggression thrust on India, collectively by the Pakistan Army and the Terrorist organizations of Pakistan under the patronage of General Parvez Musharraf, the then Pakistan Army Chief.

Communal unrest had taken place in Kashmir in 1986 as well, but there were no or fewer casualties. An exodus took place which was not widespread and the situation normalized as the dust settled. It was only in 1989 when terrorism in Kashmir was launched on a much larger scale and massacre of Hindus had already been unleashed by the local and Pakistani terrorists.

Prior to it, in 1987, a political front by the name of “Muslim United Front – MUF”, came into existence. MUF participated in the elections but as is believed in the local political circles, the elections at that point in time got rigged just to bring the local political party, “National Conference and the Indian National Congress”, into power as MUF was considered to be Anti-National and terrorist centric party. This was considered to be a drastic shift in the state politics and the overall political health of the country.

September 1989 to March 1990, was the darkest part in the history of Kashmiri Pandits, in the valley of Kasmir. Mass exodus took place, as the same was forced on the Pandit community by the separatist fundamentalist groups of people who had willful intentions to make Kashmir a fundamentalist Islamic State.

As a result of increasing unrest, provocation, ethnic cleansing, Kashmiri Hindus fled the valley of Kashmir leaving behind their homes and hearths not knowing as to what fate they would be subjected to with almost nothing to sustain the unprecedented misery and hardship that was awaiting them.

Though their brethren in the Jammu province, the Dogras and the people in other parts of the country, welcomed the Kashmiri Pandits with open arms and treated them as their own brothers and sisters, the darker part in their life had yet to come.Kashmiri Pandits had to register themselves as the refugees and were kept in tenements in the open ground with almost zero sanitation facilities.

The tenaments created for the community were much worse than the slums. Coming from the place where temperatures would not go beyond 37 degree celsius, Kashmiri Hindus had to live under the scorching heat waves where temperatures would even touch 47 degree celsius. Those who could not withstand the heat died an untimely death and those who sustained it, had to bear the plight of inhuman living conditions.

Though the state administration was extending a very friendly gesture to the pandit community government employees by allowing them to draw their salaries even without attending to duties. Life was not all that simple for them.

Education was one of the biggest challenges faced by the children of the Kashmiri Pandit community. But thanks to the undying endurance & efforts of the children, the community showed the world that they could excel irrespective of the conditions averse to the educational atmosphere.

For the children of Kashmiri Hindus, this mass exodus has most definitely proved to be a “blessing in disguise”. Children exploited their capabilities, potentialities, and wisdom to the extent that they are now at very prestigious and big positions in administration, medicine, and technology.

Coming to the mass exodus, it did not stop there. In fact, mass exodus became a  reason for those who wanted to take political mileage out of it. Both local and National political parties started exploiting the exodus, simply to meet their own selfish political ends.

If the successive governments at the center would have been serious in resolving the Kashmir issue, once and for all, it would have been settled quite a long time ago and that too with all political grace and people’s aspirations. But to be very frank, no party at the center or not even the local political parties wanted this issue resolved at all. Because Kashmir for them happens to be the sole source of political survival in the region and in the process, the most Nationalist Kashmiri Hindus had to shoulder the whole brunt and face the odds which they would have not even thought of.

After displacement from the valley, the Kashmiri Pandits were victimized not only by the political parties but also by their own people who started calling themselves as “The Voice of Kashmiri Pandits in Exile”. They surfaced as the leaders of Kashmiri Hindus and these self-styled leaders started gathering support from our brethren in the western countries and more importantly from those in the United States of America.

It is believed that after they were impressed upon by these self styled kashmiri Pandit leaders, they came out with a helping hand and very rightly so. They thought that if they could contribute towards the well-being of their brothers and sisters, it could be through financial aid only. And, it is believed, they donated huge amounts of financial aid for the welfare of the community, Well,who collected the donations and how the funds were utilized for the betterment of the community, that still remains a million dollar question.
That was not all, these self-styled leaders who took the advantage of the poor, illiterate, innocent and the most submissive sections of the society took the community for a ride. They floated the most ridiculous and vague concept in the shape of a demand for a homeland for the Kashmiri Pandits in the valley of Kashmir to which they said, as an explanation, that they know it is not something which is going to be a reality but they can at least place this demand as a pressure tactics for the central administration. This was something which inadvertently proved to be contra-effective for their smooth sailing in befooling the community brethren in particular and the central and state administration in general.

Creating a homeland for Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir valley was a false promise made by the people who believed in propagating an element of vengeance and hatred for the Muslim community in the valley. A learned lawyer pleading the case of sikhs, brutally murdered in 1984, has said that Hindus did not kill sikhs, it is the Congress workers, who killed them. Similarly it is not the Muslims who killed kashmiri Hindus, it is the militants who killed them. So creating a sense of hatred in the minds of kashmeeri pandits, is what all these self styled leaders have been propagating.

Kashmiri Pandits got scattered in different parts of the country and abroad, and their return, in the true sense of the term, is far from reality, at least for the younger generation. So in such case, what  Kashmiries need to work for is consolidation not separation. Further fragmentation of Kashmeer is in no way going to help kashmiri Hindus. It will be an invasion on national integration.

Kashmiri Pandits in exile can help the current government at the centre, by not opting for vague, misguiding and meaningless demands propagating homeland. They can instead strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narinder Modi, in solving the Kashmeer issue with consolidation and grace.They should take pride in uniteing the already fragmented Kashmir rather than in fragmenting it further.

A ray of Hope can be seen in the proactive approach of Prime Minister Narinder Modi, where the day is not far when Kashmir will unite again. And that is what we should take pride in.And, under his  dynamic leadership, it can be possible​.

So, it is high time for all those who propagate separatism and hatred among both the communities, be it Muslims by the jehadi separatists or the Hindus, by the so called self styled kashmiri Pandits leaders, to mend their ways and start coming in the national main stream and work for peace,  prosperity brotherhood and above all the national unity and integrity.

We have to unite Kashmir, not fragment it.

It has to be, ” All Kashmir For All Kashmiries “. In fact for all “nationalist” Kashmiries.

Jai Akhand Kashmir

Jai Akhand Bharat.

by Manmohan Dhar

Why Geelani Only Why Not Geelani & Co. They All Deserve A Passport.

In fact not only  Geelani, the whole brigade of pro pakistan activists, Extremists and terrorists deserve a passport.

Yes,  you heard me right. They should be given a passport.

But, which passport?

A simple question, which every nationalist can reply with a great deal of ease.

A PAKISTANI PASSPORT.

WHY SHOULD THIS POOR FELLOW ALONGWITH HIS PRO PAKISTAN BRIGADE BE DENIED A PAKISTANI PASSPORT, WHEN HE AND HIS CO. FULFILLS ALL NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SAME.

In fact, these Anti India, pakistani fundamentalists should, with all state honours, be shown the way to their place of choice,’ Pakistan’ , with a one way ticket.

When they don’t deserve the Indian citizenship, why should they be held back.

To be previleged enough to obtain an Indian passport, one has to prove his or her loyality to India & The Indian Constitution.

And when it comes to Geelani & his Co. they have always proved to be the first class citizens of Pakistan. So why should they be denied the Pakistani Passport.

Now, if the question is that of issuing the Indian PassPort to them, then I am afraid, there has to be a complete transformation of the strong ideology of these hardcore pro pakistan activists, which, I reckon can not be possible atleast on this planet Earth.

So dear countrymen let us feel pride in showing these people the way to cross over to Pakistan……………….Their long cherished desire.

Geelani says Kashmeer is neither the part of India nor HAS IT ” yet” become the part of Pakistan. Instead of saying, ” nor of Pakistan”. why did he chose to say , nor has it yet become the part of Pakistan.

In this statement Geelani  pretends to narrate a commonly referred to statement, but in the jugglery of words he quite cunningly speaks out his heart.

“IS NOT A PART OF INDIA……CATEGORIC”

“Has not yet become the part of Pakistan…………. asserting that Kashmeer is basically a part of Pakistan but has not yet become so.”

So what do we infer from these cunningly grafted statements.

Let us all, in the capacity of true Indians, cut short, the agony of this pro pakistan brigade, and hand them over to their masters across the border.

That is what they deserve from an Indian society.

We Indians have a history of being sympathetic, so let us be so to these traitors as well.

JAI HIND.

by Manmohan Dhar

Kanyadan Or No Kanyadan

Social media has really made the world a very small place.

You can see, chat or even comment on what you feel needs to be.

You can even feel the psyche of the people in their expressions on the social media.

I am going to touch one of the very common phenomenon among our Kashmeeri girls, who after their marriage continue to use the surname of their parental side, alongwith the surname of the family to which they get married. e.g So and So…Gadoo Talashi,  So and So…. Goja Fotedar, So and So…Dhar Khazanchi etc. etc.

My concern is not regarding the carrying of two surnames. Let them carry two surnames, if at all they think they are doing it the right way.

My only concern is about the Kanyadan.

Even if we go by the literal meaning of the word, it means that the father gives his daughter in “dan”. Thereby giving her to the other side i.e. the boy’s side.

So long the daughter carries the name of her father’s side, the significance of Kanyadan gets marred.

In present setup one can even get the surname changed, in the academic certificates, only if one wishes to,  simply going through some formalities.

So what is the fun of stretching your name.

There should be, no sentiments associated with the religious rituals.

I would like my daughters, who wear the traditional kashmeeri dress “feran’ and other  accessories associated with the traditional dress like targa, zooj, pooch, loungi etc. etc. with pride, to just have an insight of the traditions regarding sur names prevailing during the olden golden days.

I would not suggest as to what should actually be the practice, but yes I would like my readers to  understand for themselves, whether the contention is right or wrong.

Kanyadan or no Kanyadan………..customs say that girl can only carry the name of her spouse and not of her father after the kanyadan.

Once out of Gotra, means beyond any doubt, that you have to part with the gotra and caste of your parents, only to ensure the legitimacy of the Kanyadan.

Carrying father’s surname after the marriage, only nullifies  the purpose of the festivities of marriage and that of the Kanyadan itself.

This is not meant to hurt some of my daughters who carry dual identity, but yes I would like them to give a thought to the very essence of kanyadan.

The most sacred form of marriage for 2500 years in India has been kanyadan, “the gift of a girl.” The concept has a prominent place in ancient Hindu lawbooks.

when the father hands over all his rights and duties towards his daughter to her prospective groom. This way the father gives her daughter as a gift to the groom. As per tradition, groom is considered a form of Lord Vishnu.

And what is the harm if you are exclusively known as a member of the dynasty of Vishnu.

Well, in certain cases there happens to be no need to change the parental caste, as the destiny plans like that. What happens, the bride and the groom happen to be from the same caste and gotra, but not related to each other. In such cases also marriages take place. Though the caste and the gotra remain the same but Kanyadaan also doesn’t get nullified.

What is important  to understand is that Kanyadaan basically means shifting of caste and gotra, though it remains the same in some exceptional cases. But that doesn’t mean that the bride has not left the parental caste and gotra.

There can be an elaborate discussion on the subject. Here I have just tried to evaluate the importance of Kanyadaan.

I hope the message is conveyed in the right perspective.

 

by Manmohan Dhar

embracement turns into embarrassment

Mr.Modi as I already stated in my previous blog. “You continue the alliance and face the wrath”.

And that is what you are subjected to, now, in the parliament and outside.

Mufti has a track record. And you should have known it.

But, Alas! Just for the sake of tasting governance in the state of J&K and just to celebrate the mandate that the people of jammu gave you, you jumped into an ugly alliance and got what was the writing on the wall.

Mr.Modi, you have not been furnished with the complete background of Kashmeer politics by your kashmeer care takers and thinktanks.

Kashmeer politics is all about funds, aids, financial packages, grants and budgetary allocations and beyond that it is pro pakistan stance.

India features only in oath taking ceremonies, that too for lip service sake.

Time to recall your MLAs. Mr.Modi.

Withdraw support and let democracy prevail.

Please don’t let anti India forces spread their tentacles of nefarious designs against India.

Mufti is an arrogant, pro successionist political giant. Leaving him alone would have been good for the over all health of national politics in general and state politics in particular.

Anyways, it is always better late than never.

India wants you to correct every political misadventure and this one tops the list.

JAI BHARAT.

by Manmohan Dhar

Is Jammu At Par With Kashmeer

There are so many factors that alienate these two cities from each other though being the aligning provinces of the same State of J&K.

One of the most disturbing and the most alarming factor is the disproportionate development in these two geographically most important cities.

Actions speak louder than words. Political parties which come in power in the state of j&k, always be-fool the people of jammu province by making false and deceitful claims that their party will see to it that jammu and kashmeer are both treated at par in so far as developmental activities are concerned. But it has always been the reverse of it.

No doubt, Kashmeer holds the key to the tourist industry in the state but that is not enough reason to overlook the deteriorating infrastructural mess in the jammu region.

It can not be denied at any cost that Valley needs to be upgraded infra-structurally just to keep pace with the International standards of tourist rudiments, but at the same time we have to see to it that jammu is also balanced and beautified. Otherwise it is bound to make the whole valley show up, vapid, tasteless and uninspiring.

Be it roads, public convenience points, bus stands, railway stations, Govt.offices, or for that matter the airports. There is a huge difference between what these places look like in these two cities.

I am not saying that the administrative agencies are not at work. They are, but a prudent and responsible citizen can very easily make out the difference.

Jammu is in shambles. Let it be known, loud and clear.

Authorities need to take the call in the right earnest, lest it is too late.

Please don’t let bus stands look like garbage dumps, public conveniences as stinky corpses and an airport no less than an over- crowded inter city general bus stand.

Every place has its degree of importance, to be in a state it should be, and this state of affairs ought to be maintained at every cost. And it the administration which has to set the things right.

It is also the people who can play a vital role in setting the home right. But in the contemporary world they too expect a great quality infra structure which can tempt them to the extent that they can’t help turning into responsible citizens at the very on-set.

by Manmohan Dhar

J&K Assembly Elections A Glorification Of Indian Democracy

Assembly elections in Jammu and kashmeer have always been a reason to rejoice and  rejuvenation.
People of kashmeer have time and again, through their right to franchise, shown it to the world that whatever the issue, kashmeer can never be separated from India.
It may be a hard reality, but our neighbour needs to understand the ground reality that kashmeer was, is, and will be the crown of great India with a jewel of POK.
Very soon we will acquire POK  as the cherished jewel in the crown.
Whatever may be the reason for such a brisk voting in the first phase of elections in J&K, it outrightly vindicates the power and significance of being a democratic entity.
Kashmeer has been a reason to believe, that there is immense power in unity in diversity.
Even Gandhi once said that he can see a ray of hope in kashmeer.
I would appeal to all my kashmeeri brethren, to leave no stone unturned in glorifying the democratic values and the grandeur of our beloved country.
Assembly elections in J&K should work as an eye opener for all those who propagate separatism.
INDIA stands for unification, not for bifurcation.
Separatist organisations like hurriyat and panun Kashmir are bent upon creating barriers in the way of Hindu Muslim brotherhood and kashmeeriat, the age old doctrine and philosophy preaching amity.
Kashmeer can not be compromised under any circumstances whatsoever.
JAI BHARAT

by Manmohan Dhar

Kashmeer – Fragmentation or Favour

Sometimes, it looks as if kashmeeri pandits of kashmeer are being USED, both, by the Indian self styled saviours of kashmeeri community, and those forces in the valley, who have always professed separatist approach,towards the issue of kashmeeri pandits, returning to their homes and hearths.

well for god’s sake don’t try to break the land of sufis and sants into petty fragments at the altar of age old kashmeeriat. For ages, this incredible doctrine and invaluable philosophy of oneness of the mankind, has guided even the philosophical stalwarts,the world over,in setting the standards of peace, amity and brotherhood.

But…. Yes a big BUT,as we all know, that this doctrine was dashed to ground, and the bond of togetherness, torn to pieces by some vested interests in the valley,with the help of some separatist forces, from across the border.

This led to the mass exodus of the kashmeeri pandit community from their mother land. But that does not mean,at any cost, that they don’t belong to their mother land. And that it should pave the way for an unwanted debate in the media circles.

This is an issue which needs Government of India’s sincere efforts, towards the safe and permanent return of the community, to their homes and hearths.

What should be the modus operandi of the process of return of kashmeeri community to the valley,is something for the government of india to decide.

Ihave always been in favour of, “All Kashmeer for All Kashmeeries”.How this is transformed into reality, only remains to be seen.

Last but not the least, let it be heard, loud and clear, that kashmeeri community in exile is not a commodity, which you can buy and sell, as and when you wish.we are the nationalist community and want to live in peace.

Kindly don’t play with our sentiments.We would like to be left alone, till an amicable, and permanent, solution is sought, by the government of India,which has,at least, made up its mind,to take the issue to its logical end.

JAI HIND

by Manmohan Dhar

Parvez Rasool.A Promising Kashmeeri Cricketer

I feel proud in congratulating Parvez Rasool,a promising cricketer from KASHMEER,for bowling a magnificent spell, resulting in capturing a wicket, that too of none other than jacques kallis of south africa,in his first IPL match while playing for Pune warriors.

Parvez Rasool can be one of those million openings which will lead,one day, to the ultimate brotherhood and amity among the Kashmeeri youth, and that of the rest of India.

Kudos! and blessings for talented Kashmeeri youth.

by Manmohan Dhar

Democratically Elected Bodies In Kashmeer

It is said that “time is the best healer.”Let us hope that timely elected democratic bodies in the state of jammu and kashmeer, and the smooth functioning thereof, shall help in making the atmosphere in the state more codusive for activities which tend towards peace,prosperity,brotherhood and amity.

Democratically elected bodies are the indicators of the fast changing mood of the people of the state.

by Manmohan Dhar

Motherland Is Calling

Today our community brothers and sisters are performing their sincere duties in the valley,and undoubtedly,in not so very healthy atmosphere, so to say.

But they have decided to devote their precious time, and that too of their prime youth,towards service to the mankind.

Yes, we cannot deny the fact that most of them had to take this bold step for the sake of earning the livelihood in the hard times that exist.But on the whole it can be attributed to their “sweet will” to serve the mankind under whatever the circumstances.

And for God’s sake let us not, at any cost, discourage or disappoint them, just to serve our own vested interests.

It may not sound so good to a particular section of our community, but believe me,and I’m sorry to mention it,they are living in a fool’s paradise.

I think the devoted services,that OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS are rendering in the valley, can pave the way for SOLIDARITY.Because Youth stand for UNITY.

And the day is not far when Kashmeeri Pandits will be back, in their “Motherland”.