B L Saraf
Shaheedoan Key Chitaoan Par Lagangae Har Baras Mailay
Wattan Par Marnay Walooan Kaa Baqi Yehai Nishaan Hoega
The internally displaced Hindus of Kashmir and other nationalist forces mark 27th December as a day when sacrifices of those men and women are recalled who laid down their lives so that we could live safe, with dignity and honor. With their blood spilled on the streets of Kashmir , these brave hearts have ensured that not only do we, the left behind, live safe with honour and dignity, but also the National flag flows high and waved in Jammu and Kashmir – as it does elsewhere in the country. The practice has been going on since 1990, rather, ritualistically. This is the day when, in year 1989, Pandit Premnath Bhat- an accomplished advocate and a dedicated social worker, resident of Anantnag, was martyred by enemies of the humanity. Though, the day coincides with his martyrdom, the organizers take due care to remember – with an appropriate reverence – all those who fell victim walking down the path of nationalism, pluralism and religious harmony which, indeed, are the hall marks of Kashmir and India.
In a way, remembering martyrs on the day is IDP’s solemn commitment that they are not forgotten. That remembrance keeps them alive no matter they are not physically with us, today. How well said “Our dead are not dead to us until we have forgotten them.” Additionally, the 27th December congregation ignites a sentiment that enables the displaced community to understand importance of coming together. We can never look forward to the posterity unless we look to the past where our brave hearts lost their everything they owned and possessed – lives included – just to serve humanitarian and a national cause .
The sacrifice of these brave men and women is their representation of an action that calls for a serious attention. That action is complete in itself and of a significant meaning, which shouldn’t be lost. Living in exile has made displaced persons understand the meaning of being truly alive , as they have felt and continue to feel , with the devastating intensity, the realty of the world along with its accompanying cruelty and violence. In this situation it would be in fitness of things if such a feeling interpolates with the Government plans , if any , in contemplation for mitigating the displaced community’s woes .
Though it is a subject for another debate , nonetheless it will not be out of place here to say that most of the ills that have befallen the Kashmiri Hindus stem from the fact of they being in religious minority . Their case, therefore , call for an examination from this angle also.
Interestingly, 27 December comes just a week after i.e December , the 18th which is celebrated as a Minority Rights Day all over the world . It was on this day, in 1992, that the UN General Assembly adopted a declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging To National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. Minority rights are essential in a democratic polity. Franklin Roosevelt would say, “no democracy can long survive which does not accept as fundamental to its existence the recognition of rights of minorities.” We hear people , who matter in public space, saying ad – nauseam that Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits ( KPs ) , vexing eloquent about their high spiritual, cultural and civilizatioal ethos . But none among them – ruling class included – understands that KP’s right to culture holds little meaning or significance, unless they are accorded right to exist in a viable form. Alas! KP’s existential crisis seems to have escaped attention of the chattering class.
It is heartening to note that G OI is appropriately concerned about the welfare of Hindus , living as a minority, in Bangladesh and elsewhere , and has shown earnestness to streamline the Waqaf Act to ensure better management and use of Waqaf properties ,in India . We wish the Government expresses same concern for the protection and welfare of the minorities living in J &K and same dispatch is reflected in putting in place a statutory mechanism for a democratic and transparent management of Hindu Temples and Shrines in Kashmir .
When 27th December, 1989 is recalled, one hopes that a spirit of self introspection does get generated within the displaced community .In many well meaning minds a question keeps on lurking! Whether it is wise for the I D Ps to be in victimhood mood, perpetually: or, it is time to find a path to the reclamation of some fraction of lost ‘dignity’? After 35 years living in unintended wilderness, may be, it is advisable for an ‘ exile ‘to find an answer to the question. How long can one live with the cursed word “Migrant ” prefixed to his name. ‘Exile’ in itself is sufficient to denude a person of his basic human and civilizational rights and compels him to live on tender mercies of others. Under these circumstances, for one it looks oxymoronic to ask for dignity while living on doles – in the shape of relief / assistance. To nurse a positive approach is always desirable but to the IDPs it will indeed be a hard ask, so long as they are destined to live rootless – in exile.
No doubt, onus is high on the state authorities to ensure safe rehabilitation of the displaced persons in the Valley from where they were uprooted, with all spiritual , political and economic rights made available to them ; nevertheless, in this direction the displaced persons, too, will have to walk a mile on their own. How it can be done is for the displaced persons to put heads together and come out with an achievable plan, in unison devoid of quixotic conditions. Besides facilitating the job of return, the move will help regain some amount of the lost ‘dignity ‘.
Few days back, the displaced persons remembered services of Pandit Kashyp Bandhu rendered to the community in trying times. In particular, his efforts to foster trust between the communities living in Kashmir, esential for a mutual survival, were highlighted. Bandhu ji , as he was popularly called , had a firm conviction in social harmony. It is time to take a leaf out of his book and find out means and measures to have an honorable reconciliation with the majority community in the Valley . After all, once back KPs will have to live in a socially harmonious atmosphere.
Exile must come to an end. It adds insult to injury when the displaced community gets a feeling that its exile is being used as an alibi for electoral gains in the mainland.
(The author is former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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