K N Pandita
knp627@gmail.com
On 19 February 2026, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha launched Kashmir-Nativity Regained, a new book by former Banaras Hindu University Sociology Professor Ashok Kaul, at the Brig Rajinder Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu. Prof. Kaul is originally from Bandipora, Kashmir.
Professor Kaul chose to present the traumatic expulsion of the Pandits in his book as fiction, adhering to the idea that fictional narratives can be more impactful than real-life events. In 2021, Tej N. Dhar, an eminent Professor of English formerly at Kashmir University, authored The Tale of a Beleaguered Soldier. Like Mr. Kabul’s work, this book also used a fictionalized, narrative style to depict the intense trauma and hardships experienced by the Kashmiri Pandit community at the hands of their adversaries.
Commenting on Prof. Ashok Kaul’s book, which he seemed to have read end to end, the Lt Governor said that “Kashmir-Nativity Regained” explores the Kashmiri Pandit exodus and captures the terror of those dark days and the lasting devastation of being wrenched from ancestral roots.” The Lieutenant Governor said that “Prof Kaul’s book is not just a literary endeavour but a laudable effort to shatter the silence that has shrouded our collective consciousness for decades. It serves as a poignant reminder of Kashmiri Pandit Community’s resilience. This is an era of reconstruction. Through his words, Prof Kaul proclaims to the world that the Kashmiri Pandit community is at the very heart of J&K’s narrative.”
Recapitulating the events of 1989-90, the Lt Governor provided an unprecedented affirmation of the atrocities committed against Kashmiri Pandits. After 37 years of exile from our birthplace, this is the first time a very high-ranking authority of the Government of India has so strongly and emphatically recognized our genocide and forced expulsion. He said the anguish of the 1989-90 killings and targeted violence against Kashmiri Pandits remains deeply etched in memory. The torment of abandoning homes overnight and being uprooted from one’s roots lingers even today,” he added.
Lauding the perseverance of the displaced community, the LG said, “I salute the indomitable spirit of Kashmiri Pandit Community. Every displaced family carried within them a living ember of Kashmir. In the crucible of struggle and adversity, they preserved philosophy, spirituality, culture, language, and traditions. Even in agony, they unearthed possibilities and scaled new pinnacles of success.”
“I firmly believe that among the world’s gravest sorrows is the agony of becoming a stranger on one’s own soil. This is precisely what had transpired in Jammu & Kashmir. The anguish of the 1989-90 massacres of Kashmiri Pandits by terrorists runs so profoundly deep that even the balm of time has failed to soothe it. The torment of abandoning homes overnight, of being uprooted from one’s roots, lingers like thorns in the veins of displaced families even today,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
In a striking testament, the J&K Lieutenant Governor avowed that while the terror ecosystem attempted to bury the truth, the administration will never forget or forgive the terrorists and their supporters who devastated generations. The LG emphasized that the era of accommodating killers is over, focusing instead on dismantling the terror network. Who willingly accommodated the killers is an open secret.
Taking the holistic view of past events, the Lt Governor also noted that “Pakistan backed terrorists had spilled the blood of thousands of innocent Kashmiri Muslims. Justice has begun to reach affected families, with efforts underway to address employment and other needs.”
The Lt Governor did not miss to express his concerns for the youth in Kashmir valley. He conveyed that the younger generation must never forget that Pakistan-backed terrorists have also spilled the blood of thousands of innocent Kashmiri Muslims. Many cases are so heartrending that words falter in their retelling. Justice has begun flowing to those families since last year, with efforts underway to fulfill their employment needs alongside other essentials,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor stated that in August 2019, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi abolished Article 370 and fully integrated J&K, that day instilled the faith that the young generation of Kashmiri Pandit Community could reclaim their roots.
Return and rehabilitation remains the central demand for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community. The prolonged inaction from the government on this issue is exasperating, casting doubt on whether authorities have any intention of resolving this injustice. The government’s lack of action has emboldened adversaries to spread the misleading narrative that Kashmiri Pandits will never return for permanent rehabilitation. The logic behind the turn-coat politicians’ argument is flawed and demagogic
The Lt Governor’s unequivocal dialogue regarding the return and rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Pandit community has brought great relief and satisfaction to them in the country and abroad, dispelling all previous doubts and misgivings. He said “the secure and dignified return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley is a firm commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” He also emphasized that the terror ecosystem is being dismantled to ensure this, marking a shift toward peace since 2019. ” This is a clear indication that at the highest levels of administration return and rehabilitation of the displaced community is essentially linked to their security. After all security is the pre-requisite for any development and progress in the State.
In summary, the Lieutenant Governor’s definitive statement on the complex challenges facing the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community should end all uncertainty regarding their return and rehabilitation. Logically, the timing and methodology of this process will be determined by the Union government in coordination with the state. Given the Lieutenant Governor’s supportive stance, we are confident that a representative delegation will be consulted before any rehabilitation plan is finalized.
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