B L Saraf
bushanlalsaraf@gmail.com
Like a geographic seasonal cycle the issue of Pandit’s return to the Valley is in a state of permanent rotation : sometimes it lapses into a darkness and then true to the cyclic phenomenon emerges out in a day light . Political season too plays out the same way for them .
These days cycle of reappearance is on : with the celebrations of Navreh and Navratra right noises are heard, from every corner of the globe , for the return and rehabilitation of the displaced KPs in the Valley . The auspicious days of Navreh and Navratri days are over for this year . However , the hangover of celebrations still carries on . As usual the festivities refreshed the pleasant memories of the past which still linger in the minds of the displaced Pandits . It was flash back time to recall the atmosphere , habitat and the ambience which added luster to the festivities celebrated back home.
Even in exile the displaced persons carried on the tradition in an appropriate manner. Many organizations and individuals arranged congregations celebrating the event . ” Who is who ” in the political and social field was sought after to grace the occasion . In this process , L G Manoj Sinha took time out to be present on the dais and shared his thoughts about the religious and social aspects of the auspicious day . While addressing the devotees the LG assured the displaced persons that their ordeal would end soon and ,if all goes as planned , next year they would celebrate the Day in their homes ,in familiar ambience . In Kashmir similar kind of assurance came forth from political and social circles . PDP ML A has come up with a Bill to be introduced in the Assembly to ensure a statutory pledge for the return and reintegration of the displaced persons .
It is pertinent to recall that in recent times L G Manoj Sinha twice held out assurances to resettle the KPs in Kashmir .Earlier, it was in an auditorium of Jammu University on the occasion of a book release authored by an KP academic ; second time it came when he addressed Kashmiri Hindus assembled to celebrate Navreh . He referred to the glorious past of the Pandit community and exhorted youth to be conscious of it, reclaim the rich heritage and advised them to refresh these memories and unshackle the stereotypes.
Pandits are not homeless by choice . They have been hounded out . Therefore one may be right in asking the persons who are at the helms of state administrative and political affairs who prevents them from translating these assurances into a reality on the ground . It may sound unpleasant but the fact remains that till these assurance are made good, to the displaced persons , they will ring hollow –doled out intermittently to keep them in a good humour.
Sometime back , both the Houses of State Legislature , unanimously, passed a Resolution , conveying a sense that the law makers were earnest and sincere to see the return of displaced Pandits to the Valley and an effort would be made to ensure so. But nothing materialized on ground. It is in this back ground that we have to judge the latest move of a M LA who proposes to introduce a Bill in the Assembly for the return of the displaced Pandits to the Valley .No doubt , it is a welcome development that a PDP MLA has initiated a statutory process for return and rehabilitation of KPs in Kashmir. The 2012 Resolution, then, evoked mixed feelings in the displaced community. Some, not without a reason, described it as yet another “Pious declaration ” meant only for recitation and not for the implementation. These “declarations “, they said, had been coming forth off and on just to humor an exile. They certainly had the point. But there were some , within the community, who saw a way forward in the Resolution .Perhaps , it was first ever resolution of the kind .That itself may not be a big deal but, then, it indicated an intention and recognized certain hard realities of the Pandit’s displacement . At least we feel that the proposed Bill will reiterate the intent and bring back focus on the plight of the displaced community.
Understandably , it not easy to sort out the problem of exile’s return . With the passage of time it has become so complex that it will take a herculean effort to sort it out . So many people have thrown in the stakes, many contradictions have crept in. Assembly Resolution was just an expression of interest .
It is common sense that Pandits will not return on mere ‘ pious intentions’ of the State . Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was right when he, in a recent Podcast , told the interviewer that K Ps won’t return until a sense of physical security is instilled in them. If he is really concerned about KPs return , which we have every reason to believe he is , then he and the LG must work together to ensure such safe atmosphere is created in the Valley which will enable the displaced persons to return to the home ,in Kashmir . This is the time the quarters concerned come good on their assurance , substantially , and provide for exile’s livelihood , psychological and physical security , in Kashmir . State Government as also the one at Centre must instill confidence in them before the displaced persons embark on a return journey . As a token of its sincerity let the Government bring in legislation for the protection of Temples and Shrines of Hindus in Kashmir . It is long pending demand of the community – fair and innocuous one.
It is for the community also ,as it is for the Government, to make a forward movement on the issue .
(The author is Former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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