Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Apr 7: Deputy leader Rajya Sabha and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad while commenting upon present crisis in Kashmir said “we are paying for the political blunders of past political masters” .
“Lamhoon ne khatah ki aur sadiyon ne saza payee” is what BJP leader said about present turmoil in Kashmir while addressing an impressive book released function organised by the All India Kashmiri Samaj, here today. The book ‘Kashmir: its Aborigines and their Exodus’ was authored by Col (retd) Tej K Tikoo. He complimented the author for bringing out this exhaustive book on a sensitive issue like Kashmir, about which half truths and falsehoods are all along being spread, adding more and more confusion to Kashmir politics.
He thanked author for giving graphic details in the book. He said Kashmir is as a consequence thereof, the political discourse and narratives on Kashmir have taken an altogether a different trajectory. All this, regardless of the Parliamentary resolution of 1994, on Kashmir, which unequivocally states that Kashmir is and will remain, an integral part of India. This book has touched many areas which will definitely be of interest to the readers.
T. N. Chaturvedi, former Governor of Karnataka and Kerala, currently Chairman of IIPA, was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Mr. Moti Kaul, President AIKS, presided over the function.
Having been born and brought up in the Valley, Col Tikoo described his book a result of extensive research on the subject and his own experience of serving in the state for over a decade, at different times during his long service career. He also touched upon some critical issues, which sooner or later, will have to be addressed, he opined.
The central theme of the book is the Exodus of Pandits from Kashmir Valley; what led to it and what adverse effects it has had on the community, individually and collectively. However, the book also covers nearly all relevant and inter-linked issues which together make up the ‘Kashmir problem’.
While speaking on the occasion, Moti Kaul described the book as a masterpiece that brings out the pain and the trauma of KPs exodus in an extremely graphic manner. “The author”, he said, “recounts the historical events relating to Kashmiri Pandits with a consistent flow which only a Kashmiri Pandit, whose soul continues to be restless, can feel.” Even after more than two decades now, displaced KPs continue to remain in wilderness, with no visible hope of their re-settlement in their own land”, he concluded.
Mr. Bansi Pandit, a technocrat-cum-spiritualist based in USA, was more candid when he said that despite being away from Kashmir for a long time now, he had lost all the hope of ever making Kashmir his home again. “My experience about this issue teaches me that it is very difficult to re-plant the seeds of plural identity in Kashmir and that is a million dollar question”.
Mr. T. N. Chaturvedi lauded the efforts of Col (retd) Tej Tikoo in writing this book and his bold approach in dealing with various contentious issues relating to Kashmir and Kashmiri Pandits. He expressed his anguish at the plight of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits in the aftermath of exodus and appreciated Col Tikoo’s efforts in graphically presenting the pain and trauma suffered by his community.
Later, the author Col Tej K Tikoo was felicitated by KMWA Noida of which he is the President. The proceedings were conducted by Dr. Romesh Raina. Vijay Aima, Vice President AIKS, offered an expression of gratitude.
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