Adarsh Ajit
‘It is the cause, not the death, which makes the martyr’ -Napoleon Bonaparte
And the cause made him the martyr. The cause was his using prophetic vision. The cause was his patriotism. The cause was his social work. The cause was his philanthropy. The cause was his community love. The cause was his love for humanity and brother-hood. The cause was his utilizing legal acumen. The bigger cause was his bold journalism giving warning signals to the establishment from time to time. Living and dying for different causes, his priority cause was fighting for the protection of the temples and shrines. Though he was silenced on December 27, 1989, the cause never dies. It is a perennial process. Once a seed is sown, it generates cycles until the aspired fruit is achieved.
The symbols of his faith__ the temples and the shrines of Kashmir__ were not only his soul but they were/are the soul of an ethos, a civilisation, a culture and above all a soul of historical richness. He gave warning signals to the government of India and the state administration from time to time regarding the dangers ahead. The roots were/are deep but the anger that burst in 1986 riots reflected a changed face of the valley to him. He was pained to watch the desecration and encroachments of the temples and shrines in Kashmir. He was concerned about these. They were the life of Kashmir and Kashmiri Pandits and above all the Pandit civilisation. If the loopholes of 1986 had been plugged in time, the recurrence of a bigger bang in 1989 and its aftermath would have left less scars. But unfortunately it happened, it is happening and it will, God forbid, go on happening, if the root cause of the disease is not diagnosed and treated properly. Instead, the patient is being kept breathing on ventilator.
Martyr Prem Nath Bhat conveyed the attacks on Minority Shrines in an article published in Martand on 17-3-1989. P N Bhat writes, ‘Hindu houses and temples were again the targets of arsonists and stone pelting mobs. Vichar Nag where recently Keshav Nath was murdered for his refusal to get converted again witnessed a big bomb blast on 11/12 February. The very night, one person was caught red-handed with incendiary material at Chakrishwar, Hari Parbat………..Qazi Nisar has laid a claim on Gautam Nag shrine, ancient shrine of Gautam Rishi……..The representatives of the temples of Kashmir convened a meeting on 13-2-1989 at Sheetal Nath under Shri A N Vaishnavi expressing shock over the government’s inadequate protection to minority community and their shrines and temples.’ Giving the example of apathetic attitude of the government, in an article published in 1980, he mentions, ‘A mischievous section at village Salia in Tehsil Anantnag made preparations to construct a place of worship of their own on the land belonging to Papaharan shrine. The local Pandits after a great struggle had to buy peace on the condition that the land will not be fenced. As, a result, the land continues to be open to trespass……Gautam Nag in Anantnag and Vethe Vuthur (source of Vitasta) in Tehsil Duru likewise are a standing testimony to the indifferent attitude and inept and partisan approach to such cases, which as per tradition, history and legal standing, belong to the minority community.’ In an article published in 1983 he writes, ‘The Kashmiri Pandit has to be ever on the defensive in so far as encroachments on the properties attached to his shrines and places of worship, even desecration of the temples. He can only approach the authorities for justice but many a time he got the impression of striking his head against a rock out of helplessness. He maintains calm for helplessness. He has been a witness to the closure for worship of his ancient Bhairava Asathapan in Srinagar for the last ten years, without the state authorities moving a finger to resolve the impasse on the basis of records.’ Published in Hindustan Times on 19-5-1986, captioned Pandits Want Peace he questions: Have the Pandits of Kashmir organised any violent march or an armed protest even when two-thirds of their shrine land was encroached upon. Even such provocative acts, the desecration of the temple at Vetesta or Amira Kadal, the transformation of the Siligam historical shrine into Auquf, and several other acts have never lead to any communal strife.’ Prem Nath Bhat says our shrines are standing closer to one another only to remind us to come together and think together so that the seeds of jealousy and bigotism do not sprout in this land which Firdousi has called the ‘Paradise on earth’.
It is a bitter reality that the establishments never thought for a minute under what conditions and historical fumes Kashmiri Pandits were living in Kashmir before 1990 and unfortunately after it, as well. Thus, the valley that gave pricks on December 27, 1989 is still haunting and the wounds are fresh. The souls of our martyrs would be in pain. The approach of respective and successive governments/establishments towards the Kashmiri Pandits is pinching. However, the community continuously caught hold of their symbols of faith since the first day of displacement, in thoughts, in faith, in love, in practice and in prayers. They constructed replicas of different temples and shrines, at different places, not only in India but also throughout the whole world. They are remaining connected to their Kashmir roots through their symbols of faith. This is the community that celebrated their most revered religious function ‘Shivratri’ in the torn tents where the raindrops were drizzling in the first few years of their unfortunate exile. They are still performing these observances in the pigeonholes, in one-room tenements, and at the most, in so called, Township of Jagati.
Struggle is the crown of manhood and glory of faith. Pandits under all circumstances kept going against the odds. Temples and shrines are the soul of a community. Pandit Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust, formed in exile, after Bhat’s assassination, takes the responsibility on their shoulders to work for the unfulfilled dreams of the departed soul. The demand is genuine. There is Muslim Aquaf Trust for Muslims. There is Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee for Sikh fraternity. But alas! Even after giving so much sacrifice, the struggle for Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Temples Bill for last thirty years in exile has been/is being axed rather backstabbed from time to time. Our establishments do not realise the emotional setback to Kashmiri Pandits. They are unaware that through temples and shrines of the Kashmir India’s connections with Kashmir are reinforced. They are careless in accepting that Shri Amar Nath is the crown of faith. They say Kashmir is the crown of India and they neglect that Kashmiri Pandits are the inseparable jewels of this crown. Kashmiri Pandit culture, the unique identity, is alive as long as these symbolic religious places are safe. It was/is the prime duty of the establishments to promulgate an act or do some other remedial procedures to win the confidence of the shattered Pandits by allowing the management of these temples and shrines in the hands of Kashmiri Pandits. But wretched political system and self-interests of the politicians, political parties and the establishments stab the community unabated.
For God’s sake, think that the situation has totally changed. Article 35 A and Article 370 are the things of the past. In the present political scenario where anyone can settle in Kashmir, the demand of Temples and Shrines Bill has multiplied its importance. Almost every minority in the state enjoys the protection and maintenance of their shrines and temples in the state except this exiled community. It is a grave injustice.
The feeling of being refugees in one’s own country is torturous. The eyes of the establishments are wearing the black bands on their eyes. Otherwise, hundreds of Pandits were killed. Please do not rub salt to the wounds by doing only lip service. Do not use the chairs of Chief Guests just for cheap politics. The brutal killing of Prem Nath Bhat pierces the heart. Why do you forget the day of 27th of December 1989? Are Pandits only footballs for you? How long will you go on trampling their interests? Late Prem Nath Bhat knew where the shoe pinches.
In the new Jammu and Kashmir atmosphere Lieutenant Governor, has started the developmental and other important issues. He also owes a look on the demand of Kashmiri Hindu Temples and Shrines Bill.
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