K K Khosa
The question of Kashmiri Pandits’ return to the Valley has become increasingly enigmatic. It is high time for introspective and holistic consideration of the entire Kashmiri Pandit community, irrespective of their current location. A growing perception exists that the Government is reluctant to address their concerns, including the crucial issue of return and rehabilitation in the Valley.
As has been repeatedly stated, “You can take a Kashmiri Pandit out of Kashmir, but you can’t take Kashmir out of his heart and consciousness.” This sentiment holds true regardless of the distance or duration of their displacement. People living abroad in the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, or Southeast Asia share the same profound craving for the Valley as those residing in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu. In every respect, the community remains conscious and particular about its distinct ethnic culture and identity, grappling with the fear of losing it. While its protection and preservation are paramount, both the Government and the community must collaboratively strive for success in this regard.
Preserving Culture and Sustaining Hope
Today, a plethora of organizations diligently work in social, cultural, and religious fields, selflessly preserving our typically Kashmiri cultural and religious heritage. Their initiatives are commendable and invaluable. Similarly, numerous organizations have steadfastly kept the consciousness about the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits alive, consistently pursuing this narrative with zeal for the past thirty-five years. The existence of these multiple organizations has been a strong source of encouragement and inspiration for the displaced community, helping to maintain their burning desire to return. While their roadmaps for addressing this issue may vary, the commonality of their aim and goal is the crucial unifying factor.
The Challenge of Disorganized Efforts
Despite the sincerity and dedication of these multiple organizations, no visible headway has been made towards achieving their goals. Ironically, newer organizations continue to form, driven by fresh political and social perceptions, yet still pursuing the same objective of Pandit return and rehabilitation. The critical question arises: should we allow the situation to unfold spontaneously, as it has for thirty-five years of exile through sporadic and disorganized efforts? Or is there an urgent need for initiative to bring direction and coordination to these endeavors? If individual efforts by different organizations have yielded no results thus far, what are the chances of tangible outcomes from new, uncoordinated initiatives? We are losing precious time, both in physically regaining our lost motherland and in preserving our cultural ethos, which faces dilution and synthesis while we are away from Kashmir.
The chorus for return and rehabilitation has been reverberating quite loudly and consistently in recent times. However, community proposals are diverse; while some appear pragmatic and realistic, many others seem unachievable and utopian.
Political Landscape and Emerging Opportunities
We must also acknowledge that almost all Kashmir-based regional political parties appear to be pitted against the idea of Pandit return and rehabilitation. The difference among them is merely one of degree, with some expressing their reservations overtly and others more tacitly. The Pakistan-backed separatists, who vociferously opposed any form of return and rehabilitation, have been rendered irrelevant by the decisive actions taken by the Government of India and the UT administration.
Encouragingly, Kashmiri Muslim youth have increasingly expressed their desire to join the national mainstream to reap the benefits of the “Viksit Bharat Abhiyaan” and avoid being left behind. A realization has dawned on them that they missed the first wave of national resurgence, having been misled by the regressive forces of separatism and radical jihadists, which brought nothing but death and destruction to the Kashmir Valley for more than three decades. They wish to escape the sullen and depressing environment forcibly thrust upon them by separatists.
Bridging the Gap: Sensitizing Kashmiri Youth
While Kashmiri youth exhibit exuberance to join the national mainstream for lasting peace, prosperity, and happiness in the Valley, they often seem oblivious to the intrinsic role of Kashmiri Pandits’ return and rehabilitation in establishing this peace and harmony. In many cases, this might stem from ignorance, but it is also a result of false narratives spread by vested interests, including mainstream political parties, suggesting that the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community does not wish to return.
The Kashmiri youth must be sensitized to the undeniable fact that Kashmiri Pandits possess an inalienable right over the entire length and breadth of the Valley, and that Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims must work jointly towards a shared future. Potential prosperity must be shared equitably between Kashmiris of every religion, without bias or undue favor.
A Path Forward: Recalibrating Strategies
We must take a cue from the unimaginable realignment occurring in the geopolitical environment today, where national interest is the primary objective a nation seeks to safeguard. Similarly, there is a dire need to recalibrate our strategies to achieve the objective of return and rehabilitation in the Kashmir Valley, which now experiences comparative peace and normalcy. Yes, incidents like those in Pahalgam cannot be ignored, but we must evolve a workable consensus by reviewing our stated stances to avoid further loss of time.
With the Modi-led NDA 3 having three years remaining, we must seize this opportunity. Let’s not allow any chances to go begging. Addressing Kashmir holistically is high on their agenda, and we must align our stance accordingly. It would have been immensely helpful if Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Ji had made the nominations of MLAs by now, as their good offices could have been used to work out a consensus among the different organizations. The delay has already resulted in an undue loss, as community issues could not be raised in the previous two assembly sessions. We have already witnessed the apathetic behavior of Kashmir-based regional political parties, which failed to highlight the issue of return and rehabilitation policy for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community in the assembly.
(The author is President Kashmiri Pandit Sabha)
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