Kashmir Pandits | Kashmiri Pandit's Exodus| Kashmir Pandits Rehabilitation | Kashmiri Pandit's Problems & more.
Kashmiri Pandits
History :
The Kashmiri Pandits who are the natives of Kashmir Valley in North India are also called Kashmiri Brahimins. The community of Kashmiri Hindus is a part of the large Saraswat Brahmin of India and belongs to the Pancha Ganda Brahmin group from the Valley. Kashmiri Pandits were in the past time's considered renowned for their learning and Scholastic achievements are known as Kashmiri Pandits all over the world.
During the Mughal rule, emperor Akbar who conquered Kashmir in 1587 A/D, the Kashmiri Hindus of the Valley were allocated high Government posts because of their brilliance and high intelligence. It was Emperor Akbar who gave them the surname " Pandit" which in the Sanskrit language refers to any wise, educated, and learned man. They are still delivering to society not only in India but also in various countries in the world with their high educational skills, honesty, dedication, and devotion.
Kashmiri Pandits Forceful Exodus :
The forceful Exodus of more than 6 lac Nationalist Kashmiri Pandits from their homes and hearths in Kashmir valley by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in 1990 is still a mystery. The wounds of pain & agony of this forceful migration leaving behind everything whether movable or immovable properties worth crores are still fresh in their souls, minds, and souls. Many Kashmir Pandits were killed and targeted by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in 1990 in Kashmir in different areas of Kashmir creating a wave of shock and fear among this micro minority and all this was done under a well-planned conspiracy to make the ethnic cleansing of this peace-loving and patriotic minority community.
This peace-loving community threatened to leave their homes and hearth. 19th January 1990, a mass forceful exodus of Kashmiri Pandits took place, and for the last 34 years, 19th January has been observed as exodus day by this community and on this sad day they remember the martyrs of the community who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the motherland and Nation.
The insurgency erupted in Jammu and Kashmir in July 1988 when a series of demonstrations, strikes, and attacks on the Indian Government and other ruling establishments effectively marked the beginning of this Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir which escalated into most security issues like mass killings of Kashmiri Pandits with their forceful exodus in 1990. It was Janta Dal(National Front) led by V.P. Singh as 7th Prime Minister of the country ( December 2, 1989, to 7th November 1990), and in Jammu and Kashmir, it was NC Congress coalition Government headed by Farooq Abdullah as Chief Minister (1986 to 1990). These Governments remained as Mute spectators and every destructive thing took place in front of them.
The forceful exodus of Kashmiri Pandits had already started Farooq Abdullah's Government was dismissed in 1990 and left for London and stayed there up to 1996. The Governor's rule was imposed in J&K and Late Shri. Jagmohan Malhotra (IAS) assumed the charge on 19th January 1990 and he continued as Governor of J&K till May 26, 1990( 127 days only). Then G.C. Saxena(IPS) was made the governor of J&K on 26th May 1990 after recalling Jagmohan back by the center whose tenure ended on 12th March 1993. Then K.V. Krishana Rao PVSM resumed the charge of the governor of J&K on 12th March 1993 and remained Governor up to 2nd May 1998.
Many social and political organizations came forward voluntarily to help the Kashmir Pandits after their forced exodus to Jammu and other parts of the country where they took refuge in 1990. The main organizations that took a big lead in rendering every sort of help to this uprooted community were RSS and BJP among others. Geeta Bhawan Jammu was made the main center by RSS and BJP volunteers for helping this community in the shape by providing free Tents, free rations, financial assistance, accommodation, and other essential items of basic needs, and this practice continued for many years which is honestly appreciable and laudable in all its forms.
This micro-community of more than seven lacs is still in exile, putting up temporarily in different parts of the country & mostly in Government camps like Jagti, Trt Nagrota, Buta Nagar, Purkhoo & non-camps in Jammu with inadequate Government accommodation in a miserable & pathetic condition without proper provisions for the sustenance of life despite passing of more than thirty years of their exile period.
The genuine basic problems of Kashmiri Pandits in exile for which the community leaders are still protesting in camps need to be addressed on priority till their rehabilitation back in the valley with honor and dignity is made possible as per their aspirations which is the promise of the present Government. The basic problems this micro-community is still facing in the exile period in camps and non-camps are pure drinking water, better education for their children, employment avenues, proper accommodation for all displaced and poor migrant families, and better living standards like fellow citizens of our country but unfortunately, no serious efforts have been put in this direction by the administration to address these important basic issues.
It is also the responsibility & bounden duty of every Government in place to take care of its citizens to resolve their basic genuine problems, particularly to such an intellectual community that has faced great atrocities & killings of their kiths and kins at the hands of a terrorist as well also forceful migration from their native places leaving behind their homes and hearths for their only fault being patriotic and Nationalist. Their other basic genuine problems are not addressed for which this micro-community is still protesting in exodus for their survival which is like; enhancement of monthly cash assistance to relief holders from a meager amount of Rs. 13000 to Rs.25000/- per month to keep their body and soul together in these hard economic days, Permanent rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits back in the valley as per the aspirations of the community, initiation of the new recruitment process for the unemployed educated youth keeping in view huge rise in unemployment in the community, providing one job per family on the pattern of Punjab State, Sanction of loans and other schemes for unemployed youth to start up their small business units to make them self reliant, political reservation in ongoing delimitation process for 7 lack Kashmir Pandits to remove decades-old political discrimination and passage of Temples and Shrines Bill, a long pending demand of the community.
Kashmiri Pandits PM Package Employees :
The central Government created the Prime Minister's Employment package for the educated and unemployed youth of Kashmiri Pandits in 2008 to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits to work in Kashmir Valley by providing them with these Jobs. Unfortunately with some bad intentions, some politicians and bureaucrats in the system of that time in 2008 introduced a bond system in the PM employment package which means no PM package employee can seek transfer or adjustment outside the valley during his or her entire job period and hence this whole package is non-transferable and put a big obstacle in this direction.
The educated, unemployed, and poor youth of the migrant community still braving all the risks to their lives volunteered themselves to work in the Valley & in this way, more than four thousand youth got selected for various posts and got posted in the valley and have been working in Kashmir valley since 2008.
The fact of the matter is that despite Government assurances time timely regarding availing accommodation to all PM packages employees, maximum employees mostly ladies are still putting up on rent in Kashmir valley in different Districts braving all the threats to their lives but have kept the flag of the Nation high here and will continue to do so in future also. The issue of accommodations must be addressed as a top priority.
It is also important to mention that the deliberately introduced bond system in the PM package in 2008 has made their jobs non-transferable which is a matter of serious concern for everyone and needs humanitarian review.
Conclude :
Kashmiri Pandits have pinned great hopes in the present dispensation & expect their present genuine demands in exile will be resolved at the earliest and their dream of rehabilitation back in the valley after an exile period of more than 32 years will come true. It is also my personal opinion if all the socio-political organizations of this micro minority community come under one banner by rising above their petty political affiliations and interests for a community cause, all the basic problems of this community will be resolved on a war footing that would improve their standard of living which is the need of the hour. It is well said, "United we stand divided we fall".Let’s all hope that 30 years of Exile period(Vanvas) of now 10 lakh Kashmiri Pandits in their own country comes to an end under the present powerful and dynamic Central Government that is strong enough and capable of taking bold decisions and historical developments.
Abi Nahi Tao Phir Kabi Nahi.
From :
Team Panaromicspots.
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