The Tragic Exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits

The Tragic Exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits

KAKALI DAS

“In 30 years, why couldn’t anybody help the Kashmiri Pandits?”

• Kashmir On The Boil
• Kashmiri Pandits Targeted
• The Exodus
• Community in Exile

The exodus of Kashmiri Pandit from Kashmir is one of the darkest moments in the country’s history. This wound that has not yet healed is exploited time and time again, for politics and profit. More than 30 years later, there is still debate over the issue.

What happened between Jan 1990 & Mar 1990 in Kashmir? How many Kashmiri Pandits were targeted and killed? Why were they not protected? Who left them in transit camps? Why have they not been able to return? There are no answers to these questions even after 30 years. But by now, they have understood that Kashmiri Pandits have become an instrument of majoritarian forces.

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The history of Kashmir is so long and complicated that it cannot be covered in one article or even in a book. But the issue of Kashmiri Pandits is linked to Kashmir’s history.

Kashmir On The Boil

To summarise, Kashmir was under pressure for long that erupted in 1990. In 1982, one of Kashmir’s big leaders Sheikh Abdullah passed away. National Conference was under the control of his son, Farooq Abdullah, and he won the 1983 election. However, the then Central government divided the National Conference – Ghulam Mohammad Shah, their pawn, was made the chief minister. Thus, political instability in Kashmir rose and Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) began increasing its presence. In 1986, Rajiv Gandhi regime had Babri mosque locks opened and allowed to perform Puja in it. Due to this, in Kashmir, Pakistan backed players got the opportunity to divide people of Kashmir. Hindu temples were attacked. Attacks on the Pandits’ houses and shops took place.

Ghulam Mohammad Shah’s government flopped by 1986. Rajiv Gandhi realised it and Farooq Abdullah was declared the chief minister again. People understood that Kashmir was controlled from New Delhi. Furthermore, 1987 rigged election shook the faith of Kashmiri people in democracy. While Farooq Abdullah won again, Kashmiri youth turned to militancy.

Then in 1989, JKLF kidnapped Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s daughter. And militants were released for abducted daughter by the government. It’s said that, had the VP Singh government not surrendered, the coming days of Kashmir wouldn’t have been that dark.

Kashmiri Pandits Targeted

Throughout history, the fastest way to spread terror is by targeting minorities. In Kashmir, Pandits were the target. BJP leader Tika Lal Taploo, Retd judge Neelkanth Ganjoo, Journalist-lawyer Prem Nath Bhat were barbarically killed. With high profile targets, an atmosphere of fear was inevitable in the valley; a news was spread that the terrorists had a list of Pandits with their addresses in it. In one local newspaper, there was a message, allegedly by Hizbul Mujahideen of Pakistan where the Pandits were advised to leave.

The government had failed to handle the situation, or to stop terror/information propaganda. In 19^th Jan, 1990, when Farooq Abdullah government was dissolved, governor rule was imposed. Pakistani masterminds and their pawns raised pro-Pakistan and anti-Hindu slogans on the streets. And the government did nothing. The Pandits decided to leave urgently because nobody tried to save them. They left with whatever little they could gather.

The first group of Pandits left on 20^th Jan, 1990. On 21^st Jan, 1990, CRPF killed over 50 Kashmiri Muslim protesters on Gawkadal bridge. It was known as the worst massacre in the long history of conflict in Kashmir. It also shows how the then Government was absolutely clueless. Since militancy was rising, army started searching the civilian houses for weapons. Reports of ill-treatment with women surfaced. Protestors gathered on the street and the situation escalated uncontrollably.

The Exodus

If Pakistan’s aim was to divide two communities that were living together for centuries, they succeeded within 48 hours. The Pandits’ exodus on one hand, and the Gawkadal massacre on the other hand. Exodus of tens of thousands – according to Kashmiri Pandit Sangarash Samiti (KPSS), 70000 Pandits left between the years 1990 and 1992. This migration continued till the year 2000. As per the Samiti, 400 Kashmiri Pandits were killed between the years 1990 and 2011.

One question, still remains: What would have happened if Kashmiri Pandits were given timely protection?

The then J&K governor, Jagmohan can be put to question. He was appointed just before the exodus and many claim that he encouraged the Pandits to leave. Many Kashmiri Pandits also say that Jagmohan gave them a passage to safety as Muslim neighbours suddenly turned hostile. Both the statements have elements of truth. This is not a black and white situation as much as one tries to portray it.

Wajahat Habibullah, the then senior officer of J&K government wrote in 2015: In March 1990, his office was surrounded by locals, who asked why Kashmiri Pandits were encouraged to leave. Locals thought that the Pandits were being migrated so that army can open fire on them. Habibullah wrote, he explained to the locals that Pandits were leaving because Mosques were declaring death certificates. If local population and administration had supported Kashmiri Pandits then Exodus wouldn’t have taken place.

It was true that Jagmohan was advised to say that Kashmiri Pandits would be taken care of, by protection of the army. But he did not make any such announcement, and in fact constructed refugee camps and asked the Pandits to live in these camps for security. Besides, the government officers who were unsure of their safety were permitted to leave the camps and offered to be paid nonetheless. This was nothing but a surrender in front of the terrorists.

Kashmiri Pandits were encouraged by administration to migrate. Why this exodus was encouraged, question still remain. But the result is clearly Hindu-Muslim divide that became an example of divisive politics.

Community in Exile

Kashmiri Pandits had hoped to return to their homes. But the chance never arrived. Militancy took over Kashmir, and Pandits lived in tents. Some Pandits migrated further, to other cities of India. Today, in Jagti township of Jammu, 4000-5000 Kashmiri Pandits live. Such government settlements are constructed in many places. Kashmiri Pandits do want to return but that is still a distant dream for them. Elected governments made tall claims and promises of secure townships in the valley with high walls, like Israeli settlements. The situation in the valley is still not that great.

House of Kashmiri Pandits were sold off cheaply or captured. On 5^th Aug 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated, Kashmiri Pandits celebrated a lot. Unfortunately, the few Kashmiri Pandits in the valley face political and administrative isolation. Sanjay Tickoo, president of KPSS, fasted unto death in 2020 because he wanted to be heard by the Modi government, because of no financial assistance of the Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir. Non-migrant Kashmiri Pandit families, who despite terror, did not leave are still neglected. 500 of 800 such families have no employment. After repeal of article 370 and pandemic their situation further deteriorated.

In 2014, BJP promised in their manifesto the return of Kashmiri Pandits with full dignity, security, assurance of livelihood. Kashmiri Pandits welcomed the move. They had hoped for justice, after failures of Vajpayee and Congress governments. But 8 years later, they are upset as nothing has changed. Kashmiri Pandits and the tragedy are used to create further tension in India elsewhere.

This is asked nowhere as to why Kashmiri Pandits have still not got justice, rather who to hate is being highlighted. In 30 years, all parties got the chance and why couldn’t anybody help the Kashmiri Pandits? Pakistani intelligence agency may be surprised that even 30 year later, they can divide our country, indirectly.

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