Kashmiri Pandit Genocide and Exodus 1990: The Real Story Behind the Kashmir Files
Who are these kashmiri Pandits ?
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| Scholars of Sanskrit - The Kashmiri Pandits |
In the beginning, pandits do not have anything do with the Kashmir. Originally they lived in the north-eastern part of the India. But in 3rd century BC, king Ashoka started spreading of the Baudhdh Dharma, which he had accepted after the Kalinga War. So, to protect their identity and their own religion they all fled towards the north and thus settled in The Kashmir. 2,500 years ago when these pandits settled in kashmir, their sole purpose of life was about Gyan or Vidya means knowledge.
The main few surnames of kashmiri pandits are, Ganjoo, Tikoo, Hakasar, Nehru (Yes our ex. PM Nehru was a kashmiri pandit), Raina, Kaul, Rajhadan, Handoo, Kotru, Kher, Pandita, Sapru, Hangal, Dhar, Kak, Nath, Bhan etc.
After that, the first Genocide happened in the 14th century. An Islamic invader named Sultan Sikandar Shah Miri became the ruler of Kashmir. In his reign all the Hindu Temples were destroyed, people were killed brutally and all the pandits were striped off of their holy thread Janoi. Just the weight of all these thin threads added up to 140 kg ! Many of them tried to hide their identity but their sacred thread revealed their true religion !
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| Ruins of Martanda Sun Temple Kashmir |
In 1420 AD, Zain-ul-abidin became the new Sultan of kashmir. By then, only 11 families of kashmiri pandits lived there. Others were either killed, exiled or converted into Islam. In the light of good fortune, Sultan Zain wasn't so cruel. Once he became gravely ill and was healed by a pandit, going by the name of Shri Bhatt. In return king asked for a wish and Shri Bhatt asked to let the pandits live freely and all the sanctions on the Hindu religion be lifted up. This resulted in many of them coming back to kashmir to live on their ancestral land.
Aftermath and forming of Article 370
In 1589 AD Kashmir went into the hands of Mughals and then in 1752 AD passed on to Afghans. Around this time till 7 decades, their position was as bad as it can get. In 1819 AD Maharaja Ranjit Sinh defeated the Afghans and conquered the Kashmir. That was a golden age for the pandits. Again in 1846 AD Gulabsinh, the Minister of King Ranjit Sinh bought the whole Kashmir from Britishers in exchange of Rs. 75 lakh, 1 Horse, 12 Goats and 3 Kashmiri Shawls. He than became the messiah of kashmiri pandits.
In 1947 AD when, India got freedom, Maharaja Harisinh - the fourth legacy of Gulbasinh, joined the Kashmir with India. But he took the decision very late in time. So, Pakistan attacked and acquired around 37.5% part of kashmir.
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| Sheikh Abudllah (Left) and Pandit Nehru (Right) |
On the other hand Sheikh Abdullah a diehard Islamic leader was chosen to be the CM of Kashmir (yet his grandfather was a Kashmiri Pandit - converted to Islam). Nehru also played a part and gave Kashmir Article 370. Which provided Kashmir (and Abdullah) to form its own Constitution and laws despite being a sole part of India. What an Irony !
Forming of JKLF, Genocide and Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990
People there were urged to take Arms and fight for free Kashmir. They were signaled to go to Sopor and Hindawara - the two border village near Pakistan to get training and Arms as well. After few months many groups came back from there with guns and introduced The famous AK -47 rifle to the kashmiris first time. And thus, formed the Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front aka JKLF.
The dooms day came. It was January 19, 1990 when the situation got real. Kashmir was under President's Rule at that time and the Governor was Jagmohan. 300 KM from the Jammu is Shrinagar. After sunset, the loudspeakers of around 1100 mosques started shouting together. Air became tense with blood lust. As many as 10,00,000 people came on the roads. Armed with Ak -47, they started shouting for Azad Kashmir and freedom. All the Pandits and their families where hidden in the homes terrified and traumatized. It felt as if it was their end. But surprisingly, after few hours it became normal. All the goons were gone and the air became normal again. No one knows why? The possible reason can be that they didn't get the permission from JKLF or may be other terrorist groups. But it surely was a warning for pandits to leave the kashmir or die.
On the very next day, almost 70% of them fled. The Exodus began. On January 20, 1990, many of them took with them some food, two pairs of clothing and a little cash. After facing the terror of cold winter and unbelievably hyped price of the buses and taxis they somehow reached - Jammu, where the most of the population was Hindu.
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| Kashmiri Pandits |
Still, bonded by the thin thread of hope, few of them stayed in kashmir despite witnessing the horror on the preceding day.
The killing spree started. On February 1, 1990 two government officials, Krishna Gopal Bevra and Romesh Kumar Thussu were shot dead. After 12 days, director of Doordarshan -shrinagar, Lassa Kaul was killed. On 2nd May 1990, Scientist Prof. Kundanlal Ganjoo was abducted and killed with six bullets, by his own students, his wife got stabbed many times and than thrown into the Jelam River and son was stabbed too. Somehow he escaped. But got caught again in a week. They broke his arms and legs, his eyes crushed by hot iron rod and then shot with bullets. Famous Kashmiri writer - Sarvanand Kaul, he was nailed at the forehead where he used put Tilaka, his eyes were gouged and than his body was hanged on a tree before piercing with some Ak -47 bullets. By the time, the total number of pandits that were killed was 1800.
Aftermath of 1990
Around 3,50,000 pandits then left their beloved ancestral home and came to settle in Jammu. Thre were no refugee aid from government back then. After many days of pause, the sloth government opened up around 36 refugee sites. Still basic needs were unavailable. Only 3 watering Taps were provided among 500 camps with water timing of half an hour in morning and night. Only three toilets were available to them. Of course, education and health of children were out of question !
Terrorists were responsible the burning of around 18,000 homes in kashmir in the time period of four years - from 1990 to 1994. Furniture, windows, doors, clothes and even jars were stolen from these abandoned homes and were left to became ruins.
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| Ruins of abandoned home of Kashmiri Pandits after 1990 |
And till date, we don't know how much pain and trauma they suffered. This Kashmiri Pandits.
Some Famous Person who are Kashmiri Pandits
1. Cricketer Suresh Raina
2. PM - Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru
3. Actor - Anupam Kher (may be the reason he acted in Kashmir Files)
4. Actor - A.K. Hangal and Om Prakash
5. Lawyer Tej Bahadur Sapru (who faught for captives of Azad Hind Fauj)
6. Captain Mahendra Nath (who died with INS Khukri)
And many unsung heroes...
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