Advantages and Disadvantages of Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus and their future

By A.K. Watal

The mass exodus of Kashmir Hindus from Kashmir valley took place in 1990, when their psyche came under tremendous strain while observing that:-

i) A movement for killing prominent Kashmiri Hindus has started in 1989.

ii) The fate of Kashmiri Hindus women was heading towards a black and dark future.

iii) The militant organisations had given on open press call for vacation of the valley by Hindus.

iv) Large processions were being carried out in the Valley at different places in support of Azadi.

And in most of the instances Muslim well wishers suggested, rather advised their fellow Hindus to leave the Valley for a period of two to three months, leaving the things to cool down. A few families came out in taxies, while a number of them were transported by trucks driven by fellow Muslims.

After some time when Sh. Jagmohan took over as Governor of J&K on 19/1/1990 some insane elements blamed him for the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the Valley, who were already in trauma and under strained conditions.

Post Exodus Period

The condition of Hindus who were seen running out of the Valley in truck loads, buses, vans, cars and taxies was pathetic. They were a depressed and dejected lot and found themselves hapless and helpless in the increasing temperature of the plains viz Udhampur, Jammu, Delhi and other cities. Most of the migrant lot was accommodated in tented accommodations at Udhampur. (Sports Stadium, Battal Ballian, Garhi). Jammu (Nagrota, Muthi, Purkho, Mishriwala, Jhiri, Railway station etc.) and Delhi.

The allowance of free ration and a meager relief of Rs 300 per head per family of unemployed persons and leave salary to employed ones by the then government was a big respite to the displaced community. Now that the community has seen different phases of evolutions during last thirteen years of exodus, they have been able to reconcile a bit, because of certain advantages, though they would always be nostalgic because of many a dis-advantages.

Advantages

Not with standing the fact, that Kashmiri Hindus have lost their homes and hearths their land of peace, moderate to cold temperature zone and their culture is at the verge of disappearance, yet the following advantages can not be neglected.

(i) The economics of Kashmiri Hindus which was based on either government employment or agriculture business has become broad based. though the consolation and mental solace is at the lowest ebb.

(ii) The educational standards have gone up, because of certain dispensations extended by a few state government, especially Maharashtra. The community ought to give the credit to one of its revered members, Sh. M.K. Kaw, who was instrumental in broadening the net of education for Kashmiri migrants.

Disadvantages

The major disadvantage of the migration could be summed up as under:-

(ii) The elders have lost their mental peace, balance, social status and health for the causes and after-effects of the migration.

It has been seen that diseases like cardiac problems, hypertension, dementia, diabetes, arthritis and sun-strokes have been common in elders of the community, who got suddenly exposed to the vagaries of weather.

(ii) The middle aged and the students have got more exposure in the garb of development which has lead to many a social problems.

(iii) The children, on account of media boost are being groomed in a culturally different way than it used to be in Kashmir, keeping the social ethos at bay.

(iv) It should not be construed as a conservative ness, if we advocate that the inter caste and in caste marriages have failed to a great extent, because of inbuilt effects of maladjustment and loss of values and tolerance.

(v) The great disadvantage is that the minuscule minority of Kashmiri Hindus oftenly classified as KP's will decay away with the passage of time, in case steps are not taken to address this issue.

(vi) A lot of displaced persons were bitten by snakes in the camps and a few consumed by gushing water of canals.

(vii) The most unfortunate disadvantages is that Kashmiri Hindus are living a life of refugees in their own country under appalling sanitary and unhygienic slum conditions.

Future

The future of the community lies in the hands of one and all, who have an iota of belongingness the valley of "Kashyap Rishi". In this regard it may not be out of place to mention that the future of this community will be bright and illuminated, in case a consideration is given to the following aspects:-

(i) World KP's Directory:

 A directory of all the KP's living across the world needs to be made and published at the earliest as a data base. Some efforts have been made by Kashmiri Samiti Delhi, which need to be re-doubled.

(ii) All the KP's organisations need to come under one umbrella like APHC in J&K to achieve a common goal of political value for Kashmiri Hindus and thus increase their density.

(iii) To fight for our common cause like Tibetans, while establishing Health and Educational Institutions like SGPC, Muslim Auqaf Trust, Christian Societies and other minority bodies.

(iv) To create a "World Kashmiri Hindus Crisis Management Group" to look after the economic interests of the community while looking towards the industrial sector.

(v) In case the Kashmiri Hindus have to last, everybody has to come up, co-operate and help in the establishment of:

(a) Cottage, small scale, medium scale and large scale industries.

(b) Health, Education and Research Institutions.

(c) Educational Institutions and universities.

(d) An International confederation of Kashmiri Hindus.

Potential

Kashmiri Hindus at large have the potential of creating the aforementioned institutions, provided they give a little pause and thought to their duties, responsibilities and rights.

*The writer is a social activist, based in Ambala.

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