Almost a hundred thousand Kashmiri Pandits visited the historical shrine of Kheerbhawani recently. It was the largest ever influx of Pandits, even though for a short time, during last 17 years. Many were pining for a permanent return to the land of their birth. Their mass migration is a tragedy but worst is the future which threatens their total decimation. “Pandits” are Kashmiri Brahmans who claim themselves to be “Saraswati Brahmans”, much superior as compared to “Laxami Brahmans” of North India. They had been the rulers of Kashmir for a pretty long-time, right up to 12th century A.D. Even after Islam became the State Religion with the conversion of Rinchan Shah as Sultan Sadar-ud-Din, the Brahmans continued to have the hold on the State’s affairs. The advent and spread of Islam did not pose any problem to the Brahmans and they continued to profess their religion freely. After 1947 they maintained their presence in all important state offices and also got direct and preferential access to Central Services. It was only in 1990 that they had to leave their land of birth in a very unusual and a scary situation. It was an unprecedented massive migration with an entire community getting uprooted from its centuries old moorings. There cannot be a worse trauma than getting swept away from a place where one has been living from the very birth. Many theories have been advanced for this mass migration. Various authorities and people have been alleged to have instigated as well as facilitated this mass departure which the Pandits call the “Exodus”. Governor Jagmohan is alleged by some to be responsible for this mass migration. Whether he was really responsible or not can only be determined by an impartial probe. However, it cannot be denied that he facilitated the migration. It is a fact that there was extreme panic among Kashmiri Pandits after some selective killings of members of their community. In addition, the Kashmir’s Freedom Movement which had started on a Nationalist note had turned religious. A large number of Muslim youth were fired by the spirit of Jihad. The Governor instead of taking measures to safe guard the minority community within Kashmir facilitated their migration. If it had been felt essential to move out members of this community from some very sensitive areas, they could have been housed in Kashmir itself. What was the necessity and urgency of shifting them all the way to Jammu 300 kilometres away? It has to be conceded that it was a tragedy of colossal magnitude for this community. They are not only a part and parcel of the Kashmiri Nation but are its very original form. As already mentioned the freedom movement in 1990 had started on a nationalist note. It had suddenly grown into a massive upsurge for “Azadi” (Freedom). The mass migration or so called “Exodus” of an entire community totally painted it into a religious fundamentalist movement. Its originators had never intended it to be so. However, it has to be conceded that in most cases the locals never wanted the community to leave and that too en mass. There were many outside factors working overtly and covertly from both sides to ensure this tragic migration. Right now the most important concern are the long term repercussions of this mass movement of an entire community on the future of the Kashmiri Nation as well as on the community itself.

As regards Kashmiri Muslims, they mostly stayed put in Kashmir. However, the calamities which they faced during last 17 years are probably the worst in their entire history. Almost a hundred thousand lost their lives. This constitutes an entire generation. Scores were injured and disabled. Women were raped and molested with impunity. Property worth billions was destroyed. Hundreds of thousands have become mental patients suffering from numerous psychosomatic illnesses. Incidence of heart disease, hypertension, and even cancer has phenomenally increased. Entire social life has been shattered. Basic infrastructure especially was totally shattered. A large number of Muslims who had the means, also migrated to more peaceful places within India or abroad. However, within India they did not find peace. They were hunted and harassed wherever they went. Kashmiri Muslims are suspect everywhere. There is only one consolation that the Kashmiri Muslims in spite of tremendous hardships and most trying conditions have maintained their identity. Notwithstanding the sufferings they have undergone in last 17 years, the Kashmiri Muslims continue to be Kashmiri. Their cultural identity is safe in spite of both the massive oppression as well as subtle attempts at distorting it. They have stoutly resisted any moves at changing their identity. The only exception is the changes brought about by the natural influence of modernisation evident in urban areas. The bulk of Kashmir lives in villages. There is only one thing missing which is immediately noticeable to a person who has had the opportunity of visiting Kashmir before the turmoil of 1990. The conspicuous absence of a Kashmiri Pandit from the general landscape of the valley both in urban as well as rural areas. Having been traditionally masters in handling a pen, they were in teaching profession, media, doctors, engineers, and administrators. There were many revenue officials like Patwaris, Tehsildars and so on. Most of these are missing now or are in a very small number in Kashmir itself. The most conspicuous by their absence are the “Bohur” (Grocer) and “Gaur” (Priest). In earlier times one would see both in almost every village of Kashmir. The absence of Pandits has definitely created a vacuum in the composite culture of the valley which has existed from the earliest times through all the good as well as bad periods of its history.

However, the worst part of the story is outside Kashmir. After migrating from Kashmir, the Pandits were received with open arms by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Reception Centres with all facilities for them had been set up. It is alleged that they had been given to understand that the displacement was only a temporary affair. They were supposed to return as soon as normal conditions were restored in the valley. Those who had relations in different parts of India managed to have temporary lodging facilities. However, the worst sufferers were the villagers who had no alternative but to take shelter in ill equipped make shift camps. The elders faced extremely difficult situation as they were not used to the blazing Sun of the plains. Scores died because of heatstroke and snake/scorpion bites. Immediately after the departure of Pandits, the security forces unleashed a reign of terror against the majority community in the valley. Thousands of persons were killed. The situation rapidly escalated and a prolonged conflict ensued. This made migrants realise that the displacement was not temporary. They started looking for avenues for a longer duration settlement in different parts of India. They were helped every where and materially sustained themselves. A host of new opportunities opened up for them which they could not earlier imagine to get in the valley. Unfortunately, to get better facilities they spewed venom against their former neighbours of majority community. In fact, there are even now dozens of websites on the internet which continue to spread canards about the majority community. However, most of the people living in the camps in Jammu had to remain content with the worst living conditions in one room tenements. Compared to what they were used to in their native places especially in the wide open green spaces of rural Kashmir, they faced miserable time in exile. Many pined to return home, especially the elder ones. The new generation has hardly any knowledge or attraction for Kashmir. Even though the migrants were able to manage themselves materially and in some cases do much better, yet they have gradually started losing their unique identity. Surrounded by a sea of humanity they are getting merged with the mainstream in every respect. After the passing away of a couple of generations who have had physical links with the valley, the entire community may get absorbed in the Indian mainstream. This will result in losing their complete identity. They may remain Kashmiris only in their surnames like the earlier émigrés Nehrus, Kauls, Haksars, and Dhars etc. These émigrés of Kashmiri origin have nothing in common with Kashmiris except their surnames. If the Kashmiri Pandits want to retain their identity, they have no alternative but to return to Kashmir. They left their motherland unconditionally en mass. They will have to return unconditionally en mass on the traditional goodwill of their erstwhile neighbours. If they wait for creation of absolute conducive conditions, they will never return. It will be a tragedy for them as well as for Kashmir, if the migration ultimately proves to be the means of their total decimation. Both the communities need to take a mutually agreed decision regarding the return and a quick one, before it is too late!