Mela Kheer Bhawani once again stood as a testament to the age-old bonding between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims. Emotions ran high when Kashmiri Pandits met their old Muslim friends. Local Muslims rolled out a red carpet for Pandits who came from Jammu and other parts of the country. Leaders cutting across party and ideological lines visited the shrine and celebrated the festival with the Pandits. The atmosphere was electric. For 36 years, Kashmir has seen many upheavals, but it has not forgotten its roots and composite culture. Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits are an inseparable part of this society. No hate, no storm, and no politics can snatch Kashmiriyat from us. Pandit exodus is a very painful event in human history. More so for Kashmir, it was a big loss. Undoubtedly, terrorists succeeded in their designs to drive out Pandits. However, they failed to extinguish love from our hearts. Several Pandit massacres instilled fear, which delayed the homecoming of our brethren. However, the situation has improved in Kashmir. Peace has returned notwithstanding some isolated incidents. The time has come to kick off the process for the return of Pandits to their homes. Muslims and Pandits have coexisted for centuries. Our enemy tried hard to create a wedge. It failed. Mela Kheer Bhawani is one such example. Stories of love, friendship, amity and camaraderie still resonate. As they say, `you can take a Kashmiri out of Kashmir but cannot take Kashmir out of a Kashmiri’. As we say in Kashmiri, we are `nam te maaz’. Having said so, the Jammu and Kashmir government has a bigger responsibility now. The stage is set, and the ground has been prepared. Policymakers should now chip in and make serious efforts to bring back Kashmir Pandits. Just issuing statements or showing solidarity will not suffice. The government should take firm steps. To start with, a committee of prominent Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims should be set up to start the reconciliation process. Many efforts have been made in the past by civil society but to no avail. A government committee with legal cover should visit Pandits and address their grievances. Rightly so, most of the Pandits are still reeling under fear. The committee should address this fear factor and create a conducive atmosphere for the return. Like other terror victims, the government should reopen the cases of Pandit killings. The killers should be identified and brought to book. The victims of terror should be given appropriate compensation. The kin of terror victims should also be given government jobs. These measures will go a long way in instilling confidence among Pandits. Let us revive the bond of Kashmiriyat in a true sense.
Bonhomie
