Today, when the Kashmir problem is referred to, one tends to think mostly about the militancy in the state and its countless victims. Forgotten, however, are the living victims of the militancy-the terrorized people who have had to leave their homes in the valley to survive. One such community is that of the Kashmiri Pandits--a pillar of the spirit of Kashmiriyat of yore. While they were once an integral part of Kashmir, they are now living, a scattered existence in makeshift camps mostly in Jammu and Delhi.
The exodus has severely affected the Pandits in all spheres of life. But what is beyond comprehension is the sheer inaction of the government authorities and apathy of the civil society towards their collective plight. The pleas of the Pandits have been heard at regular intervals, but hardly anything has been done. It is imperative that their concerns are heeded to and action taken immediately.
This report is an attempt to draw a comprehensive account of the poignant history of the Kashmiri Pandits after partition. It is based primarily on the papers presented at the Kashmiri Pandits' Conference, organised by the Observer Research Foundation on September 1-2, 2003. |
