[Reader-list] Have Kashmir Pandits lost their Kashmiriyat? An observation by an ordinary protester

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Dear Gowhar
 
To such a trite remark (made along divide lines between Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims), there would be in response a pertinent and not so trite question:
 
"If Kashmiri Muslims lost their Kashmiriyat 1989 onwards, why should it surprise a Kashmiri Muslim if Kashmiri Pandits have consequently lost their Kashmiriyat ?"
 
Some of the slogans (reportedly) raised at the Jantar Mantar rally were not exactly suggesting that there is a nurturing environment for "Kashmiriyat". Were they? 
 
There are various meanings and interpretations given to "Kashmiriyat" with no one being certain what exactly it means that would be mutually acceptable and whether it has any ennobling aspects at all.
 
The fact though is that amongst Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri Muslims, both, there are still significant numbers who subscribe to the, nebulous it may be,  concept of "Kashmiriyat". They might not make propagandist slogans out of it but it is a feeling resident in their hearts. 
 
Kshmendra 

--- On Thu, 8/12/10, gowhar fazli <gowharfazili at yahoo.com> wrote:


From: gowhar fazli <gowharfazili at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Reader-list] Have Kashmir Pandits lost their Kashmiriyat? An observation by an ordinary protester
To: "reader-list at sarai.net" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Thursday, August 12, 2010, 11:56 AM




A remark by an ordinary participant Shadab Bashir at the  Delhi Kashmir protests 


on his facebook notes: 


“Have Kashmir Pandits lost their Kashmiriyat?

It is really sad and surprising to see Kashmiri Pandits  shouting slogans and 
waving Indian flags to provoke Kashmiris who were at  Jantar Mantar, New Delhi 
to protest against the ongoing human rights violation  in Kashmir.
More than 50 people died during the past two months due to  high handedness of 
the Indian troops. Bullets were triggered out not only  against stone pelters 
but also on innocent youth, children and women. A nine  years old boy was beaten 


to death by Indian ‘security’ forces. This may be the  highest kind of human 
rights violation for the rest of the India but Kashmiris  are witnessing these 
incidents very often.

Indian Army is displaying their arrogance against innocent  Kashmiris, but even 
Kashmiri Pandits have no solidarity towards people of  Kashmir as was witnessed 
by us at Jantar Mantar. Instead of joining hands with  us for a good cause they 
tried to disturb our peaceful protest.

When a person from their rally came waving an India flag and  shouting 
provocative slogans towards us we refrained ourselves and shouted back  that 
“You are our brothers”. It appears that they have no sympathy towards  innocent 
killings of young people in Kashmir, being Kashmiris they should have  joined 
our hands against this tyranny. 

Alas they have lost their Kashmiryat!”


      
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