India-Pakistan or Independent Kashmir

Why Not Panun Kashmir?

K L Moza, Noida

"Asi Aes Asi Asav Asi daur Karav Pat-i-Vath
Shivas Sorui ne Zavun Ti Marun
Roosui Sorui ne At-i-gath"

He, too, is there.  Centuries back he switched over his faith, more under threat than by conviction.  He sold his conscience.  He was Me then but he is "He" now and I am "I".  He has become more venomous, he has looted my property, he has burnt my house.  He was in command and he is still in command.  Will he ever vacate my house, my shop, my orchard which he has usurped ? Why is this government, talking of Ram Rajya, still silent ? Will he allow me to return to my homeland ?

In Jammu, Hindus are in majority; In Leh, Buddists are in majority and only in one-third, the Kashmiri Muslims are in  majority.  Yet they have been ruling and robbing the whole nation for the last fifty years.

Zul Qadir Khan chained me as a slave with my 50000 bretheren to be sold in far off markets but enroute we perished in a blizzard.

Sikander Butshikan converted my brethren.  Those who resisted were killed.  Others who could, fled. Just eleven families remained and withstood the tyranny.

The bodies of those killed were thrown in Dal Lake and an island was formed there which is nicknamed as Bata Mazar (Graveyard of Pandits).

In the Islamic tradition, I was stoned to death as a "Kafir" at a place which is still called as KANIKOOT (Stone Crusher).

I was attacked in a peaceful and a picturesque place just short of Pahalgam which is still called BATAKOOT (Crushing place of Pandits).  My mothers, sisters, daughters cried for help but I stood watching as a wounded helpless witness.  I was there when six maunds of Sacred Brahmnical thread (jenu) were collected from the bonded necks of my brethren and burnt during the rule of Sultan Sikandar.

Even during the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh, I was attacked on 13th July 1931 under the guise of freedom movement.  The day is remembered as "Yaum-e-Shudha" - "The Martyrs day" by those who put me to sword.

He demolished my Mahakali Temple and constructed Syed Mir Ali Hamadan Shrine.  I was made to withdraw yet I continue there on the banks of Vitasta worshipping a symbolic relic, reminiscent of my Kali Ma whom I adorned with Sindhooi paste.  Despite persecution I am still there.

I survived inspite of massacre of Zul Qadir Khan.  I survived poverty, starvation, disease and mental torture.

I survived the persecution, violence of Syed Ali of Hamadan who converted 37000 Hindus to Islam. Temples which were Symbols of art and culture were demolished such as Temple of Martand (The Sun Temple), Vijaysen, Chakrabrat and famous temple Vijyasvara at Bijbehara.  Even from 1990 onwards fifty eight temples were destroyed as was acknowledged by the Government in the Parliament.  I am still there, a tolerant patient and a helpless being.

I was there when Haider Shah got our noses and ears chopped off which was followed by loot, rape and arson.  That was 1470-72.

I am either one amongst lost tribe of Jews or one amongst ancient Aryan settlements which had settled on the banks of Saraswati.  But I am now rootless.

I fled alongwith thousands of others, on foot, and on horse backs through dense and dark forests, crossing 9000 to 14000 feet high peaks of Pir Panjal.  Enroute to the plains, many died of hunger, most of them detoured to Bhaderwah and Kishtwar from Batawath (Pandit Route) which has got metamorphosed into Batote.  Some settled there while some dragged on and found refuge in Allahabad, Varanasi, Delhi (at Sitaram Bazar), Lucknow (in Kashmiri Mohala) and even as far as in Assam to save themselves from the Barbarians and the Vandals.

T'he condition is no different between 1320 and 1948 onwards.  On a NAVREH (New Year) function held at the Constitution Club (Now called Vithal Bhai Patel House) in the year 1950, Late KN Katju, the then Home Minister of India, said, "Then we fled on foot or on horse backs and now we use vehicular transport-conditions have not changed".  Late Jawahar Lal Nehru, Late Smt.  Rameshori and Late Dr. Sidh Nath Kaul, all were present.

Ten precious years have passed since the onslaught by children of Gengis Khan and Tamerlane started.  How long am I to wait ?

Mahjoor the very own poet once said about Kashmiris:

"Zuv jan vandha Hindustanas-dil chum Pakistanis Kun"

It was thought that Economic Progress would change the thinking of Kashmiris but this proved wrong and the reverse has happened.  The mud houses with thatched roofs have changed into Pucca Stone or brick Bungalows.  At present the per capta income of The Kashmiri is the highest in India.  Education is free.  Necessities of life are subsidized by the Government. What about Income Tax, Sales Tax, Water Charges and Electricity Charges? It is free for all.

Central Government is subsidizing J&K State Budget to the tune of One thousand crore (Rs. 1000 crore) per year and an equal amount is spent on Military and Para-Military establishments.  This amount could have uplifted half fed and half naked population of half Bharatavarsha.

What is the solution ?

Panun Kashmir, (A separate piece of land within Kashmir for Kashmiri Pandits).  None will be evacuated not even, our Kashmiri Muslims brethren who can coexist with us.  It should be centrally administered.  Our boys and girls be given compulsory Arms Training for two years to meet the challenge of the terrorists and the mercenaries, we should have a University of our own-separate Medical and an Engineering College.  Initial Expenditure will be Rs. 1000/- (One thousand) Crore.  All other details can be worked out.

Jammu, Leh and Kargil should be separate States or else Centrally administered states.

Let there be Plebiscite in Kashmir whether they want India, Pakistan or Independent Kashmir.  If this is done, people of Occupied Kashmir-Bunji-Gilgit-Chilas and Skardu etc should be included.  They are totally fed up with Pakistan but their condition has not come into focus.  Mafia is in full control.  No elections have been held there, majority of people living there are living below poverty line.

This may save us from future torture, forcible conversions and inhuman existence.

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