Chirantan Kashmir
The Parmeshwari Movement
Moti Lal Pushkar, Jammu
During the time span of the 20th century the
Kashmiri Pandit community has asserted itself to preserve their 'Identity' by
way of launching various movements for this purpose. The aim of these was
to achieve moral upliftrnent, social reform, economic sustenance and political
assertion as an ethnic group.
Founders and leaders of these movements approached the community and gave
shape to their respective organizational structures. Miss Annie Besant was
whole heartedly supported by Pandits in her mission to spread girls' education.
They extended a helping hand to the social reform movement of late Bandhuji.
Stopage to the child marriage system and support to the cause of widow
remarriage was another type of social resurgence. False-hood and
non-vegetarianism were given goodbye on marriages and other celebrations.
The Roti agitation gave push to economic agenda. All those persons
associated with the social reform movement formed the 'Sanatan Dharma Yuvak
Sabha' Sheetal Nath to ignite spirit of political consciousness in Kashmiri
Pandits.
These movements sprang up with the emergence of respective important
personalities and paid a valuable contribution towards re-emergence of the
community. In May 1967 a movement developed spontaneously. It is
known as the 'Parmeshwari Agitation'. It was more dynamic in its approach
and form. It surpassed all the previous movements. it was not initiated or
launched by any single individual or group of individuals. It was an out
burst that engulfed the whole Pandit mass. I am constrained to mention
that while other movements had actually their origin in some or the other all
'India movements' of the day, this one was unique in its origin and formation.
While other movements took shape during pre-independence period, this one
emerged twenty years after India became free.
Parmeshwari Handoo
Parmeshwari was the name of the daughter of a Pandit widow namely Dhanwati,
Rainawari, Srinagar. She was the only hope of her mother. Very
simple and straight forward, away from the showy behaviour of modem times.
Dhanwati Handoo had nurtured her only child with love and care. She had
given her education to enable her to stand on her own legs. Dhanwati was a
pious soul and a religious-minded woman.
In May '64 this young girl got appointment with the J and K State
Co-operative Department. This appointment of the solitary Pandit girl
proved a challenge to other employees who believed, perhaps under wrong notion,
that the said department sustained its functioning on the villagers of the
valley who are generally constituted of non-Pandit populace. This section
of employees treated her as an unwanted figure; hence started harassing her.
This harassment approach was a tested weapon in their hands to grab, destroy and
frustrate others. One young employee namely Mr. Kanth (his family name)
was the all powerful cashier there. He would deposit cash of day's sale
proceeds but no receipt was given against that. Dilly dallying tactics
were used on this or that pretext. At times receipt was given
occasionally, only when 'Parama' had begged for the same time and again.
She would inform about all this to the seniors in the office but they would
always avoid her, giving false assurances. This type of attitude
ultimately frustrated her badly. This fear psychosis became the cause of
her moral breakdown. She was mentally exhausted and it disturbed the peace
of mind of her mother as well. Coming home she would narrate whole day's
torture to her dear mother.
One day with the help of another lady employee she was wisked away in a
mysterious way. They kept her in confinement ; did not allow her to talk
with her mother at all. She was threatened for wailing and weeping for her
dear mother.
Search for Daughter
Her mother Dhanwati got pangs of anxiety when her daughter did not return
home. She conveyed her anxiety to her immediate neighbour, late Mr. T.N.
Dhar. He along with other friends approached the police. No
information came forth. No concrete assurance was available from them.
It was on third day that a group of elders contacted the C.M. in a deputation.
He gave patient hearing but no one was touched. No clue became available.
They had made this contact by involving persons associated with the ruling
party.
Ultimately, a few distinguished Pandits contacted Pandits of other localities
and involved Yuvak
Sabha, Sheetal Nath, Srinagar in this connection. It was Shri Som Nath
Ghasi and his friends who presented a clear picture to the print media.
They made an appeal to the Pandit Samaj in general. Pandits extended whole
hearted support. Besides the State Government, The Central Government were
requested for support by this neglected community in this restoration case.
Alas! no favourable action was taken by them at all. Suppressed and
neglected community leaders gave a call for a peaceful 'Satyagraha' from the S.
D. Y. S., Sheetal Nath platform.
Srinagar Satyagraha
Every day, as per programme honourable Pandits would collect in thousands at
a specific point. From the mass abruptly five heroes would emerge with
garlands and tilak on their foreheads. They would address public and
explain the inaptness and indifference of the Government. These peaceful
heroes would then court arrest. As per the policy of the ruling regime
they would be treated in an inhuman way. Beating and torture were usual
punishment besides, abuses of worst type. Even a devil would feel ashamed
at hearing their loose talks. Their apathy towards Pandits was conspicuous
and nasty. But the Satyagraha continued bearing all this. It was
month of June '67 when the Pandits' anger took shape of this famous Satayagraha
and it continued upto October '67.
Batches of heroes would participate from all places and all walks of life.
It will be proper to mention here that Anantnag, Baramulla, Sopore, Handwara and
many other places contributed their due share in this Satyagraha movement.
Martand, Kulgam and Pulwama did not lag behind.
On one occasion, it was decided that the Pandit employees would go on mass
leave. Lo! and behold! this section as it was treated as a class of most
obedient servants' showed their mettle and abstained from duty with no exception
at all. The State Chief Secretary Pt. P.N. Koul remained on leave
and supported his community in this hour of test. The Government became
nervous.
Harassment of the Community
The Government started Pandit harassment to break the back of this movement.
Hundreds of Pandits were taken into custody. During night hours the
Kashmir Reserved Police personnel would come and threaten Pandits in their
predominantly Pandits localities. The Pandit treated all this harassment
as a 'Dharma Yuddha' to protect the honour of their womanhood.
The moment police would appear, Pandits of the locality would blow
Conch-shells. This clarion call would keep Pandits of other localities on
their toes to face this onslaught. My person was on their catch list.
They approached my Ganpatyar residence at midnight and started knocking at the
main door. They consisted of a group of about twenty men carrying guns on
their shoulders. Their formation presented a scene of battlefield.
They started calling me out by name. My Shrimatiji peeped out of the
window they called her to open the door and come down. She stepped out of
the door. Abruptly they kept a gun on her chest, enquired about my
whereabouts and the place of my hiding. Not satisfied with the answers
they entered my house bet my brother and tenant mercilessly and arrested them
both in my absence. Within minutes a good number of Pandits came out and
the police party was compelled to stop further harassment. This was the
approach of the State Police and Pandits during the movement and before as well.
Pandits remained undeterred even in the face of this harassment and continued
their Satyagraha with full vigour; as a result this way of Government handling
earned a bad name for them. Censure of the Government regime became wide
and visible.
Media reports of European, American, Chinese and other origins became more
intense and they gave factual positions of this Pandit movement with every
passing day. The national press did cover the whole situation along with
pictures including minute details. The whole Pandit brother-hood felt
disturbed on being pinched by the Governments' long arm methods. The
Pandits of Delhi, Amritsar, Jammu, Kurukshetra, Mumbai, Calcutta, Jaipur held
protests and peaceful demonstrations wherever possible and passed resolutions
condemning the Police atrocities. To me its appears as the prelude to that
destruction which took place from 1989 onwards to this date with Kashmiri
Pandits which has made a new chapter to be added to the 'Rajtarangini'.
The Satyagrahis used to raise the following slogans -
a) "Panch Naara Panduan, Chatta Nara jai Hind."
b) "Hamari Kanya Ko Vapis Karou."
c) "Har Har Mahadeva."
d) "Bharat Mata Ki jai."
During this Satyagraha, police would throw stones on the Pandits and fire
grenades to the peaceful assembly of men, women and children. It seemed
that they had lost all sense of decency. On Independence day 1967 a police
informer threw acid on Pandit ladies at the Regul Chok, Srinagar. It was
shameful on their part not to entertain Pandits hit by police, in any Government
hospital for immediate treatment. I too was hit by a heavy stone at
forehead. It started bleeding and Pandits took me to the Ratan Rani
Hospital for immediate stiching. I had to spend a month there for
treatment. The wards of the said hospital were full to their capacity with
Pandit cases of police atrocities. This hospital tendered valuable help in
this way when the Government hospitals had shut their doors on Pandit patients
of police torture. It is situated on the right side of the Sheetal Nath
grounds.
Some Reactions
Seeing such a vast and well organized peaceful Pandit Movement, some
prominent Muslim leaders of Kashmir felt surprised. Ex-Revenue Minister
Mr. Beg praised Pandits for this peaceful agitation. He stressed the point
that the Muslims associated with Plebiscite Front take a lesson out of it and
conduct their movement in a systematic way. But, the Speaker of the the
then Legislative Assembly Mr. Qasim denounced the Pandifs thus "if the
Pandits demand the girl back how can we stop the Muslims from demanding
Pakistan?" This type of anti-Pandit feeling was predominant in whole of
Kashmiris ruling group. Six Pandit youngmen lost their lives due to police
brutality and fundamentalists attacks. Shri Satish Razdan son of Pandit
Kashi Nath Razdan, Nai Sarak, Ganpathyar, Srinagar was killed for showing
courageous attitude. Tragic it was that Satish's father was posted at
Calcutta as an important officer of Kashmir Emporium. Another young boy
Avtar Krishan was murdered near the Fatehkadal bridge and thrown on the bank of
Vitasta river. Pandit shops from Habbakadal to Buhrikadal were looted
during night hours. Medical shops owned by Pandits were made main target
of attack. This description of repression has been reported in detail in a
booklet namely 'The Wail of the Vale'.
Maha Yajana and Money Offering
Pandits contributed money towards this movement. No Pandit family, no
individual member of any family denied offering money. It was an
unexpected and un-imaginable revolution in the history of Pandits. It
surprised the organizers and all others. No individual student of the
University of Kashmir and its colleges and schools lagged behind. Even
from far flung villages and towns, money came forth. This money offering
towards the 'Maha Yajana' helped us to keep the burning ambers alive. I
myself, a bitter critic of my community for its indifference towards such social
causes, was surprised to see donations coming forth in such a vast quantity.
Pandits sent donations from other parts of the country also.
Crows Unity Call
"Batta - Batta Kaw Batta,"
There is a saying, "Batta Batta Kaw Batta", which denotes that a
Pandit pays immediate attention to the distress call of another Pandit. It
was heartening to note that no section of the community remained as an
unattached observer. They participated wholeheartedly. The educated,
semi-educated, so called Progressives or conservatives all contributed towards
its successful functioning.
The Central Government remained totally indifferent. A deputation under
the late Ghasi's leadership was not given access to meet the Prime Minister.
They were very much eager to present this abduction case but all their efforts
were frustrated to see the Prime Minister in person. At last it was
decided to approach countrymen in this connection. With the result many an
important person of national importance came to Sheetal nath and supported this
cause. One of the Jagat Guru Shankaracharyas announced his participation
along with the hundreds of volunteers in this Satyagaraha but State Government
declared ban on this Holiness's entry into the State. Still many others
came forth and offered their support to it. Many such supporters, a number
of officers of Central Departments, offered help caring least for their jobs.
Among them were a few from Delhi, Gujrat and Utter Pradesh. A big figure
of Tele-Communication Department namely Shri Desai was presented a citation
composed in Sanskrit verses by me to honour his contribution towards this
movement in a public function.
Pandit - Mothers' Participation
Pandit mothers offered their support which is worth mentioning here.
They took Parameshwari's abduction as a challenge to Pandit womanhood. At
times it appeared that this movement was guided by Pandit mothers only.
Their presence at Satyagraha points surpassed male Pandit presence. They
out numbered them. They would face police conning and stoning with their
moral courage, tolerance and fore-bearance which they do generally acquire while
conducting their house holds duties. They have imbibed moral values of
Lalleshwari and Roopa Bhawani. They have successfully saved their progeny
from getting into degradation and degeneration.
Pandit Leaders Take Part
In the beginning the Satyagraha groups would start from Sheetal Nath,
Srinagar and other Pandits would follow them in processions . During these
starting days the Pandit leader who came forward where Shri Ghasi, Shri
Gopikrishan of 'Shivala', Late Balkrishna Handu, Advocate, Shri T.L. Tiploo,
Advocate and Shri Somnath Suri and others. All these prominent figures
were put behind the bars. As their replacement young faces came forth to
continue the struggle. Some Sikh friends and Panjabi Hindus contributed
their lot. Pandit Prem Nath Dogra asked questions in Assembly about this
movement in his capacity as the opposition leader. It was his speech that made
Mr. Quasim vomit venom against Pandits. The contribution of Arya Samaj was
also there. Shri Tilak Raj from Jammu was always with it.
Contributions of Intellectual Class
The Pandit intellectuals associated with journalism in their capacity as
editors, correspondents, political commentators put their views on behalf of
this movement. The press helped a lot. This help from print media
brought the Government to senses. The vernacular press did not lag behind.
With the result the Central Government sent their emessaries to meet Pandit
leaders but the Kashmiri Pandits leaders asked nothing short of the return of
abducted daughter of a widow. The Defence Minister of India Government,
late Y.S. Chowhan came to Srinagar and met the leaders on behalf of the Prime
Minister. The State Government was represented by late D. P. Dhar.
It was decided that Parameshwari shall be returned to her mother within ten
days. According to this agreement five hundred detenues were released.
But return of the Pandit girl was not made after ten days gap. Pandits
felt cheated. They waited for a month more but nothing was done to redress
their grievance. The Central Government played with the Pandit Community.
Both the Governments succeeded in breaking the back of the struggle. As a
result Pandits became furious once again.
Role of Urdu Press
The State Government used the Urdu Press to invent falsehood. It was
rumoured through this press that Parvin (Parmeshwari's Muslim name) had crossed
over to Pak occupied Kashmir. After some days she was declared as dead by
the same Urdu papers. Seeing all this, the Pandits became disturbed.
They lost faith in the authority and justice organizations They decided to
start the movement from Delhi. The Hindu-Maha Sabha Bhawan, Delhi became
the centre for the Pandit agitation.
Delhi Satyagraha
Under the able leadership of late S.N. Ghasi, Pandits approached the Hindu
bretheren and Hindu Sansthas of Delhi for help. Delhi Hindus responded
sympathetically to their call. That proved a moral boosting for the
organizers to give fillip to the agitation programme afresh. Late A.N.
Ganjoo, Shri Amamath Vaishnavi and Shri. H.N. Jatoo did a lot for this new
initiative. Here also Pandit mothers took a leading role. Batches of
Satyagrahis would reach Delhi and used to be provided all facilities of lodging
and boarding there . They would court arrest on their turns and public would
assemble to hear them patiently. Here as well, my sister, son, daughter
and Shrimatiji courted arrest. Late Shrimati Nancy Koul, a heart patient
did not care for her life and joined the movement at Delhi as a brave soldier.
The slogans here were
"Chowhan Hay! Hay!!
Pandit Kanya Ko Vapis Karon"
Shrimati Indira Gandhi and Bakshi Gulam Mohamad tried their level best to
prevail upon Mr. Sadiq, the Chief Minister, to settle the issue but he always
avoided it keeping his vote bank politics in view. He wanted to prove his
credentials as a true faithful and sympathiser of the majority community of
Kashmir. Bakshi although then out of the Government yet wanted an amicable
patch up. In his sincere efforts; he, even uninvited, presented himself
before the Prime Minister when Shri Ghasi and other Pandits were given time by
Prime Minister to present their case. He fully supported deputationists in
this case.
The Delhi Satyagrahis would be kept in Tihar prison after presenting them
before a court. The Hindu Sansthaas of Delhi used to arrange rations for
Hindu Mahasabha Satyagrahis and also would meet Pandit detenues in Tihar jail
and offer them medicines and fruit. Late N.N. Koul did remarkable help in
this phase of movement. The Assistant Editor of Statesman Delhi namely
Shri. Sahay reported Delhi Satyagraha in his paper with pictures of Satyagrahis.
Late P.N. Bajaj has written a booklet about all this struggle captioned.
The Pandit Agitation and it's aftermath
Justice Never Delivered
At the start of this movement an abduction suit was filed with the Session's
judge, Srinagar. No hearing date was fixed for the first six months.
Once, after six month's gap, this case was taken up for hearing. Shocking
it is that the Court was surrounded by extremists. The Court yard, its
adjacent lanes and bi-lanes were full with the presence of rowdies. The
honourable Judge adjourned the hearing for good.
On this above mentioned hearing day at 3 p.m. this gathering of fifty
thousand rowdies was addressed and showered heaps of praises by none else than
advocate Mr. Latif the defendant of Law for the rowdies' behaviour. Me a
single Hindu was present in the Court.
The real reason for not holding the hearing session was fear of exposure by
this Pandit girl against the culprits. She was emotionally attached to her
widow mother who had supported and nurtured her in absence of her father.
The abduction always felt shaky to produce her before the Court of Law.
Dhanwati Devi had established contact with her daughter through a non-Pandit
lady. Parmeshwari was well aware of all the ongoings through the Urdu
dailies of Srinagar. She was like a pigeon caught in a trap. She was
not allowed to attend her official duty, fearing lest she should escape to her
mother's lap during the first two years after abduction.
Be Cautious and Miss No More
This Satyagraha was deliberately presented in a wrong way by Dr. Karan Singh
by his unsavoury remarks like these
"Pandit Naukri Mangte Hein Chokri Nahin"
This was the approach of big politicians against the innocent daughter of a
Pandit widow. Judged by any angle it has been proved that Pandits have
suffered at the hands of rulers of Jammu and Kashmir after 1947 onwards.
They have been made target by every occupant of the Kashmir throne. Their
landed property, industries, trade, Government jobs were snatched away from
them.
This Satyagraha had exposed all those elements. At the end I want to
pen down a few humble experiences here. Ours is a microscopic minority.
For us every single member counts a lot for us. We should maintain record of our
numerical strength and be careful lest we should lose our precious souls.
Heads we lose tails they win. I am reminded of this proverb here "For
the loss of a nail a horse was lost, for the loss of a horse a battle was lost,
for the loss of a battle a kingdom was lost." Let us see to it that
numerically we do not dwindle further. Let us keep it in mind.
'Trust in Shiva and do the right."
"Say not the struggle nor availeth"
- Sarojini Naidu
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