From the President
Udainath Kaul
What a pleasure and a
privilege it is to present this very special issue of the Vitasta Annual.
This Annual is in our small world an epoch making one, not only because the
Annual is the first one of the Millennium, but essentially because this issue,
after considerable mental and physical efforts of the Editors, projects
successfully the theme of this Kashyap Bandhu Centenary Number viz
"Kashmiri Pandit Reformation and GLOBAL DIASPORA".
The issues highlighted in this Annual couldn't be
presented at a more appropriate time. The situation in Kashmir seems to be
taking a new turn. There is a marked tilt of the world opinion, lead
lately by America, Britain and even Japan, towards India's stand on Kashmir.
The Huriyat, an umbrella organisation of dissidents and anti-India organisations
have announced their coming to the negotiation table with the Centre without
Pakistan's participation on which issue they had refused to talk previously on
three occasions. This changed stand of the Huriyat leaders was revealed in
Calcutta just before BJP formed the Govt. first time. These Huriyat
leaders addressed some select gathering and Press in the Presidency College Hall
in Calcutta where I was also present. As there was some delay in the
arrival of their transport to take them to the airport. I was requested to
drop them at the airport in my car which I happily did. On the way to the
airport, I enquired of them if there was any hope in near future of the Kashmir
problem being sorted out. Prof. Abdul Gani Lone, an acknowledged policy maker
and spokesman of the Huriyat, after a very telling pause and after looking at
his other three colleagues replied "yes there is hope only if BJP comes to
power". What further transpired is beyond the scope of this write-up.
But it does took that we see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.
The massacre of Sikhs in Chattisinghpora in Anantag
District is a very important watershed in the march of events in Kashmir.
A telling saying doing rounds in Srinagar is Batta Chael, Mussalman Gael, Sikh
Phoel" The first part of the statement refers to the migration of the
Kaslimiri Pandits, the second part to a misleading albeit popular notion that
Muslims got annihilated, but the most significant thrust was the punch line at
the end that the Sikhs blossomed. Again in early days of the recent
migration, a slogan "Mussalman Sikh Bhai Bhai, Yeh Hindu quam Kahanse Aayi"
was also heard. After mass migration of the Pandits from Kashmir,some of
the Sikhs did occupy the vacated houses of the Pandits. The fact that
Pakistan had extended overt and covert support to the movement of Khalistan can
make one believe that some Pakistan supported agencies may also have helped and
supported Sikhs in the valley. Nonetheless the Sikhs of Chattisinghpora
have become innocent victims of Muslim fundamentalism, sponsored and fully
backed by Pakistan, is in keeping with the highest tradition of the Sikhs, a
community known for their valour and sacrifice. We as Kashmiri Pandits,
can never forget the supreme sacrifice made by Guru Teg Bahadur, the 9th Guru,
for the Pandits.
Apart from mass migration of the Pandits since Jan
1990, we had Wandhama, Sangrampora, Gool, and now we have Chattisinghpora.
And when we take note of the fact I that even a casual
study of the articles in this Annual of the 'Global Diaspora" of the
Kashmiri Pandits brings out that an event like, Chattisinghpora could be in the
making and predictable, one cannot but admire the in-depth study and efforts
made of the subject of this Annual by the contributors of the articles, by Dr.
B. K. Moza, Rajiv Sapru, Nivarani Kaul, Pratibha Moza and those connected with
bringing out the Annual, which on behalf of the Kashmir Sabha, I feel happy to
acknowledge and feel thankful for. Again we cannot but acknowledge and
feel thankful to the publicitton Management Committee lead by Sri M. K. Ogra and
Sri P. L. Sapru, and to our other members for all that they have been able to do
and achieve. To the advertisers we feel beholden for their co-operation
and help.
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Editorial
