Kashmiri Pandits 2

The social reforms in our community i.e. Kashmiri pandits were initiated in the aftermath of revolt of kashmiri Muslims against the Mahraja of Kashmir in the year 1931, which was however, suppressed successfully by the Mahraja Hari Singh. But Kashmiri pandits who being soft targets were looted and masacarred by Muslims indiscriminately..
The Kashmiri pandit leaders like pt.Har Gopal kaul and sh.Tara Chand Bulbul, popularly known as Kasho Bando emerged at that time as saviours of community, who tried to transform the social fabric of Kashmiri Pandit community by initiating reforms which included simplicity in performing marriage functions, abandoning dowry system, wearing of saris by kashmiri women instead of Firan and serving vegetarian dishes for baratis. Though dowry system and complexity in performing marriage functions have now assumed enormous proportions but serving of vegetarian dishes to baratis is still in vogue. The impact of these reforms remained on our society for a long time as our leaders were very honest and dedicated at that time.
Then another phase of reforms in our community started in the year 1967. The elopement of Kashmiri pandit girl with a Muslim boy triggered the uprising in Kashmiri Pandit community which culminated in to mass demonstrations and satyagraha bringing in its fold many other social issues like unemployment, disparity in promotions of community members including restrictions on dowry system and simplification of marriage ceremonies. All the community members selflessly and dedicatedly supported the cause of community to such an extemt that even central Govt. Was compelled to send its home minister Sh.Chavhan for negotiations with Kashmiri Pandits. But unfortunately our leaders who were at the helm of affairs at that time betrayed our community for small personal favours which doomed the cause of our community in general and sacrifice of our community members in particular. The spirits of our youth got evaporated into thin air.
This incident had a deep impact on the general character of our community members and our community was rendered Leader less, the need of which was felt in 1990 at the time of mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from valley. Our community members had lost faith in their leaders, which could not be restored up to present time and it became a common belief that Kashmiri Pandits don't believe in their leaders.
Lamhe galti karte hai , sadiyan saza pati hai.
i.e.mistakes are being committed in moments but punishment is borne by centuries.
After migration of our community from valley of Kashmir a cluster of self styled bodies and organisations emerged in our community with different agendas but after Twenty five years of exodus from valley we could not achieve anything. We could not set our home right and not to speak of big issues like cause of Motherland.
No leader has ever spoken about bringing reforms in our society by curtailing huge expenses on performance of our marriage ceremonies and abandoning dowry system which has become a big menance and taken the toll of our society to large extent. As our community is diminishing day by day we need to rear more children for the balanced growth of our community
If marriage system will be simplified we can afford to have more children. Simple marriages will flourish our community to large extent. Now we need such a type of leadership which will unite us all together and act as a single mouthpiece of whole community and make us feel proud of it.
Ramesh Kaul's photo.