Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Nostalgia
I just chanced to see a post on the blog of a relative of mine who had recently visited his home back in Kashmir. Besides the expression of his personal feelings about visiting home after about two decades he has put some photographs of his broken vandalized house on the site. The pathetic images of the grand house which once stood tall graciously with more than two dozen inmates living there prompted me to imagine the nostalgia of lakhs of Pandits who flew for their lives in around January 1990 seeking refuge outside valley in most unfavourable circumstances for them just with a hope to return soon as the sitation improved but unfortunately it turned out only a nightmare and they continue as refugees in their own country for not less than nineteen years now. How they aspire to return home can be imagined by only those who are forced to leave their place of birth under such a death scare. It’s not their houses and properties only that these citizens of free India weep for but they weep for a lot more-- their roots, their age-old glorious culture, their temples and traditions, their peculiar habits and language and above all their Kashmir that is reputed to be the paradise on earth with its tall snow-clad mountains, deep valleys and crystal clear waters and invigorating climate. The most pathetic part of the story is that the authorities both at the state and central level have never taken the matter so seriously as it deserved, least counting on the impact of their absence from the valley on the Kashmir situation which is getting from bad to worse day by day. Kashmiri Pandits are staunch nationalists and such nationalism is almost missing in the valley now and how essential their presence is in the valley in the present circumstances and how it would contribute to the stability of the situation when the separatists are getting bolder day by day with open protests against India. None among the responsible politicians is able to estimate the importance of a Pandit in the valley for essentially these reasons besides the responsibility of the settlement of a displaced community in their own land. Kashmiri Pandits are fast losing their proud individual cultural identity as the new generation is getting mixed up with the people of the plains and distancing from their roots. This in fact is the worst tragedy that this community is experiencing and there is no one stopping this trend.
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after going through your article ,hopefully the purpose of your relative seems fullfilled.As your relative shared the pain after seeing the grand building in shattrd position, is the pain of every KP who have left each and every thing behind.
ReplyDeletemy best wishes for you.
bhayaji
ambala cantt
I do understand the pain of being uprooted from your motherland.But I seldom understand this identity crisis we feel as a community or as a caste or as a religious sect in mingling with each other and thus feeling threatened and alienated with respect to what we perceive to be just ours.we may be born in the plains or the hills or the desert,may speak diverse languages,practise different religions but the essence is to love and care irrespective of any barriers........ ...and at one level intercaste and interreligious marriages are facilitating this.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the comment put in by Shalini.
ReplyDeleteLove, no doubt creates impregnable bonds that cannot be shaken even by the worst exploitations whatsoever. Here is the question of a community shaken to its root by its displacement especially because it is rooted in an age old heritage different from the Hindus of the rest of India in their traditions and religious ceremonies that are very hard to be compromised in the environment outside valley of Kashmir though on the face the problem doesn’t present such a horrible picture especially for a person who is not closely acquainted with the Kashmir Pandit ethos.
I totally agree that a person who has not been born in a particular culture may find it difficult to understand any culture alien to him or her.The point is the same identity crisis is faced by the other culture which comes in close contact with any new culture.And it is extremely important for us to remember that every community has its own rich heritage comprising of unique traditions and religious ceremonies.WE need to respect both ,only then healthy acculturation takes place,where is the question of compromising whether within the valley or outside.Culture is too vibrant to die out easily whether Kashmiri or Non Kashmiri.....it is all ours.
ReplyDeleteDear Shalini,
ReplyDeleteI never argue that a particular culture or tradtion is better or preferable than the other. It's a fact that 'Culture is too vibrant to die' but certain coveted traditions of a particular group of people or community live only within that particular environment or place it has developed not outside its bounds. The Kashmir Pandit is suffering from this particular crisis of decaying identity.
I got the point this time sir......I pray that the Kashmiri Pandits get the strength to fight for their lawful due and return to a tranquil Kashmir soon.
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