Remembering Sarwanand Kaul 'Premi'

Sarwanand Kaul 'Premi' was a well-known social activist, Kashmiri poet and a reputed scholar. He was of ripe age (64 years) and lived in village Soaf Shali, District Anantnag, Kashmir. It was end of April 1990, terror was on peak in Kashmir, KPs settled throughout the valley for tousands of years were leaving their homes in large numbers for safety with flood of tears in their eyes to escape the unruly gun-yielding youth, most of them outsiders, enough emboldened with almost failed security structure of the valley. Hundreds of prominent men and women had been killed in most inhuman conditions to scare away the rest. Still many prominent KPs didn't opt to leave their homes for their good reputation and unflinching confidence on the majority community. Premi was one such person with high moral values and reputation along with unshaken confidence on all those he had worked for all his life. Though he was sincerely advised by many of his neighbours and friends to leave along with family in view of the mounting pressure of the militant activities and killings of his community members but he was adamant on his stay till on April 29, 1990 late in the evening when three gun-yielding youth entered his house and ordered him and his family members to surrender all their valuables, cash and gold ornaments immediately. After collecting this all they asked Premi to accompany them for some important talks with their leaders. He still didn't suspect anything wrong and told them that he would come himself during day wherever they liked but they insisted upon his accompanying them instantly as was required. They told his wailing wife and children that they’re not doing any harm to him as he was returning immediately. At last when he was ready to leave his son Virender (Age 27), as destiny had ordained for him also, wished to accompany his father for his safe return at night. The gunmen readily accepted and the duo left their house in the dead of night with them. What followed will put even the worst of criminals to shame. The bodies of the father and son were found hanging in the morning by trees outside the village. Their eyes had been gouged out with sharp weapons and their bodies bore numerous burn marks of cigarette butts. Their limbs had been broken mercilessly and the bodies were hanged by neck to the trees. To make their death doubly sure they were also shot at with several gun shots.
And the worst cum worst was that the place between Premi’s eyebrows was peeled off its skin and pierced with some sharp weapon where he put his Tilak, the mark of a devout Hindu. This was done to a person who was most beloved of not only Pandits but of all the Muslims of the area for his liberal views and moreover in whose house was surprisingly found a rare manuscript of the Holy Quran, the highly revered religious book of Muslims quite reverently placed on a shelf in his Puja room.
Peace be on their souls!!!!!