Young Kashmiri Pandits not keen on returning to Valley

“I and my family want to return to our homes,and not camps as proposed by the government. But there have to be proper security arrangements in place for ensuring our return,” O N Bhat,originally from Tangmarg in Baramulla district said.

Bhat was among thousands of devotees,mostly Kashmiri Pandits from across the country,who thronged the shrine of goddess Rangnya Devi for the annual Kheer Bhawani festival here,27 kms from Srinagar.

The Kheer Bhawani festival has turned into a symbol of communal harmony in Kashmir and provides a rare opportunity for migrant pandits to interact with Muslims of the Valley.

Over the years,emotional scenes of reunion between Pandit and Muslim friends have been witnessed here.

The festival also provides an opportunity to the Kashmiri Pandits,who are scattered all over the country after eruption of militancy in Kashmir in 1990,to interact with each other.

“It is all good … the atmosphere and bonhomie here indicates that there is enough understanding between the communities but for the fundamentalists from both sides and the separatists,” Bhat said.

While appreciating the steps taken by the state government for return of Kashmiri Pandits,Bhat blamed the Centre for exodus of the community from the Valley in 1990.

“The men of the Central government were posted along the borders and,as I know from personal experience,they keep a track of every person in their jurisdiction. (Then) how did so many young men cross the border and bring back arms and ammunition with so much ease?” he asked.

Many elderly Kashmiri Pandits shared Bhat’s views and expressed their desire to return to their homes.

“I would not want to put myself or my family to so much inconvenience in a two-room set in Jammu when I have a big house in my village in Kulgam. However,there is no surety that we will not be targeted again,” a middle-aged woman,Anita,said.

However,the younger generation is not so keen about returning to Kashmir.

“It (Kashmir) is a nice place but we are not aware of it yet. Whatever we know is what we have heard from our parents,” Sandeep Koul said.

Koul is visiting Kashmir for the first time along with two other friends. The trio admits that they are on a mission top explore their homeland.

“We were still infants when our family left Kashmir. We have absolutely no memories from childhood here. So it is kind of revisiting our birthplace,” said Rahul Pandita.

They admit that they have not yet come across “anything negative” to suggest that they were not welcome in Kashmir.

“However,there are some apprehensions arising out of what happened in 1990 when the entire community was forced to flee from their homes,” he said.

An 18-year-old youth,who did not wish to be named,said there was no future for Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir.

“An entire generation has been born outside Kashmir and they do not feel the same way about the place as their parents. Further,both Pandits and Muslims will be looking at each other with suspicion everytime any untoward incident takes place,” the youth,from Bakshi Nagar area in Jammu,said.