JAMMU, JULY 9: Belonging to different places and living in different socio-cultural milieus, they have been consigned to a similar fate. And today the Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) who were forced to leave their homes a decade ago are the biggest benefactors and source of strength for thousands of border residents who have to abandon their homes following incessant shelling by Pakistanis from across the border.Despite these differences, the only similarity between them is the pain of displacement that has strengthened bonds between the two communities. And it is this pain that has brought the KPs and the border migrants closer, sharing each others' agonies.A decade ago, it was the KPs, who were rendered homeless because of the reign of terror unleashed by Pakistani sponsored militants in the Valley. And this time a similar fate was in store for the border people of Jammu, who had to flee from their houses, leaving behind everything including their sources of income because of the war-like situation created bythe unabated shelling by Pakistan from across the borders.Ten years later, when the Pandits had almost overcome the trauma of forced migration, the fleeing border residents have once again stirred the agony they had to face during migration. So much so that all this has generated a sympathy wave among them for the border residents.Recalls Sumeet, who was studying in sixth standard when they had to a migrate from the Valley, "I find a similar uncertainty among these border villagers, that once loomed large over us. More than ten people occupied a small room without fan, our bodies would be drenched in sweat and children would cry for water."Interestingly, most of the make-shift camps for the border residents are located in the vicinity of the Kashmiri migrant camps. One such camp is at Muthi High School, which is just few meters away from the pundit migrant camp."As I peep into this school, I recall those difficult times that we have gone through. Like them, we too used to narrate our problems toeverybody, who came to meet us. Not realising that they were publicity mongers who only wanted their news to be published. But, this time I will not allow them to exploit these illiterate villagers," said Avinash Bhan, a B.Com student.Knowing what one goes through during migration, the Kashmiri Pandit Sabha has come forward to help them. They have already adopted three of the migrant camps in Domana, where the displaced border residents are putting up. Even the migrant teachers have donated their one day's salary for their welfare."We know the pain of displacement, as we have gone through this phase, and therefore we felt that we should come forward to help our brethren, in what ever way we can," remarked Poshkernath Bhat, who is residing in Mishriwala camp.More than 70,000 people from the border have abandoned their houses on the borders and are now putting up at various make shift camps in the outskirts of Jammu city. Till date hardly any government relief has arrived, and it is only the voluntaryorganisations who have come to their rescue.An elderly Pandit migrant, pointing towards the protest demonstration launched by border residents stressing for their demand of rehabilitation, said, "The Government should understand that neither were we beggars nor are they begging for help. It is because of their mistakes that we are suffering.""We had no one to help us during our hour of need and had to fight it out. But, now we will help the border migrants," he adds with a certainty.
