Postcode 190001
HERATH KAR CHE ?
Many Intellectual Kashmiri Muslims in person, have told me that biggest loss of #KPexodus in 1990 wasn’t to Hindus only ( who somehow & anyway were able to come back to so called new ways of LIFE ). It was to the Kashmiri Muslim population in particular specially the educated & semi educated class.
It has been a loss to 1000s of KM youth, who lost an opportunity to learn diversity & learn to piggy back with KP friends into new ways of opportunities & Challenges. And indeed the competitiveness between communities helped scale, both groups at times into news of living & life. Many times it was friendly & sometimes boring rat race . Still it was well received by all sections of society . They give many examples in detail and I indeed concur with them.
The bitterness of today could have been avoided, if intellectuals would have been able to talk about it more openly but the fear of gun has kept them mum. But among KPs , we let our progeny forget the basics of Kashmirism ( read Shaivism or Battil ) , far faster than last 800 years of struggle by our ancestors to keep them .
We lost the touch with our roots in terms of language , culture , festival but tried remarkably best at times to restore , maintain & adore them. Sometimes , I correct them on few when I find them to be Kashmiri Muslim tradition than KP tradition but with smile tell myself, let it be at least if not with them , let it remain with us . On either side , let that Kashmirism stay alive. When we divide it , we will let the progeny decide that day to whom it belongs or may be both adopt it. As simple as Design of Farens , Style of our Cutlery or for that matter a war of words on Samavar or Santoor.
In last 28 years , a new generation of KMs has arrived who are more hardcore with Wahabi & extremist views of Islam which even my friends who supported it in 1990 find difficult to digest . This stand has been hardened with political discourse against any minority living in Kashmir or anywhere else. The rationale of Pluralism & diversity has lost its followers to be replaced by frantic breed who don’t mind to speak up in public against anything that they feel doesn’t match their prescription of Darul ISLAM where so called ascetism or even Sufism is cult of heretics. How a Kashmiri in age group of 35 to 55 or 55 to 85 comprehends it is entirely a different story.
My forecast based on current situation is that by 2040 as our generations fades away too , Kashmir will be another Somalia or Afghanistan totally cut off from actual history. The Sanity ( whatever left post 1990) is evaporating like Acetone . The Battil in Kashmiriyat would be lost forever under normal circumstances. We will be a subject of archaeology and our shrines like many others turned into ruins.
Reversal of Exodus isnt only important for we KPs but in larger interests of Kashmiri Muslims too who have lost connect with their DNA and marshalled into slave robots of Islamic Jihadi Identity. New Doctrine forced and thrust in last 50 years upon them by society as means of resistance but will become biggest curse when resistance might not be required.
In history examples are vivid that post Islamization , societies collapsed and knowing it well , this will cause bigger impact on Indic traditions . Kashmir has been fountain head of Indic Civilization & INDIA is just an extension of Kashmir in every way. The Ways of Life from Kolam to Kokernaag are in danger as snow of Kashmirism melts and becomes extinct in valley.
Who is at bigger loss ? As worldwide radical Islamization is getting condemned , Kashmiris might find themselves on wrong side of fence seeking refuge in old DNA which might not be readinly available. Remember the recent #IRAN protest where resistance against Arab domination turned into Anti islamic movement from heart of Islamic centers.Its time Muslims in J&K / INDIA give honest efforts to restore diversity in Kashmir and create Homeland for Kashmiri Pandits. The fear that it will be Israel Palestine model is totally over imagination as cultural affinity & close social bonds would restore.
As I pass on my Kulchuworr to a KM boy working on terminal 3 in New Delhi , he reminds me with smile . “Jinab HERATH KAR CHE” & I wonder how does he remember my HYERATH still ? Flash Memory of 1980s Hyerath comes to my mind when Muslims and Hindus would celebrate toegther as if it was a great grand wedding in Kashmir.
There is a connect deep in our psyche which is native Kashmiri and I firmly believe religious divide will die natural death if the diversity is restored in our life time.
