Self-introspection after watching "The Kashmir Files"

When I was returning home after seeing the Kashmir file, I was accompanied by ten people from the family and friend circle. Everyone was silent, and not a single word could come out of anyone's mouth. Maybe everyone was shocked to see this file. All were surprised to see the truth of the one who had heard the flying, broken news, on the screen. Was it even possible that their own neighbours, on whom they had kept their faith throughout their lives, had become enemies of life in their own country? The same neighbours’ bullets were ridding the body? Every one mind was flooded with many questions, but not a single word could come out of our mouths. But questions were getting louder and louder in our minds while stepping back into our home.

Is it time for Kashmiri Pandits to return and settle back

in Kashmir? Will they be able to bear it? Will they return to their homes, or ashes spread in their original courtyard like "Pushkar Nath Pandit"? after all why did all this happen? 

This film brings out many bitter truths. The truth that does the dirty business of 'hope'. While Kashmiri Pandits are expected to return home, there are campuses of some particular universities where 'Afzal we are ashamed, your murderers are alive' (अफजल हम शर्मिंदा हैं, तेरे कातिल जिंदा हैं). The slogans sound silly. The brainwashing is so prevalent that so-called academics cultivate a different hatred and drag youth into anti- nation activities.

If these intellectuals can nurture a certain mindset by shouting slogans for Afzal Guru, will they now open their eyes to the injustice done to Kashmiri Pandits through this film? Will those slogans also echo in the premises of the same universities against this injustice that 'Ashish Kaul, we are ashamed, the murderers of your loved ones are alive (आशीष कौल हम शर्मिंदा हैं, तुम्हारे अपनों के कातिल जिंदा हैं)?' Or is it just that we will see Kashmiri Pandits living in Kashmir, laughing in Kashmir (कश्मीरी पंडितों को कश्मीर में बस्ते, कश्मीर में हंसते हम देखेंगे). Will these songs also be sung?

After all, why have we never tried to understand the pain and suffering of 'Roliv Chaliv and Galiv' till now? When it was shown on the screen, there was a flood of tears and an emotional breakdown in the cinema hall. This film has created a national emotion. Will this emotion remain with us, or will it end in a day or two? Will we be able to save Bengal, Kerala or any other part of India from becoming a Kashmir file?

Earlier, whenever there was a discussion on Kashmir Pandits, many of our intellectual friends also used to say that Kashmir Pandits are cowards. They ran away after leaving their house and family. They did not fight to save them and restore their rights; they were cowards. Like these, many more things were said about Kashmiri Pandits by our so-called intellectual friends. But after watching the Kashmir file, we feel reverence and devotion towards Kashmiri Pandits because we realise that this community is not only peace-loving but also knows the importance of peace and harmony. They left the valley to save the valley from bleeding, left the valley to keep the next generation from getting into animosity, left the valley to remain with the country and not betray the nation, left their home to save the nation, they left the valley to stay in the religion and keep the dharma alive.

What happened to them is now in front of the country in the shape of Kashmir Files.

The massacres of Kashmiri Pandits were not external forces but some Muslim families living inside Kashmir as neighbours and friends whose religion, insecurities and greed helped the separatist forces. As a result, the 1990s episode came into the lives of Kashmiri Pandits.

Kashmiri Pandits lived in the Valley till 1990 with some open-minded faith and confidence in their Muslim brothers and friends. Their faith in Kashmiriyat was alive even after a history of six times displacement and 700 years of repression, and this belief led to their destruction and exile. There must be some similar people living in our neighbourhood. We will also have some similar friends on whom we are reposting confidence and trust and keep ourselves sitting ideally.

Do we need to learn anything from the Kashmir file? Do think about it.

 

 CS Ravi Bhushan Kumar