Kashmir's composite culture needs amelioration as the paradise has lost camaraderie which was existing within its inhabitants. People here used to live with brotherhood, emity and harmony . Most of the rulers ill-treated people but they showcased resistance and patience. Until the end of Dogra Raj, people suffered due to poverty and cruelty of rulers but harmony was never affected. The word secularism was not known to the Kashmiris then but ''Kashmiriyat'' was what they believed in.
Kashmiriyat means helping everyone and living peacefully. They did not used to ask for anyone's caste, creed, sex, religion or race. The mantra was to just keep helping others. Prem Nath Bazaz and Sheikh Abdullah fought for the cause of political freedom unitedly he was Hindu and later Muslim. Everyone was proud of being Kashmiri and part of its rich culture. Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim ruled this peice of paradise for own ends while as subjects suffered till mid 19s. After the accession of the instrument was signed , Kashmir became a part of India . Still there was communal harmony and everyone irrespective of their religion used to think about Kashmir.But what happened after 1990, Kashmir became the hot topic . Bilateral issues between India and Pakistan were hit and dispute was even raised in UNO.
I don't know who casts an evil eye on Kashmir but I can say that Kashmiriyat was muddled over the night. The centuries old tradition and affinity was found broken and it took enemies of the ideology of Kashmiriyat to hatch a conspiracy against its rich culture for only a few weeks. Pandits left Kashmir. They left their neighbours, temples, homes, friends and properties. The issue gained political mileage but I will not share it here as I consider politics responsible for the exodus of Pandits. If Kashmir would have not awakened politically, people might have been still destitute but atleast love and harmony would have been not affected. Political consciousness has brought an end to Kashmiriyat. It has destroyed peace and tranquility. I would blame Muslims who have not stopped Pandiths that time and at the same time I would blame those pandiths who left their native places instead of attaining martyrdom. This is what patriotism is. Wheather, you get killed or suppressed but you will still never leave your motherland.
Pandits were rehabilitated later but how they spend these 32 years is an inspiration for everyone. They lost everything. They have been cheated and deceived by every politician since then. Pandiths are being used as a vote bank by every political leader. They were highly educated but left in distress. They want to settle back in Kashmir and Kashmiri Muslims want to receive them with warm hearts but, I retriate that politics has destroyed Kashmiriyat, so, it seems impossible till politicians have influence over both the Hindus and Muslims. Poor Pandiths suffered when they used to live in tents across India and abroad. In Jammu, where most pandiths still live, they used to shelter themselves under narrow sheds made of steel sheets. Both, male and female used to share the same toilet until Manmohan Singh led government, a decade ago sanctioned government residential quarters to them. But, I salute Pandiths, who still have Kashmiriyat in them and who still carry the rich culture along with them despite being deceived by a section of Kashmiris. I know they will not blame all Kashmiri Muslims as they still recall the love and faith they had within them. Those who tried to ruin our culture and age old demography got little success as love has revived again between Pandits and Muslims but only one thing needs to be improved and that is communal harmony.
Hearth used to be Kashmiris second sacred festival after Eid. People irrespective of religion were celebrating both festivals with religious fervour. Kashmiri Muslim still believe that on Hareth it will rain and that belief is belief of Kashmir not Hindus or Muslims. Hindus still visit Holy shrines across Kashmir and pay obeisance. I recall my experience that I recently met a Pandith , who frequently used to chant '' Dastgeera Sahaba Yaari'' means Oh! Dastgeer protect me and ''Ya Gousul Azam Dastgeer'' means Oh! Dastgeer,the helper of everyone ''. (Dastgeer Sahib in Kashmir is used to refer to renowned Islamic scholar Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani).
When I contacted various Pandiths on this festival to convey good wishes , everyone replied with a heavy heart. Everyone wants to celebrate this festival in Kashmir with Kashmiri Muslims and enjoy the blessings of Lord Shiva, which usually comes in the form of rain. I urge and appeal every Kashmiri, Muslim and Pandiths to protect Kashmiri culture and don't fall in the trap of politicians. Let's together make Kashmir and its culture an inspiration for everyone. On this Mahashivratri ,let's marry Kashmir with Kashmiriyat again
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