By: Javaid Beigh
SRINAGAR: I can’t express my tremendous joy at the sight of the return of Shri ROSHAN LAL MAWA,, esteemed member of our beloved KASHMIRI PUNDIT COMMUNITY to his homeland and reopen his shop in the same place called “Bohri Kadal” in downtown Srinagar, 29 years after he left Kashmir valley.
KASHMIRI PUNDITS are not only an integral part of Kashmiri culture but they are part of the SAME GENE as that of KASHMIRI MUSLIMS. We are two genetically inseparable communities who are tied to each other through shared culture, language, food, cuisine, attire etc. If we have DAR, they have DHARS and we both have BHATTS, RAINAS, PANDITH / PANDITA and so on. Infact, No two Hindu-Muslim communities share so much in common in entire South Asian than Kashmiri Pundits and Kashmiri Muslims.
LOSS OF KASHMIRI PUNDITS was also the beginning of the complete collapse of social and moral values in Kashmir valley and the place has never been the same again. We lost our religious diversity and an important custodian of Kashmir’s joint Muslim – Pundit cultural heritage.The loss of our Kashmiri Pundit brothers played an important part in the loss of social and moral values from Kashmiri society as well and today’s broken down Kashmiri society is an example of that.
The BEST PART of SHRI ROSHAN LAL MAWA’s return is that the same has been felicitated not through government efforts but because of the help extended by Kashmiri Muslim civil society. More such efforts need to be done on the part of us Kashmiri Muslims to facilitate the honorable return of our Kashmiri Pundit brothers as they cannot return back without our help. Almost 90% of former homes, shops etc. of our Kashmiri Pundit brothers were sold in distress sale in 1990s and they don’t have any residence or residential structure left any longer in Kashmir valley to which they can return back permanently. Not all of them can also re-purchase their former homes and shops at enhanced market prices. We must come forward and help our KP community to find foothold in Kashmir valley, so that they can once again live with honor and dignity in their motherland.
I also extend my special gratitude and appreciation to SANDEEP MAWA, son of Shri Roshan Lal Mawa, who has been supportive of his father’s initiative to return back to Kashmir. We must especially focus on YOUNG KASHMIRI PUNDIT DIASPORA to return back to Kashmir valley. Unless and until, young Kashmiri Pundits won’t return back to Kashmir, the CULTURAL LOSS that plagued Kashmir valley will never be bridged. As a Kashmiri Muslim, we must reach out to young KPs and help them connect with their own culture, which is linked with the land of Kashmir, season of Kashmir and Gods and Goddesses of Kashmir, something that cannot be replicated any where else.
I sincerely hope that the auspicious return of Shri ROSHAN LAL MAWA a day or two before the beginning of RAMZAN will guide more such happy return and the damage that was caused to the soul and spirit of KASHMIRIYAT will once again be repaired.
JAVAID BEIGH is a Political Activist and aspiring Politician, who has worked as PRO to Ex CM of J & K. He holds MBA & MPA degrees, besides having many years of corporate work experience at some of top Fortune-500 companies like INFOSYS TECHNOLOGIES BANGALORE…
The writer can be reached @ javadbeigh123@gmail.com
