A lasting settlement

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has made significant efforts over the past 35 years to resettle Kashmiri Pandits who were displaced from their homeland. Since their exodus the Pandit community has faced immense hardships in trying to return to the Valley. While successive governments have made attempts to address their plight, the task remains incomplete. The current government has an opportunity to fulfil the long-standing aspirations of the Pandit community and address the challenges that persist.

Over the years the government has implemented various strategies to support displaced Pandits. Basic amenities were provided during their exile and transit accommodations and jobs were arranged in both Jammu and Srinagar. Despite these measures several challenges continue to hinder their permanent resettlement. Unfortunately, sporadic violence has targeted some members of the Pandit community in recent years. However, the courage and resilience of those who have served in Kashmir underscore their deep connection to their homeland. It is crucial to reflect on why, despite substantial investments and consistent efforts, the problem remains unresolved.

There are many problems and challenges ahead in resettling Kashmiri Pandits in the valley again.

Firstly, the gap caused by the long period of exile needs to be mitigated with a sense of security, which cannot be provided individually but rather through social safety and protection by the civilians. A sense of security should come from the feeling or perception of being safe, protected and free from harm or threat. It often encompasses both physical and emotional well-being where individuals feel confident that their surroundings, circumstances, or systems are reliable and supportive. In a physical sense, it may mean being in an environment where safety measures are in place, such as security personnel or secure infrastructure. In an emotional sense, it could mean trusting that one’s rights, dignity, or well-being are respected and protected.

Secondly, not only Pandit government employees but their family members also need to stay in Kashmir throughout the year. We can't ensure the permanent return of the Pandit people in days and nights, it requires their efforts and challenges to be met. For that, they have to be reconnected with their neighbours, friends, and colleagues again to make a beginning. The relationship between young people in their twenties will build automatically.

Thirdly, the young generation of Pandit people needs to be reconnected with their culture, language, and ethics. Young people in their twenties, who were separated from the valley due to violence, need to exchange culture, past brotherhood, and Kashmiriyat with their young Muslim brothers. The gap of twenty years has changed their perceptions and made them hostile toward each other. Their parents can help the young ones in aligning their minds and understanding the importance of their values and culture.

Fifthly, Pandit people, after exile, sold their homelands and became homeless, which, for one reason or another, made them migrants in their own homeland. The policy should be put in place to enable them to get their homes back because the majority of Pandit people were living together within the Muslim majority. The land where their homes are located must be retrieved. It is also true that their houses and property were damaged due to various reasons.

Sixthly, the government has made transit facilities for all Pandit people in centrally located places. Hence, Pandit people should start the process of interchanging and regrowing their damaged structures and various properties. What we observe is that every Pandit employee is only performing their duties and is still isolated from the grassroots level. The connection to the grassroots is very important. Initially, their parents, brothers, and others should participate in village-level and community-level elections. Their representation needs to be known and made visible so that they can slowly adjust to the social sector. We have seen Pandit people who did not migrate and are safe. These employees can help mitigate the gap between all these important issues.

Seventhly, Pandits have made great contributions to Kashmiri culture and ethos, which they could not preserve due to migration and instil in their young ones, resulting in a cultural crisis. For revival, there must be cultural programs, workshops, and debates between the old and young people of both communities. The new generation of Pandit people has skipped their culture and traditions due to migration and needs to be made aware of their livelihood, culture, and ethos. This is only possible through cultural exchange programs between the two communities, which will also inspire others to visit Kashmir.

Eighthly, enhancement in the Pandit employment package will boost their morale and provide security, allowing them more time to interact with people in their jobs. Jobs in centrally sponsored schemes and the central government need to be provided to the Pandit people so that their representation is ensured. Special one-time financial assistance should be given to Pandit families to shift from Jammu to the Valley. The government has already made reservations for the Pandit community in the political sector, which will ensure their presence at the grassroots level. These are some of the suggestions that can initiate the process of shifting Kashmiri Pandits from different places back to their homeland. I surely understand how difficult it is to leave home and live homeless. Above all, I must appreciate the brotherhood of the Muslim community, who are always ready to take on any challenge for their Hindu brothers.