Imagine Kashmir without Kashmiri Pandits is not possible:GK Pillai

by Vijay Kumar November 15, 2009

November 15 (Vijay Kumar) - G K Pillai, the Home Secretary, Govt. of India emphasized that to imagine Kashmir without Kashmiri Pandits is just not possible and that he would attempt to fecilitate the dialogue between the Govt. and All India Kashmiri Samaj(AIKS).

All India Kashmiri Samaj, an Apex organization of Kashmiri Pandits, having affiliates both within India and abroad, held AIKS Conclave

On Sunday at SIRI FORT AUDITORIUM, New Delhi. Delegates from all over India and abroad participated in the event The programme began with the release of AIKS Logo & power point presentation out lining the journey of AIKS right since its inception in 1980.G K Pillai, the Home Secretary, Govt. of India was the Chief Guest at the Conclave.

Addressing the Conclave, the Home Secretary observed that this Conclave is being held at a time when we need to understand the problems of Kashmiri Pandits better and hoped that its message would make us wiser on the issues confronting this community. He also

thanked AIKS for inviting him and showed interest in interacting with the displaced community in future. He also presented mementoes to the distinguished speakers on the dias.

Earlier Pillai was felicitated by the President Shri Moti Kaul. Shri Moti Kaul while welcoming the guest extended him the gratitude for attending the Kashmiri Pandit Community Conclave. On this occasion Shri G K Pillai released the special number of AIKS monthly journal Naad.

The first working session on Political Empowerment kickstarted with the welcome address by the President AIKS, Shri Moti Kaul who said that the Conclave was taking place at a time when the realities back home were changing fast and Kashmiri Pandits have to reassert themselves to be part of any proposed initiative on Kashmir by the Government. In the light of the recurrent exoduses forced on the Community, it is imperative to politically empower them at all levels, he opined.

This session had prominent speakers in the form of Prof. K N Pandita, Prof. Surinder Munshi and Prof. Amitabh Mattoo. The keynote address of Prof. K N Pandita focused on the need for the creation of reserved constituencies and reverse minority status for Kashmiri Pandits to ensure their relevance in the socio-political structure of the State. Prof. Surinder Munshi stressed on the

preservation of the identity of Kashmiri Pandits.

Prof. Amitabh Mattoo felt that in the proposed broader initiative on Kashmir, an all inclusive approach needed to be adopted

and Kashmiri Pandits should constitute the part of that inclusiveness.

Resurgence of KPs and AIKS role was the topic of the second working session which was addressed by Dr. M L Hashia, S/Shri Vikram Bhatt, Pradumon Tickoo from USA and Pandit Gautam Kaul. The focus of this session was on the Academic and Economic

Resurgence of Kashmiri Pandits as also the role of AIKS. Shri Pradumon Tickoo, President KOA-USA was of the opinion that KOA being the US Chapter of AIKS, was doing an enormous job for the society and AIKS was truly a global face of the community which is bound to grow further. Pandit Gautam Kaul, while concluding, gave a detailed presentation of AIKS journey from its inception till date.

Need for setting up an Institution of Excellence was the subject matter of the concluding session, in which Prof. Kachroo made a power point presentation blueprint for creation of such an institution for the community. The other stalwarts who spoke on the occasion included S/Shri Ashok Ogra, M K Kaw (former President, AIKS) and Prof. B B Dhar. M K Kaw gave his vital inputs regarding the logistics and important steps to be taken for its creation. Prof. B B Dhar who being an educationist talked about the finer details of the entire project. The vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Romesh Raina, General Secretary.

The Conclave arrived at following conclusions:

Acutely aware of the continuing trauma faced by the Kashmiri Pandit community, even after 20 years of its displacement, leading to the erosion in their social, political and economic rights.

While appreciating the efforts made by the Central Government in providing some incremental economic relief especially in the shape of the Prime Minister’s Package, though far short of our expectations, the Conclave maintains that the survival of the community, and its eventual return to the Kashmir valley, is closely linked to its political empowerment. It resolves that:

1. Recognise Kashmiri Pandits as the most crucial stake holders in the progress and prosperity of their native land and closely involve them in any negotiations that the Government of India may propose to undertake on the future shape of Jammu & Kashmir with different political parties and outfits.

2. Create legitimate political space for Kashmiri Pandits by declaring them as a minority, as provided for in the Constitution of India with the safeguards and rights provided in article 29 & 30 of the Constitution for such communities,

and give them adequate representation in all the political and other institutions of the State.

3. Implement forthwith the Employment Package in its totality to provide work to the Community’s unemployed youth so that they are lifted out of their despondency and distress and helped to rebuild their lives shattered by migration and its aftermath.

4. Take early steps to evaluate, at the current market rates, and compensate adequately the bona fide owners of all the agricultural and other lands in Kashmir belonging to the members of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community that has been occupied for the past so many years under the pretext of public utility services or otherwise.

5. Urgently take note of the enormous and galloping rise in the cost of living and increase the monthly assistance now given to migrant families to a minimum of Rs. 10,000/= per family per month to ensure their survival in these hard times.

6. Get the Temples and Shrines Bill for the control, restoration and proper management, along with their lands appurtenant thereto, which has been pending before the J&K State Legislature for a long time, passed immediately to ensure some security to the Community’s places of worship.

7. To recognize the presence of the minuscule section of Kashmiri Pandit, who chose to stay back in the valley and address their problems by providing them with suitable employment opportunity and financial support to start small businesses.

8. AIKS Conclave 2009 acclaims and expresses its pride in the Kashmiri Pandit Community’s intellectual acumen and academic excellence which constitute the core strength of the community as a whole and has bestowed on them a place of pride in the country and abroad.

To harness this vast acumen and the divine grace of Devi Saraswati, this Conclave resolves the setting up of an Institution of Excellence by Kashmiri Pandits themselves. Its main objective will be to promote multi-dimensional academic, scientific and technological advancement that benefits the Community, the Nation and the World at large.

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Tags: Imagine Kashmir , Kashmiri Pandit , AIKS