Protect Temples & Shrines in Kashmir
Kashmir, originally named
as “Satisar” was an abode of Rishies, saints and savants. God has made this
heaven on earth in his favouring mood after carving out a Valley, unique in
nature, unparallel in beauty, blessed with Salubrious Climate, Surrounded with
mountain peaks, lakes and rivers to accommodate the elevated souls. It was also
called valley of temples, shrines, tiraths and other spiritual foundations.
There was no town or village, no lake or island where these sacred foundations did
not exist. Every dawn we would hear sound of temple Bells
and devotees singing religious lore’s. So, temples and Shrines were point of
attraction, maintained and Considered God’s house for blessings, which were
constructed all over in Valley, occupying a unique position and utmost faith.
It was because of this, the valley had a rich culture and religious importance
in Indian history.
But ever since the advent of intolerant raiders, mercenaries
and other muslim rulers who reclaimed themselves the defenders of their faith,
the thousand years old temples, heritage centres and places of worship have
been defilied, desecrated, although our fore-fathers have preserved many of
these shrines and temples at the cost of their lives and other sacrifices. In
many respects severity of persecution of Hindus in Kashmir was greater than the
rest of India
as well as shrines and temples were exposed to wider destruction.
Even after accession of Kashmir with India lot of
Hindu temples, shrines and sikh Gurdwara’s were destroyed and demolished,
particularly at the hands of Pak invaders in 1947. During anti-Hindu riots in
District Anantnagh, which spread others parts of the Kashmir
in 1986, also resulted in huge destruction of forty seven temples & shrines
located in the valley. Again when fundamentalist atmosphere and militancy
gripped Valley in 1989 – 90, KP’S were gradually hounded out from their homes
and hearths, forced to flee, the Communal Zealots resorted to the old game of
desecration and destruction of these temples and shrines which include damage
& destruction of Sixty Eight temples located in towns and remote villages
of Kashmir Valley as per white paper issued by joint human right committee. During
demolition of Babri structure in Ayodia on Dec. 6, 1992 which led to wide
spread anti-Hindu riots in Kashmir resulted
destruction of thirty nine temples in the valley, when seventeen temples were
damaged within three days of time from Dec 7, 1992 to Dec 9, 1992. Minister of
State for Home, Govt of India Confirmed damage of thirty eight temples, in the
parliament on March 12, 1993. At number of places in the valley temple land,
enclosures & temple yards were nibbled away by miscreants. At some places
efforts were made to dispose off the shrine and temple land. There was no
proper record and inventries of the said property.
To check this all and protect the KP’S religious property in
the valley, Kashmiri Pandit Community has been demanding enactment of a law on
the lines of Wakf Board or Sikh Gurdwara Prabhandak Board to promote, protect
and develop these places of faith, but as usual the state Govt. did not respond
to our genuine demand so for and demonstrated discriminatory attitude and policies
towards Victim Community of Kashmiri Pandits.
Kashmiri Pandit Community in general and existing Mandir
Prabandhak Committees in particular, whole heartedly welcomed the initiative
taken by the Govt. for preserving, protecting and developing our shrines and
religious places in trouble – torn Kashmir Valley, when State Govt. notified a
draft bill of K.P. Shrine and religious places in 2007 to Solicit Public
Opinion, response and objections. Even after discussions and Consultations with
various sections of K.P. Community, prominent K P Organizations Submitted
revised draft bill to the Govt. after removing all irritants and anomalies in
the notified draft bill and incorporating appropriate and relevant provisions
on the lines of J&K Wakf Act 2001 and
J & K Sikh Gurdwara & religious endowment Act 1973 as envisaged by the
state Govt. The revised draft bill was titled as “J & K Shrine and
religious places of Kashmiri Pandits, Bill 2007”. Inspite of repeated
assurances, Govt. has not enacted the law and avoided its passage in the State
Assemble under this or that pretext. Reason of its deferment was also given an
objection raised by one influential person of the State who happens to be top
political leader of Congress Party at the Centre, for his personal interests.
It was not only passage of shrine and temple bill, but K.P’s
were demanding for the long time to permit them to visit “Sharda Temple”
presently located in P.O.K just on the pattern of Sikh Pilgrims who are
permitted to visit Nankana Sahab in POK, from decades. Besides, KP’s have been
demanding a “Centre of Shivism” to be opened in State of J&K and research
work be undertaken to propgate and revive it as its origin is in Kashmir.
These issues are of religious nature and are connected with
religious sentiments of whole KP Community. There is no room to politicalize
them or to please an individual or organization at the cost of religious
interest of particular nationalist community, presently on cross road and in
exile. By accepting these genuine religious demands of K.P. Community at par
with other Communities of the Valley, will bring succor to exiled Community and
will be positive step towards normalizing relations and situation in the
valley.
{Views expressed by (KUNDAN KASHMIRI), National President, Kashmiri
Pandit Conference (KPC), Chairman Kashyap Trust, 09871309619,kundankbd@yahoo.co.in}
Tags:
Temples-Kashmir-Shrines-S
