S K Khushu
This moment I am embarking on a serious and fruitful endeavour to reach out to youth of my community, across the globe (be it students, unemployed, employees, package employees or in business) in the hope of sharing my views on the present identity and allied crisis we all are confronted with.
Dear torch bearers of tomorrow, time and again our endurance is being tested perhaps because God wills so to teach us the purpose of our life. Our Holy Geeta however preaches, we must rise against injustice within the parameters of human values. It is only the men of conviction, steely resolve serious commitment and sincerity that can turn the direction of the sweeping and engulfing tide in their favour. Dear sons, daughters, sisters and brothers, I am not here to give sermons or infuse idealistic philosophy but to plea with you all to kindly recognise and exploit your patent energy, mobilize all resources at your command and strive hard for regaining your lost identity and securing your future for a dignified life hereafter.
As you know dear all this is possible only if a joint well chalked out and well organised & bold front is put up. United we stand and divided we fall. Our irresistible yearning for a peaceful coexistence in Kashmir, our belief in communal harmony, adherence to the principle ‘forgive & forget’ ‘to error is human, to forgive divine’ all have been further dented yet again with the recent killings, resorted to in the recent past. After all the tiger never changed spots on its skin. It may be just talking tall but the reality is that we cannot afford to allow their machinations dampen our spirits to the extent that we watch our complete annihilation without making just struggle to counter it. I must say that u all have been braving the hostile treatment meted out to u in Kashmir boldly and with great grit and determination than we all did in 1990 only to secure your safety and bright future though. Your sense of responsibility, determination, commitment and concern for future and those of your children have been exemplary. For package employees, I would say that you agreed to serve in the valley at the risk of your life not only to earn a living but also to keep the voice and hopes of India alive and heard which is in itself a proof of your patriotism and indomitable will to move on and also turn the tide in your favour. True some of you may not be adequately qualified to make a cut in corporate sector. The challenges and demands in the corporate sector are not easy to face and meet. So may be most of you had Hobson’s choice and that you had to sign a bond that you did before your appointment under PM Employment package. This however does not disqualify you for adjustment temporary though, at safer places even in other parts of the country. The powers that be in J&K UT and at the centre must grant your request. To strengthen your drive and lend a strong support to vitalize your spine, all of us must do everything possible to help you in this hour of crises.
To the youth in general, the identity crises have resurfaced after gap of 32 years when mass exodus from Kashmir, our own native land took place following terrorism unleashed by Islamic fundamentals, acting on the directives of the sponsored of terrorism across the border. Dear all, this persecution, genocide etc would not have become reality if there had been no support from misguided indoctrinated locals including leaders and politicians. There is nothing new about atrocities committed on innocent KPs in the name of Islam since 1990, our forefathers, Hindus to the core, had to face still harsher cruelties, in human treatment like mass killings, rapes, forced conversion over centuries. The fact is that we are not completely wiped. To the fellow beings, my age I would say please come out of slumber, rise above petty politics and political affiliations, if any, personal egoistic tendencies to persuade the powers that be to listen to our grievances particularly our young generation and help them to settle well in life. We all owe it to them after all they are torch bearers of our community. Our leaders of KP community could better serve the cause of their community by merging into a single organisation having a broad representative character. But we have only witnessed a mushroom growth of leaders and organisations most with one man’s show and self-styled ones rendering our cause spineless. No doubt the serenity as also the intensity of present protestation has shaken many a quarters and built a confidence that our youth is awakening. Let us applaud their struggle. Now that it will be only a wishful thinking that our community leaders will shun their ego and come under a common platform, let our youth come forward to take over the leadership as they have proved their metal and motivate all to come under one single platform. The youngsters who are working outside the state in different parts of India and even abroad must realise that they have their roots in Kashmir which is their motherland. Kashmiri Pandits are the real aborigines of Kashmir they are inalienable components of centuries old heritage of Kashmir, hence KP youth settled outside though in exile after forced exodus owe a moral responsibility to join the community struggle.
A Kashmiri Pandit front of selfless youths to form a joint crystal, clear, unambiguous, result-oriented, well planned and disciplined front is the need of hour. It is therefore my sincere and earnest appeal to all KP youth to act. Let us stop indulging in petty politics. We can, no more afford to waste our time on insignificant issues, the real problem that have hitherto been evading solution and need to be got addressed on priority. This should not mean to have given birth to yet one more organisation but should come as a united single meaningful front. If the youths come forward having heeded my request, I assure them I will also lend my whole hearted support in unity and other efforts wherever they need so.
