KASHMIRI PANDITS

Kashmir is known as the “Paradise on earth” due to its impeccable natural beauty of snow-capped mountains. But if we travel to the ancient time of this beautiful place, there are some heart-wrenching stories of Kashmiri Pandits which holds one of the ugliest chapters in Indian history.

convert or die situation of Kashmiri Pandits. source: thesparrow.news

The history of Kashmir's pandits dates back to the migration of Aryan Saraswat brahmans from the Saraswati river's bank to the Kashmir valley. They were given the name Bhattas over time, and they are now known as Kashmiri Pandits.

The Kashmiri Pandits, who made up a significant portion of the population in Kashmir, were deeply associated with the region's culture and traditions. Many people lived on Kashmir's soil. The first struggle for survival faced by the Kashmiri pandits was during the reign of Abhimanyu. During the 14th century, Kashmir came to contact with the Muslim invaders who took advantage of the weak administration of the Lohra Dynasty and established their rule.

It is stated that between 1089 and 1101 AD, Muslim Generals employed by the then-king began to establish their roots as a society in Kashmir. The first direct assault on the Kashmiri pandit during 1252-1273 AD took place when they conspired against the king and failed in their attempts to overthrow him. The king took action against them and they faced torture.

During the years 1301-1320 AD, the monarchs supported the entrance of Muslims into the valley to oppose the Brahmans' dominance. Most of the rulers who came later tried to do away with them, some of them adopted methods similar to the infamous genocide of the Jews in Germany during Hitler’s rule. These rulers tried to exterminate and eradicate all Hindus from Kashmir.

Ali Shah, who ruled Kashmir during 1413-1430 AD, adopted tyranny as his tool of administration. His reign was carried out with killings, conversions, and forced taxation of the Pandits. He Forbade ceremonies and enforced conversion on the Pandits. Fearing conversions, many killed themselves.

Many Pandits fled from their homes and found refuge in other places. This was one of the most heinous examples of the mass exodus of the pandits.

Throughout this period, numerous Pandits were banned from attending religious prayers and meetings in temples. However, when Sultan Zainul Abidin took over the rule of Kashmir, he chose the tolerant path. He ensured that the Pandit’s glory was resurrected and they were given back all that they had lost. This was the phase of peace for the Pandits who lived in their homeland without any threat.

In the following years, the Kashmiri Pandits suffered horribly during the leadership of Shams-ud-din Iraqi and Musa Raina. They were stripped of their religious identity and their religious sculptures were burnt. Those who opposed were slaughtered mercilessly.

Again when the Mughal king Akbar came into power, he ruled with tolerance towards the Kashmiri Brahmins as well his policies toward religious traditions was tolerant, and Pandits were respected and granted the opportunity to celebrate religious festivals and live secure lives during his reign.

But this period of peace doesn’t last for long. The period of 1754- 1819 was again the period of cruelty and anarchy. Afgan rule of this period victimizes the Pandits in the worse form. Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits were killed during this time of the genocide. Parents have shaved their daughters' heads and slashed their noses to destroy their beauty and save them from shame throughout history.

By this time, the bulk of the population had converted to Islam, and the majority of the people had departed the state. Only a few people attempted to reclaim their lost honor by reconstructing their homes and temples in the hopes of starting over. But the situation of these Pandits was out of the limit during the Dogra rule in 1846, they were again targeted and their political, religious and cultural freedom was curtailed.

Many pandits were forced to migrate as a result of communal unrest in 1931. Their homes were looted, their shops were set on fire, women and children were kidnapped, and the entire town was tortured.

To maintain the once-dominant community's supremacy in Kashmir, inhuman crimes against the Pandits, which had been practiced since ancient times, became brutal and horrific. People were shot in the open and anti- slogans were raised. There were explosions in various parts, 1000 were reported dead and those who survived left the state.

The history of Pandits over 5000 years in Kashmir, were made victims once again in one of the ugliest chapters of Indian history.