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KASHMIR, The Land of Pundits

Proud of the Indian Army guarding Kashmir and its boundaries

K-A-S-H-M-I-R

What does this one word, ‘KASHMIR’ bring to you?

Stone pelting. Fire & Bomb blasts. Killing of women & children.

OR

Serene lakes. Flowering valleys. Green meadows…Tulips?

Article by Sheetal Bidaye

Kashmir, the land of Kashmiri Pundits, the crown of Mother India, which was called as ‘Amsterdam of the East’ was so ruthlessly looted, plundered and ravaged by greedy, bloodthirsty savages who not only claimed the land of Kashmir but killed the children of its soil, brutally raped women and daughters before slaughtering them as well. Those slaughtered were the Kashmiri Pundits. Some managed to escape and sought refuge; they are alive but living a life of misery. Having lost palatial bungalows & estates, flourishing trades, professions & businesses in the Kashmir exodus, these people are forced to live in relief camps as refugees for the last 27 years. And many so-called Human Rights Activists are more concerned about the Rohingya and Muslim illegal immigrants who are more than welcomed by the anti-national parties. Did you know that a Kashmiri Refugee Camp was named as Auranzeb’s Dream? Know here: https://indictales.com/2019/04/09/why-a-kashmiri-refugee-camp-was-named-as-aurangzebs-dream-the-historical-context-of-psychological-trauma/

Kashmiri Pundits living as refugees. Picture credit: kashmir blogs

Open Secrets

What was their mistake? How were the Kashmiri Pundits forced to leave their land? Where did the Congress government fail to help them? Wasn’t the Army commanded for strict action against the perpetrators? And most importantly, didn’t the Kashmiri Pundits stand up against the tyrants?

Palatial homes of Kashmiri Pundits destroyed by Muslim activists in Kashmir
Pic Credit: Kashmir blogs

Truth of the Kashmiri Pundits

The Kashmiri Pundits were simple people who knew nothing of politics nor were they fighters. They were a pious Hindu God-fearing sect. They were never armed nor did they have any fighting skills – be it physical or verbal. They were thrown out of their own land by Muslims who very cunningly claimed more and more land and grew their population in more ways than one. Their fast growing numbers must have easily alerted the forces of cross border immigrants but they were commanded to stay put. The Muslim population increased and so did their arbitrariness. One fine day they succeeded in destructing their temples and pushing out the entire community of Kashmiri Pundits from their homeland, the Kashmir Valley.

Ruins of Martand-Sun temple in Kashmir pic credit: wikipedia

Rulers of Kashmir

We all know what Jawaharlal Nehru’s participation was in the Kashmir issue. We know when and how the British were involved. We also know of Raja Hari Singh and his agreements. We know of the earlier rulers – The Dogras, the Sikhs, the Mughals and Muslim rulers. But do we know of the Lohara Dynasty, the Utpala Dynasty and the Kakrota Empire who ruled prior to the Muslim invaders? Are we aware of Shiva Sutras written by Vasu Gupta( C. 875 – 925 CE) who laid the foundation of Kashmiri Shaivism? Do we know that during the reign of Ashoka (304 -232 BCE) Kashmir became a part of the Maurya empire? Kashmir was a great seat of learning for both, Hinduism and Budhism in the Fourth Century. It was from Kashmir itself that Budhism spread into Tibet and then into China.

theravada-buddhism

Kashmir, the Land of Pundits

Although, much prior to that, about 3200 years ago, the land of Kashmir was founded by Rishi Kashyapa who made it a settlement for Hindu priests and it was named as Kashyapapura. Kashmir was a large lake with huge land masses within it. In Sanskrit, the word Kashmir relates to Ka = water, Shimeera = dessicate (we have a similar land mass in suburban Mumbai named Kashimeera). Much of the land in Kashmir is very much the same even now and the reports of the Kashyapapura settlement have been documented by many historians worldwide.

Lakes in Srinagar by Ankur P

Kashmir Remains the Crown of Hindustan

The Kashyapas who had been living there for centuries, these harmless priests, did they deserve to be thrown out of their homeland? Did the Muslims who once again invaded the Kashmiri Pundit homes and plundered their villages had the right to do so? Why oppose the BJP government for protecting the rights of these Pundits, the real sons of Kashmir? Why raise issues over land which belonged to Hindustan, is very much a part of Hindustan and shall always remain the Crown of Hindustan!

Kashmir is the Crown of India