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Shiv Mandir Kupwara, Kashmir |
The demand for the Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Religious Places Management
Bill that has been projected after the mass exodus of
1990 . Surfaced out of
blue once again inadvertently after deep
slumber that became a matter of deliberation in
the social media once more .
The reason for a news item
published 07 May, 2015, in the regard of Greater Kashmir was reproduced
by the Delhi based website, the Live Image, owned by the son of the soil. Where
under Chairman Trustee of Dharmath Trust Dr Karan Singh
has asked the Kashmiri Pandits Stay away from temples under
Dharmath Trust not to indulge in affairs of temples and shrines under the
Trust.” President of the Trust . Major General (Retd) R S Jamwal, then
President of the Trust, a kashmiri speaking and hails from Kulgam, said it was
unfortunate that a section of KP community has “once again raised the
bogey of Hindu shrines in the Valley.” The tenor , tone and
content has not find favour with it.
This writer is of the view that
the reasoning on the basis of records is very true the Dharmarth Trust, for which it exercised the bonafide rights
under the sole ownership.There were about 143 Temples
Constructed in the state by the Dogra rulers , to manage them, a
trust was duly constituted .
Apart from other Temples Sarai spread all
over India at religious places. Fairly good number of temples were destroyed on
the other side of the lines.A Few during 1948 such as Aakharas were transferred
to the Mahants of these temples.
Question arises for which temples
the Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Religious Places Management
Bill is asked for and on which grounds.What was the earliest system to
manage these temples before migration. In case my memory stand by me, it
was suggested then that Management committee shall be exclusively that of
Kashmiri Pandit migrants. There by discriminating against non Kashmiri
Pandits worshipers of these temples from valley ,other Kashmiri Pandits living
in Jammu Province, those who have migrated per circumstance post 1947 and
thereafter from time to time whose heart still lies in the valley.
Another relevant news item prior to
it of 8/6/2011 that reads During the winter of
2008- 09 a seminar cum Photo Exhibition was held in Srinagar depicting
extensive damage suffered by the wake of eruption of terrorism in 1990, followed
by mass migration of Hindu minorities from the valley.
The seminar was
organized by Sanjay Tikoo and his associates representing the minuscule Pandit
Biradari still living in the valley (Almost like eleven families left behind in
the distant past following another similar migration as depicted in our
recorded history). Photographs of more than two hundred temples and shrines that
had been damaged in the valley extensively were exhibited on this occasion .
To
it this writer had responded then who will man these temples
be specific, have you gone to Handwara temple complex, where there is a
way we need volunteers not breast beaters and crocodile tears
shedders, Why do we need ” Kashmiri Hindu Shrines and Religious
Places Management Bill. Like eleven families left behind in the distant
past, to me still relevant all those who did not migrate are the
bonafide Kashmiri Pandits, among those this community shall rise , thrive in
its soil, all governments should put pronounced focus on them , in case
this community needs protection like Hangul.
Requires mention that it was 2004 volunteers started
opening of the temples in their vicinity reeling
in the are charged scenario, at great risk,in the which stand closed
and unattended since the exodus.
That continued for a couple of
years, with wide coverage.Welcome step, but after opening, these the day
used to be closed again as no one came forward to take care even in
routine.This induced me to tour visit a few of them. In the entire valley temples were in bad shape except,
Mata Baderkali Handwara, Zeestha Mata Temple Zeethyar, Mata Tripur Suderi
Manzgam Kulgan. and a few others those managed by the security forces.
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Zeestha Mata Temple Zeethyar, Kashmir |
In
the name of restoring temples land grabbers emerged with a untramoties. During visiting some of
the these tample an idea came why not to take care perform daily Puja Aachana,
like sikhs, by elder who have reached at their fagend like me, and
after here has to go to Him.in rotation , suitable to them take care of the
temples.Just four hundred temples , is not a big issue.
Offered to take care,
by me to break the thaw in the most dreaded area and during the
worst season, but no one came forward. Since 1996 I have been imploring brathen
to come forward to assist, not necessary with finance to repair Sawmi Chandiham
Ashram, Sogam, and Baba Jeean Shains ashram Ladoo, all I desired moral help,
rest assured to financial aspect shall be taken care.No one came forward, just
one of the litmus test, to drive home the intentions of the so call faith
beares.
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Ramnavmi celebrated with religious fervor, gaiety across Jammu region |
On the Ramnavmi 24 March 2010 after many years, precisely after last migration , I attended the
function in Kashmiri Pandit Shaba at Amphala jammu . When the number of our
baradari was limited in jammu before migration the
gathering used to be very impressive on all the occasions
running up to more than five hundred to seven hundred but this time it was
sheer less than 150. Those days it was full fervor ,gaiety ,enthusiasm, and
above all eager to participate, this time it was a lifeless affair.
After Puran Ahooti ,we sat for Naaveed ,to my left
was a community brother , to start conversation I took liberty to ask him
you live nearby .He replied in affirmative, still in service ,negative was the
reply and added that he is head of a temple looking after its management, the
deity is of a famous deity of ANDRA PARDESH.
I was elated to hear, the brother is religious, retired and of
my age. Without mincing word and loosing any time , I asked him very
hesitantly but quite in politeness choosing appropriate words suggested that we
elders should go to serve our deities in the valley He said curtly
that he has children to look after, I further asked are they still to be
settled, He said all are well settled and in comfort, then what holds him and
others in similar position to avoid this noble mission .He said that he
has go to them to show BOUTH HAUAAN that to see their faces,
gives preference to family over the our
Lord, depicts our hypocrisy.
To this I remember an incidence as, Difficult questions are hard to solve, easy ones need not to,
Amaji, as such there is nothing to do, was a childish reply to the
scolding mother who found him sitting idle with books striven here
and there around.
Elders are not going to return even in the first phase to the
temple to show our presence and touch the troubled waters. Younger are not
supposed to go due to their job requirement; as such there is none to return .How we will face
Him on our return and He shall treat us at least will not give a place
with those who served Him with dedication and selflessly, it has become a
fashion these days departed is called a Karamyogi to me with due
apologies beforehand it is hard to identify between” Karmyogi” and “Bhogi”.
Dear and respected, do you expect that some one in the form of a
Mamaji or bridegroom will come and lift us in his arms like a bride
to take with utmost care us to the valley ?
Today I found a picture shared by one Pandit Vijay
Nehru cell number 99100 71332, calling Sai Baba of Shiridi, a
Muslim saint as Om Sai Ram, he is neither Om nor Ram , but a
Sai, Vijay ji is not first to worship him over our Shiv Shakti,
but it I has become trade mark of migrant kashmiri Pandits, went far head of
Kashmiriyat to indianised their belief. Read word for word in
picture, Pandit ji wants wealth full of it, from him, that means he has lost
like many of others from cummunity faith in Shiv Shakti, I desrespect them.
Personally I respect all religion as its one’s own faith to
follow his own belief , as regards Kashmir Pandits , to be so and remain so, it
is ordained to keep tradition in its purest form, to be called Kashmiri Pandits
follow ordained of Shiv Shakti the creator and destroyer ,nothing came before
or after, an infinite Shakti. The trade mark of Kashmiri Pandits. .
Bushan Parimoo
(The writer is a Jammu based environmentalist and a regular contributor to this Website .)
(Feedback at: blparimoo@gmail.com)
Destroyed Hindu Temples In Kashmir | From 1986 to 2018 Part-1
