Herath, Kashmiri Pandits & Delimitation Report || BY Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo || LIVE IMAGE |
Herath is the most ancient, auspicious, traditional
socio-religious and cultural festival of Kashmir. The sons and daughters of the
soil, the Kashmiri Pandits, observe it with great dedication and devotion
annually. Herath is held generally one day ahead of Shiv-Chaturdashi of Hindu
lunar month Phalgun, which falls in February or March every year. There are
twelve Shiv-Chaturdashis in a year, but the Shiv-Chaturdashi of Phalgun is
considered as Maha-Shivratri.
Herath, which is the indigenous festival of Kashmir valley
though independent of Maha-Shivratri is also deeply connected with the grace of
Lord Shiva. In fact Herath is dedicated to the two wishful sons of Lord Shiva
and his consort Mata Parvati, who are called Vatuknath and Raman (Ramgaudh).
They and especially Vatuk Bhairav are recognised as Bhairavs with the divine power
of removal of distress (Sankat-Haaree). The reference to the Mahashirvratri
festival is in the ancient scripture of Kashmir, the Neelmatapuran.
Herath as it is called in Kashmiri language is the offshoot
of “Har-Ratri”, the night of Hara -the lord of lords, Shiva. Usually
the festival begins from the first day of the Phulgun lunar month with the
cleansing process of houses. The establishment of the Vatuk-Bhairav in the form
of “Kalashas” in homes is a very significant part and the core of the
whole festival. The current puja system is based on a very specific and special
way compiled and composed, on the basis of the earlier traditions, by Rishi
Logaksha, one thousand years ago, and the Grah-Sutra. A modern look was given
to the Logaksha-Padati by Pt. Keshav Bhat Shastri almost a century ago which
was later adopted by the Kashmiri Pandit community as the final voice on the
subject.
Herath is a wonderful manifestation of understanding,
co-existence, assimilation and beauty of thoughts that impact the spiritual and
cultural pathways. Vaidik tradition, Advaita philosophy, Shavisim, Kashmir’s
Sarvastvadin School of Buddhist philosophy, Vajrayana Bhairav-leniage and
Vaishnava & Shiva Astuti have found their comfortable place in the
tradition of Kashmir and Kashmiri Pandits. The nature-lovers and
nature-worshippers; and spiritually oriented community of the Pandits
maintained its tradition for the last thousands of years with, without and
despite through the vicissitudes of history.
There is a very famous story of history of Kashmir related
to one of the unkind rulers of Kashmir, Jabbar Khan, who took over from his
younger brother, Sardar Azim Khan, as an Afghan ruler of Kashmir in the early
years of nineteenth century and the observance of Herath in Kashmir. Pandit
Anand Kaul, the celebrated author of the famous book, The Kashmiri Pandit
(released in 1924) on page 69 records, “Jabbar Khan was once told by
someone that it was a common notion among the Pandits that snow falls invariably
at the Shivratri night (13th of the dark fortnight of Phalgun). To test this,
he ordered that the Pandits be not allowed to observe this festival in Phalgun
(February-March) but in Haar (June-July). Accordingly, it had to be observed on
the corresponding night in the latter month. It so happened that even on this
night flakes of snow, preceded by a heavy rainfall which had rendered the
atmosphere very cold, fell. The bard then, mocking at him, sang-
Consequent upon the miraculous happening, the local Muslims
(who were also irritated by the unjust dictum of Jabbar) turned up for their
neighbours and friends, Hindus; on the following day and congratulated them on
the occasion. They additionally paid their tributes (Salam) to the deity of the
festival for the wonderful thing that had happened. It is with effect from this
particular event that the following day of Herath was recognised and called as
‘Salam’ in the valley and continues to be as such till date, practically. They
also called Herath as ‘Haeirat’ meaning ‘Surprising’.
On the occasion of this Herath/Shivratri (33rd in exile),
when the report of the Delimitation Commission is about to be finalised,
Kashmiri Pandit community is awaiting for the State of India to rise to the
occasion and thus recognise the right of the displaced community to get
represented politically in the legislature of their own state called Jammu and
Kashmir.
Amit Shah, Union Minister for Home Affairs said in an
interview recently that the elections for the J&K Assembly would be held in
six to eight months of time. The Delimitation Commission has already proposed
six additional seats for Jammu region and one additional seat for the Kashmir
region thus taking the total number of the Assembly seats to 90, with 47 seats
for Kashmir region and 43 seats for the Jammu region. This is by and large a
fair distribution between the two regions in the background of allegations of
huge political discrimination with the Jammu region in the given situation. The
reservation of 9 seats to the STs has also been realised.
Having said that, there are yet a couple of sections of the
population in J&K who have very brittle chances of representation in future
with the implementation of the report of the Delimitation Commission. Among
these sections that have remained unattended yet, despite meeting the
Commission, making their presentations very effectively and convincing the
Commission that their pleas have enough substance comprise Kashmiri Pandit
community, Kashmiri Sikhs and the people belonging to the Pakistan occupied
Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK). These communities have a very strong feeling that
they have been treated as the children of lesser gods.
The Kashmiri Pandits made a presentation before the
Delimitation Commission on 26 March 2021 at its New Delhi office and later in
July 2021 at Jammu when the Commission paid a visit to the JKUT. A number of
documents as desired by the Commission were also submitted before it. The case
of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits and other minorities of Kashmir is a unique
one which the founding fathers of the Indian constitution would have never
visualized.
basis of the terms of reference and the J&K Reorganisation Act of 2019,
therefore, the issue of the Pandit community needs to be viewed from a broader
perspective. Accordingly, as their case has a strong and valid substance, so
the final report on delimitation may include their reference in it for
inclusion by taking up constitutional measures by the government and the
parliament.
It may be reiterated that the delimitation issue will test
the very intent of the Indian State towards the community of Kashmiri Pandit
Hindus and Kashmiri Sikhs living in exile for the last more than three decades.
It is the question of their socio-political existence in a state the
foundations of which were laid by their forefathers in the past history.
Ignoring them in the report would, de facto and also psychologically, close all
gates for their return and resettlement in the valley.
literature, architecture, civilizational flow, medicine, philosophy, music, dance,
law, politics, history writing, religion and sociology are well recognised,
profound and immense. It will be a worse tragedy than their unfortunate forced
exodus if they are ignored in the final analysis, draft and report of the
Delimitation Commission. It will be like consigning the oldest community of
Jammu and Kashmir to the oldest ruins of history and circumstances. No
permutations and combinations can ever get their representatives elected in the
J&K Legislature in the given situation.
The displaced community in the hour of their crisis is
looking forward to the Delimitation Commission and the government of India for
collective justice and fairness. This is possible by a clear reference to the
government of India and parliament by the Commission for taking up the required
constitutional measures in line with the Sikkim ‘Sangha’ example, Pudducherry
Assembly model of nominations, erstwhile Parliamentary representation for
Anglo-Indian community or the nomination of two women members to the Assembly as
it existed in the J&K Assembly.
This author has been reiterating that the delimitation
exercise is going to test the intent of the State of India towards the reverse
minority community of Kashmir, the Kashmiri Pandits, and theirs will be a
historic decision from the existential point of view. Otherwise the
oft-repeated phrase that “Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri
Pandits” will remain only on the lips. It is again time to remind the
State of India of its commitments towards the displaced people of Kashmir, the
victims of genocide, who are both displaced and dispersed due to the failures
of successive governments right from 1990.
Commission of India are both an integral part of the State of India and are
thus expected to play a decisive and historic role, particularly when the
representatives of the community were emphatically conveyed that their plea had
a lot and sufficient substance, when they made their presentations before the
Commission. It is hoped that the strong feeling of being ‘the children of
lesser gods’ of the Kashmiri Pandit community is addressed by the concerned
appropriately in this context.
By – Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo
(The author is a senior BJP & KP leader, Incharge: Deptt of Political Feedback, BJP-J&K and can be reached at: ashwanikc2012@gmail.com)
Constituency for adult franchise is created on the number of voters,not on sentiments, in which area KP has required number,spelling of Habba Kadal has been written by the commisdion as Habaa Kadal , subject to correction.KP are never a united group,and sincere to community,just anti brotherhood record of post migration,is before everyone, even this holocaust couldn't make us sincere, anyway nerrration about Maha Shivratri is impressive,thanks.