Paromita Das
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 20th Jan. January 19, 2025, marks 35 years since the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits—a tragic chapter in Bharat’s history that saw an entire community violently uprooted from their homeland. The horrors unleashed upon the Kashmiri Hindu community on January 19, 1990, remain a haunting reminder of the brutality of human intolerance and the apathy of those entrusted to protect justice. The cries of “Raliv, Galiv, Chaliv” (Convert, Die, or Leave) that echoed from the mosques on that day are still etched in the memories of survivors, encapsulating the terror that forced over 500,000 Pandits to flee their ancestral homes in the Kashmir Valley.
The Genocide That Shook Bharat
What happened on that fateful day 35 years ago was not an isolated incident but the culmination of decades of systematic persecution of Kashmiri Hindus. Backed by Islamist forces from within the valley and across the border, this pogrom was executed with chilling precision. Targeted killings, rapes, and open calls for genocide were carried out under the guise of militancy. Kashmiri Pandits, a peace-loving community, found themselves at the mercy of mobs who were determined to erase their identity and culture from the valley.
The streets of Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir turned into theaters of horror. Houses were marked, women were violated, and men were killed in cold blood. Those who survived had no choice but to flee. Their properties were looted, their temples desecrated, and their homeland transformed into a place of fear and hate.
A History of Persecution
This wasn’t the first time Kashmiri Pandits had faced such violence. The exodus of 1990 was the seventh in a long series of genocides and displacements that date back centuries. From the brutal reign of Sikandar Butshikan in the 14th century, who destroyed temples and forced mass conversions, to the Durrani invasions of the 18th century, the Pandit community has faced wave after wave of religious persecution. Even in the modern era, the British sowed seeds of division, and post-1947, the rise of Islamist extremism in Kashmir exacerbated the plight of Hindus in the valley.
However, the 1990 exodus stands out for one reason: it occurred in a democratic Bharat. Despite the nation’s commitment to secularism and justice, the Kashmiri Pandits were left to fend for themselves. The Bharatiya state failed to protect them, and in the years since, their cries for justice have largely gone unheard.
Voices of Pain and Resilience
On this solemn anniversary, prominent voices from the Kashmiri Pandit community have spoken out, reminding the nation of the trauma their people endured. Veteran actor Anupam Kher, himself a Kashmiri Pandit, shared a heartfelt message on social media, lamenting the haunting emptiness of the homes left behind by his community. He also highlighted a poignant poem by Sunayana Kachroo Bhide, capturing the sorrow and longing of a displaced people.
19th January, 1990. #KashmirHindus Exodus Day! It has been 35 Years since more than 500000 Hindus were brutally thrown out of their homes. Those homes are still there. But haunted and forgotten! #SunayanaKachrooBhide a victim of this tragedy has written heartbreaking poem about… pic.twitter.com/4U5OPXQxyK
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) January 19, 2025
The Struggle for Justice
The plight of Kashmiri Pandits extends beyond displacement. Despite the passage of 35 years, justice remains elusive. Successive governments have offered little more than token gestures, and even Bharat’s apex court has dismissed pleas for reopening cases of the genocide, citing the difficulty of finding evidence after so many years. This apathy has only deepened the wounds of a community that has been marginalized in its own nation.
A Call for Collective Responsibility
The story of the Kashmiri Pandits is not just a regional issue but a national tragedy. Their resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity is a testament to their strength, but it is also a stark reminder of the need for collective accountability. The Pandits’ forced exodus is not merely a historical event—it is a cautionary tale about the consequences of religious extremism and political apathy.
Bharat must confront this dark chapter head-on, not to harbor hatred or division but to ensure that such tragedies are never repeated. Reconciliation must go hand in hand with justice, and the Kashmiri Pandits must be given the dignity of returning to their homeland with security and respect.
Conclusion
As the nation marks the 35th anniversary of the Kashmiri Pandit Genocide, it is a time for reflection, remembrance, and action. The scars of January 19, 1990, are still raw, but they also serve as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. Let this day not just be a commemoration of past pain but a call to build a future where justice prevails, and no community ever has to endure such horrors again.
The Kashmiri Pandits may have been displaced from their land, but their culture, identity, and spirit remain unbroken. It is the duty of every Bharatiya to ensure that their story is not forgotten, that their voices are heard, and that their rightful place in the valley is restored.
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