AIKS: A Potential Movement of
Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora
Dr. B. K. Moza, Calcutta
Introduction
All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) is a remarkable
movement of Kashmiri Pandit diaspora of twentieth century. This movement
has had its organisational birth exactly two decades back and has behind it a
great potential of thoughtful objectives for the survival and advancement of the
scattered Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community. This is an appropriate time to
review the performance of this intrinsically potential movement. Often a
question mark is generally raised as to whether AIKS has come up to the
objectives for which this movement was started?
In this paper a perspective of this organization and its evolution are being
discussed with a view to reviewing its achievements and short comings and
creating a brainstorm for making it more effective and purposeful in fulfilling
the objectives for which it was originally set up.
Historically Kashmiri Pandit migrants settled in various parts of India,
tried to live closer to each other for reasons of social contacts, participation
in each other's moments of joy and sorrow, safety considerations, mother tongue
and such commonalities, observance of festivals and festivities and for such
reasons as matrimonial contacts and information there of etc. Naturally it
became necessary as also convenient for them to form a Society, Sabha,
Association or call it by any other nomenclature to perform up to these
expectations. The purpose also being to perpetuate community traditions
and culture as far as possible and thus preserve the community identity.
Twentieth Century Diaspora
Initially, after the partition, the diaspora of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) found
its cause in entirely a different reason. In 1947 after the invasion of
Kashmir by raiders across the border and subsequent accession of J & K State
to India there was transfer of power from Maharaja to popular Govemment of
National Conference led by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah who was a leader of the
masses which essentially comprised of the majority Muslim community. Since
KPs were in a minority they had to bear the brunt of injustice, very
unfortunately, despite their full involvement and glorious contribution to the
freedom movement of Kashmir. With the purpose of implementing Socialistic
Pattern of Society, the measures of reservations for the so- called downtrodden
and the preferences for the majority became the guiding principles for the local
Governments to achieve popularity and good will of the masses which comprised
the vote bank. Unfortunately the Kashmiri Pandit community did not fall in
this preferred criteria. Accordingly the merit became a secondary
consideration and whether justified or not the Kashmiri Pandits became the
victims of discrimination and such misrule of far reaching consequences.
Despite their merit and capabilities they were deprived of their due rights on
account of being a minority in the valley; they were denied their rightful share
in the nominations for higher education, since at that time there were no
professional colleges in Kashmir; they were also denied deserving jobs since the
yardstick for employment was not essentially the merit or seniority but the
community label one had tagged to one self. Land reforms, implemented for
the first time anywhere in the country, enacting land to the tiller, added to
this set back of KP community and therefore for all these collective reasons
Kashmiri Pandits had to come out gradually in search of their livelihood,
employment and opportunities for higher education. As a result an ongoing
process of migration of KPs to planes set in which they accepted as a fate
accomplii. Large number of families came out of Kashmir and for one or the
other reason they settled in the length and breadth of the country though Delhi
and other metropolitan cities in the North became their first choice.
These migrants had their home and hearth in Kashmir where they used to go
whenever an occasion arose essentially on the occurrence of deaths of their kith
and kin, generally elderly, who used to remain in Kashmir or on the occasion of
the marriages and such festive occasions in the family. This diaspora was,
therefore, different from the earlier ones which because of difficult conditions
of communication, transportation and absolutely hostile atmosphere were
irreversible migrations forcing almost absolute isolation from those relations
left behind in the valley. Such an inevitable diaspora of this type
continued on this pattern till 1989-90 when the militancy in Kashmir took a very
violent shape and Kashmiri Pandits had to become displaced internally almost
en-masse as refugees in their own country. In nutshell the twentieth
century diaspora of Kashmiri Pandits from their motherland became the result of
firstly they being discriminated and politically deprived as a minority and
secondly towards the end decade of the millennium, they being terrorised to
abandon their centuries' old hearths and homes in their motherland on account of
Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism enleashed by the neighbouring Islamic
country as a proxy war against India.
Formation of AIKS
Kashmiri Pandits settled outside the state or Within it formed their
community associations essentially for social as also for political reasons.
This led to the formation of various Kashmiri Pandit organizations in various
parts of the country and abroad, each having its own objectives and priorities.
However, in general, there was no cohesion amongst such numerous organizations,
no common approach to solve their common problems particularly on social front.
All the representative Associations were feeling a vaccum in their relationship,
a missing link in coordination with one another till the leadership role was
taken by Kashmiri Samaj of Allahabad. They called, in the first stage, a
get-together of U.P. Associations and then of All India organizations and in
March 1980 the first All India Samaj meeting was held at Allahabad under the
Presidentship of Mr. justice P.N. Bakshi which led to the formation of this
federal organization. Within nine months' time the second Conference of
AIKS was held at Calcutta on 271 and 28th December 1980 where more than fifteen
Sabhas / Samities / Samajs of Kashmiri Pandits had a historical Conference and
the draft Constitution of the AIKS was adopted. Separately the
Presidential Address delivered by Justice P.N. Bakshi is included in this
publication for ready reference which appeared in the "Kashmir in 2000
A.D." Annual Number (1981) of the Vitasta, Calcutta of which I happened to
be the editor. AIKS received at this stage the support of 22 KP
organisations. Few members from Srinagar also participated in this
historical Conference. The main emphasis was on creating a movement
amongst Kashmiri Pandits for bringing about cohesiveness amongst themselves and
breaking the barriers of distinction amongst the Kashmiri speaking and
non-Kashmiri speaking Kashmiri Pandits on the premise that both were the sons of
the same land. The objectives of the Samaj were essentially of
coordinating amongst the affiliated units matters related to social aspects, to
improving employment opportunities, matrimonial rapport, discouraging dowry
curse which has been a serious issue, bringing out a news-letter / publication
of relevant information for circulation amongst member units, providing relief
and medical assistance, propagating the Kashmiri language and preserving the
Kashmiri Pandit culture and heritage. Annual get-togethers were held for
reviewing the activities of the Samaj and developing a closer connection with
our roots in Kashmir. In fact AIKS was purported to become the Apex Body
of Kashmiri Pandits. Soon it had four organizations from Kashmir
affiliated to it and comprised of a total affiliation of 38 units of which there
were few from overseas also. As regards its office it was initially
decided to have a rotating one, it being the place of its elected President.
It was assumed that this would as well bring in some variety and also motivate
the affiliated units to perform on this responsibility with improved results.
After justice Bakshi, respectively Col P.N. Kak, affectionately known as Papa
(the then President of Calcutta Sabha), Dr. N.L. Zutshi (President of Bombay
Pandit Sabha), Brig R.N. Madan, (President of Jaipur Sabha) became the
Presidents after a tenure of two year's term each. Since Delhi is the main
nerve centre of activities and because the complexion of KP problems took a
different turn then, Delhi became the Head Quarter of AIKS as soon as Dr.
Zutshi's tenure was over and respectively Brig. R.N. Madan, Shri D.N.
Munshi and Shri J.N. Kaul (President of Faridabad Samiti) operated from Delhi
and performed commendably. Shri J.N. Kaul is presently the President of
AIKS for the sixth year.
Sabhas, Samaj & Sammelan
At the Jodhpur Conference in 1982 1 had the opportunity of communicating a
paper entitled, "Sabhas, Samaj and Sammelan" which was subsequently
published in the Vitasta Annual 1983, and reproduced in the Martand, Srinagar in
three instalments on 2nd, 8th &, 14th June 1983. A clear line of
demarcation in responsibilities and objectives was drawn between a Sabha /
Samiti and the Samaj. Whilst the Sabha / Samiti or similar local affiliate
was assumed to play the pertinent role as the representative Organisation of KPs
at a particular location, looking after the interests of community locally at
that location, it was clearly assumed in this paper, that the main objective of
the AIKS was to coordinate the activities of the local affiliates, initiate a
common plan of action for our roots or for preserving the tradition, culture and
heritage of our community and playing the role of an Apex Body with full
responsibility and authority to take care of the common objectives of the
community and coordinating the same through the affiliated units. The common
community agenda could be generation of funds, establishment of Trusts,
Endowments, awards and recognitions. for our community individuals for their
excellent performances, creating educational institutions which would have as
their essential objectives the preservation of Kashmiri Pandit culture,
literature, heritage and Kashmiri language. It was also assigned to
safe-guard community assets and interests particularly in Kashmir. It was
also
assumed to create Institutions for preserving our Vedic system of Karam-Kand and
create awareness and respect and provide for prospective employment of our
Gurujis. One of the important objectives considered for our Apex Body was
to enable community windows to be opened to healthier trends and practices
amongst other communities in India or abroad to encourage excellence, infuse
newer trends, bring about social reforms and related enlighterunents. To
facilitate this coordination an Annual Get-together of all the affiliated units
was considered necessary as the "Sammelan" where all important matters
which required general discussion and general approval of the affiliated units
were discussed for implementation. In this proposal a clear
demarcation was drawn between the objectives of a local unit and the Apex Body,
AIKS, so that there was no overlapping of objectives. It extended further
in detailing the role of AIKS as the Apex Body and the respect and authority it
required so as to function appropriately up to its assigned objectives. Of
the 10 objective which AIKS was assigned the first and foremost objective read
as follows." To coordinate activities of all Sabhas for common programmes
of community welfare and to bring them closer to one another."
KP Exodus & AIKS
The traumatic exodus of KPs from Kashmir in 1989-90 and their ethnic
cleansing from the valley brought about an added responsibility on AIKS suddenly
and therefore the priorities of its agenda shifted to the relief and
rehabilitation of the uprooted brotheren from the valley. Though ten years
have passed this problem is still as critical and serious and continues to
remain unresolved because of its very difficult and chaotic prognosis.
However, AIKS has emerged as a very important player to avert demoralisation of
the suffering brotheren and in providing possible relief and help in refugee
camps. In this connection the Jaipur Convention held in 1991 was a
milestone in the history of AIKS. Pt. Dwarkanath Munshi was
unanimously elected as the President of AIKS and a line of action was drawn.
To bring awareness to Kashmiri Pandit problem an Advisory Committee of well
known Kashmiri Pandit authorities was formed so that with their advice and help
Governmental, national and international assistance was received to solve the
rehabilitation of uprooted KPs from the valley. AIKS Trust was formed as
an independent arm of the AIKS and funds were collected for extending relief to
the displaced victims and providing financial source for various action plans
that AIKS onsidered purposeful for mitigating the sufferings the victimised
brotheren. To bring about unity amongst various frontal organizations at
Jammu, a Migrant Action Committee was formed with (late) Mr. M.L. Aima as its
President and this Committee worked very dedicatedly under the leadership of Mr.
Munshi to create a joint front (AIKS-MAC) for solving the day to day problems
that were being faced by the migrants in Camps at Jammu and Udhampur. A
MAHASAMMELAN of all the units was proposed to be held which, however, could not
be organized on the scale as originally conceived. Further with the
assistance of Shri J.N. Kaul who was then the President of Faridabad Samiti and
President of S. O. S., a Computer Training Centre was established at Faridabad
which was been providing training to displaced youth from the camps free of cost
and has also succeeded in providing employment to the trainees who have been
trained at this centre. This has been one of the greatest achievements of
AIKS and this activity is successfully being continued under the leadership of
Shri J.N. Kaul . The publication of AIKS, Naad, was started and from a News
Letter it has now developed into a recognised community journal ; this is being
edited by Shri Omkar Kachru. In 1994 Shri J.N. Kaul took over as the
President of AIKS and with his personal recognitions and dedicated efforts, AIKS
has further received impetus and financial strength to continue with the on
going projects of AIKS whether in camps or at Faridabad Computer Centre or at
its Head Quarter at Delhi related to K P rehabilitation issues.
Present Objectives of AIKS
In order to discuss the present performance of AIKS and suggest improvements
it is necessary to consider firstly the presently obtaining objectives of the
AIKS which are as follows:
(a) To provide relief, including educational, medical facilities to the poor
and to carry on their activities of general public utility.
(b) To promote educational, social activities and national integration
cultural, preserve and promote economic and spiritual integration and welfare of
the people.
(c) To work for various public charitable objects.
(d) To carry on other activities such as publication of journals etc. in
furtherance of the activities of the Samaj.
(e) To guide, coordinate & monitor the various activities of unit
members.
(Reproduced, verbatim, from NAAD, Vol. 7, No. 10, 1997)
The above objectives of AIKS, which are currently obtaining, need a thorough
examination and insight to create a brainstorm for the functioning of AIKS as
the Apex Body of Kashmiri Pandit organizations. The fundamental questions
which arise are as follows:
1) Why the objectives are generalised and not specifically attributed to
Kashmiri Pandits and their unit organisations ?
2) In which respect these objectives are different from those of any other
unit not responsible and accountable as the Apex Body of KP organizations ? Some
of the affiliates may be performing on still important objectives pertaining to
KPs.
3) The only differentiating function of AIKS is to coordinate the affiliated
units and provide them guidance for community Action Plans. Why this
objective is not the first priority of AIKS, the Apex Body ?
Discussion
The objectives of an Organization are supposedly based on logic and one
vvould not oversimplify the rationale of above objectives as assumed presently
by our Apex Body. However, it is apparent that we still feel desirable to
only imply Kashmiri Pandit connection and not to highlight it. In his
Presidential Address (reproduced in this Annual) in the lst., Annual meeting of
AIKS held at Calcutta, justice Bakshi pointed out this weakness of Kashmiri
Pandits and preferred to be "blunt" about this. Objectives
define, determine and direct the subsequent activities of an organization and
therefore, it is high time our AIKS restructures its objectives and prioritises
these to suit those of an Apex Body of Kashmiri Pandits. Whatever AIKS is
presently doing is more or less the same what an affiliated unit may be doing.
But AIKS was formed as the Apex Body of KP organizations and therefore its prime
role should be that of a coordinator or initiator of Action-plans of common
interest of all the affiliated units. Whilst delegating the action on
various agenda to its frontal or specialist units it should monitor the
performance on common agenda and help in solving the difficulties which the
units may be facing and create resources and infrastructure for member units to
facilitate action on the common and priority agenda for the survival and
advancement of the community as a whole. That such a performance is not an
easy job is being recognised whilst drawing attention to this, but functionally
that is what is expected of an Apex Body. The functions of AIKS require to
be divided into 1) Political, 2) Social, 3) Cultural, 4) Financial and 5)
Miscellaneous Action plans. There should not be many agenda under these
heads; just one agendum of highest common interest and priority to the community
in each should be taken up by AIKS for its implementation. The actions on
these agenda will be carried out along with the help of concerned frontal
affiliated units based in appropriate locations and having necessary
capabilities to perform as Action Leaders. A procedure requires to be
worked out so that involvement of all the affiliated units is achieved for the
implementation of these few but essential agenda of AIKS which should be of
common interest to the KP community. The Apex Body has to work out
measures by which duplication of the same activity is minimised, as far as
possible, and maximum attention is given to achieving quality of performance and
effective implementation. How all this can be achieved requires
involvement of all the affiliated units no matter where it is situated.
This requires a brain storm to enable such a thing practically happening.
It is the function of Apex Body to organize the same, restricting its emphasis
on only few issues. It is repeated that implementation of such action
plans is an uphill task but that is what is expected of an Apex Body. Our
community requires to change and develop leaders and that is the role which our
Apex Body has to perform.
Conclusion
AIKS is the Apex Body of KP organizations spread over globally. There
is a need for functional restructuring of AIKS for which its present objectives
require to be looked into so that it perfoms up to the expectations for which
this organization was formed. Its main role is that of a cohesive,
coordinating monitor and up to this objective it has to work out and brain storm
the action plans. First the organizational concept of the Apex Body is to
be well identified and appropriately supported by strengths of authority and
resources. Then only can AIKS succeed in solving our fundamental problems
like rehabilitation of our uprooted brotheren, developing a working script for
our mother tongue and preserving our identity. AIKS is a great movement of
Kashmiri Pandit 20th century diaspora but it has still to gain momentum to
perform up to the objectives it was formed and to the responsibilities it has
acquired being the Apex Body of Kashmiri Pandits scattered globally.
Action on this proposal will be a befitting homage to Shri KASHYAP BANDHU to
whom this paper is dedicated whilst observing his birth centenary.
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