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Preface
It is
a pleasure and privilege to present this 35th annual number of the Vitasta,
dedicated to Kashmiri Pandit Shrines in their Homeland, Kashmir. Many in our
Biradari, within our country and across the shores, look forward to the Vitasta
Annuals with great expectations. And I wish this presentation also accordingly
came up to the mark. Whilst a dear baby to me, the constraints of age and
related circumstances, now do stand in my way of performing on such a
responsibility as the Editor-in-Chief of this prestigious publication. However,
despite my initial hesitation, the persuasion of Kashmir Sabha members and its
perseverant President, Brij Mohan Ji Misri, was unrelenting and therefore, I had
to girdle up my loins again and fall in line for carrying out this literary
Pilgrimage. But, as the saying goes, howsoever one may desire, the "Darshan"
is granted only when there is a call from the Shrine itself. Exactly this is
what followed. This Pilgrimage was really a peculiar one, late at the start and
with all impediments and inclement incidents on the way, making the journey very
tedious and tiresome, fraught with frequent breakdowns caused by episodes of
helplessness and unpredictability; so it got prolonged, with due apologies, for
much longer a time than what could be scheduled for it. All along during the
preparatory period, my mind remained in doubt as to whether it was at all
destined to have this pilgrimage accomplished. Such were the circumstances that
took place one after the other during this period, all very depressing and
disheartening. It is gratifying, however, to realise that, the "Darshan"
after all having already been granted by now and the ray of hope having become
visible at the end of the dark tunnel, the journey back will now be timely to
reach you, the nectar and "Prashad" of this Pilgrimage.
That is this volume of difficultly acquired and meaningful information, toiled
up to the objectives that were laid for this literary Pilgrimage.
It was after a great thought that the theme for
this publication was evolved as : Homeland Pilgrim Centres (Asthapans) of
Kashmiri Pandits — A Perspective for their preservation. It is almost thirteen
years back that our exodus from our motherland was thrust upon us and since then
we are uprooted from our ancient hearths and homes. Our exile is getting
protracted and our cultural identity is at crossroads of survival and
extinction. It is high time that we collectively strive hard to preserve our
cultural identity and ensure that at not too longer a date from now we also
return to our roots, as far as possible, in our Homeland with dignity and honour,
safety and security, with rights and privileges that our Constitution provides
us as Indian citizens and with freedom from discrimination and prejudice that
have caused our internal displacement. The awakening and awareness about our
Pilgrim Centres is therefore a natural prelude to this aspiration. The Vitasta,
Kolkata, has been considered as a trendsetter in initiating, from a distance,
some remarkable movements in our community. Accordingly, it is in the fitness of
this consideration and very much timely to bring about the needed momentum
towards the cause of preserving our ancient shrines in our Homeland. For a
community with ancient roots, its culture has to be evolved from certain beliefs
and faith of antiquity all of which may not find a mathematical proof. But these
are engraved in our culture and tradition and that is our heritage. This
heritage requires to be preserved not only in words but also by well-planned
actions and efforts. Our Pilgrim Centers and Shrines are closely linked to our
Cultural heritage. History reveals that our kings and queens did not pride in
building great palaces or memorials for themselves but they were remarkably
particular in having great temples built, which reflected the course of history
and the attainments of our progress at that particular period of time. As such,
our cultural development, intellectual attainment and history from ancient times
is associated with the temples and shrines of past in our Homeland. Naturally,
these temples were, besides centers of worship, the temples of our knowledge,
literary pursuits and spiritual progress also. It becomes essential, therefore,
to know as much as possible about these foundation pillars on which our Cultural
Identity Structure rests. This knowledge and awareness can be rightly assumed as
a requisite for the awareness and awakening about our Homeland Shrines and about
their preservation. It does not require to be emphasized that our Shrines are in
our Homeland, Kashmir. There is a specific Mahatmaya behind these which as well
as details their location and surroundings, mountains, rivers, springs, the
flora particularly Chinar and Mulberry trees. Our worship to these
shrines is, in essence, an acknowledgment to our thankfulness to the totality
that a shrine means to us; its spiritual significance, the belief and the
particular location our "Devis" and "Devtas" have
accordingly determined for these. There can, therefore, be no alternatives to
our shrines in our Homeland, Kashmir.
As such, very thoughtfully, this vitasta Number
has been so designed as to prove very valuable in achieving the above
objectives. There are no two opinions that for such documentation the essential
ingredients are the collection of authentic information and correct database.
The preamble to the theme of this publication was so designed as to achieve
historical background about our shrines and their origin and about their
religious and spiritual significance based on recognised studies and researches.
Each shrine has associated with it certain appropriate ritualistic observances
meaningful to those times and these provide it a special identity. It is this
identity to which our sentiments and feelings find an attachment. Though these
are matters of faith and belief, all efforts have been made to provide and
incorporate an acceptable logic, as far as possible, with our present knowledge.
No one has written the last word of science. As our underlined scientific
understanding improves, our beliefs and faith find enough relevance for their
continuity and preservation or for their absolute discontinuation. Therefore,
this Vitasta Number has initiated, as far as possible, emphasis on scientific
understanding of the various aspects of our shrines; their origin, architecture
and related specialties. All efforts were made to gather whatever possible
information about their present plight; this being so very necessary for
providing a realistic picture for any meaningful future action. Further,
Kashmiri Pandits have got internally displaced historically and an effort has
also been made to collect the available information as to how this identity has
been preserved in our Diasporas at different historical periods. All these
topics by themselves are matters of extensive research and therefore subjects
for many more publications for detailed treatment. It suffices to mention that
this publication is providing a very necessary beginning for further
investigations that our other community centers and their publications will have
to carry forward to enable a detailed insight into our rich heritage and for its
preservation.
As was considered necessary, I approached
personally various authorities on related subjects at Delhi, Jammu and various
Camps where our uprooted Biradari members are scattered. All possible efforts
were made to source detailed and authentic information on our Shrines in the
vale of Kashmir; its capital Srinagar, its metropolitan towns and its districts
to provide a total scenario. Various meetings and discourses were held at Delhi
and Jammu for organising access to all available sources of information. Various
Ashrams and temples that have been created as symbolic models of our shrines at
Jammu, Delhi and Faridabad were visited by the undersigned to have on the spot
information. It by itself became a process of bringing about awareness and
awakening about our shrines and for creating a movement for their preservation.
For this I am thankful to the Editors of Koshur Samachar, Delhi and Kshir
Bhawani Times Jammu, Milchar Bombay and KOA, USA who extended all help and
cooperation in this connection. It is unfortunate, due to inclement weather
then, I could not reach Srinagar for personal assessment. But all efforts were
made to have reliable information on this subject from there also. As a result
valuable information became available from some of those who were approached
though our expectations were pitched still much high and many promises have
remained reserved for future efforts. Appeals for articles were made through the
columns of the Koshur Samachar, the Kshir Bhawani times and the KOA websites and
these had a good, though delayed, response. Our gratitude and gratefulness is
due to these sister organisations for their cooperation and help.
The total matter received from others and
collected personally has been classified under various Sections though it is not
accurate; many contributors have as expected approached our theme in totality
and as such they have catered to many aspects. However, based on the major
emphasis in a particular article, it has been placed accordingly under a
particular Section. Further, some repetition here and there was inevitable,
which in such a thematic publication as this may not be avoidable. But each
contributor has provided some additional valuable information and views and
these have helped in making this publication broad based. Repetition is
providing more emphasis particularly for our younger generations who are not
aware of these shrines and their names. Personal approach was made in procuring
contributions from original residents of such places about shrines in different
parts of the valley. These details have been given important place in this
publication since these are arising from their hearts and reveal their feelings
and sentiments. Almost in all the articles the pain of being in exile and the
nostalgia about our roots is abundantly evident. Based on the available material
the contents have been divided in the following Sections.
Section I :
Homeland Pilgrim Centres of Kashmiri Pandits in Exile — Pertinent Origin :
Gleanings from Legend, Tradition, Practice, History, Travelogues, Arts and
Science
Section II :
Homeland Pilgrim Centres of Kashmiri Pandits in Exile — A Kaleidascopic View :
Our Shrines in General,
Their Past and Present Perspectives
Section III :
Homeland Pilgrim Centres of Kashmiri Pandits in Exile — Our "Ishta Devis"
& The Like :
Hari Parbat, Kheer Bhawani, Khrew Amarnath and
Sharda
Section IV :
Homeland Pilgrim Centres of Kashmiri Pandits in Exile — Some Memorable Shrines
in Districts :
A Walk in Memoriam, Lest we forget these and
consign these to Processes of Natural & Human Destruction
Section V :
Homeland Pilgrim Centres of Kashmiri Pandits in Exile Symbolic Models in
Diaspora :
Creating Alternative symbols of Hope in Exile,
Preserving their Identity in Memoriam and Pouring out Rhymes in Nostalgia
Swami Vivekananda Ji had visited Kashmir twice
and had experienced inspiring moments at these Shrines particularly Kheer
Bhawani at Tulla Mulla. His memorable expressions and experiences are vibrating
through all the Sections of this publication. Keeping his observations and
utterances in view, perhaps Gods and Goddesses themselves ordained the present
neglect and dilapidation of our millennia old Shrines and that of our community
for a particular divine cause not known to us. This could be our sins or may be
a sort of tapasiya at tempering us with shock, sacrifice, trauma
and lesson so that we reform and rectify ourselves in exile and deserve
inhabiting again in that abode of Gods and Paradise on Earth — our Homeland
Kashmir, to follow the footprints of the Rishis and Munis who had
made our Homeland an abode of excellence. Swami Ji's words do provide us solace
and also inspire us to dream of glorious times to come, in very near future.
Ashrams in the valley, associated with the Rama Krishna Institution have stood
the brunt of these thirteen years and considerable expansion is being given in
the valley as also at Udeyawala, Jammu which is again a heartening development;
pointing to good times coming.
It is gratifying to note that the publication of
this Annual number of the Vitasta has coincided with the 75th Nirvan Jayanti of
Pt. Krishen Joo Razdan, a great Saint-poet-philosopher that our Homeland has
produced. His Bhajjans and Leelas and commentaries on our shrines in verse have
made Pt. Krishen Joo Razdan immortal. We pay our respectful homage to this great
son of Kashmir and dedicate this Number on Shrines of Kashmir to his memory also
and as a proceeding of his 75th Nirvan Jayanti celebrations, on our
own behalf.
The Shrine of Sharada has been our very
important Pilgrim center of excellence and pride. Since 1947, it is in POK and
has remained out of reach for us and is in neglect so far as our attention is
concerned. The personal reports from those who managed to reach this shrine
recently reveal that it is still being held in high esteem by the locals and is
well protected as a sacred place. I had expected to receive a number of
photographs of this shrine as were shown to me at Jammu but due to some
communication gap these did not become available for being reproduced in this
publication. However, deservingly, this Shrine has been given due emphasis as
our "Ishta Devi" and it is expected that this publication
brings about awakening towards a very important agenda of enabling more
facilitation for regular visits and Yatras by the devotees to this
Pilgrim Centre through Governmental measures and necessary arrangements. A
thought requires to be given to this and public opinion mobilised for the same.
It does not require any special elaboration or
further evidence to reveal that our Pilgrim Centres and Asthapans in our
Homeland are in bad condition because of militancy and because, on this account,
there are not enough devotees over there to take care of these. This publication
has provided reasonably good knowledge on our Shrines and that is an
achievement. Preservation of these Shrines is linked with our return to our
Homeland; awakening has been aroused about their protection, maintenance and
preservation in the interim period. At this juncture no list of concrete
measures or suggestions has emerged for obvious reasons. Government action in
forming a "Mandir Prabandhak Board" is a welcome step but nine months
have passed that this Board was formed but no reports have yet become available
about its performance, if any. We can only hope that it will look into the
property matters of the land and premises that our Asthapans possessed
particularly in districts. Our local Organisations in Jammu are duly
representing our community as members of this Board and we expect that they will
provide leadership in handling these complex issues of property matters caused
by militancy and our exodus from the valley or those hanging for quite sometime
with Aukaaf. A requisite infrastructure to follow these matters will be
necessary for which considerable personnel and financial support will be needed.
So the first step as envisaged at this stage is to have in near future, after
the elections in the valley are over, a status report on such cases, based on
authentic information and what it would require to build the desired
infrastructure for handling such cases. The local units will do a yeoman's
service to the community by highlighting these issues amongst all the units of
Kashmiri Pandits spread globally, so that all become aware about the issues
authentically and about the steps and finances that will be necessary for
handling these matters.
Conclusively, it may be proposed that
Governmental protection and support are very necessary in safeguarding our
Shrines and the property these possessed in the valley. But for taking care of
our such community assets we have to depend upon ourselves and the resources we
possess. Logically, it is the agenda for our Federating Organisation (AIKS)
which alone could organise action globally in developing the necessary
infrastructure for preserving our Shrines in Kashmir and looking after the
assets that are associated with these. But unfortunately AIKS is not
appropriately functional at present to attend to such priorities. Lot has been
written, with best intentions, about AIKS' take off, in the columns of the
Vitasta and other community journals but no concrete steps have been taken by
its leadership to shape it as a Federating Organisation. It has taken no
organised steps for building the Organisation that is required for coordinating
effectively the activities of its forty six affiliates for the minimum common
agenda of the community, spread globally. Unless and until the concept of a
Federating Apex Organisation is given desired shape and duly respected, one
cannot think of a joint action plan for any of our community problem. AIKS was
developed for this purpose, twenty-two years back, but it has yet to perform
unto these objectives. So, any other appropriate Organisation in Jammu or Delhi
can provide leadership to the issue of our homeland Shrines, their safety and
preservation. It is a proper selection of a group of dedicated and sincere
persons who can provide leadership on such matters as our Shrine preservation.
It is with this in view that an article "Kheer Bhawani Construction
Committee" has been included in this Number as a model of Coordinated
dedicated Action. It is a model developed in the past, around fifty years back
up to the conditions prevailing then. Circumstances have changed radically since
then, but it holds good even under presently changed conditions. A community
leadership is the answer and we have to look for this. I am hopeful that some
solution will be soon found to our Coordination functions so that we have an
Organisation and a leadership dedicated to the minimum agenda of the community.
I again repeat that only AIKS can play this role and for this if need be it has
to be so structured as to play the desired role effectively. It's functioning as
one amongst the other affiliated units, with the same objectives, is not what
can give it the desired identity of the Apex Unit. It has to determine its
priorities and accordingly formulate its minimum agenda of coordination amongst
its affiliates and for their implementation.
It is my great pleasure to acknowledge the
overwhelming cooperation I received in having the thoughtful matter for this
publication. I am especially indebted to Shri Sunil Fotedar at Texas, USA, Prof.
C. L. Saproo, Delhi, Prof. R. L. Shant, Jammu, Shri Arjan Dev, Majboor, Jammu,
Dr. M. K. Raina, Mumbai for enabling receiving articles and photographs. Thanks
are due to Pt. A. N. Kaul Sahib, Ex-Editor-in-Chief, Koshur Samachar and Pt. T.
N. Khosa, Editor-in-Chief of Kshir Bhawani Times for organising very useful
meetings in this connection at Delhi and Jammu during the early preparatory
stages of this publication. Copies of this publication have been printed for
wider circulation as publicly requested as a community publication. These will
be available at its cost price, from Kashmir Bhawan, Kolkata. I have no words to
express my gratitude to all the authors who have contributed to this publication
and made it come up to the objectives that were laid for it. I am thankful to
Kashmir Sabha, Kolkata for necessary encouragement and financial support. A word
of apologies is due to my valued contributors and admirers of the Vitasta for
the delay that has taken place in bringing out this publication. I am also
soliciting indulgence for any omissions or commissions that might have crept, in
bringing out this publication. It requires to be emphasised that the views
expressed herein are entirely those of the contributors and the Vitasta or
Kashmir Sabha, Kolkata does not hold any responsibility for the same. The
success of a publication can be measured by the purposeful impact it makes.
Whilst hoping that this publication will arouse the desired awareness and
awakening towards our Shrines in our motherland, Kashmir, and towards their
preservation, I stand with prayers and best wishes for this sacred cause.
15th August, 2002
Dr. B. K. Moza
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