Satanic Holocaust of Kashmiri Pandits – by Dr. Satish Ganjoo
Myth and reality move together in the Saffron Valley of mystic
splendor. The reclamation of land from Satisar created certain
complications. The Saraswati River that flowed into the eastern Punjab,
Rajasthan, Sind and other parts of Indian subcontinent suddenly got
dried up. Geologists are of the opinion that all those streams, which
fed Satisar and form the source of water for the Saraswati river, mostly
ran underground. Once the cleft materialized at Baramulla, the water of
the Satisar flowed out in an opposite direction, leaving the Saraswati
basin dry. The Aryan Saraswat Brahmans, who used to live on the banks of
Saraswati river, migrated to the Kashmir Valley to continue their
austerities. With the passage of time these people came to be known as
‘Bhattas’ in Kashmir. The word is derivative of Brahman. Now they are
called the Kashmiri Pandits or the Aryan Saraswat Brahmans of Kashmir,
who believe in the mystic combination of Shaivism, Kali Bhakti, Shakta
worship and Tantra.
History of the Kashmiri Pandits is the history of Kashmir since last
more than 5000 years. They are associated with its society, culture,
civilization, customs, traditions, myths and realities. The rise of
Buddhism and reactions by Brahmans gave rise to a long struggle between
the two rival ideologies. The Naga (Snake) worship was also the dominant
religion in the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. However, Buddhism flourished
in the Valley during the reign of Durnadeo, Simhadeo, Sundersen, Ashoka
and Kanishka. The great Buddhist council was held at Kanishpur in
Kashmir during the rule of Kanishka and it was presided over by two
eminent scholars — Asvaghosha and Vasumitra. About 500 monks from
different parts of the subcontinent attended the same. Nagarjuna , a
Bodhisattva and the greatest philosopher of Buddhism, lived in Kashmir.
During the reign of Abhimanu, a number of people were converted to
Buddhism. It was first struggle of the Kashmiri Brahmans for their
survival. A number of Kashmiri scholars – Kumarajiva (AD 384-417),
Shakyashri Badhra (AD 405), Ratnavera, Shama Bhatta (5th Cen AD) and
others went to China and Tibet to preach Buddhism. However, the Brahmans
regained their supremacy during the reign of Nara I . The struggle
between Buddhism and Brahmanism came to an end with the emergence of
modern Hinduism. A period of comparative historical validity began with
the establishment of the Karkuta rule in AD 627. Avantivarman (AD
855-833) is believed to be the first Vaishnavite ruler of Kashmir.
During his rule there was a tremendous cultural development in the
Valley. The great Shaiva philosophers of this period were Kayyatacharya,
Somananda, Muktakantha Swamin, Shiva Swamin, Ananda Vardhana and
Kallata.
The struggle between the Brahmans and other castes, such as
Kayasthas, began during the reign of Shankara Varman. The authority of
the Brahmans was broken and the sacred character of their citadels was
violated. However, the Shaivite thought and philosophy flourished.
Pradyumana Bhatta, Utpalacharya, Rama Kantha, Prajnarjuna, Lachaman
Gupta and Mahadeva Bhatta have made a tremendous contribution to this
philosophy. During the regime of Lohara dynasty, Kashmir came into
contact with the Muslim invaders who attacked India. When Mahmud Ghazni
annexed the Punjab, most of the tribes on the borders of Kashmir
embraced Islam. At that time, the Valley was ruled by Sangram Raja (AD
1003-1028). Even after their conversion to Islam, these people continued
to visit Kashmir – as traders, wanderers and even missionaries. There
are historical evidences that some of these tribals settled in the
Valley and made some venture into propagating their new religion.
Harsha (AD 1089-1101), was a man of extravagant habits and a jumble
of contraries. He robbed the temple treasures and melt idols of gold and
silver to tide over his financial crisis. Before him two other kings,
Jalauka and Kalasa, employed the same approach of plundering the temples
and melting the images of gold and silver to augment their depleted
treasuries. Harsha also employed Muslim generals, who are called
Turushkas by Kalhana, for the first time in the history of Kashmir. Now
Muslims as a class appeared in the political field and began to
consolidate its roots. Bhikshachara, a descendant of Harsha, organized a
cavalry force mainly consisting of the Muslims. During the reign of
Gopadeva (AD 1171-1180), the Brahmans consolidated their position. But
the Lavanya tribe shattered their roots once again. The Damaras,
Lavanyas and other tribes never allowed the Brahmans to monopolize. In
the reign of Jassaka (AD 1180-1198), two Brahmans – Kshuksa and Bhima,
endeavored to capture
the throne. But it was the fear of Damaras or feudal lords that
prevented them. Ramadeva (AD 1252-1273) humiliated those Brahmans who
had helped him in his coronation. They conspired against him but could
not succeed. A reign of terror, loot and plunder was let loose against
them. Many Brahmans were killed and others crushed barbarously. This was
the first direct assault against them in the history of Kashmir. To
save themselves they cried ” Na Batoham” (I am not a Bhatta). The
Kashmiri Pandits are even now taunted as Bhattas and Dalli Bhattas.
To counter the supremacy of the Brahmans, the rulers of Kashmir
encouraged the influx of Muslims into the Valley. During the reign of
Suhadeva (AD 1301-1320) many Muslim adventurers came to Kashmir. The
chief among them was a Muslim missionary- Bulbul Shah. Two others were
Shahmir from Swat and Rinchana from Tibet. Shahmir came in AD 1313 along
with his numerous relations. Suhadeva granted him a jagir in a village
near Baramulla. Ramachandra, the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief
of Kashmir, employed Rinchana and granted him jagir in a village in the
Lar Valley. These two adventurers were instrumental in the establishment
of the Muslim rule in Kashmir. Another adventurer who received
Suhadeva’s patronage was Lankar Chak.
Dulucha, a Tartar chief from Central Asia, invaded Kashmir with
60,000 strong horsemen. Suhadeva tried to induce him to retreat by
paying him off a large sum of money. For this purpose he imposed heavy
taxes even upon the Brahmans who had never before been taxed. But
Dulucha refused to retreat and struck terror. He ravaged the Valley with
fire and sword. Monstrous miseries were inflicted upon the people
including the Brahmans. According to Baharistan – i -Shahi, “Dulucha and
his soldiers killed everyone they could find . People who had fled to
the hills and forests were pursued and captured. Men were killed, women
and children were reduced to slavery and sold to the merchants of Khita
(Turkistan), whom the invaders had brought with them. All the houses in
the cities and the villages were burnt. The invaders ate as much of the
corn and rice as they could . Whatever was left, they burnt and
destroyed. In this way the whole of the Kashmir Valley was trampled
under foot”. Suhadeva
fled to Kishtwar, leaving the Kingdom to the cruel aggressors. Dulucha
stayed here for eight months and took about 50,000 Brahmans with him as
slaves. But all the troops and slaves perished while crossing the Devsar
pass. It was a terrible experience for the legendary Kashmiri Pandits.
Dulucha went away from the Valley but left it haunted. The cursed people
had lost all faith in their ruler- Suhadeva. Taking the advantage of
the chaos and confusion, Rinchana- the refugee from Tibet, occupied the
throne with the help of some chiefs . He killed his benefactor,
Ramachandra, in the fort of Lar by treacherous means and married his
daughter, Kota Rani.
Rinchana, a pseudo- Buddhist, wanted to get initiated into the
Brahmanical fold to strengthen his political position. At that time,
Shaivism was the most extensively practised religion in the Valley. So
he called Sri Devaswami, the religious head of the Shaivas, to
indoctrinate himself into the Hindu religion. Devaswami called a secret
meeting of the prominent Pandits, who refused to accept Rinchana into
Hinduism because of his low birth. Jonaraja says,” The King asked
Devaswami to initiate him in the mantras of Shiva, but as he was Bhautta
(Tibetian), Devaswami feared that the King was unworthy of such
initiation and did not favour him”. This was a monstrous blunder on the
part of Pandits, which turned the course of history. In fact, the
Brahmans were not ready to share their privileges with an outsider. Thus
deflected, Rinchana wanted to establish a uniform faith of warring
sects and creeds in Kashmir with himself as its head. But Shahmir and
Bulbul Shah manipulated his
conversion to Islam. Ramachandra’s son, Ravanachandra, and many others
also embraced Islam. A Muslim ruling class came into existence. In this
way the Kashmiri Pandits were responsible for the destruction of their
own ascendency and the ruin of their very existence. They are
tremendously paying for it till today.
People of inferior origin and subordinate castes were attracted to
Islam by gradual methods. This newly established Muslim class slowly
consolidated its position and employed various methods to propagate the
new faith. However, the Brahmans put a brave front and resisted the
tide. After the death of Rinchana (AD 1326), Udyanadeva, the brother of
Suhadeva, was installed on the throne of Kashmir and Shahmir was
appointed as Commander-in-Chief.
Achala, a Turkish chief, invaded Kashmir during the reign of Udyanadeva,
laying waste the territories he passed through. The king fled to Tibet.
Kota Rani – the queen, faced the invader, procured his death and saved
the kingdom. In this operation , Shahmir played the dominant role.
Jonaraja says, “Strange that this believer in Allah became the saviour
of the people. As a dried up river allows men to cross it and gives them
shelter on its banks, even so this believer in Allah, calm and active,
protected the terrified subjects.” Shahmir’s influence increased
tremendously and he further strengthened his position by entering into
matrimonial relations with the powerful nobles in Kashmir. A subversive
struggle was born between the tolerant Hinduism and the militant Islam.
In AD 1339, after defeating Kota Rain by a foul strategem and
procuring her death, Shahmir ascended the throne of Kashmir under the
name of Sultan Shamas-ud-Din (The Light of the Religion – Islam). He got
khutaba read and the coins struck to his name. Islam became the court
religion. Shahmir became the legitimate author and architect of Muslim
rule in Kashmir. With the establishment of the new regime Muslim
missionaries, preachers, sayyids and saints penetrated into the Valley.
Sayyid Jalal-ud-Din, Sayyid Taj-ud-Din, Sayyid Hussain Simnani, Sayyid
Masud and Sayyid Yusuf came to Kashmir to avoid the intended massacre by
Timur. Mir Sayyid Ali Hamadani (Shah Hamadan) entered Kashmir with 700
sayyids; and, his son, Mir Muhammad Hamadani, with 300 more. They
endured in the Valley under royal protection and disseminated the
message of Islam. This naturally caused animosity among the Brahmans and
resulted in frail rebellion during the reign of Shihab-ud-Din (AD
1354-1373). In order
to break the upheaval among the Hindus and to make them prostrate, the
Sultan turned his attention towards their temples. All the temples in
Srinagar, including the one at Bijbehara, were wrecked to terrorize the
poor Kashmiri Pandits. It seems that by this time, the sultans of
Kashmir were perfectly islamized as a result of their contacts,
interactions and intercourses with the sayyids. These sayyids came here
as absconders in search of safe harbours, but manoeuvered the events for
their own cause and fanatic iconoclastic zeal. The Hindus began to feel
deserted and alienated in their own land. To consolidate their rule,
sultans institutionalized the “policy of extermination” to eradicate all
traces of Hinduism in any form. However, the Kashmiri Pandits stuck to
their own religion and traditions, ignoring the atrocities, barbarism
and cruelties of the privileged ruling class. But there were many from
other castes who, either by conviction or in order to gain royal favour,
embraced Islam. These new converts were looked down upon by the
Kashmiri Pandits as traitorous and treacherous, with no loyalty for
time-honored values. This gave rise to a new class rivalry. Suha Bhatt,
who after embracing Islam took the name of Saif-ud-Din, became the
leader of the fresh converts during the reign of Sikandar (AD
1389-1413).
Sikandar- the Butshikan, was bigoted with fanatic religious zeal to
spread Islam in the entire Valley. This fanaticism was stimulated by Mir
Muhammad Hamadani. Suha Bhatt – the convert, was appointed Prime
Minister by Sikandar and both hatched a deadly conspiracy to persecute
the Hindus and enforce upon the Nizam-i-Mustaffa. Jonaraja says, ” The
Sultan forgot his kingly duties and took delight day and night in
breaking images … He broke images of Martanda, Vishaya, Ishana,
Chakrabrit and Tripureshvara …… There was no city, no town, no village,
no wood where Turushka left the temples of the gods unbroken.” According
to Hassan (History of Kashmir), ” This country possessed from the times
of Hindu rajas many temples which were like the wonders of the world.
Their workmanship was so fine and delicate that one found himself
bewildered at their sight. Sikandar, goaded by feelings of bigotry,
destroyed them and levelled them with the earth and with the material
built many mosques and khanqahs. In the first instance he turned his
attention towards the great Martand temple built by Ramdev (the temple
was rebuilt by King Lalitaditya, AD 724-760) on Mattan Kareva. For one
year he tried to demolish it, but failed. At last in sheer dismay, he
dug out stones from its base and having stored enough wood in their
place, set fire to it. The gold gilt paintings on its walls were totally
destroyed and the walls surrounding its premises were demolished. Its
ruins even now strike wonder in men’s minds. At Bijbehara, three hundred
temples including the famous Vijiveshwara temple, which was partly
damaged by Shihab-ud-Din, were destroyed. With the material of
Vijiveshwara temple, a mosque was built and on its site a khanqah, which
is even now known as Vijiveshwara Khanqah.” The stones and bricks which
once configurated a marvelous and splendid temple or monastery, now
hold up mosques. Hassan further adds, ” Sikandar meted out greatest
oppression to the Hindus. It was notified in the Valley that if a Hindu
does not become a Muslim, he must leave the country or be killed. As a
result some of the Hindus fled away, some accepted Islam and many
Brahmans consented to be killed and gave their lives. It is said that
Sikandar collected, by these methods, six maunds of sacred thread form
Hindu converts and burnt them. Mir Muhammad Hamadani, who was a witness
of all this vicious brutality, barbarism and vandalism, at last advised
him to desist from the slaughter of Brahmans and told him to impose
jazia (religious tax) instead of death upon them. All the Hindu books of
learning were collected and thrown into Dal Lake and were buried
beneath stones and earth.” Sikandar issued orders that no man should
wear the tilak mark on his forehead and no woman be allowed to perform
sati. He also insisted on breaking and melting of all the gold and
silver idols of gods and coin the metal into money. An attempt was made
to destroy the caste of the Aryan Saraswat Brahmans by force and those
who resisted were subject to heavy fines. Farishta says, ” Many of the
Brahmans, rather than abandon their religion or their county, poisoned
themselves; some emigrated from their native homes, while a few escaped
the evil of banishment by becoming Muhammedans”. To strictly enforce the
Nizam-i-Mustaffa, Sikandar established the office of Shaikh-ul-Islam.
According to W.R. Lawrence, the Aryan Saraswat Brahmans of Kashmir
were given three choices-death, conversion or exile. “Many fled, many
were converted and many were killed, and it is said that this thorough
monarch (Sikandar) burnt seven maunds of sacred threads of the murdered
Brahmans”. As for the statements of Hassan and Lawrence, six maunds of
sacred threads of converts and seven maunds of murdered Pandits were
burnt. The number of people, to whom these thirteen maunds of sacred
threads belonged, might have been tremendously colossal. A mammoth
number of the Saraswat Pandits also went into exile, causing the first
disastrous mass exodus of the community. When Suha Bhatt- the convert,
came to know that many Brahmans were leaving Kashmir, he tried to check
their exodus and ordered the frontier guards not to allow any one to
cross the borders. The unfortunate Pandits caught while crossing the
border were awarded severe punishments. Even the converts were required
to pay jazia as
they were suspected of secretly clinging to their old religion.
Not only Sikandar- the Butshikan, but Suha Bhatta – the convert, also
was responsible for this barbarous, murderous and cruel approach
towards the mythical Kashmiri Pandits. Jonaraja says, ” Suha Bhatta- the
convert, after demolishing the temples felt the satisfaction, and with
the help of sayyids, ulema and newly converts tried to destroy the caste
of the people… the illustrious Brahmans declared that they would die
rather than lose their caste and religion, and Suha Bhatta – the
convert, subjected them to a heavy fine, jazia, because they held to
their caste and religion.” There is no parallel of this religious
persecution in the history of the subcontinent.
Ali Shah – the tyrant (AD 1413-1430), son of Sikandar- the Butshikan,
during his short rule of six years, carried on his father’s 24-year
tyrant reign with homicides, conversions, tyranny and enforced jazia.
Suha Bhatta – the convert, who retained the prime ministership continued
his earlier crimes and atrocities against the Kashmiri Pandits.
Jonaraja gives a graphic account of the plight of the illustrious
Kashmiri Pandits in the draconian reign of Ali Shah. He says,” Suha
Bhatta- the convert, passed the limit by levying fine, jazia, on the
twice – born. This evil-minded man forbade ceremonies and processions on
the new moon. He became envious that the Brahmans who had become
fearless would keep up their caste by going over to foreign countries,
he therefore ordered posting of squads on the roads, not to allow
passage to any one without a passport. Then as the fisherman torments
fish, so this low born man tormented the twice-born in this country. The
legendary Brahmans burnt themselves in the flaming fire through fear of
conversion. Some Brahmans killed themselves by taking poison, some by
the rope and others by drowning themselves. Others again by falling from
a precipice. The country was contaminated by hatred and the king’s
favourites could not prevent one in a thousand from committing suicide
…. A multitude of celebrated Brahmans, who prided in their caste, fled
from the country through bye-roads as the main roads were closed. Even
as men depart from this world, so did the Aryan Saraswat Brahmans of
Kashmir flee to foreign countries. The difficult countries through which
they passed, the scanty food, painful illness and the torments of hell
during life time removed from the minds of the Kashmiri Pandits the
fears of hell. Oppressed by various calamities such as encounter with
the enemy, fear of snakes, fierce heat and scanty food; many Brahmans
perished on the way and thus obtained salvation.” This was the second
miserable mass exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits. Jonaraja calls it ”
Chandh-Dandh” – violent, cruel, brutal and horrible punishment, for the
abandoned and vulnerable Saraswat Brahmans of Kashmir. History repeated
itself again in AD 1989-1990.
The brutal religious persecution of the Kashmiri Pandits has been
borne testimony to by almost all the Muslim historians. Hassan, Fauq and
Nizam – ud – Din have condemned these excesses in unscathing terms. It
was the reign of terror and homicide. The majority of the Hindus were
converted forcibly and a large number had left the Valley. Yet many more
were passing their days in the most deplorable conditions only on
payment of jazia. The allowances of the Brahman academicians were
stopped to destroy the ancient learning, literature, education, art and
culture. These enlightened intellectuals had to move from door to door
for food, like dogs. One can’t imagine a higher level of mental torture!
The Brahmans, even after paying jazia, could not openly declare
themselves as Hindus nor could they apply tilak on their foreheads.
Neither could they pray in their temples or perform any religious
ceremony. Even then they did not forget their past and rich tradition.
As the custodians of their extraordinary cultural heritage, they wrote
the illuminating treatises on the stupendous Kashmir Shaivism, colossal
literature, splendid art, marvelous music, grammar and medicine.
Sultan Zainul Abidin-the Budshah (Great Monarch), ruled Kashmir from
AD 1420 to 1460. The son of Sultan Sikandar – the Butshikan, and the
brother of Sultan Ali Shah- the tyrant, Zainul Abidin followed the
policy of tolerance, endurance, patience, sympathy and broad mindedness.
He recalled the Kashmiri Pandits who had left the Valley during the
rule of Sikandar and Ali Shah. Jazia was abolished and the Brahmans were
given their earlier positions in administration. Demolished temples
were rebuilt and new ones constructed. Two temples were built by Zainul
Abidin at Ishbar, Srinagar. The Sultan also participated in the Hindu
festivals. A large number of houses were built for the widows of the
Brahmans who had suffered during the reign of terror. Zainul Abidin
stopped the killing of cows, restricted the eating of beef and catching
of fish in the sacred springs of the Hindus. Even the personal law as
laid down in the Shastras was adopted for the Hindus. The legenday
Kashmiri Pandits were resurrected and resuscitated. Ferguson observes
that indeed history has very few examples where the policy of a father
was so completely reversed by the son. Even the Mughal monarch, Akbar –
the great , capitalized on the religious policy of Zainul Abidin. But
the conservative and dogmatic Muslims reacted very sharply to this
policy of toleration and mutual coexistence . According to Mulla
Bahauddin, ” The Sultan reimported practices of infidels which had once
become extinct”.
But the honey-moon of the Kashmiri Pandits proved very brief. During
the reign of Haider Shah (AD 1470-1472) – the prodigal son of the great
Zainul Abidin, Kashmiri Pandits once again suffered tremendously. Under
the evil influence of Purni- the Hindu barber, Haider Shah adopted
various corrupt and cruel practices against the Saraswat Brahmans. The
repression was so terrible that the tolerant Pandits lost their cool.
Hassan says, ” the patience of the Pandits having reached the breaking
point, they rose in a body and set fire to some mosques which were built
with the material of the Hindu temples once demolished by Sikandar. The
rising was quelled by the sword; many more Pandits were drowned in
rivers; and, loot and plunder was practiced with unbridled licence.”
Srivara also illustrates the cruel and inhuman treatment given to the
mythical Kashmiri Saraswat Brahmans, ” many Pandits struggled and threw
themselves in river Vitasta to be drowned there. The arms and noses of
many
people were cut off, even of those Brahmans who were king’s servants.”
Ravage and arson of the sacred places continued during the indifferent
rule of Hassan Khan (AD 1476-1487), when the real authority was with the
gang of three persons- Shams Chak, Shringhar Raina and Musa Raina. The
pressure exerted on the illustrious Kashmiri Pandits was so barbarous
that, in order to save themselves from merciless brutality, some of them
gave up their caste and screamed – ” I am not a Bhatta, I am not a
Bhatta” ( I am not a Hindu). They went in strict seclusion to avoid any
argument or controversy.
Mir Shams-ud-Din Iraqi, who visited the Saffron Valley twice in AD
1477 and 1496, was the founder of Nurbakhshiya order (Shia sect) in
Kashmir. His mission was the vigorous propagation of his faith. So, not
contented with peaceful preachings, violent methods were employed. In
this adventure , Iraqi was helped by the homicidal creature and most
dreaded tyrant- Malik Musa Raina, a convertee, whose original name was
Soma Chandra. Not only the poor vulnerable Brahmans, but the Sunni
Muslims were also violently converted to Shia sect by murderous
techniques. This dogmatic fanaticism even crippled the Sunni ruler of
Kashmir, Fateh Shah (AD 1510-1517). A khanqah was built at Zadibal
(Srinagar) by Iraqi, which became the nucleus of Shia concentration.
Kashmiri Pandits suffered ferociously under the instructions of
Shams-ud-Din Iraqi and Musa Raina. About 24,000 of them were forcibly
converted to Shia sect of Islam. Iraqi had even issued orders that
everyday about 1500 to 2000 Brahmans be brought to his doorsteps, remove
their sacred threads, administer Kalima to them, circumcise them and
make them eat beef. These decrees were ferociously and brutally carried
out. The Hindu religious scriptures from 7th century AD onwards and
about 18 magnificent temples were destroyed, property confiscated and
ladies abused. Thousands of Brahmans killed themselves to evade this
horrific barbarism and thousands migrated to other places, resulting in
their third tragic mass exodus from the Saffron Valley of Kashmir. Those
who stayed behind were not only forced to pay jazia, but their noses
and ears were chopped off. To escape the tremendous pain and agony, they
cried. “I am not a Hindu.” After Kashmir , the next destination of
Iraqi for war
against so-called infidelity was Kargil. It is now a Shia –dominated
area and there are frequent sectarian clashes between them and the
Buddhists.
In AD 1519, about ten thousand Kashmiri Pandits died during
pilgrimage to Harmukh Ganga, where they had gone to immerse the ashes of
those eight hundred Hindus who had been massacred during Ashura a year
before. Poet-historian Suka says about this cataclysm, ” Ganga was
oppressed with hunger, as it was after a long time that she had devoured
bones; she surely devoured the men also who carried the bones.” It was
after a gap of many years that the people were allowed to go on a
pilgrimage to Harmukh lake, which ended in the most devastating tragedy.
Qazi Chak, the founder of Chak rule in Kashmir (AD 1553-1586),
carried on ferocious religious policy and made conversion of many Hindus
to Shia sect of Islam. According to Suka, one thousand cows were used
to be killed everyday without any opposition under the orders of the
Chak rulers, who were Shias, just to injure the religious sentiments of
the Kashmiri Pandits. These celebrated and highly educated Aryan
Saraswat Brahmans were made the objects of laughter and reproach. They
were publically taunted, abused and humiliated. The last Chak ruler,
Yaqub Chak, had a bigoted zeal for the propagation of Shia sect and
planned mass conversion of the Hindus. However, he could not administer
his criminal designs because of the Mughal annexation.
Akbar was tremendously influenced by the amazing moral supremacy of
the Kashmiri Pandits. Abul Fazl records in Ain-i-Akbari, ” the most
respectable class in this country (Kashmir) is that of the Pandits, who,
notwithstanding their need for freedom from the bonds of tradition and
custom, are the true worshippers of God. They do not loosen their tongue
of calumny against those not of their faith, nor beg, nor importune.
They employ themselves in planting fruit trees and are generally a
source of inspiration for others”. The great Mughal Emperor abolished
jazia and other unjust taxes imposed upon the Hindus. He also evinced
great interest in the rehabilitation of the Pandits. Suka says, ” The
Emperor announced that he would without delay reward those who would
respect the Brahmans in Kashmir and that he would instantly pull down
the houses of those who would demand the annual tribute from them.” The
greatness of Akbar lies in his magnificent and fascinating policy of
religious tolerance. Jahangir and Shah Jahan were not so tolerant. But
their religious enthusiasm cannot be termed as fanatic. During this
period, the Brahmans could perform their religious ceremonies after
paying some tribute. But the whole scenario changed with the accession
of Aurangzeb to the throne. With his bigoted fanatic and dogmatic
approach, the Kashmiri Pandits were once again made vulnerable. Iftkar
Khan, the Mughal governor of Kashmir during the reign of Aurangzeb,
brutally tyrannized over the Brahmans to such an extent that they
approached Guru Teg Bhahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru, at Anandpur in Punjab
and solicited his personal intervention with the Emperor. This
ultimately led to the Guru’s martyrdom and made Guru Gobid Singh to
create the Khalsa to fight the oppressors . Muzaffer Khan, Nassar Khan
and Ibrahim Khan were other governors of Aurangzeb who ferociously
terrorized the Kashmiri Pandits. These celebrated scapegoats were once
again forced to migrate from the land of their origin. It was the fourth
disastrous mass exodus of the Aryan Saraswat Brahmans from Kashmir.
During the rule of later Mughals, Kashmir witnessed the outbreak of
the worst kind of religious intolerance. In AD 1720, Mullah Abdul Nabi,
also called Muhat Khan, a non-resident Kashmiri Muslim, was appointed as
Shaikhul Islam . In order to assert his religious authority, he asked
the Deputy Governor, Mir Ahmed Khan , to start a campaign of persecution
of the Kafirs (infidels) – as the Kashmiri Pandits were called. In
order to satisfy his satanic ego, the Mulla issued six commandments:
- No Hindu should ride a horse, nor should a Hindu wear a shoe;
- That they should not wear Jama (Mughal costume);
- That they should move bare arms;
- That they should not visit any garden;
- That they should not have tilak mark on their foreheads;
- That their children should not receive any education.
But Ahmed Khan refused to execute the mischievous decree. The Mullah
then excited his followers against the Kashmiri Pandits. He established
his seat in a mosque, assumed the duties of the administrator under the
title of Dindar Khan and let loose the reign of terror. The Hindus were
wickedly tormented, their houses burnt and property looted. Hundreds of
Brahmans were killed, prostrated, maimed and humiliated. They began to
run away in large numbers and hide themselves in mountainous terrain.
This was the fifth dreadful mass exodus of the legendary Kashmiri
Pandits from their mystic motherland. Those who remained behind lived in
the most horrific and terrible conditions generated by the Mullah and
his gang. But soon he was assassinated by his rivals and his son,
Sharif-ud-Din, become the new Shaikhul-Islam. The son improved upon the
brutal methods of his father and inflicted most barbaric, cruel and
inhuman tortures upon the vulnerable Brahmans. The plight of the
Kashmiri Pandits
during this period became tremendously miserable and tragic.
The Afghan rule in Kashmir (AD 1753-1819) was a period of cruelty,
homicide and anarchy. W.R. Lawrence calls it the “reign of brutal
tyranny.” The barbarous Afghans employed every wild, inhuman, primitive,
ferocious, cruel and brutal method to suppress the Kashmiri Brahmans. A
pitcher filled with ordure was placed on the head of a Pandit and
stones were pelt on it, till it broke and the unfortunate Brahman become
wet with filth. Their brutality and atrocity crossed the extreme limits
when Hindus were tied up in grass sacks, two and two, and drowned in
the Dal Lake. The victimized Hindu were forced to flee the country or
were killed or converted to Islam. There was horrible mass exodus of the
Kashmiri Pandits, sixth one, to far away places like Delhi, Allahabad,
etc. Many covered the long distances on foot.
Hindu parents destroyed the beauty of their daughters by shaving
their heads or cutting their noses and ears to save them from
degradation. Any Muslim could jump on the back of a Pandit and take a
ride. Mir Hazar – an Afghan governor, used leather bags instead of grass
sacks for the drowning of Brahmans. Turbans and shoes were forbidden
for them. The Saraswat Brahmans of Kashmir were also forced to grow
beards and tilak was interdicted. The Afghans are now only remembered
for their barbarity, brutality, ferocity, tyranny and cruelty. They
thought no more of cutting of heads than of plucking a flower.
The Shahmirs, Chaks, Mughals and homicidal Afghans tore the fabric of
society in Kashmir and left deep scars on it. When the Afghan
oppression became intolerable, the Pandits turned with hope to the
rising power of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. But they were suspected. The
Afghan governor, Azim Khan, confiscated their jagirs and imposed jazia
on them. Eminent Pandits were brutally killed, humiliated and their
authority was snatched. Nur Shah Diwani – a cruel Muslim official who
was in charge of revenue collection, hatched a conspiracy in league with
Azim Khan to eliminate the distinguished Kashmiri Brahmans. But this
evil manoeuvre was exposed and a galaxy of Pandits saved. Pandit
Sahajram, the Diwan, played a prominent role in the rescue operation.
Azim Khan had appointed Sukhram Safaya, Mirza Pandit and Birbal Dhar
as revenue collectors. Birbal Dhar could not collect the required amount
due to failure of crops. The atrocious Afghan governor browbeated
Pandit Birbal to make the payment of one lac rupees. Rowdy and
boisterous soldiers were send to threaten him and other Pandits. Sensing
the Afghan tsunami, distinguished Kashmiri Pandits called a backstairs
meeting in which it was resolved to invite Ranjit Singh for the conquest
of Kashmir and salvation of the Aryan Saraswat Brahmans. Accordingly
Birbal Dhar and his minor son, Raja Kak Dhar, secretly left for Lahore
with a petition signed by the prominent Kashmiri Pandits through which
as invitation was extended to Ranjit Singh to take over the Valley. When
Azim Khan came to know about these developments, he sent his soldiers
to nab Birbal Dhar and teach him a lesson. But when these bandits met
with no success, the cruel governor turned his guns towards the wife and
daughter-in-law of Birbal Dhar . Both the ladies had taken shelter in
the house of a trustworthy Muslim, Qadus Gojwari. Azim Khan asked Pandit
Basa Kak to hunt down the innocent ladies. Basa Kak knew about the
retreat of ladies but did not disclose it even after monstrous tortures
and oppressive penalties. At last his abdomen was ripped open in the
most barbarous manner and the dead body discredited – the most
unfortunate and brutal crime against humanity in the civilized world.
The poor ladies were also captured . Birbal Dhar’s wife committed
suicide by swallowing a piece of diamond. The younger lady was violently
converted to Islam and handed over to an Afghan noble, who carried her
to Kabul.
Nervous to the marrow of his bones and crazy with rage, Azim Khan
tormented all those Kashmiri Brahmans whom he suspected to be in league
with Birbal Dhar. Prominent Pandits were detained in a concentration
camp at Nishat Garden and ferociously tortured. But on learning about
the Sikh advances towards Kashmir, he lost all nerve and solicited
instruction from Pandit Sahajram Dhar. The illustrious Pandit advised
him to sent off his ladies folk to Kabul. It was the only way to save
them from the ignominious treatment. Sahajram himself escorted the
ladies to Kabul and saved them from disastrous shame. Azim Khan himself
ran away from the Valley, leaving the administration into the hands of
his brother, Jabbar Khan. However, atrocious Afghans were crushed and
the Sikhs annexed Kashmir. Some extremist Sikhs, including Phul Singh,
endeavoured to knock down the mosque of Shah Hamadan. But celebrated
Birbal Dhar, at a considerable risk to his own life, made them desist
from this
action. According to GMD Sufi, ” It is to the lasting credit of Birbal
Dhar that when a deputation of Muslims headed by Sayyid Hasan Shah
Qadiri Khanyari approached him to dissuade the Sikhs from the
destruction of the Khanqah, he moved in the matter, used his influence
and saved this historical structure from vandalism.” It reveals the true
personality and character of a distinguished Kashmiri Pandit.
During the Sikh rule in Kashmir, AD 1819-1846, the celebrated Pandits
reclaimed their past glory and magnificence. They claimed back the
prominent places of trust and honour. Cow slaughter was banned, temples
renovated and the earlier wrongs rectified. The legendary Kashmiri
Pandits received a healing touch after centuries of barbarity, ferocity
and tyranny. But by the time, the Sikhs conquered Kashmir in AD 1819,
about nine-tenths of the population had become the followers of Islam.
Out of the 10% Hindu population, a large number had migrated to the
Punjab and other provinces. The Pandits in general belonged to the
middle class while the upper and lower classes were dominated by the
Muslims.
With the formation of Jammu and Kashmir State; and, establishment of
the Dogra rule in 1846, Kashmiri Pandits were imperceptibly elbowed to
the background. Administrators and officials were deputed from Jammu
region. Though they enjoyed comprehensive religious freedom and social
emancipation, political rights of the Kashmiri Brahmans were confined.
On certain occasions, they even became victims of intrigue and
suspicions. The vicious communal forces also turned their wrath against
them. During the communal disturbances of July 1931, shops and houses
belonging to the Kashmiri Brahmans were not only looted but also burnt.
Three innocent Hindus lost their lives. This communalism in the state
politics aggravated and magnified with the passage of time . It was fed
for years with vicious communal propaganda and brainwashing.
After independence and accession of Jammu & Kashmir state to
India, Kashmiri Pandits were pushed back to the barbarous Afghan era.
They were given the sugarcoated dozes of poisonous toxics. Article 370
of Indian constitution just reduced them to cipher and liquidated their
population. Under the pretext of economic reforms, their jagirs were
confiscated and distributed among the Muslim peasants. The
administration of Shaikh Abdullah adopted malicious and pernicious
approach towards the Saraswat Brahmans of Kashmir. They were taunted on
one excuse or the other. Hindu temples were desecrated, looted and
plundered. Minor girls of the community were forced to embrace Islam and
marry the Muslim youth.
Shaikh Abdullah tried to create ” Shaikhdom” for his dynastic rule in
Kashmir. But his dreams were shattered when he was arrested in 1953 for
anti-national activities. In 1958, he was released but detained again
after three months under the Kashmir conspiracy case. However, the case
was withdrawn in 1964 because of political reasons. But he was arrested
again in May 1965 for his subversive activities and released in January
1968. Again, in January 1971, a ban was imposed forbidding him to enter
the Jammu Kashmir state. This restriction was lifted in 1972.
During 1953-1974 Shaikh Abdullah characterized India as an
imperialist power endeavouring to subjugate the people of Kashmir. He
asserted that the accession of Kashmir with India was his greatest
blunder for which history will never forgive him. He also demanded the
right of self determination for the people of Muslim – dominated
Kashmir, but ignored the Hindu- dominated Jammu and Buddhist- dominated
Ladakh regions. The sophist Shaikh advocated plebiscite and
unconditional withdrawal of Indian army from the Saffron Valley. He also
campaigned against the import of food grains from India and asked
people to eat potatoes grown in Kashmir. For such arguments, Shaikh
Abdullah was nick named as “Aaloo Bab” — Feeder of Potatoes. He made
emotional solicitations that after death his body should not be buried
in the subjugated Valley, but immersed into the sacred waters of Arabian
sea. However, today his magnificent tomb stands on the banks of
beautiful Dal Lake in Srinagar and is guarded
by the Indian security personnel. By such gratuitous and conflicting
statement, his secular credentials evaporated into thin air. The
prospect of disloyalty and sedition began to haunt the Saffron Valley.
Kashmiriyat switched over to political vandalism and bigoted
fundamentalism. Shaikh Abdullah desperately held Indian Prime Minister,
Jawaharlal Nehru, a Kashmiri Pandit, responsible for the shattering of
his malevolent dreams in 1953. The mortified Shaikh ambiguously decided
to retaliate against the whole Pandit community in Kashmir. In
vindictiveness, he instigated his associated that while making a choice
between a Kashmiri Pandit and dreaded cobra, kill the Pandit first. A
vicious campaign of terror was launched against the Aryan Saraswat
Brahmans of Kashmir. They were refused entry to government jobs and
institutions of higher learning. Besides hurling strong statement
against the Government of India and Kashmiri Pandits, the Shaikh derided
that the whole lot of Indian army cannot save the Hindus in Kashmir
against the malevolence of Muslims. Farooq Abdullah also employed the
same approach towards the crumbled Pandits when his brother-in-law,
Gulshah, seized the chief ministership in 1984.The reactionary leaders-
Afzal Beg, Maulvi Farooq, Mohi-ud-Din Kara and Maulana Masoodi; ignored
the very existence of Kashmiri Pandits during their political
adventurism. The Kashmiri Pandits were made to pay for every move on the
political chessboard in Kashmir because they represented the
pseudo-secularism, incognito- socialism and flowering- democracy of
India. They were scolded and emotionally hurt in the Afghan fashion.
But then the whole political scenario in Kashmir took a dramatic turn
in 1974, when Indira-Shaikh accord was signed by virtue of which the
Shaikh became the Chief Minister of the State after the lapse of 22
years. Ignoring the great expectations he had created among the people
in Kashmir and his vigorous campaign for plebiscite, the sophist Shaikh
began to speak the language of Indian nationalism, democracy, socialism
and secularism. The slogans of plebiscite, self-determination and
independent Kashmir melted away. But the Hate- India virus, infused by
him into the blood of the Muslim youth in Kashmir, was exploited by
other corrupt self-styled politicians for their own interests from time
to time. A vacuum was created because the people were betrayed
disillusioned, politically raped and left in wilderness by their own
leaders.
Omkarnath Ganjoo, who established the Index Branch of the Jammu &
Kashmir Criminal Investigation Department under the directions of Union
Home Ministry in early 1960 and managed the same upto 1986, established
a powerful network in the State. He collected detailed information
about the seditious, subversive and treasonous persons and sent the
detailed dispatches to the government from time to time . He also
excavated the nefarious designs of ISI- the Pak Intelligence Agency, and
informed the concerned authorities. But the state as well as the
central administration lacked the determination and resolution to act.
The programmes and policies of Bakshi, Sadiq, Qasim, Farooq and Gulshah
were also damaging for the Kashmiri Pandits. They were continuously
haunted by antagonistic, hostile and rebellious elements. Mufti Syed is
even believed to be responsible for the anti-Hindu communal riots of
1986, when cows were slaughtered and temples destroyed in Anantnag
district. From 1947-1986 about four lac Kashmiri Pandits silently
migrated from Kashmir. Hypocritical atrocities and criminal ignorances
of political leaders were responsible for these development. Pakistan,
to avenge the defeat of Bangladesh, blatantly sponsored the violence and
terrorism in the Valley, resulting in the turmoil of 1989-90. The then
celebrated governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Jagmohan, wrote a detailed
letter to the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi , on April 21,1990,
endorsing the alarming signals earliest transmitted by discerning
Omkarnath Ganjoo. But cowardly Indian leadership was still unconcerned.
“Aay Zalimu, Aay Kafiroo,
Kashmir Hamara Choudh Dou”
“Bharat Kay Aiwanu Ko
Aag Lagado, Aag Lagado”
The final assault on the Kashmiri Pandits started with these slogans.
Barbarous terrorists from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Sudan and even
Saudi Arabia penetrated into the Saffron Valley. Brutal, wild and
barbarous techniques were employed to hound and kill the Aryan Saraswat
Brahmans of Kashmir. Even the helpless ladies were not spared. Sarla
Bhat, a nurse in Soura Medical Institute, was abducted on 19th April,
1990, by JKLF militants who repeatedly gang-raped her and eventually
killed her on 25th April. Girja Tikoo, a teacher from Bandipur, was
kidnapped, raped and eventually shred to pieces by a saw mill on 4th
June, 1990. Bimla Braroo from the Nai Sarak, Srinagar, who along with
her daughter, Archana, was raped in the presence of her husband,
Sohanlal, before all the three were killed on 31st March, 1992. There
are dozens of such brutal instances. Even wicked Afghans will be feeling
sorry in their graves for the sanatic holocaust of the legendary
Kashmiri Pandits.
The barbarous murder of hundreds of innocent Brahmans of Kashmir
caused their seventh and final agonizing mass exodus from the Valley.
This was the final knock down of ethnic cleansing and genocide of the
Kashmiri Pandits. The mass massacres at Sangrampora (1997), Udhampore
(1997), Prankot (1998), Wandhama (1998) and Nadimarg (2003) were the
follow up cleansing operations. Pandits in Kashmir dwindled from 10% in
1947 to fewer than 5% in 1989 and to less than 1% today. The pretended
world bodies, contaminated human rights organizations,
pseudo-secularists, self-styled leaders, so-called policy makers,
tainted political parties and slack bureaucracy have failed to express
serious concern at this great human tragedy. Danse macabre is going on.
During 1990-2005, the security forces seized around 30,000 assault
rifles, over 15,000 pistols, more than 20,000 kg explosives, about 2000
UMGs and RPGs , from terrorists. In the barbarous turmoil about 45,000
persons including the Kashmiri Pandits, nationalistic Muslims and Sikhs
have been killed. However the government is keen to provide a healing
touch to militants. But the legendary Kashmiri Pandits, who were
virtually exterminated from the Valley, have not even received the
ailing touch so far.
Dr.Satish Ganjoo
WRITTEN BY :DR.SATISH GANJOO POSTED BY :VIPUL KOUL
EDITED BY: ASHOK KOUL
Posted by : Vipul koul Edited by: Ashok Koul 
