1935: Kashmiri Pandits’ Association of  New Delhi

(Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)

While post-1950 saw the establishment of organizations like the All India Kashmiri Samaj and the Kashmiri Samiti Delhi, records indicate that the Kashmiri Pandits’ Association in New Delhi was well-knit and operational as early as 1935.

Before India’s independence, Delhi hosted a significant non-Kashmiri-speaking Kashmiri Pandit community. Most members resided in areas like Bazar Sita Ram, Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Hanuman Road, Raisina Road, Doctors’ Lane, Hasting Square and Karol Bagh. These families were mostly  descendants of those who  had fled Kashmir during periods of religious persecution, with migrations dating back to the 16th century.

Leadership in 1935

In 1935, the association was led by prominent figures of the time:

• Rai Saheb Autar Kishan Kaul (President):
  • Profession: Superintendent in the Foreign and Political Department.
  • Residence: Lal Bagh, Delhi.
  • Background: His family’s migration history traced back to the 1830s, moving from Kashmir to Lucknow and then to Shekhupura, Punjab, (Now Pakistan), during the Indian Mutiny of 1857.
  • Family: Married to Smt. Rameshwari Kaul, with two sons and a daughter, all students in 1935.
  • Ancestral Migration: His grandfather  had moved from Kashmir to Lucknow in the 1830s and later to Shekhupura, Punjab, during the Indian Mutiny of 1857.
• Pt. Sri Krishan Hazari (General Secretary):
  • Profession: Stenographer in the Railway Board.
  • Residence: Divided his time between Delhi and Shimla.
  • Family: Family: Married to Smt. Kishni Mohini of the Raina dynasty, with two sons and a daughter, all students at the time.

Notable Members

The association’s membership included distinguished individuals like:

• Pt. Tribhavan Nath Zutshi “Zaar”: A celebrated Urdu poet and professor of Urdu at Indraprastha College, Delhi, whose literary contributions enriched the cultural legacy of the community.

Areas of Settlement

By 1935, the Kashmiri Pandit community in Delhi had established itself in:

• Old Delhi: Bazar Sita Ram, Sadar Bazar, Chandni Chowk.
• New Delhi: Hanuman Road, Raisina Road, Doctors’ Lane, Hasting Square, and Karol Bagh.

These families were descendants of those who had left the Kashmir Valley during various periods of persecution and hardship, with migrations documented as far back as the 16th century.

Impact of Migration on Kashmiri Pandit Associations

The Kashmiri Pandits faced multiple exoduses from their homeland, leading to the establishment of community organizations to maintain cultural links and social interaction. By 1935, two prominent associations existed: one in Delhi and another in Lahore (now in Pakistan).

After the partition in 1947, Kashmiri Pandit families moved out of Lahore and resettled in Delhi, Lucknow, Allahabad, and other cities. The Lahore association later merged with the Kashmiri Pandits’ Association in Delhi, creating a unified body to serve the community.

Prominent Members Before and After Independence included  Raj Krishna Sibbu, Rai Saheb Autar Kishan Kaul, S.N. Shivpuri, Ram Bhan, Surinder Zutshi, Jagdish Prakash Taimni, Kailash Nath Baqaya, and Col. (Retd.) Valmiki Katju.

The association continued its activities up to 2017. On September 10, 2017, a new leadership team was elected:

• President: Mrs. Madhulika Bahadur.
• Vice President: Col. (Retd.) Valmiki Katju.
• Secretary: Dr. V.N. Reu.
• Treasurer: Utsav Dar.

Other members included Ajay Dar, J.P. Taimni, K.N. Baqaya, Surinder Zutshi, and Group Captain Ajit Gurtu.

The Kashmiri Pandits’ Association, New Delhi, established in 1935, stands as a milestone in the history of the Kashmiri Pandit diaspora. It reflects the community’s resilience, commitment to cultural preservation and ability to adapt while remaining deeply connected to its roots. This association not only supported its members but also documented an essential chapter in the broader narrative of Kashmiri Pandit history.