Should Kashmiri Pandits read Ashok Kumar Pandey’s book on Kashmir?

A Book Review

By: B. Revti

The story of Kashmiri Pandits and the most unfortunate exodus that this community had to undergo in Independent India and who are facing extinction and acknowledged ethnic cleansing has been narrated, commented and counter- debated by a plethora of writers, commentators, journalists, film producers and what not.  To this long list belongs  1975- Uttar Pradesh born  Ashok Kumar Pandey, who is considered an expert on Kashmir post 1990 and has  already written two notable books on Kashmir — “Kashmirnama’’ and “Kashmir Aur Kashmiri Pandit”. Both these books, written in Hindi are  interesting to read but must have not been  so much discussed, especially by  the Kashmiri Pandit community themselves—-  possibly for the reason that Ashok Pandey  holds a  particular view many Kashmiri Pandits may not subscribe to. But the fact is that both his two books on Kashmir  and Kashmiri Pandits  offer extremely valuable insights on our understanding of dynamics in Kashmir. Thus every Kashmiri Pandit needs to read, analyze and make an independent opinion  on the book that highlights their  plight. The author  seems to be open to any  honest criticism.

Basne Aur Bikharne Ke 1500 Saal

In “ Kashmir Aur Kashmiri Pandits”, Ashok Pandey relies heavily on Pandit Jia Lal Kilam’s wonderful book titled “ History of Kashmiri Pandits” (June 1955 edition), a pioneering work (prior to even Bamzai’s and others) on Kashmiri Pandits, the forgotten but illustrious children of Mother India. Basne Aur Bikharne Ke 1500 Saal is the tag-line of his book.

Ashok Pandey may be holding his own opinion on the current political situation in India but nevertheless, he has treated the issues of Kashmiri Pandits with utmost concern and compassion. He seems to be aware of the plight, the loss of heritage and the utmost odds against which Kashmiri Pandits have to claim an honorable existence in their aboriginal land and to wriggle out of the predicament created by the current situation facing them.

This book  also delves into the tumultuous history of Kashmir, seeking the whereabouts of Kashmiri Pandits and analyzing the socio-political processes that unfolded amidst the rise of Islam, religious conversions and the mental and social formation of Kashmiri Pandits, as well as the complex relationships between Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits.

The author has made a courageous attempt to put forward the story of Kashmiri Pandits and how the situations worsened and reached exodus. Pandey talks about the atrocities committed against Kashmiri Hindus and their forced exodus from the Valley. Discussing in detail the circumstances that led to the displacement of Pandits in nineties, this book establishes a dialogue with the displaced Pandits as well as those Kashmiri Pandits who never left Kashmir.

This is the first book to include the narrative of Pandits still living in the valley, both before and after the abrogation of Article 370, for which the author claims to have travelled to different areas of Kashmir and interacted extensively with Pandit families.