(Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)

In a remarkable travesty of fate, a stone idol of a deity, which was thrown into the River Jhelum nearly three decades ago by the forces inimical to the idea of India, has resurfaced near Sopore, Kashmir! The idol was originally discovered in the early 1950s from the same river and installed at a Kali Mandir (temple) near the Khankah Mohalla in Sopore. However, during the onset of militancy in Kashmir in the 1990s, the sacrilegious act of vandalizing the  temple and throwing out the statue of the deity into the river Jhelum was performed. The situation remains the same till day and no arm of law has been able to set the situation right. Additionally, the surrounding land and area were also ravaged and encroached upon, including the property of local Kashmiri Pandit families.

The discovery of the stone idol in the early 1950s was a momentous occasion for the people of Sopore. The idol, after being traced from the river, was then carefully preserved and placed in the Kali Mandir, Sopore, a significant religious site on the bank of river Jhelum that attracted both locals and visitors.

But in the wake of the insurgency and the eruption of violence in Kashmir in the 1990s, the temple was completely vandalized. The once-vibrant place of worship was desecrated and the idol of the deity was defaced and then deliberately thrown back into the river by miscreants and anti-Hindu elements. To make matters worse, the temple land, along with properties in the vicinity of local Kashmiri Pandits who used to worship at the site, was encroached upon, thereby further complicating the situation for the already vulnerable community.

The Idol Resurfaces

As fate would have it, the stone idol has once again emerged and is currently lying unattended on the river bed. The receding water levels in the Jhelum River, a natural phenomenon that occurs during the winter months, have revealed the ancient artifact once again. It was on December 31, 2024, that a representative of Kashmir Rechords, a group dedicated to preserving Kashmir’s cultural heritage, spotted it. The resurfacing of the idol is seen as a symbol of resilience and hope, as the deity that had once been forgotten is now visible once more. However, the idol lies unattended and exposed to antisocial elements, raising concerns about its preservation and safety. Efforts were made to sound the local authorities and civil society of the town but there was no immediate positive response.

Urgent Need for Action

As of now, the idol remains unattended. Kashmir Rechords urges for immediate intervention to ensure its safety and proper care before it is once again submerged or vandalized. The fate of this sacred artifact now rests in the hands of local authorities.

Kashmir Rechords is calling upon the relevant authorities and organizations to take immediate action to ensure the protection of the idol. It urges the concerned authorities to recover the artifact from the river bank and take it into possession before the water levels submerge it again in the coming months.

In addition to the idol’s recovery, Kashmir Rechords is calling for the rebuilding of the Kali Mandir at Khankah Mohalla, Sopore ,Kashmir which had been destroyed during the 1990s violence. Furthermore, the encroached land belonging to local Kashmiri Pandits and of the Temple should be reclaimed and protected from encroachers.

The fate of the idol now rests in the hands of those who have the power to preserve it and safeguard it for future generations.

As the river Jhelum continues to flow through the region, it serves as a reminder of the enduring history of Kashmir—a history that deserves to be remembered, celebrated and protected.