(Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)

It seems the ghost of Governor Jagmohan continues to haunt some people’s WhatsApp groups and social media timelines more persistently than facts do. More than 35 years into exile, a determined anti-Jagmohan brigade—comprising those whose designs he dared to defeat, along with a curious section of the very community that suffered the 1990 tragedy—continues to blame him for the Kashmiri Pandit exodus. Apparently, holding the man who tried to prevent disaster responsible for the disaster itself remains a popular sport.All this, despite his second gubernatorial stint lasting barely four months—from January 19 to May 26, 1990—and coinciding with a period when Kashmir was already boiling over with militancy and targeted killings.

But why let facts get in the way of a good WhatsApp forward?

Kashmir Rechords, refusing to be swept away by echo chambers and half-baked narratives, took the liberty to dive into archival newspapers from early 1990. What surfaced from the yellowing pages of Kashmir Times, Daily Excelsior and other vernaculars was both telling and inconvenient—for those who thrive on blaming Jagmohan.

With invaluable help from Dr. Rajesh Bhat, who then manned the Kashmir Desk at Daily Excelsior, we unearthed crucial reports from March 1990, where Jagmohan appealed to Kashmiri Pandits not to leave the Valley and even urged those who had already left to return. Plans were rolled out for relief camps within Kashmir, meant to offer temporary shelter and security for returnees. Hardly the actions of a man orchestrating a mass migration.

But wait, there’s more. He also made public appeals for donations—not for a particular community—but for all victims of terrorism, regardless of caste, creed, or religion. How secular of him—definitely not WhatsApp-worthy, right?

Another significant find—a newspaper clipping dated July 20 1990—quotes Jagmohan post his resignation, stating clearly:

“The migration had already begun before I took over.”

This, mind you, was after he’d left the post and was now representing India in the Rajya Sabha, traveling globally to put forth the country’s stance on Kashmir.

 Kashmir Rechords proudly shares these archival gems—not just to clear Jagmohan’s name, but to remind those still suffering from the “Jagmohan’s Hand Hangover” .

Of course, this  story and newspaper cuttings won’t trend. Because let’s face it—facts are slow, clumsy and boring. Unlike that juicy social media tale where Jagmohan single-handedly packed up an entire community, put them on trucks and drove them off into exile like a villain in a bad Bollywood script.

Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to exorcise this ghost once and for all.

Kashmir Rechords will keep sharing such stories—armed with newspaper clippings, archival reports and an allergy to revisionist fiction.

Because if we must tell stories, let’s at least try telling the truth—with a little sarcasm on the side.