ONE OF THE BEST ARTICLES ON PAIN AND AGONY OF KASHMIRI PANDITS .......... SATISH Ganjoo. kashmirisabhadehradun.in ‘ZULUM’: A History of Atrocities on Kashmiri Pandit Society by P.L. Zutshi It is a hateful word; Much more than the modern definition of, violation of human rights. Here we talk of ‘Zulum’ in the depth of its meaning. In the history of Kashmir it tends to be other-wise forgotten; or is forgotten, in the suitable reconstruction of history to save the large progeny from the stigma, that the civil society will neither dare nor wish to condone. ‘Zulum’, is a word associated with; Tyrants, Religious bigots, Iconoclasts, Marauders, Jahadis, to speak the least. ‘Zalim’ is the one who commits, or is the instrument of ‘Zulum’. World history is replete with ‘Zulum and Zalim’. And the history of Kashmir is not an exception where in are also recorded the horrific tales of ‘Zalims’ who delivered ‘Zulum’ in an immeasurable abundance to the original resident population right from 14th century onward when Islam made its first appearance in the valley of Kashmir during the rein of Suhadev ( AD 1301-1320). There after the history of Kashmir is written in red -in the blood, pain and grief, of a soft-docile-deeply religious people. Theirs’ has been an ancient civilization (ten millennia), living in the mountain folds and along Veth – (the Vitasta Valley). They had an ordered society with no known and direct participation in the state matters. Their participation was limited to ratification and solemnization of the new Sovereign. These people lived to explore the unknown terrains of the; Spirits of Man. Supernatural continued to be the valued domain of research. It may be said, that they stayed independent and liberated from State domain. These people were fast knit by their valued understanding of the Spiritual and its deep relentless need. Knowledge constituted to be a sacred quest. They retained the concept even through the hard lashings they received, down since the fourteenth century. To, Scare, loot, kill and terrorize the population was the only language common between the waves of equipped invaders and missionary zealots from the regions of Hamdan, Turkistantan , Afganistan. It was an unfriendly Islam, on a mission of territorial expansion. Kashmir, with its beauty and bounty, hidden in mountain valleys , meadows, glaciers, rivers, jungles, the ‘loving inviting population’ and above all the weak Sovereign, could never have kept out or rejected an invader and visitor alike , even when with a heart full of devouring malice. Kashmir nurtured a population of deft astronomers who would look towards the Cosmic depths with a deep emancipation and understanding with the great belief that:- Cosmos Supports: Every Twig and Tree; Every Rill and Water body; Seas and Mountains; Every Gale and Strom; Every Human and Animal in all its shades and meanings, and All Life and Variety of it. An astronomer is born out of these principal philosophical leanings. An astronomer, is deemed to build an understanding of Stars; map constellation, galaxies, the Solar Family, Star Clusters and Zodiacs. The study is not without inferring details of their relative movement, change and permanence. The study required, pursuance, patience and a steadfast purposefulness; Not through years alone but through ages. Kashmiri population in due course of time adopted this science with grace and its credits. They graduated in the subject. They applied the salient Astronomical features to build Astrology. Kashmiri pundits perfected thus, the art and science of Astrology and came to be known as masters of the subject. Astrology became a predictive tool. Events in the cosmos and the human lives are believed to be constrained by Time that is metered and measured by the regularity in the Stars and heavenly bodies. This complicated subject thus evaluates and creates correlation of specific time events observed on Earth, in all the details to the relative position of Stars at the time of specific happening, having also established on a long term basis and the recorded history of Star movement that is related to events. This science of Astrology, is therefore correlation dependant. This knowledge with documents observation, experience, intuition and a high degree of scholarship becomes important. Tons and tons of these documents, rather entire libraries built through centuries of pains taking labour, went down the red river of Zulum. Sidpur or Suyyapura (Sopore) once a place of learning and regular discourse had a magnificient library. Vicharnag (on way to Manasbal from Srinagar) as the word itself suggests, was the place where the wise men of learning congregated had built masterpieces of literature on theology, Shavism and astrology. Sidhpur was burnt and destroyed with the burnt debris dumped in the Manasbal Lake. Vicarage was looted and books and manuscripts dumped in Dal Lake. Manuscripts of Rajtarangni, Nilmat Puran- the documents that entomb the history of Kashmir, are the only historian’s treasures that survived the great plunder. Historians are happy that they have something documentary to peep into as oldest written history, (of World). And what else has survived is the un-dislodged faith in Shavism of Kashmir. When Kashmiri Pandit (Pundit) talk of the long uninterrupted phases of Zulum they only recount the memory of terror and pain not without the deep injury it inflicted on their psych. Other than Kalhan Pundit (Rajtarangini A.D.1148-50) and authors of prehistoric document Nilmat Puran (a masterly English translation is given by Dr Ved Kumari, 1994); historians of relatively recent order who recounted to us its most poignant phases are; Dr Horace H. Wilson (A.D.1825), Pandit Jonaraja (A.D.1417), Prajyabatta (A.D.1586), and Haidar Malik; Mohammad Azim; Birbal Kachru; Narayan Kaul; Dwawan Kriparam; Prof. Buhler (1817); Dr Stein (1892); J.C.Dutta: Abu Fazal (Ain-i-Akbari); Hassan (History of Kashmir); Fauk; Nizamu Din; Srivara; Sukhdev; Khemender; Mullah Bahauddin; Jagmohan (My Frozen Turbulence, In Kashmir,1994); W.R.Lawrence, (Settlement Commissioner, 1887: The Valley Of Kashmir). Besides many others Dr. Satish Ganjoo is a historian who has documented a fresh from out of the history, the plight of Kashmiri Pandits; (KPs; A Forbidden Community; K/G –July 2008). This article ‘ZULUM’ is conceived thus and has a backing of umpteen numbers of articles that appeared in recent times in News Papers and journals representing Community Organs. Before the political history of Kashmir comes to us in written form it is clear from the rituals and myth, not without its social commitments, that Kashmir enjoyed a very long and extended tranquil period when its social base accepted ‘Sanatan’ as the sole guiding order, where there is no need felt in the society to enslave itself to history. Tranquility which is truly without tremblings! Kashmiri Pundit rightly claims to be the intrinsic part of the Pride of nascent nativity of pristine land of Kashmir. Saptrishi Era- Saptrishi Samwat; 5084 S.R (A.D 2008-9), constitutes an indelible landmark of a civilization that has roots in time earlier than 10,000 years, (Historian Dr. Satish Ganjoo, 2008) Kashmir thus characterizes a beautiful serene tranquil terrain; together with its calm quiet people engaged in life activity that talks only of nature in its beauty and bounty. The spirit of Kashmir then lived in its peoples’ uninhibited search of spiritual environ. These people were peasants, worshipers of mother Earth and all its contents; - the snow, the rain, the rivers, the mountains, the jungle, the infernos, the fires, the quakes, the soil, its cattle and all life and vegetation. ‘Zulum’ in Kashmir unleashed on the native people, is but a naked history. This history of Kashmir coincides with the advent and first appearance of Islam in and around this territory. It started with groups of equipped invaders and missionary moulvis in early eleventh century itself. The modus operandi being usual i.e., coercion, threats- both direct and indirect, advantage of weak local defense base, fear of killings, loot, plunder and polemic. Humiliation and fear were so fierce that peoples’ instant defense was to ‘blurt out’- na batoham (I am not a batta) to help escape the tyrant’s lashes. It is no wrong to assign this period as the start when began a brazen attacks on long cultivated social tranquility resulting in; -The first unfortunate social scatter of people. From this time onwards torture- conversion- killing ofnative people belonging to Hindu faith had become a sport with every new invader, governor or Sultan. The mute population was practically without defense against the wave after wave of invading armies. The tired and wounded masses even if they had maintained any record of events never out lived nor did their scripted history of grief and torture. Suhadev (1301-1320) is known to have been the last bastion of resistence. In his time invaders became the de-facto residents. Among these invaders were, Bulbul Shah-a missionary, Shahmir (1313) from Swat, Rinchana from Tibet /Ladakh. including Lankar Chak; all received due hospitality from the king either as a tradition or sensing troubles. Suhadev had to face yet another major invasion by Dalucha (1320), who was a Mongol worrier from Turkistan-(Central Asia); (probably a descendent of Changez Khan). Dalucha commended a cavalry of 60,000. The army killed every one of the community who came across. People who had fled to hills and forests were traced down killed or enslaved. Women and children were sold to merchants of Khita – Turkistan. These merchants had accompanied the worriers. Dalucha’s army ravaged cities burnt down stored grains declared surplus. The account is recorded in ‘Bharistan-i- Shah’i. Suhadev, who had earlier offered a very fat inducement, was declined by Dalucha. The King Suhadev abandoned the kingdom and fled to Kishtwar for fear of life. Mean while Dalucha combed (50,000) Brahmins as slaves but the caravan did not survive the return journey and all the Brahmin slaves perished while crossing the Devsar Pass. The ravaged country left behind a haunted and bruised, population run over by humiliation for decades; nay for all the time to come; - The second scatter of the Brahmin Kashmir thus passed into the de-facto hands of Mohammedan rulers. Rinchana, the convert muslim from Tibet rose to usurp the thrown of the fugitive King Suhadev. Politico-Social conditions in Kashmir in particular for the Natives never turned better, never returned to old normalcy. Some historians argue that it was a mistake not to accept Rinchana in the Brahmin fold who became thus a revengeful convert to Islam managed by Bulbul Shah and Shahmir. Rinchana was a tramp. It seems he was ignominious person never decided and in great delusion of himself. He was never impressed by his birth as Bhuddist which He deserted Buddhism at a young age along with its people and the land looking to pick up some things on way that is easily yielding. He wanted to peck on Brahmanism for his ulterior ends. ‘Perhaps he held Changazi genes’. Being never serious he was never in comprehension of the fact that it was equally hard to be a worshiper in Brahmin cult. Therefore his acceptance or non- acceptance to the cult never arose looking to his vagabond background. He was on the lookout for a soft option without commitment having already declined the more tough regulations of Buddhism. No doubt then on finding Islam, having an inbuilt inducement of very soft social regulation he was clutched in. The baptizers found in him a bold earnest ‘enemy of an enemy’. Rinchana thus becomes another established Zalim who faithfully converted the message of his newly found religious paramours. Under relief of achievement of having found a new religion and new uninhibited freedom where it sanctioned to loot, kill , torture and desecrate symbols of other religionists Rinchina became a branded Zalim to unleash waves of Zulum to avenge the refusal by Brahmins to give him entry in Shaivism. He died (1326) as king of Kashmir after Suhadev. His widow Kota Rani later attempted to rule the deserted lands and terrified people, having successfully fought yet another battle joined also by Shahmir with sly motives to usurp the throne. About Shahmir; Jonaraja, the historian after Kalhan Pundit writes about Shahmir with a pun on words; ‘Strange that this believer in Allah becomes the saviour of people....the terrified subjects’. Shahmir s’ influence increased. Once again an agonizing subversive war began against the forbearing masses and militant, the de-facto Islamists. Shahmir dethroned Kota Rani and assumed power in (1339/1343?) under the name Sultan Shamas-ud-Did. A dream cum true in the name of ‘light of Islam’, - if not subversion. Islam, under Shahmir thus got entrenched in Kashmir.It simultaneously encouraged the fugitive, Shah Hamdan and his son Mir Muhammad Hamdani to come to Kashmir along with 700 followers +300 refugees. The Shah ( King) and cortege found Kashmir a haven under the suzerainty of Shahmir. At this time the Mongols had invaded Iran and central Asia .Their torture on Iranians and others went to the extent of boiling people alive. Local people were left with little option but to leave their country as fugitives. These Sayyeds from Hamdan were successfully instrumental in additional indoctrination of the rulers with Islam Viral. The distrustful poltico-administrative environment became most. irksome and irritating. These conditions persisted. Wanton dissemination and; conversion to Islam by rulers continued unabated in unison with the Hamdhani fugitives. Shihab-ud-Din (1354-1373), the ruler added new furtive measures to the existing level of torture and psychological pain. He resorted to full scale demolition of temples in the valley to maintain increasing level of pressure and tension on local Hindus, - the lovers of natural freedom and peace also the crust-fallen victims of inhuman and barbaric violence. Perhaps a fun sport with unbaked and pseudo Muslims. Coverts to Islam became attributed socially as out cast as the most weak in faith, by the conservative purists. The helpless condition became favorable and an encouragement for the tyrant rulers. This ensuing situation threw up people like Suha Bhatt to accept Islam and encash favors. He changed his name to Saif-ud-Din and with a vengeance helped more conversions. By now Sikander –the Butshikan (1389-1413) had assumed power. Saif-ud-Din (the covert) was appointed as Prime Minister. Sikander. Under an assumed religious empowerment Sikander the iconoclast resorted to human history’s most ferocious act of demolishings. (In modern times the only example is that of defilement of the magnificent and exclusive world heritage Buddha statue of Bamiyan in Afghanistan). The felling of grand Martand temples continued for full year, the massive masonry resisted and finally the large human force used fire and gunpowder (?) to deface the noble buildings. A madness against civilization itself. Barbaric! Historians recount: temples were ‘felled to ground’; a large ‘demolition squad worked for one full year’ to pull down the ‘noble buildings’ of ‘Martand temples’. When the ‘resistant’ massive ‘masonry’ refused to yield the squad resorted to ‘fire’ and gun powder (?) to ‘deface and defile’ the majestic structure. Not satisfied, the frenzied iconoclast used the ‘temples stone and structures for building of ‘mosques’. The ‘substructure’ of now famous ‘Jama Masjid’ is of these stones. This ‘Zalim’ did not stop at it, he turned to ‘worshipers with vengeance’ giving them ‘three choices, death conversion or exile’. (It is known that this fable was repeated ‘privately’ by the grandsire of first popular political party of post independent Kashmir). The iconoclast did not spare people who resisted. He resorted to yet another sadists pleasure in ‘collecting an burning of ‘braminical thread’ amounting to over two hundred fifty quintal in weight (700 mds) of those killed sacked and were thrown in lakes. Not satisfied , monarch with flaming sadist zeal, ‘collected books’ , manuscripts and literature that he could lay his hand at and dumped these fortuitously, in pure clean cool, sacred waters of beautiful ‘Dal lake’.(W.R. Lawrence). Sikander, the malicious ruler and ‘destroyer of idol’, spared ‘no city ,no town ,no village, no wood, where the temples of gods remained unbroken; the Sultan banned all Hindu ‘practices,…Hindus were subjected to Jazia and forbidden to apply ‘tilak’; (My Frozen Turbulence) Sultan forgot his monarchial duties and took delight day and night breaking images of Martand,(the temple was rebuilt by king Lalitaditya, ; 724-760 AD) Vishaya, Ishana, Chakrabrit and Tripureshwara. (Jaoaraja) This country possessed...many temples, which were like the Wonders of the World, their workmanship was so fine and delicate that one found himself bewildered…; Sikander goaded by feelings of bigotry, destroyed all temples them…., with he material built many mosques and khanqahs…at Bijbihara three hundred temples, including famous Vijiveshwara temple…..Sikander metted greatest oppression to Hindus…Mir Muhammad Humdani was witness to this vicious barbarism … (Hassan,- History of Kashmir) Many of the Brahmans rather than abandon their religion country poisoned them selves and did not spare their families, some migrated while many others under the impossible circumstances escaped the evil banishment by converting themselves to Islam. To strictly enforce Nizam-i-Mustadffa, Sikander established the office of Seikh-ul-Islam (Farishta). It is the most probable that by the time of Zain-ul-Abedin all Hindu inhabitants except the Brahmans, had been converted and adopted Islam. It would be more exact to use the term Brahman instead of too general Hindu. (Dr Stein). Dr Stein is perhaps under the strain of explaining the absence of non -Brahmin population in the Valley. The only other option being that Kashmir Valley supported a community of an undifferentiated Hindu Order where the society entirely serviced itself by itself. This period according to Dr Satish Ganjoo marks the ‘First major exodus’ also and the third main dispersal, of the native population. It is likely the period confirms the tell tale proverbial story when the naive Brahman population in the valley got reduced only to Eleven Families. ‘As father as son’; fits well with Ali Shah (1413-1420), who followed Sikander. He never relented and faithfully retained the reputation of his father little less but tonns more. Jonaraja writes; this evil minded man, referring to convert Suha Bhat, (PM), faithfully followed the draconian orders of his master; besides forcing more and more Brahmans to commit suicide or drown themselves in Jehlum River he increased jazia on living and forbade performing ceremonies or procession and even ordinary moment. Suha Bhat had become more jealous of Brahmins who had resisted conversion. The country was heavily contaminated by hatred; king’s favourites could not prevent even one in thousand from committing suicide…. Every heinous and most dastardly deplorable crime had been committed inplenty against a human race and the humanity at large. But the most dreaded thing; the death , never spares even the ferocious self confident tyrants or the history’s proclaimed Zalim. A period of –the fourth dispersal and second exodus(?) of Brahmins The regime experiences a change and a little freshening during the next ruler, Sultan Zain-ul-Abudin (1420-1470) who proved to be a messiah for the Brahmins. The Sultan is known to have called back the exiles Brahmans and set to remedy and nurse the wounds. Lot of Brahmans got in administration and held important position as revenue collectors. Brahmins also participated in bandubast (re- establishing land records etc). In every respect this period lent good relief and to forget though temporarily the pain executed by his predecessors. How could a successor be suddenly be as benevolent as to gain the title of ‘Badshah’ is simply enigmatic. More so when Haider Shah, (1470-72) reversed his father’s policy thus rendering every action of Zain-ul-Abudin as farce and a myth. However, former Sultan’s rule is a paragraph in the history of Kashmir with a silver border. Akbar the Mughal king took clue and capitalized on the religious policy Zain-ul-Abudin (Ferguson). The Sultan’s successors Haider Shah and Hassan Shan (1476-87) defaced every thing that ‘Badshah’ had achieved and rendered. Next rulers added severity to severity for Brahmans joined by turning all that was to become dream. Brahmins even rose to revolt but of no avail. Vitasta became their great saviour from dishonour and disgrace by offering them watery Samadhi. Terror and oppression was replaced by another organized ruthlessness. The ruler now being yet another despot Hassan Khan (1476-1487). Again the familiar old cries rung the air …I am not a Bhatta; I am not Bhatta echoed loud filling the already fowl vexatious air; The cries were raised just to save an insult and save life or the pain of a deep wound or broken limbs. Mir Shams-u-Din, a Shia from Iraq, during late fifteenth century, came another tyrant with a mission to establish Shia sect in the valley resorting to same methodology of conversion and extortions. He was joined in his ghastly acts by Samas Chak , Musa Raina, Shringhar Raina He did not spare even the neo –covert or ruling Sunnis. About 2400 of Brahmins were forcibly circumcised and administered and kalmia, at the rate of 1500 to 2000 a day, under resistance thousands of these unfortunates were done to death .Buddhists of Kargil were targeted next and entire area (district) made to submit to de-humanize(ing) conversions. Decidedly, this was The time of,-the fifth dispersal andthe third major exodus. QaziChak (15531586)continued with his Islamic mission now favouring conversion to Shia Islam. Cow slaughter at the rate of thousand per day was deliberate to hurt core feelings and mentally injure Brahmans. The ferocity of Chaks was innovatively recharged with terror in all spheres of activity where Brahmans by simple name became a concern. The Brahman population saw no option even to their plight through epidemics, draught and hunger. Mass deaths had become a recurrent feature. There were no tears left. They were left with nothing tangible. Not even trace of scriptures from seventh century down were left un-vandalisd . The population was rendered hapless and subdued; a character that contined through ages. Abul Fzal records graphically the period of Mughal (1589-…..) history in Ain-i-Akbari. The Pandits of Kashmir having made a profound impression on the great Mughal Akbar, carried over by him after their performance during the rule of Zain-ul-Abudin. Brahmans experienced a resounding relief … but short lived. Brahmins were sought for their well acclaimed scholarship, in the language of rulers. Under invitation many groups moved to Lahore, Delhi and the Avadh, the preserve of Nawabs; as teachers, administrators and courtiers.( a case of peace time dispersal) Jahangir and his son Shah Jahan (1627-58) were just tolerant to Pandits. Aurangzeb (1658-07), again reversed the situation with his brand of religious intolerance. Islamic dogmas got reintroduced in Kashmir through the indoctrinated, in-tolerant governors with new zest and a branded hate. Iftkar Khan (1671-75), a governor became another zealot and a class propagator of Zulum. Words fail to describe. He has been the Tyrant responsible to drive Brahmans to wall. They were left with no choice under increasing scare and threat of life but to approach and seek help from out side the territory of Kashmir. This must have been the saddest event. Under high surveillance a group sneaked out to Anandpur Sahib, Punjab, to explain their woe to the ninth guru, Guru Teg Bahadur . Guru incurred wrath of Mughal throne leading to his martyrdom. And a new chapter in the history of Sikhs was written with the creation of Khalsa Pant, by its tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh, to fight atrocities of the oppressors. In Kashmir oppression on Brahmans remained unabated. New governors; Muzaffer Khan, Nassar Khan, Ibrahim Khan, were equally ruthless with renewed directions of the ‘Delhi Crown’. Killing of Brahmans under torture had become a woeful sport of king’s lieutenants. People under great mental strain and painful duress preferred to get off the prevailing unbearable conditions in their native land. Prof. Satish Ganjoo calls it -the forth disastrous mass exodus, -the sixth dispersal. At the death of Aurangzeb the Mughal authority in Kashmir began to tumble as also elsewhere. The valley became hot bed of intrigues combined with usual violence and bloodshed. The valley was mostly administered by deputy governors. During Mullah Abdul Nabi the new Shaikhul Islam (1720), Brahman experienced repression of worst, kind aided by Mir Ahmed Khan, who designating them as kafirs. Brahmins were now subjected to curbs, i) on free moment,ii) horse riding ,iii) wearing of shoes, iv) use of any kind of costume resembling a royal wear, v) use of Tilk not satisfied the vi) education to their Children was also banned. Ill famed Dindar Khan let loose flood of torture with little innovation or change. More brutal and a great sinister Saif-u-Din son followed his father as new Shaikhul-Islam, a person who additionally put all remaining civil norms on board.. A severe flood (1746-47) followed all Zulum when three quarters of population was severely uprooted or perished. This became an added reason to flee the valley. The fifth dreadful mass exodus and (seventh dispersal). It was in real a miserable situation to wear the cloak of refugees once again. Another worst kind of social and political condition invited Ahmad Shah Abdali to invade Kashmir and put an end to Mugal domination and thus set the Afghan rule (1753-1819). Those who madeway for change never realized that, it was an invitation to set a new regime of barbarous horde; a repeat story for next sixty seven years of Zulum with renewed threats to life not without humiliation. Larwance called it ‘reign of brutal tyrarnny’. Killing, mortification, wanton debase abuse of dignity continued to stay as the order of the day. Brahmans were specially abused doused into filth tied down in grass mats (wagau) and downed, their women folk suffered indignity and denigration of an extreme kind by the administrators with de-human, debauch character. The unbearable conditions, inhuman treatment and sufferings left noting for the mortified Brahman population to live by in Kashmir. George Foster (1783) an officer or of East India Company writes, ‘ experience has driven me to the conclusion that I had never known a body of men more impregnated with the principals of vice than the natives of Kashmir’. By now after around, four hundred fifth years of Islamic defilement of beauty and bounty of Kashmir was complete; the invasive Islam and the native convert had lost distinction. The extremely reduced Brahman population while respecting their residual dignity had no alternative choice but to flee and abandon their home with it loosing love and regard for eroding nativity. According to Historian Satish Ganjoo this was the sixth mass exodus (eighth dispersal). Their flight destination again, being Dehli and the plains of Ganges. Jabar Khan the branded cruel and inhuman person, was the last Afghan Governor, defeated (1819, July) by the forces of Maharaja Ranjit Singh . This ended a long historic period of infame including the last tragic sixty seven years of Afghan Rule. The Sikh Rule (1819-1846) though a great relief to Hindu population remained by and large ill organized. Ground conditions in the valley being in a state of utter chaos both politically and socially the Sikh rule failed to re-establish by any measure a dignified order; more due to an inheritance of an absolutely de-humanized society. However cruelty got considerably subdued with return of a dignity to Brahmans in a good measure; in a country economically and socially shattered. At least later expresses the feelings of Vigne (1835), a traveler and ‘geo- botanist’. Following the death of Ranjit Singh (1839), Kashmir became an area of intrigue with British forces having defeated Sikh armies. Maharaja Gulab Singh who had established power and strengthened Dogra (Duggar) regime in Jammu region, was drawn into the whirlpool of power struggle. Being an astute worrier and general, Gulab Singh managed the Dogra authority over Kashmir under treaty with British, who had earlier wrested it from Sikhs (1846). Next century (1846-1947?) it was the Dogra dynasty as the rulers of now J&K State including Ladakh. …. Maharajas; - Gulab Singh (1846-57); Ranbir Singh (--1885); Partap Singh (--1925); and Hari Singh (--1947?). Lt. R.G.Taylor (1846) a visitor to Srinagar, writes; ‘Srinagar town presented a miserable appearance, Houses were tumbling. Streets were filthy…’ similar observations came from ,Boron Shonberg , ‘ I have been in many lands .. , but no where the condition of human being present a more saddening spectacle than in Kashmir’. The, tribes men and dacoits were continually active in disturbing the peace. However during Dogra regime; “…. conditions substantially improved. Peace and stability itself was a boon. … welfare measures were also taken up”; Observes Jag Mohan (1991). And with it respectability of Brahmans got considerably restored. A relief that was unknown during previous six to seven centuries. After 1947 AD the political and social events in J&K becomes “ a live history”. To put it on record once again the tribal invasion (1947) from the newly formed Pakistan,as a result of partition of British India ,on Kashmir is another nightmare tale. The savage Tribals mistook every house hold metal in Brahman houses as presious…brass things of kitchen utility as Gold. Temple bells were pulled down , temple articles were carried as their precious loot. With it the, debase, barbaric attacks on villege after villege became an order at least for a month or so. The de-jury resident muslims too were not spared and stood largely in-distinguished under the haste of collection of loot and killing spree. It happened during the end phase of Dogra rule whose defending forces were ill equipped at this moment of over all national turmoil due to partition. The seemingly communal parity in masses resisted a measure social damage. However, a strong sense in-security among Brahman population once again made its appearance. The Result: - the seventh exodus (ninth dispersal). This time, to the politically, ‘declared secular’ Nation India. For the Brahman community back in the Valley, a “bracketed period”(1947-1989)had started. Untill (1989), i) the sustaining Dogra rule,ii) the non negotiable spirited love and regard for the land,iii) the assured presence Secular India iv)the willy- nilly acceptance of Kashmriyat by state governments, vi) un-hindered acceptance of permanent non secular fundamental features of Islam, are some of the principal reasons which delivered hope after hope that, the deceptive socio-political conditions laiden with heavy streaks of under lying “ZULUM”, will some day get sustainable, on this heavenly Earth. Brahmans got only duped under self deception. And the came the January ’89 after anther forty two years of uneasy subjective existence with its final message of Zalim Islam, repeating the theme story, get killed ; stay and loose religion; flee or be hounded off. The last thing truly , really, practically , virtually happened. Happened also, -the eighth exodus (tenth dispersal) into the verily loving folds of Mother India. Life sustains here in its wonderful unique Maturity. Unfortunate History! It belongs to no body unless the Historian has vested interests in it. History truly presents itself as a mirror of its subject. The ‘mirror’, they say ‘does not lie’! Historian’s limitations, number several. More often the net description of history it is incomplete and dotted with interrogations. What we read, therefore, is only ‘an hyphened’ truth of our past. There are many index in-formations about history however, which pour out from, myths , tell tale stories. In particular the truths wrapped up here are those facts which did not find favour with the historian but stayed back in the silent forbearance of people who become a subject matter of history, who happen to reflect it back in their response, psychology, social activity. A ‘case history’ is that of Kashmir’s socio- political history of Brahman as its subject reveals many truths which otherwise have remained uncovered because of the absence of historians requirement, which have to be physical and not without a tangibility. Even when available, physical facts may not read enough, for want of either, the historian’s intense labour, over bearing immediate requirements, or remunerative interests. The Kashmiri Brahman, we call ‘Him’ also Pandit or Pundit; besides having remained a victim also remains a victim of History, old and current one, since no history reflects any subdued pain of a people for want of evidence. Evidence of this is kind is more often writ on their faces and untold words /streaks of Pain. ‘Zulum” as enumerated here has been an attempt to give an expression to this Pain. We also document for the Historians purpose some, facts, words and sentences and short tales or fables and phrases, which stay with this population in unspoken and sub-sonic ‘Word’. “Batta Mazaar”; a place in Srinagar, that incorporate tales of victims of an uncountable number of Brahmans who fell to the ‘sward of the killer’, not only received death but also a dismissal of their body in utter malice, without a coffin cloth and a burial instead of a Brahman’s wish for a cremation. “Disposal of thirteen (seven+six) monds of Jaenu”; Having collected the ‘sacred thread’ from the bodied of the dead or the victims of Conversion, their was a bonfire and in a sadist’s rejoicement. (a mond is measures around thirty two kilograms). “Naa Batta; Naa Batta”; A Cry in anticipation of pain of death by an identified victim, under sword or broken limbs, under a baton. No human rights are thought of under a barbaric rule. “Girls and Women stayed with faces deformed”; A desperate effort to avoid criminal glances “ No forehead mark or sacred tuft”; The Brahman’s identification should have worked as a red rag to the bull. “ Fifty thousands Brahmans, perished while being carried as captured slaves”; A savage practice of the medieval World was brought to Kashmir “When Wular Lake went red”; Unheard of; those killed were consigned to the World’s famous fresh water lake to turn it red with their bleeding bodies. “The Brahman who tied Shivling in his under pants in scaring dread and to escape identified”; an established ancient faith stayed consistently under attack under ruler, invader or plunderers; alike. “Eleven residual households of Brahmans in Kashmir”; An expression that leaves nothing to explain for a historian but a help in connecting and corroborating evidences Dal Lake embankment buries millions of manuscripts, books and literature”; another satanic expression unknown any where else! “Subdued nature of Brahman after centuries of terror subjugation”; Brahmans have a sad memory of being recipients of humiliating word and expressions; even to date. “Erections of worship houses to Khuda at the demolition sites of worship places of temples of Gods”; --- Strange for beings in a civilized World. Should historians desire to record, they have a renewed chance to endorse the continued and prevalent ‘Zulum’ of the ‘Zalims’ in Kashmir on the Brahman Pundit; afresh after 1989.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 14:53:49 +0000
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