In Basaron, Pahalgam, 26 people, most of whom were tourists, who would have heard the news of his murder must have gone through many kinds of feelings – from sorrow to hatred, heartbreak to anger. Being a Kashmiri, we are accustomed to the news of violence. But this time the matter was different. Those killed were not stakeholders, nor were they ally, detectives, armed forces soldiers or outsiders who were trying to change the demographic of the state – common victims of violence in Kashmir. These were innocent tourists, celebrating honeymoon, spending their holidays. In the time of such conflict, I always wonder why people of Sikh community come forward to help?
As usual, the popular media began to polarize all Muslims as all Hindus. After this, there was widespread hatred against Kashmiri Muslims: they were called terrorists and radicals, called to behave like Israel, warning other states to vacate or suffer consequences, and even beaten up students studying outside Kashmir. But all this was a expected result, as clear from various Instagram posts, where people living in Kashmir warned Kashmiri Muslims living outside. Even in the past, there have been cases of hatred towards Kashmiri Muslims. Beating students and calling every Kashmiri a terrorist is not a solution; This is the problem.
In the time of such struggle, coming forward to help the people of the Sikh community is a shocking. He posted his contact details on Instagram, Kashmiri students were offered emergency assistance, shelter or safe route, would they not be considered a supporter of terrorists? Don’t you think when everyone is against them, supporting them will be seen as a connivance between Khalistanis and Kashmiri terrorists? But his answers were heart touching.
A person from Chandigarh said, “We are not helping them because they are Muslims, or so that they are Kashmiri. Sikhs have opened their gurdwaras in Kashmir to all tourists, they are Hindus, not Muslims. We are providing the same safe place, free food and emergency services to Hindus trapped in Kashmir.”
He said, “When we are talking, all the gurudwaras of Kashmir are full of tourists; Taxis are coming from airports. The reason is simple: We do not see religion; we see humans stuck in crisis. Whether they are Hindus, Muslims or some other religion, it is secondary. It is a secondary.
Another person said, “Not all Kashmiri are terrorists. Some of them can be. But this means that everyone should be punished? Hundreds of thousands of criminals in jail are Hindus, Sikhs or Muslims, do we consider every person of their religion as criminals?” He said: “These students came to their country in search of better opportunities. If we isolate them, we give them more reasons to hate us. Similarly, if we become terrorists. If tomorrow, if tomorrow, any of the people killed in Pahalgam or any member of their family takes a gun to avenge their loss, will we stop it?”
He believes, “We help those who need it. Unfortunately, they are Muslims most times. But during floods, earthquakes and Kovid-19, we helped everyone. At that time, we were not called Khalistani or terrorist. The media would say what the media will say. If we have trouble with it, what kind of Sikhs are we?”
If we want Kashmir, we will also have to accept Kashmiris. And if we accept them, we have to give them the benefit of doubt, hug them, they have to give them a safe place and make them feel that they belong to India. Only then will they want to be a part of India, not only geographically, but also from the soul. Polarization is working against it. Despite so much hatred, we must remember, it was a Kashmiri Pony, a Kashmiri Tour Guide, a Kashmiri Taxi, a Kashmiri Hotelwala that helped many tourists to flee and get safety. Thousands of Kashmiri are on the streets, crying against terrorists and angry.
