Jammu. The Kashmiri Pandits are still unable to accept the shelter homes in Jammu as their home. For them even today their home is in Kashmir, it is just their temporary abode. One such multi-storeyed building reads, ‘Welcome to the mini township of Kashmiri migrants (Jagti)’.
Residents still cannot accept these as their homes. For them, these are just shelters because there is still a home in Kashmir.
Living in these one-room flats for thirty two years has been a never-ending struggle for 4,225 families. From day-to-day hassles to problems like drinking water, electricity, water leaking from roofs or breaking bathrooms, the conflicts are far greater.
Most of the residents had big houses in Kashmir, many had gardens and gardens, there was no shortage of food and water, clothes and all the amenities. For most, the future was secure, life was a song. But that all changed and these residents were suddenly thrown on the streets.
On the night of 19 January 1990, as inspired hysterical mobs took to the streets in Kashmir and the political class, administration and civil society fell into a deep slumber, thousands of hapless Kashmiri Pandits were driven out in one of independent India’s most unprecedented exodus. Given.
Frightened by running away from the murderous mob, the first stop of Kashmiri Pandits reached Jammu. It was a flight that did not take place because of a one-night terror show, it was the culmination of the desperation of atrocities against minorities since 1989.
Reaching Jammu was a life-changing experience for many, but being suddenly uprooted from their furnished homes in the Valley was like descending to another hell. Soon tents were set up at many barren places in Nagrota, Purkhu, Muthi, Mishriwala etc. of Jammu. Life was miserable and the struggle began for food, drinking water, clothing and shelter.
It was only in 2010 that these townships were created on the outskirts of Jammu. It took 20 years for the government to help these people, who were suffering mainly because of the state’s failure to protect them from terrorist attacks in Kashmir.
After living in tents for two decades, the refugees moved into the concrete. The township was inaugurated in March 2011 by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It’s only 350 square feet of flat for each family – one bedroom and one living room, but still better than those tents and huts.
Bhushan Lal Bhat was forced to flee Kashmir in 1990 after his uncle, who was in the Jammu and Kashmir Police, was shot dead in broad daylight at Khannabal Chowk. Bhat had a large house and land in the hill resort of Pahalgam, and once safely out of the valley, he moved from one camp to another at Udhampur in Jammu and then to a one-room apartment in Muthi camp And then Jagti went to the camp.
“I’ve been living in a tent and it’s been here for 32 years now. It’s not life, we’re just passing time. A few years ago, I took my son to my Kashmir home. He was amazed at our home and place. But the truth is we can’t stay there, we have to stay here.”
Another flat lives in is Pyare Lal Pandit, whose family was forced to flee in February 1990 following a threatening letter at the entrance of the village temple in Kupwara’s Lolab Ghati.
“My father had retired from the army and was given the choice – join us or get ready to die. After some time, we ran into a truck and reached Udhampur, where we saw a tree before we found a place. From there we moved to Muthi camp in Jammu before finally reaching Jagti.”
He said, “Our entire village was set on fire. Except the Shiva temple and three Chinar adjoining houses, all the houses were burnt. We lost all the papers which I could not study beyond class XII. I did in 10th class. Scored 598 marks out of 700, but could not pursue further studies in class 12th.”
He said, “Because my father’s salary was stopped due to paucity of papers. I sold vegetables, milk.. I had to support my family. I gave space to my younger siblings. In Jagti, the unemployment rate increased.” Too much. The government could have taken some skill development initiatives, but nobody cares.”
“The whole township is in very bad condition. There are no boundary walls, concrete is falling. We have a sub-hospital, doctors but no equipment. There is no sanitation and no waste disposal system. Plenty of drinking water It is of poor quality and many people here are suffering from liver and kidney ailments. Money is allocated, but we don’t know where it is spent.”
For the elderly residents, who witnessed the devastation in Kashmir, recovering from this trauma has been a challenge. There is still a bleak hope in their hearts that perhaps someday they may be able to go back to their homes in Kashmir – just 131 km away – and yet the distance now seems like a lifetime.
—AnyTV News
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