Khushwant Singhs’ honest admission reminded me of a similar encounter I had way back in 1991 immediately after our forced exile from our ancestral motherland Kashmir. That was during my interaction there with an Executive (middle Management cadre) of a well respected company in Pune (India). Since Islamic terrorism was at its peak in Kashmir and was catching the headlines of the day both in print as well as electronic media (though the latter was not as widespread as it is today), naturally my conversation with this officer revolved around our (Kashmiri Pandit) plight and the actual situation back home in the state especially in the valley. My “friend” did show a lot of concern for our plight and the way our community had to flee from the valley at gun point. He cursed the double standards of Indian secularism and the inability of the Indian government in controlling the situation as well. His soothing words managed, to a very little extent, nurse my fresh wounds inflicted then on account of my forced exile along with the rest of my family members and the community. It gave me solace to learn that there are some pockets of saner voices in our country who can give ear to my community’s woos. But little realizing that there was a big disappointment in store for me as well.

While trying my best to acquaint this gentleman with the actual ground realities, he got emotional, opened up and revealed his long cherished dream of visiting Kashmir on LTC and get blessed by its fresh air, enchanting beauty of its’ meadows, murmuring streams and to fulfill a desire to move around in the falling snow as well. He was in total agreement with my advice when I cautioned him, “It is not possible now, if you love your life and that of your family.” However, with the same breath I suggested to him, “You can equally experience all this by visiting an alternate hill station. Shimla is an ideal choice”. Pat came the reply. “Arre Yaar! Raaste Me To Kashmir Padega.” (Oh! But Kashmir falls in the way). My disappointment knew no bounds and my inflated spirits deflated to the lowest once again. I tried hard not to allow my disappointment to reflect on my face. Whether I succeeded or not, I am not sure. However, I did manage to return immediately to the original ‘business talk’ with this gentleman and took leave of him thereafter.

Similarly, many of us have often come across devotees of Mata Vaishno Devi, who ‘report’ that “all is fine in Kashmir as I just returned from a pilgrimage to the holy cave along with my family and friends”, little knowing that Katra city, where the abode of the holy Mother falls in Jammu region of the state, is nearly 300 kms away from Srinagar city - the summer capital of the state. And, still nearly 400 kms away from Srinagar city of Kashmir valley - the “gateway” of Islamic terrorism is the city of Leh in Ladhaakh region. And also the fact that nearly fifty percent of the total area of state remains in the illegal occupation of either Pakistan or China is not known to many. That the three regions are geographically, climatically as well as culturally diverse is another reality - most of the common citizens of the country are hardly aware of.

The investigating agencies have been suggesting that besides Pakistan, Kashmir connection remains a common link, behind the numerous bomb blasts that our country has witnessed in the recent past - be it in Delhi, Mumbai, Samjauta Express, Hyderabad, UP, North-East region etc.- claiming more than 500 innocent lives, cutting across all regional and religious barriers, during the last nearly two years.

No surprise then that I was baffled to watch (before being forcibly thrown out of the main gate of the hotel - midway between the proceedings) two highly respected and well known Indian citizens like Aroon Purie and Prabu Chawla very ‘graciously’ escorting a dreaded terrorist Yaseen Malik to the dais (AP on the left side swinging his right arm showing the way - a step ahead of Yaseen and PC on the right side with his left arm behind Yaseen’s back ) to be a part of ‘Youth Forum’ of ‘India Today Conclave 2008 ’ at Hotel Taj Palace in New Delhi on 15th of March 2008 while my fellow community members were unceremoniously being roughed up outside and taken away in police vans to put them behind the bars. Their only fault - they were protesting peacefully against lending a platform to the perpetrator of hatred and crime at the cost of ignoring the plight of nearly half a million of minority Kashmiri Pandits, now in 19th year of their forced exile.

When another fellow from my community tried to voice his concern inside, about the presence of a terrorist on the dais, he was forcibly evicted. “Show him the door ,” thundered Anand Mahindra the moderator of this session and shamelessly praising India Today Chief for having withstood the ‘pressure from certain quarters’ of withdrawing Yaseen - introduced as a “secular” and “former militant” by the organizers.

Unlike Khushwant Singh, I am not ashamed of myself. But, Yes! I am ashamed of those of my countrymen who exhibit their utter insensitivity towards the plight of the real victims of terrorism be it in J&K or the rest of the country either by their silence / indifference or by remaining “neutral” towards the real kingpins of terrorism under the cover of democracy or ‘free press’ or ‘freedom of expression’. What a shame!!!

The writer is a Kashmiri Pandit social activist, currently in-exile in New Delhi, India.

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