In Kashmir Neighbourhood, An 'Experiment' To Bring Pandits Back Home

Srinagar: Saeb Lal was 40 years old when he left his home at Saraibala in Srinagar in the dead of the night to migrate to Delhi after militancy erupted in the valley in 1990.

Mr Lal has now returned to the valley with his wife Rama after 26 years. Like lakhs of displaced Pandits, he no longer owns house here. But this week, the house of Nazir Mattoo, a small-time shopkeeper is their temporary home. Like Mr Lal, around 50 Pandits from 15 families have arrived here to live with Muslim families.

"We have the same blood, when Pandits die, Muslims do the cremation," said Nazir Mattoo.

"My heart breaks to live outside the valley. Here there is humanity. In other places people don't care," said Mr Lal.
 Their wives Chasfeeda and Rama have met for the first time but have bonded like childhood friends. This experiment is the brainchild of a Pandit businessman Sandeep Mava whose own father was shot at by militants during the exodus of 1990. 50 Pandits from 15 families have arrived here to live with Muslim families.

"We are trying to bind two communities together. Let us forget politics," said Sandeep Mawa.

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While successive governments have failed to come up with a concrete proposal for the return of Kashmiri Pandits, the civil society has made the initiative.

Pandits are coming to the valley to live with Muslims, clearly it is a throwback to the Kashmir that once was. This small experiment is at least the beginning of dialogue driven by people instead of politicians.

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