An exhibition on Kashmiri Pandits---yes that's me, I curated it. Thought it was time someone gave credit to us folk--instead of hounding us out of Kashmir and pretending we never existed unless it was in some Muslim approved garb. Its the problem I have with all shades of fundamentalism--turning the Other out of the Pale--so we have been turned out and Kashmir can only be of one denomination--yes say it please--a Muslim Kashmir.
There he comes, a wily politician, snivelling his way into the circle of viewers and he remarks taht he would love to sponsor the exhibit in Srinagar. Od course we want the Pandits back, genocide, ethnic cleansing, whoever told these fairy tales--we love them, the Hindus--see I want to take your Exhibition to Srinagar, and give you a good time at Kashmir University, but surely, yes, surely you understand, you cannot have an Exhibition on the Kashmiri Pandits alone, can you not put in a few of Muslim Kashmiris, after all that chap there, Mohanlal is so well--known, yes he did convert, and let's do this exhibition there as well--Muslims & Hindus----no marks for guessing who is moustachiod politico might be.
There he comes, a wily politician, snivelling his way into the circle of viewers and he remarks taht he would love to sponsor the exhibit in Srinagar. Od course we want the Pandits back, genocide, ethnic cleansing, whoever told these fairy tales--we love them, the Hindus--see I want to take your Exhibition to Srinagar, and give you a good time at Kashmir University, but surely, yes, surely you understand, you cannot have an Exhibition on the Kashmiri Pandits alone, can you not put in a few of Muslim Kashmiris, after all that chap there, Mohanlal is so well--known, yes he did convert, and let's do this exhibition there as well--Muslims & Hindus----no marks for guessing who is moustachiod politico might be.
1 comment:
I just chanced upon your blog. It's so sad that Kashmiri Pandit culture which evolved under constant threat since the 13th century should be on the verge of extinction, largely undocumented, in 21st century modern India. The irony is that it survived Sikander the iconoclast and the Afgans but in a democratic India it perished! One can see how the history of Kashmir is conveniently being rewritten without even the token name of Kashmiri Pandits. Against that back drop your exhibition is a great contribution to documenting an important part of Kashmiri Pandit history. Their intellect and vision to move out of and beyond Kashmir and reach soaring heights! I really do hope you will publish a book based on this.
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