My Kashmir Files
The recent movie Kashmir Files has brought back memories of the autumn of 1989 in Kasmir. The winter was setting in, but the political tempo in the valley was at an all-time high. Frequent strikes were leading to the blockade of roads, and anti-Indian crescendo was in the air. Army convoys were also subjected to protests by frenzied crowds. Major roads of the valley were dotted with anti-Indian slogans, anti-Army slogans, and even Pakistani Flags. The army was on wait and watch. Orders were to avoid getting into any kind of skirmishes with the protesters.
We were located
near Kupwara in Kashmir. Our unit was co-located with a village where a few houses
were just about hugging the boundary wall of our unit. Our unit ammunition
magazine was located about three kilometers away due to the paucity of accommodation. Another
village (W) was located en route to the location of the ammunition magazine. The
boys guarding the ammunition were supplied rations and meals from our unit
through patrolling.
The village
adjoining our unit had about four to five houses of Hindus. One house of a
Hindu family was next to our guard post where our soldiers were on duty day and night. Our
CO on morning PT or evening stroll would often interact with locals and Hindu
Families residing in the village. The locals would assure us that no harm would
come to their Hindu brothers. However, Hindu families were guarded in their
approach and often avoided coming into contact with Army personnel. One could
guess that they did not want to be seen as some kind of informers working for
the army. None of them talked about leaving their homes.
The village W also had
about four to five Hindu families. Whenever I visited the ammunition magazine, I interacted
with them and other locals of that village. One particular Hindu family was rather
affluent and had a much bigger house with good amenities. They were quite well-read
folks. I used to assure them of the full support of the Army, not to leave
their houses, and let us know if anybody threatened them. They would nod in agreement, but one could
sense their helplessness. We were not there with them all the time. In fact,
the Hindu family heads would avoid being seen with army personnel and even told
us not to visit them lest they be targeted by militants.
As the situation in
the valley started deteriorating, the trucks carrying Hindu families with
household luggage became a frequent sight on roads. The families from the
village, neighbouring our unit, moved out in almost complete secrecy, and our
guard did not get the wind off it. The complete guard faced the wrath of our
CO.
Later on, Subedar
Majors of the units, located in the valley, were sent out to Hindu migrant
camps, under central arrangements, to
contact the Hindu families of their area of responsibility. The aim was to motivate
them to get back or at least point out the people who had threatened them to leave.
No one volunteered to come back.
On my next visit to
the W village, I found that all the Hindu families of the village had left. Out
of curiosity, I went to that affluent family’s house. It was deserted. I found
almost all the doors, windows, and even sanitary and electric fixtures removed.
The household items were gone, and a few
broken pots were lying scattered. A book was lying on the floor; quite ironically it was titled, ‘Scoundrels
and Scalawags’.
The above article was published in The Tribune on 26 Mar 2022 under the heading 'Reopening the Kashmiri Wounds'. It can be viewed on internet by clicking the link below :-
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/musings/reopening-the-kashmiri-wounds-380780
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