Table of Contents
When did Kashmiri Pandit convert to Islam?
In 1339 Kashmir throne was captured by Sultan Shahmir who founded Shahmiri dynasty in Kashmir. Subsequently, according to some traditions ten thousand Kashmiri Hindus converted to Islam and hence the seeds of Islam in Kashmir were sown.
What happened to Hindu Pandits in Kashmir?
The local organisation of Hindus in Kashmir, Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS) after carrying out a survey in 2008 and 2009, said that 399 Kashmiri Hindus were killed by insurgents from 1990 to 2011 with 75\% of them being killed during the first year of the Kashmiri insurgency, and that during the last 20 years.
Why did exodus of Kashmiri Pandits happen?
Hindus were opposed by both independence-seeking militant groups and Islamist insurgents in the 1990s, the opposition sometimes becoming violent. This created an atmosphere of fear, which significantly motivated the migration. 19 January is observed by some Kashmiri Hindu communities as “Exodus Day”.
What happened to Kashmir?
A second, larger wave left in March and April, after more Pandits were killed. On January 21, the CRPF gunned down 160 Kashmiri Muslim protesters at the Gawkadal Bridge, which has come to be known as the worst massacre in the long history of the conflict in Kashmir.
Why are Kashmiri Pandits a Hindutva issue?
The exodus took place at the same time that the BJP was upping the ante across northern India, and over the years, the plight of Kashmiri Pandits has become a potent Hindutva issue. In the lead-up to the events of 1990, Kashmir was in ferment.
What is the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front?
The Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) stepped up its activities, and the hanging of the militant leader Maqbool Bhat in 1984 added to the sense of foreboding. In 1986, after the Rajiv Gandhi government opened the Babri Masjid locks to enable Hindus to offer prayers there, ripples were felt in Kashmir too.
Where do Jammu’s Pandits live?
A township of two-room tenements called Jagti was built in Jammu in the last decade to house 4,000-5,000 Pandit families who remained there. In addition, there are hundreds of families living in government tenements in Purkhoo on the outskirts of Jammu, in Nagrota and in Muthi. Some built new homes and or moved into rented places.