SRINAGAR: Seven leading Kashmiri Pandit organisations have adopted the ‘Praagaash Resolution’, a comprehensive roadmap advocating for justice, rehabilitation, cultural preservation, and the dignified return of the community to Kashmir. The resolution was formalised at the conclusion of the first community-led Global Kashmiri Pandit Heritage Tour and Conclave, themed ‘Praagaash – The First Light’, which took place in Srinagar between June 6 and June 14.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that representatives from the domestic and overseas diaspora of the community described the gathering as one of the most significant initiatives focused on homeland engagement undertaken by Kashmiri Pandits since their migration in 1990. The event was a collaborative effort, jointly organised by the Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora, Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch, Kashmiri Overseas Association-USA, Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj, Kashmiri Pandits’ Association Mumbai, Sanjeevani Sharda Kendra, and the All Minority Employees Association of Kashmir.
The conclave facilitated discussions on critical issues including rehabilitation, the preservation of Kashmiri Pandit culture, strategies for youth engagement, economic empowerment, and the strengthening of the community’s presence within Kashmir. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Ahmad Wani were in attendance during the two-day event.
The adopted resolution calls for the establishment of institutionalised engagement mechanisms between the Kashmiri Pandit community, the Government of India, and the Jammu and Kashmir administration. This would be facilitated through formal consultative platforms designed to foster ongoing dialogue and cooperation.
Participants also articulated a need for enhanced welfare measures for non-displaced Kashmiri Pandits and for employees appointed under the Prime Minister’s Special Package. These measures encompass improvements in security provisions, housing facilities, service conditions, and family welfare support.
The conclave expressed its support for the proposed establishment of a Kashmiri Pandit Welfare Board. However, it stressed that the formation of such a body should not diminish or dilute the community’s ongoing demands concerning justice, comprehensive rehabilitation, the restoration of their homeland, and accountability for past events.
Furthermore, the resolution urged for the formal recognition of the 1989-90 exodus of Kashmiri Pandits as a genocide within public policy frameworks. It called for the constitution of an appropriate commission of inquiry to examine the circumstances surrounding the mass displacement.
Delegates emphasised that the heritage tour and the renewed engagement with Kashmir should not be perceived as a substitute for achieving justice, restitution, or a dignified process of rehabilitation. Community leaders indicated plans to engage in further consultations with the Union government and the Union Territory administration regarding the proposed welfare board and other key issues raised during the conclave.
The organisers also announced their intention to develop the heritage tour into an annual initiative. This aims to foster a deeper connection for younger generations of Kashmiri Pandits with their ancestral cultural and historical roots in the Valley. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to returning to and revitalising their heritage in Kashmir, viewing the resolution as a significant step towards reclaiming community agency after decades of displacement.
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk
