This refers to the write-up titled 'O,swear not by the moon' by Riyaz Ahmad (GK Feb 4,2013). Like Reyaz sahib I also have not gone through Rahul Pandita's book 'Our Moon has blood clots' but Mr Pandita in a related article in The Hindu dated 19th Jan 2013 had revealed his mind on the subject. From what ever angle we see it the migration in early nineties was disastrous for both the communities. Our centuries old traditions were destroyed. Pandita must get his act right on just two counts which are very fresh in Kashmiri mind. Just as Rahul Pandita was a young boy-14 years old-when his family left their home in 1990 I was mere 12 in 1947 when Qabailis raided Kashmir and occupied North and West of the valley decimating the whole of Hari Singh's army in just two days.
Maharaja ran away to Jammu dumping his coreligionists helplessly at the mercy of Kashmiri Muslims.True to our  tradition the Muslims sheltered Pandit brothers in their homes, and camouflaged  in Muslim attire, saved their womenfolk from any harm. It  is a historical fact that not a single killing or rape occurred at the hands of Kashmiri Muslims and we came out with flying colors as secularists at that crucial moment in history. This in spite of the fact that there could be some 'Jag Mohans' in us as well. The restraint exhibited by us was unmatched at a time when more than a lakh of our coreligionists were being massacred across Banihal pass in Jammu at the personal supervision of the rulers.
Second-The Sikh community during these 23 years not only proliferated but also prospered during this period. So much so many Gurudwaras were raised/renovated. What made us very proud that a marble marvel came up at Chhatpadshahi; a structural parallel to Hazratbal shrine. This in spite of the fact that Muslims suffered the worst persecution during Ranjit Singh's occupation of Kashmir from 1819 to 1845.
This is simply to put record straight because not a single temple was desecrated during the militancy as alleged by Rahul Pandita in his Write- up, dated 19th Jan 2013, 'When Waters Turned Black...' referred to above.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 5 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 5 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
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