Old Kashmiris always yearned for Homeland

In 1903, when Maharaja Pratap Singh visited Delhi, he was presented an address printed on satin cloth by Kashmiri Pandits, resident in northern India. The address said that though they were living far from Kashmir, they had not forgotten that it was their homeland.

The pain of exile has been best expressed by the great poets of the exiled Kashmiri Pandit community.

Brij Narain Chakbast wrote:

Shuteh Huveh Oos Bagh Ko

Guzarah Hai Zamana

Taza Hai Magar Iski Mohabbat Ka Fasana

Ages have passed since this garden was abandoned, Yet the story of its love is still fresh.

Bishan Narain Dar said :

Hai Arzuheh Dil Ki

Teri Arzu Karenh Jab Tak

Zaban Hai Teri Gupt Goo Karenh

Jo Hai Hazar Jan Se Tuj Per

Nisar Hai Gul Se Aziz Hum Ko Tera Khar Khar Hai

Mudat Seh Ishtiaq Hai

Ek Bar Dekh Leh Bulbul Meh Cheshm Shok Se Gulzar Dekh Leh

It is the desire of my heart to be desirous of you.

As long as I can speak, to speak of you.

Whatever is most precious is offered to you.

To me every thorn of yours is dearer than a flower.

Since ages it is my wish to see you at least once.

It is the bird which longs to have a sight of the flower garden.

Tribhuwan Nath Sapru 'Hijr', referred to Kashmir as the Watan or Homeland of Kashmiri Pandit Community or Quam and said:

Tailuk Vohi Quam Ko Hai Watan Se

Ki Jo Hai Ruh Ko Ho Tailuk Badan Se

The relationship between the homeland and the nation.

It is the same as the relation between the body and the soul.

"The real problem of Kashmir is whether it continues as  a secular state as the rest of India or not. This affects the whole of India because secularism in India also has not got such firm foundation as I would like it to have. Anything happening in Kashmir will undoubtedly affect the rest of India with its vast Muslim population".

-- Jawahar Lal Nehru, in his letter to Pt. Prem Nath Bazaz, dated 26th July 1962

Letter written by Mahatma Gandhi to Pt. Prem Nath Bazaz, dated 15 May, 1934

Dear Friend

I have gone through your paper. We are sowing as we reaped. Seeing that Kashmir is predominantly Mussalman it is bound one day to become a Mussalman state. A Hindu prince can therefore only rule by not ruling i.e., by allowing the Mussalmans to do as they like and by abdicating when they are manifestly going wrong. This is the ideal. What is expedient is more than I can judge.

Yours Faithfully

M.K. Gandhi  

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