On This Day In 1989 One Of The Biggest Leaders Of Kashmiri Pandits, Tika Lal Taploo Was Killed By Militants

This day in 1989 the tallest leader of the KP community Pt Tika Lal Taploo fell victim to the terrorist¡¯s ire. He was killed for a number of reasons, important being that he was well known and a visible leader of the beleaguered community and commanded respect from every quarter of the society.

The enemy had carefully strategized his killing knowing too well that would hurt the community most as it would deprive them of their most potent and audible political voice and representation at a time when that was needed the most. The aim was to render them political orphans.

His killing set off a series of target killings of KP leaders and activists at the hands of trigger-happy militants who, much like ISIS mad skulls found joy in counting the heads. This dance of death continued with impunity so much so that a terrorist had the audacity to confess on a local TV he had killed so many KPs and that he had lost the exact count. Thereafter this day assumes significance in our life in exile and is etched in our collective memory.

For very obvious reasons, September 14th always reminds me of the Wailing Wall or Kotil which is located at the old Quarter of Jerusalem. It derives its name from Arabic El-Mabka or Place of Weeping. A brief History about this wall is that when Rome destroyed the second temple of Mount in 70 CE, they left Outer Wall untouched as it must have seemed too insignificant to them. But it was not to be. This remnant portion of the old temple became the most sacred building of the Jewish world and the holiest spot of their sacred religious life and for centuries now the Jews have been undertaking the arduous and difficult spiritual journey to Kotil- ha-Maaravi. It is also known as place of pilgrimage and Tears. In Jewish marriages a ceremony involves the groom break a glass to commemorate the destruction of the Holy Temple. Until 1967 (from 1947) Kotil was under the control of Jordan and Israel had signed Armistice agreement with it in 1949 to allow Jews visit the Wall. It is a different matter that despite a deal no Jew was permitted to visit this sacred site until 1967 when Gen Moshe Dayan became the first person to visit that place during a six day war with Jordan and he inserted the written petition in its cracks. His prayer was that ¡°May a lasting peace descend upon the House of Israel¡±.

It is a journey of pain, trauma but also dedication and determination. Is there anything common between the two civilizational accidents. I believe that though the two cannot be linked but the rise of assault on our civilizational history and religious institutions has become more vicious and strident. The invasion in the recent past on our religious practices involving pilgrimage to Kounsarnag has reaffirmed the perception. The aggressive and combatant mode adopted by the Fundamentalist Muslim leaders in Kashmir in preventing the sacred journey is communicated bold and clear that this yatra is being carried out only to destroy the Muslim identity of Kashmir tagged with environmental concerns as an afterthought. In actuality, it is a process to erase the pre-Islamic past of Kashmir and construction of a make shift mosque at Kounsar nag therefore is only an extension of the process.

BCCL/ File

This martyr¡¯s day assumes more significance for us as after living 27 years of exiled life, it is time to respond positively and decisively. There is a need for critical re-thinking because there is a palpable unease in some fundamentalist and anti KP constituencies in Kashmir about the prospect of KPs return. The big challenge before us is to recover, reorganize the ideas and energies. The revival therefore hinges on the ability to address issues of concern. For a significant period of time resettlement occupied a dominant position in KP politics but this has changed because of fear factor deliberately being played to dissuade KPs from taking a decision. Ideological stagnation has also contributed to the dilemma. This is encouraging debilitating trends.

It is time for us to realize that we are dealing with a rapidly and rabidly changing situation in Kashmir which has become more combatant and less tolerant, more conservative and less secular. It is an admitted fact that the changing socio-political matrix has become a propagator of a particular culture that would try hard to deprive us of our rightful dues. Adding to it is the long and continued absence of KPs and a quarter of a century of stasis of their attitudes. It is a political error leaving behind a bitter feeling of disappointment. There is a need to halt or limit its harm by repelling the advocates of continuity and status quoists. This assumes significance as the clock is moving faster necessitating the need for fundamental reversal of thinking which implicitly acknowledges the need for a new thinking and a new narrative.

BCCL

While concluding, we are faced with a question that will we sail through the storm or be swept away by the tide. This question I think should be responded on this martyrs day. It is pertinent to reiterate that 14th September is of significance to KP community and it has a large symbolic meaning. I am as such of firm belief that it is too naive to write KPs off from Kashmir. Notwithstanding the continuities between inequalities and odds, but a sharp edged political vision will demonstrate the change. Creating change is not always easy but when one is inspired by vision for a better world, you realize the importance of being a catalyst for good. Not letting the adversity stand in the way is central to the entire process of change. Numerous change makers in the KP community are dedicated to translating their faith values into hard realities. Let us therefore respect their initiatives and that will be a true tribute and shradhanjali to our martyrs¡¯.

Romesh Raina a practising Doctor by profession and am residing at Faridabad was associated with Kashmiri Samiti Delhi for a long time as the General Secretary, later as President Kashmiri Pandits United Forum and last as General Secretary All India Kashmiri Samaj till 2015.