This Village In Uri Sector Hasn't Seen Migration Of Kashmiri Pandits Despite Conflict Since 1990s

Lying barely six kilometres away from Line of Control (LoC) and three kilometres away from main town Uri, Lagama village on Srinagar - Muzaffrabad Road in Uri sector of north Kashmir occupies a very important position in the current history of Kashmir because of its Kashmiri Pandit population.

Surrounded by Pir Panchal Mountains and River Jhelum just flowing below the village, the Pandits in Lagama village have stayed back and didn¡¯t migrate till date since 90¡¯s when the militancy was on peak and despite the turbulent days that the valley has seen.

According to Bharat Kumar Sharma, a senior resident of the village and Chairman of Municipal Committee Uri, the Pandits never felt insecure in the village. ¡°We live here peacefully with Muslims. They have never troubled us and are treating us as their brothers,¡± says Sharma.

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Sharma who has been elected as the Chairman of Municipal Committee Uri for the second time says, ¡°It was in year 2008, when I was elected as the Chairman for the first time because of the love and support of Muslims. And this time, I have been elected again. I am thankful to them that they trust me¡±

Sharing the experience of attending all the rituals with Muslims, he says, ¡°Whether it is joy or sorrow, we always stand with them. Recently, eight labourers from Uri died in a landslide incident in Uttarakhand. We went to their villages, express our sympathies with the bereaved families and also assisted our Muslim brothers in burying the dead bodies¡±

As most of the Pandits live in Lagama village while the rest of them are settled in neighbouring Bandi and Dyari villages. These villages have six temples. Three temples are in Lagama, two in Bandi and one in Dayar.

Commenting on serving his society he says, ¡°Being at the helm of affairs, I always try to raise the issues with local administration and the government that are confronted by the people of my village. I try to do justice to everyone,¡± says Sharma.

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52- year-old Chandar Shekhar Sharma, a teacher by profession says that the village is the best example of communal harmony.

¡°Those fringe elements that are destabilizing the situation in the valley by saying that there are not good relations between Pandits and Muslims, let me tell them that come to Lagama village and clear your doubts,¡± he says.

¡°I have witnessed my postings in many districts of the valley even in several volatile areas like Sopore. But till date nobody has harmed us or asked us to leave. We move freely where ever we want to go without any obstructions,¡± says Madan Lal Sharma, a retired postal department employee.

Madan, who has two sons and three daughters and all married in Lagama and Bandi villages says, ¡°Last month we attended a marriage ceremony of Muslims. They were so overwhelmed to see us there. And it is not for the first time that we have been part of their rituals. We always keep doing so always¡±

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18- year-old Sahil Sharma, a college student pointed out the problem of lack of employment in the Pandit community.

¡°Our youth is mostly engaged to agriculture, trade or small business. They are educated but unemployed. The government hasn¡¯t done anything for our community so far,¡± says Sahil adding, ¡°Those who have migrated from Kashmir are receiving government benefits, but we have been left out¡±

Ahmad Din Budoo, 64, an old resident of the village and a retired government employee says, ¡°We are settled here for the past 20 years. We have built a strong relation with the Pandits.

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We both the communities are completely dependent on each other. Here we have Hindu temples and the community celebrates festivals and follows Hindu rituals as well¡±

Sajad Ahmad Magral, a shopkeeper in the village says, ¡°The Pandits have always come to our rescue. Last month they also donated some cash for the constructional work of the mosque. We don¡¯t want them to leave¡±

Naveed Bukhtiyar, a social activist from Uri says, ¡°It¡¯s our responsibility to take care of the pandits. The administration and government has always tried its best to resolve the issues faced by the community¡±

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Sharma, who puts the number of Pandits in these villages at around 2000 and at least 300 voters in Lagama is hoping that those who have migrated should come back. ¡°Kashmir is our land. Nobody forced us to leave the valley. It¡¯s all calm here and we too are living peacefully,¡± he signs off.