What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, stands as a prominent Hindu festival celebrated not only in India but also across South Asia. It graces us on the tenth day of Navaratri, a nine-night festivity devoted to the revered Hindu goddess Durga. The timing of Dussehra varies each year, usually falling in either September or October, aligned with the lunar calendar. This festival bears profound cultural and religious importance, signifying the triumph of good over evil. In India, Dussehra boasts a rich tapestry of cultural and historical significance, drawing people of all ages and diverse backgrounds into its spirited and joyful celebrations.
From the year 1989, a wave of Islamisation began to sweep over Kashmir, accompanied by the armed insurgency of the 1990s and a proxy war fuelled by Pakistan. This turbulent period also witnessed the ethnic cleansing of the Pandit community, leading to a significant transformation in the cultural landscape of the region. The traditional, syncretic social fabric that had defined Kashmir for centuries began to erode, giving way to more rigid interpretations of Islam, such as Wahhabism and Salafism.
The population of Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir Valley experienced considerable fluctuations. In 1947, they accounted for about 6 per cent of the Valley’s populace. As of the 1981 census, there were 124,078 Hindus in the Kashmir Division, with the majority belonging to the Pandit community. By 1990, their numbers had grown to an estimated 160,000-170,000. However, the eruption of insurgency in 1989 instilled fear and insecurity among Pandits, prompting a mass exodus and resulting in a sharp decline in their population. By 2011, only an estimated 2,700-3,400 Pandits remained in the Kashmir Valley. Presently, the majority of the over 800,000 Kashmiri Pandits have found homes in Jammu city, with sizable communities in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Today, the celebration of Dussehra in Kashmir, particularly the visuals of heartwarming scenes unfolding in Lal Chowk, Srinagar, carries immense significance. It signifies a mending of the social fabric that was torn apart during the tumultuous 1990s. The recent festivities have brought together people from diverse backgrounds, including Kashmiri Pandits, Hindus, Sikhs, and even Muslims, showcasing communal harmony and unity. This unity reflects the essence of India’s civilization, which has always embraced and integrated persecuted communities throughout history.
It holds deep implications for everyday life in Kashmir. Cultural diversity, especially in a diverse nation like India, has profound value. It enriches lives, encourages learning and development, sparks creativity and innovation, and brings about both economic and social advantages.
Kashmir, nestled within its mountainous borders and often cut off from the outside world during harsh winter months, had long been an isolated society. Interaction with people from varied backgrounds has the power to expand one’s horizons, promote personal growth, and nurture empathy. Unfortunately, this was missing during the three decades of armed Islamist insurgency.
Embracing diverse perspectives can fuel creative solutions, foster innovation, and bring about economic prosperity while strengthening social unity. It also enables the preservation of cultural heritage and the development of a broader global outlook, a perspective that was previously limited to local affairs.
The significance of cultural diversity in both education and personal life goes beyond measure, offering personal fulfilment and contributing to a more inclusive and interconnected world. Multicultural societies undeniably enjoy the benefits of a broader spectrum of ideas and experiences, leading to heightened creativity and innovation.
This is especially crucial in the face of numerous global challenges, from wars to natural disasters, including the recent man-made crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the world grapples with emerging issues like biological warfare, the importance of global interconnectedness has become increasingly evident. The pandemic united the world in a collective effort to combat a common threat, utilizing the brilliant minds of the global community. While challenges related to social and national integration may persist, the overarching impact of multiculturalism on the social fabric remains overwhelmingly positive, nurturing inclusivity.
India has always pursued the noble goal of national integration, a noteworthy endeavour given the nation’s vast tapestry of diverse ethnicities, linguistic identities, major world religions, and a myriad of climatic and geographic zones. Following independence from colonial rule, a paramount task was to foster a sense of belonging among the various groups and communities that make up the Indian nation.
The objective was to forge a united and inclusive society where people hailing from diverse cultural, religious, linguistic, and regional backgrounds could coexist harmoniously, appreciating each other’s distinctions while collaborating towards common objectives. Regrettably, Pakistan’s schemes and manipulations exploited the enduring fault lines left by the Partition, subsequently giving rise to armed insurgencies in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan’s aim of balkanisation of India has always been thwarted by the people of India, except a few domestic collaborators funded by the ISI. Through the three decades of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Indians in Kashmir have defeated its nefarious agenda time and again and the celebration of Hindu festivals in the Valley marks the ultimate victory of tolerance, diversity and multiculturalism over intolerance, supremacy, and nihilistic aspirations of an Army with a country to run.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project aims to provide rail connectivity to the Kashmir Valley and improve transportation infrastructure in the region. The completion of the USBRL project, including the Chenab Bridge, is aimed at improving transportation and connectivity in the Kashmir Valley. It is seen as a significant development in terms of infrastructure and is expected to reduce travel time between Katra and Srinagar by five to six hours. This will further help in defanging the jihad industry across the border.
With Diwali around the corner, the preparations by the Union territory of J&K displays India’s journey towards national integration — a testament to the nation’s commitment to unity in diversity. While the path has been marred by challenges, including external influences and regional conflicts, the core ideal of a harmonious and inclusive society has persisted. The recent resurgence of cultural diversity and communal harmony, symbolised by the celebration of Dussehra in Kashmir, is a promising sign.
It reflects the nation’s enduring spirit to bridge divides and rebuild social fabric that might have frayed in the past. As India forges ahead, the richness of its multicultural tapestry will remain a source of strength, resilience, and inspiration for the world.
