M. Ehsan
URI, May 8: Located near the Line of Control in Uri, Lagama and Bandy are the only two villages in Kashmir inhabited almost entirely by Pandits. When armed uprising against Indian rule began two decades ago, the Pandits of Kashmir chose to migrate – even from highly fortified towns and villages – leaving behind a handful of elders.
But only those in Lagama and Bandy stayed back. And more than 1500 of them did.
These villages in the frontier area of Kashmir stand out the rest in the entire valley: temple bells ring, women wearing red ‘bindis’ pass by, roadside shops are adorned with posters of Hindu gods and goddesses and Indian cricket players.
“It took me hours to search posters of star Indian players, especially Dhoni and Sachin,” said Rakesh Kumar, a shopkeeper.
Social and commercial transactions between the two communities are part of everyday life in the two villages. A small Muslim hotel in the heart of Lagama is a favourite haunt of Hindus and Muslims from several neighbouring villages. Mansoor Ali, a muslim government contractor who lives in nearby Gakote, comes here almost everyday to meet his Hindu friends over tea, Kashmiri cakes and biscuits.
Although the border with Pakistan is very close and the treacherous mountain ranges that host these villages was once a favoured route of the militants to cross the LoC – it was the shortest route, just about an hour to Chakoti village in Muzaffarabad on the other side – yet, it never worried them. What worried them was the cross-border shelling that claimed hundreds of lives on both sides of the border before India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire in 2005.
And then in 2008, the Srinagar – Muzaffarabd road opened, which heralded a military quiet in both the countries. It brought visitors, travelers and relative prosperity to these villages.
‘UNTOUCHED’
In past two decades of the armed struggle, thousands were killed and injured in across Kashmir, but violence has always stopped short of the threshold of these two villages.
“Peace prevailed here even when the entire valley was burning and Pandits were fleeing in terror. In our villages, we have never heard of any encounter,” said Sudesh Kumar, a government employee.
The militants too stayed away. No one in the two villages ever received a threat or anything from militants, Sudesh said. “Our villagers are examples of communal harmony,” he added.
The villages live in the shadow of heavy Indian Army presence: the Army’s brigade headquarters in Uri is just across river Jhelum. But the real sense of security came from Muslim neighbours that persuaded them to stay back.
Raj Kumar, who helps his father run their pharmacy, can’t count how many Muslim friends he has and how often he has attended functions at their homes.
‘STEREOTYPE BREAKING ‘
The villagers proudly show their three temples to visitors and are looking forward to build a few more in the coming years with the help of Muslim labourers and contractors.
Most villagers, Hindus and Muslims alike, said Lagama and Bandy are safe and there is no need to create a “safety zone” for Hindus – as being demanded by a section of Kashmiri Pandits. In fact, they are opposed to such zones anywhere in the Valley, saying such a move would only alienate the two communities.
“Our villages are good examples for those who claim that Pandits are not safe in Kashmir,” said Mukthiar Ahmad, a villager. “We always pray for peace and communal harmony.”
