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NATION DECEMBER 24, 2021 | The Indian Eye 10

kasHmiri Pandits

We will be refugees in India till

we get back our lands in the Valley, says

author Kshama Kaul

Speaking at an event at Kitab Festivals, the Kashmiri author says her book ‘Murti Bhanjan’ is about

how a community was broken by Islamist terrorism

SHAFALI NIgAM about us because genocide. I saw cide is expanding. This book is the
we are Hindu. that the truth is story of the continuity of that inner
New Delhi
They will talk being hidden. genocide.”
shama Kaul’s book ‘Mur- about people ‘Murti Bhanjan’ Explaining the title of her book
ti Bhanjan’ was released on who have killed tells Kashmir’s further, the author said Murti is like
Kthe third day of the Kitaab us,” she said. reality and the a community and the story is about
Festival at an event held in the na- Kaul said bloodshed that how the Murti (community) was bro-
tional capital on Wednesday. The that terrorism took place in ken which is a part of the Indian com-
festival witnessed the launch of books came to Kash- Kashmir valley.” munity
of different genres by Indian au- mir because of She said Besides ‘Murti Bhanjan’, “Tulsi
thors, along with insightful dialogues the genocide of Kashmiri Pan- Das Ka Swapna aur Lok” by Jyotishi
and interactions with the audience. Kashmiri Pan- dits have been Joshi, “A Bird from Afar” by Anshul
Speaking at the book launch event, dits. “Because blacked out by Chaturvedi and “Maut ki Kitaab” by
Kaul said, “We are refugees until we of the genocide, the State, by the Khalid Jawed were the other books
get our land back in Kashmir. We we the survivors administration, launched today at India International
came to annihilation there. We stayed that came out by the judiciary. Centre Annexe.
here in a rented house. We had to pay had nothing. We “Here I Commencing on December 13,
rent. Shame on this government. No did not have a have tried to tear the five-day book festival will con-
one saw if we had food or not. No ar- living. We have Author Kshama Kaul apart what is ide- clude on December 17. It was orga-
rangement was made for us but the this body, a few ology, what is nized by Prabha Khaitan Foundation.
stone pelters were given jobs. Terror- clothes and the words which we read fundamentalism and our secularism On the first day of the festival, ‘Fur-
ists were given Rs 5 lakh.” back there. That is why we were com- and democracy are the ones to wipe rows in a Field’ written by Sugata Sri-
“Wherever we are outside Kash- pelled to think that God has entrust- it out. Our genocide is continuously nivasaraju was launched in the pres-
mir, everywhere we are refugees. Be ed us to think over why we survived taking place. Kashmiri Hindus geno- ence of former Prime Minister HD
it in Delhi, Jammu or anywhere in Deve Gowda. Politicians like Farooq
India, we are refugees. Save yourself Abdullah, Sitaram Yechury and Jai-
from being one. This is the message ram Ramesh shared their views at the
I want to give. This is because I am a festival amid a discerning audience.
Hindu and I am in India. Still, I am a On the second day of the festival,
refugee. I believe all of you are Hin- “Hindi ki Pehle Adhunik Kavita” by
dus,” she added. Sudipta, “Rangoon ki Manmani” by
The author said her book ‘Murti Waseem Nader, “Law, Humour and
Bhanjan’ is about how a community Urdu Poetry” by Ejaz Maqbool and
was broken by Islamist terrorism. “Satyajit Ray” by Raghu Rai were
“Why was I thrown out? Because launched.
I was a Hindu. The word ‘Hindu’ is Earlier in October, Lieutenant
a word to be banned. It is a curse General Kanwal Jeet Singh had said
word. This was how we were seen that with the departure of Kashmiri
as untouchables. Writers, media, the Pandits from the Valley, a portion
administration turned their back. We of the soul of Kashmir left and the
were saved by god’s grace. We have spirit of Kashmiriyat was crushed.
to tell this to the whole of India that Lieutenant General Singh said Kash-
look, we have died but you should miri Pandits were the mainstay of the
take advantage of our martyrdom. education system in the valley. He al-
This is literature to alert people,” Kashmiri Pandit devotees offer prayers during the annual festival of Zyeth Atham at the Kheer leged that the perpetrators of terror-
Kaul emphasized. Bhawani Temple in Tulmul village, ganderbal district (ANI) ism wanted to disrupt the education
“We know that no one will talk system of Kashmir.

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