‘Salaam Mahra’ brings together Kashmiri Pandits, Muslims

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, April 15

“Salaam Mahra,” an event named after the unique traditional Kashmiri Pandit greeting, on Saturday brought together members of different religious communities that were torn apart after the eruption of militancy in the Valley more than 27 years ago.

The two-day event started at Tagore Hall with a “Naat Sharif” recital. Later, the main proceedings started once chief executive officer of Space Communications Amit Wanchoo greeted the audience with “Salaam Mahra”. Wanchoo, who organised the event, said it was being held withan aim to narrow the gulf between the different religious communities of the Valley.

“Unfortunately, we see rifts increasing nowadays….but when we planned this programme, we received a positive feedback from many. We are all here for love and this event has got no (hidden) agenda,” he said.

Well-known poet, writer and satirist Zareef Ahmad Zareef shared stories of bygone times when Muslims and Pandits lived cordially that made the audience emotional and also drew loud cheers from the audience. “We met like this after a long time but have made a good beginning. I was born at Aalikadal that was the hub for all religions. Unfortunately, elders of both the communities later corrupted the oral history for the youngsters,” said Zareef.

“I have suggested earlier too that there should be some exchange programme between the youth born in the past 20 years (after migration of Pandits). Pandit chidlren, who have not seen the bond their elders shared with Muslims, should be brought here and vice versa,” he added while saying that the cordial ties had later became a victim of politics.

Popular broadcaster Satish Vimal also shared stories from his hometown Tral in south Kashmir. “As a kid, I had once asked my mother why the Shah Hamdan shrine at Tral had a Hindu caretaker, but she said the ‘dargahs’ (shrines) were not for any particular religion,” he said.

Vimal regretted that polarisation between different communities was prevalent as “spirituality was missing” in today’’s teaching methods adopted by religious heads. “When the spirit of religion is understood, differences go away,” he added.