Kashmir News Rushes Compilation: Refugee Camp Residents and Fake Encounters
Duration: 00:59:07; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 347.391; Saturation: 0.019; Lightness: 0.453; Volume: 0.202; Cuts per Minute: 5.784; Words per Minute: 70.993
Summary: Early in 2005, with the exhumation and identification of the body of Abdul Rahman Paddar, an innocent civilian, a network of fake encounters came to light. More exhumations took place. All of Kashmir broke into spontaneous protests, which had massive crowds. All protests seem to have been non violent, but slogans which were common in 1989, demanding independence, once again could be loudly heard, along with a demand for justice.
This tape was sent in response to a request for some footage of the protests. It seems to me, that the compilation of footage from Jammu and from Srinagar, was done partly to meet what might have been seen as my interests. Since half the tape had the footage we had asked for, the other half was filled with what could be of interest to us, or that might be seen as also useful to us. It could just be that these were simultaneously shot stories, or that we had previously expressed an interest in finding material on the Pandits.
Related Link:
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/01/31/india15227.htm
Protests, large numbers of people, with green head bands and banners, marching on the streets. It looks like a crowd of men and boys. Probably JKLF flags
banners
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Srinagar, Jammu
Slogans are in Urdu and Kashmiri. The women call out to Allah, also demand that the culprits are brought before them.
Women protesting in a group, yelling slogans which are often initiated by a male voice.
A cut to the inside of a house where an old woman is weeping. A shot of grieving women in an exterior space, beating their chests. Angry women and children, jumping up while yelling slogans. A crowd of protestors being shooed across a road by army men. They run off what seems like a main road, into a open ground. Two army men/para miltary men? shake hands in greeting.
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Women and children protesting. Women carrying a placard with an image of a young man and the date of his disappearance. Many children in the crowd. A young child carried on someone's shoulders, yelling slogans.
No sound on most of this clip. Also drop outs, compilation on a used tape.
Mohammed Rafiq, Missing, 18.6.2002
children
missing
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Protests, women leading a protest, carrying banners and images of the disappeared person. One woman, in the forefront, wears a scarf across her face.
Very large
crowds, a leader, it seems, being jostled in the middle.
In the middle a few frames of a man speaking to camera. Feeling of a compilation of shots.
No sound.
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Leader addresses a crowd using a megaphone.
Police skirmishes with some of the crowd. No sound.
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A woman wailing, speaking, a younger man tries to put his hand on her shoulder and comfort her.
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A massive crowd holding lit torches, shout slogans demanding freedom.
Pressmen up front. The crowd moves down roads.
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The crowd gets massive. It marches down lanes, roads in a flood of men and boys.
The light deepens. Late evening. The feeling of a compilation of footage. Again, we see a shot or so of two men sitting in an interior, wearing pherans. Then, we see a group of men in daylight protesting outside what looks like the Press Enclave.
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Cluster protests outside the press enclave, this is a comparatively paltry gathering. The people behind the camera share a joke.
Cut to shots of a house, a tent with a lot of women sitting inside, then a locality, identified by a mosque, then by a large number of men who seem to be waiting on the road, then a call from a mosque, and people running behind an ambulance that arrives.
A camera points at women wailing loudly in the house. People run alongside the amblulance. A man roughly hits the arm of a woman holding on to the ambulance door. A group of women on the house landing, waiting, crying loudly.
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A large crowd waits as the ambulance door opens. An old man with a bandage around his head is lead out, carefully amid a loud crowd. Men women, strain to look.
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A large crowd clamours around a woman near the ambulance. She seems to swoon and is helped by women around. The back door of the ambulance is open, massive crowd around.
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A man climbs on the roof of the ambulance to take photographs. He looks like a press photographer. Huge crowds as a coffin is brought out and carried out past a wall, the crowd moves behind it. The first part of the compilation ends, after a small black section we see the first frame of an interview in Jammu.
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A man in a blue cardigan, who belongs to the Kashmiri Pandit community, speaks to an interviewer from Sen channel, which is a large private channel of the Valley. A woman's had with mehndi on it, holds the mike.
He talks of how he feels the Pandit leadership has failed, because they seem to be retracting from the position of demanding a return to the Valley. He feels that his community should have the same rights of mobility throughout the country that he feels a Kashmiri Muslim has. He wants his group, which he calls the co ordination committee, to be called for any further discussions. He wants to ask for visas to go to Pakistan so their group can hold talks with Musharraf.
Man in blue: (in Kashmiri) ... what we want..
Interviewer: What demand did you state?
Man in blue: Our people who went there, to Kashmir, they failed, they did not keep to asking any demands
Interviewer: Yes, but what demand did you have?
Man in blue: If we were taken at that time, we would have kept our demand, of Kashmiri Pandits. We would have told them, all of Kashmir is ours, we will go back, we should also get all our rights, like Kashmiri Muslims have rights all over India, including in Kashmir. We should also get.. our leaders start off by saying we don't want to go, so they say, if you don't want to go, then forget the whole thing, shut the file. If the file stays closed for 50 years, then who will speak for us out there? This time I request the Government, via your channel, that if there is a Third Round Table, then the Government should call the co-ordinating committee because we know the problem of Kashmir. We have been going there for seven years, we know every child there, whether it is a militant or (someone from) the movement, (unclear), or if it is the Hurriyat. We ask the Government to give us visas , we will also go to Pakistan and speak to the leaders, Musharraf about Kashmir. This is not only the right of Mirwaiz, to speak to Musharaff there. Because our original leaders, we believe, they are now dead, they can do nothing, they are lost.
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Interviewer: The Sharika Mandir at Muzaffarabad, would you want to go there?
- Man in blue: All of Muzafarabad is the Kashmiri Pandits, like in Afghanistan we have had our - everything of ours- Sharika Mandir(check) of ours, the Government should have given orders, we had said in the committee, let everyone who wants to go, go in groups every six months, by rotation. Everyone can go in a temple. Us Hindus, like we go in China, in Iraq, like Muslims go on Haj, what is a need for a ban in that? This cannot be.
We want to open that temple. We had spoken with the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir in this regard and he said that in a day or two he will put forward the proposal to the Governor. Members of the coordination committee can organize tours, and let people visit every six months. We go to our temples in China as well. And just as Muslims go to Hajj. There is no need to put a ban on these visits. We also presented a memorandum to the Chief Secretary. We are going to meet the governor in one or two days.
Interviewer: Have you given any memorandum?
Man in blue: Yes, I have met Divisional Commisioner Kashmir, Mr. Basharat Dar, I also spoke to the Chief Secretary, he said, we will call you, we are going to meet the Governor within one or two days. He has also given us time, we will also speak to the Governor saaheb and we will put his matter before him, that Kashmirir Pandits should be allowed to go to Sharada bridge.
The interviewer asks is he would want to go to the Sharika temple of Muzaffarabad. The Kashmiri Pandit representative replies that he feels that his community has a claim on Muzaffarabad and also Afghanistan, because they have historical links, a history of significant contribution. He feels that like other international pilgrimage spots, this one too should be open to Pandits who want to visit. He says they have handed a memorandum to the divisional commissioner and that they hope to meet the Governor.
afghanistan
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Interviewer: When you go to Kashmir, what is the local response like?
Man in blue: When we go to Kashmir, we have big organisations, (unclear) and Panun Kashmir, we do not go on their behalf to Kashmir as a tourist, we go to Kashmir, it is our home, we were born there, our line will continue there. We had a conference in Asia Hotel the other day, there our chief guest, (unclear), we declared out there that we are going to set up a Hindu University in Kashmir, in that our A N Dhar has donated Rupees twenty lakhs, there is an expense of ten- crore in that, we will contribute . So we want that there Kashmir- reverts, all of Kashmirir Pandits go there, buses .. because if we don't go, then (who should?). Someone from Bihar or Rajasthan or Kerala? If we leave or want to leave Kashmir then on the morrow the Dogris of Jammu will also say to us that leave Jammu, the we will go to Delhi and the people of Delhi will ask us to leave, then will we go to Maharashtra and go to the sea and... (unclear) Delhi people will also...
Interviewer: So where have you asked for a University?
Man in blue: We have asked in a area that is Hindu dominated in the Valley of Kashmir.
Interviewer: I see, Hindu... Which area do you want to take?
Man in blue: That remains to be discussed.
The interviewer asks what it is like when they( the pandits) revisit the valley.
In reply , the pandit being interviewed talks of how it is not a tourist that visits, but someone going home. He mentions initiatives taken by the community to initiate steps back- including a Hindu University. They want to make it in a hindu intensive area, the exact location, he says, is still under discussion.
a n dhar
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maharasthra
panun kashmir
A woman is coaxed to talk to camera. She talks of the difficulties of resettlement in a new place, with a single earning member. She complains of how their educated young have few jobs whereas in the Valley, she alleges, even those who have only studied till the intermediate, get a job.
Offscreen male: Referendum is the only solution. If there is a referendum, Hindustan has a stronger side. Offscreen 2nd voice,female: Will you give an interview? Lady
How can we survive on a meager amount of money? You need medicines, rice, for one earner to support a family is very difficult. Government jobs aren't well paying. The job should at least fetch a handful of rice. Children who are educated don't get any jobs or livelihood. Look at Kashmir, even the (under matric) little educated gets a job. We were rich and wealthy in Kashmir. Where and how can we stay here? Homeless.
Referendum
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Also about how daughters now work in private firms and parents worry. And the difficulty of one earning member running the house.
The woman talks of their desire for comfort, her feeling that the situation was ill handled, and so they suffered.
Where will our daughters work in private jobs are return late in the evening. The parents worry for them all the time. If government wants, they can do something for us also. Since the trouble started, had we negotiated well, we would have also been comfortable, in our own homes, and wealthy. We have no respect here. We are worried for our daughters who work long hours for little money. We also want a good life. If one member earns for seven dependents, how will he manage? What will he do?
See, I am ill. My medicines cost Rs 1200 a month. Every three to six months I have to get tests done, which cost me another Rs 3000. on a salary of Rs 7000, what will he do? How will he bear the expenses?
comfort
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She compares this life to the life she had in Kashmir. She worries about her daughters' marriages. She worries about their frequent debts for everything. She says she has heard, but never received any relief material.
This is not Kashmir. Life here is difficult. There we had assets. Here we are unable to have a good life. How will we marry our daughters? Out of one room? Who will want a daughter from a poor family? We had no debts in Kashmir. Here we run into debts frequently for everything - for food, utensils, clothes, everything.
We have also heard that relief material was distributed in our camps. We have heard Sonia Gandhi has helped. But I have not received any sewing machine or any material. If we had a machine our daughters could work from home.
assets
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A woman dressed in yellow with a Kashmiri shawl, talks of the difficulties of living in a rented place. The scarcity of space, their having to do housework themselves. Thrift.
We live out of two rooms, you can calculate the rent, then count the total people - and add the elders who are also thrown in. but we built slowly, saved and built two rooms, we clean ourselves. We don't receive any monetary relief. I am not aware of any monetary handouts. (Discussion with the interviewer)
cleanliness
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The woman dressed in yellow talks of her life back in the Valley, where they lived. It is now occupied by the Army, rarely is the rent paid.
We were living in Nai Basti, next to the bus stand. We had two houses there. The army has occupied it. We have ten rooms in the two floor house. We receive a rent of Rs 2400 per month, but are paid once in two or three years. We don't dare to go back. There is no feeling or urge..
army
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The woman in yellow talks of how early days were difficult, especially for the elders. Some died en route.
She talks of how living in camps is difficult, and all work in the private sector, no government jobs are available.
We were in a bad shape when we came here. The elders had to go through so much trouble. Some of them died en route. We had to separate our parents - keep one in one house and the other in another. We didn't find enough space to be together. We all faced this trouble. Whether it was an old camp or a new camp - all of us faced it. Kids have no jobs. They are working privately - no government jobs or support
adjustment
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Girl interviews young bearded man with his hand in his popckets, Behind him, on the wall, are painted the words- Social Worker and MA English can be seen.
A young man has been asked to shift to Jakti, Nagrota. He wants to pose some questions. He talks about how subsequent Kashmiri Governments take on the mantle of making better quarters for Pandits, and then do not not deliver. Crores are spent and then plans are abandoned.
Young man: My name is (unclear) sound also disturbed
Girl interviewing: Where did you stay in Kashmir earlier?
Young man: Baramulla, my village as called(chjeck)
Young man: I stay here in Mishriwalla. I am a small social worker here
Man interviewing: They are transferring you to Jagti, what do you want to say about that?
(bits of convdersation in Kashmrir)
Young man: Today, the Government of jammu and Kashmir wants to shift the migrants. To Jagtir, Nagrota.
(kashmiri)
I have been asked to shift to camp Jakti, Nagrota. I want to raise some points. During the Mufti government, some new camps and quarters were made in Sheikhpora and Mufti Sayeed had emphasized that Kashmiri Pandits must be given good facilities. Crores of rupees were spent. The government failed to send us back. Then, quarters were made in Muthi Camp (Jammu). Now the new Chief Minister GH Nabi Azad says we should go to Jakti. My question is that has the Sheikhpora plan failed? Has the Muthi plan failed? Are they going to throw those quarters in the river?
The young man talks of how Jakti is being projected as being a model, planned area, like Chandigarh. He wants to know if this is indeed so, and if there are provision for employment, schooling, if the new area is within municipal limits. Refugee camps in Jammu have been often made very inconveniently far from the city. Women, especially, often find themselves stranded in these distant, unconnected places.
Behind him, as he talks, a cow stands in the bright sun of the plains, a man comes and hangs a bright bedsheet to dry.
We have been told that Jakti is being modeled like Chandigarh - it will be self sufficient will a college, hospital and all other facilities. If this is true then it is a good step. With this, I also want to know about unemployment. What has the government thought about providing employment opportunities? Will there be opportunities in Jakti? Will our sisters be able to commute safely? Will they build shopping complexes there? If Jakti is going to be truly modeled on the lines of Chandigarh, we have no objections in going there. But if its not, we must be rehabilitated in areas within municipal limits, so at least we are safe, we are connected with roads and transport and we are not worried for our children.
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Interviewer asks the young man if- if the government had asked them to shift to Kashmir instead, would he be willing?
The young man says he is keen, but the government makes such promises and rescinds them.
He points out the problems of the loan scheme of the government, which asks people who are refugees, for collaterals.
He talks of his being a social activist, and his opinion that the government is careless about resolving the problems of the Pandits.
Interviewer: Instead of Jakti, if you are asked to move back to Kashmir, will you have any objections?
R: As I said, the government had built quarters in Kashmir, but they were unsuccessful in sending us back. Government says we will take you back. We also gave in writing that we are willing to go back, but they have not succeeded in taking us back. The government has fallen weak - they have not been able to take us back.
Int: The government has come up with loan schemes. Have you heard of them? What do you think?
R: Good question. We went to meet the Chief Secretary Vijay Bakaya. He called all the bank officials. They held a meeting in camp Muthhi where we put forward a proposal. We told them that we are from Kashmir, but we are migrants and therefore we don't own any collateral to mortgage to raise a loan. We told them that we will offer our property in Kashmir as collateral but they did not accept it. The meetings were good, there were healthy discussions but finally the bank officials said that they wont be able to help without collateral.
I think of Kashmiri pandits as very unfortunate. I am social activist. We have spoken to ministers and office ers. My impression is that the government is not serious about us or resolving our problems. If they were serious they could urge the bank to advance us loans without any mortgage. So that we young people could take forward our lives.
careless government
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Int: Have you received any unemployment packages or relief?
R: Since 1989, the time when we had to leave Kashmir because of the militants, till today - if we talk of these years since 1989 to date - we have not been given a single unemployment package. When we left Kashmir, 17000 kashmiri pandits were employed in government jobs right from low rank to high ranking officers but over 9000 persons were affected - they had to leave their jobs.
Post return of democracy in 1995, Farooq Abdullah's government claimed that 1.25 lakh youth were employed to reduce unemployment. I had asked Dr Abdullah how many of these were Kashmiri pandits in Mishriwallah Camp - this is my first point.
On being asked whether he has benefited from any unemployment relief packages, the young Pandit man talks of 1989, when, according to him, 9,000 pandits in government jobs, lost their jobs.
Subsequent employment relief packages did not address the Pandits living in refugee camps.
farooq abdullah
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The young man from the Pandit community talks of the 'healing touch policy' of the Mufti Government, which everyone agreed to on principle. But he talks of how it said it was helping those affected by militancy but it did not help the Pandits, who, according to him, was the first victim of militancy.
Then the Mufti Government camp and gave a new direction to which I, my community, my state, my country - the whole world agrees - this was the Healing Touch Policy through which many schemes were launched including Rehber e Talim, Rehber e Agriculture. Appointment letters were sent home and SROs were executed in favour of families affected by militancy. All those affected by militancy were considered.
But my question is - the first victim of Kashmir's militancy was the Kashmiri Pandit. The pandit was peace loving. He was made to flea. He was made to leave his home, to become homeless. Why didn't the policy consider this? He claimed that he employed 40000 people
homeless
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He talks of the Gulam Nabi Azad Government and says that that government overstressed merit at a time when the Pandit community was beleagured, living and coping with difficult weather conditions. He alleges that things were treated with more laxity in the Valley
Then came the Azad government. We were invited to hold a Kashmiri pandit sabha. Azad told us that my instructions are clear: any employment list should be drawn up purely on merit. But what I want to say is that we were attending exams and schools in humidity and hot weather and we were not able to cross the 50% mark, whereas in Kashmir, anything could be achieved on gun point. I am not saying that there is no education standard in Kashmir, but I am saying that things were done there. This is a conspiracy.
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He alleges a deliberate conspiracy against his community. He talks of how he represented the community and spoke to Farooq Abdullah.
He talks of how F. Abdullah made promises but then later, when the community went to act on them, they were brutally beaten.
We must think about this conspiracy. When Dr Abdullah came to the camp, I was the speaker on behalf of everyone. That day I requested him, urged him, that he must announce an unemployment package in favour of the Kashmiri pandit youth. He instructed his advisor, Satish Raina, to immediately come up with a form and gather details of all concerned in the Mishriwalla camp and others, so a package could be worked out.
Then once this exercise had been completed we went to the Jammu Secretariat to fill the form but the police beat us up brutally during lathi charge. Then we filled the forms. But when we didn't receive a response we asked Dr Abdullah what happened to our application? He said that the government of India has no funds for the package.
My question is when Dr Abdullah employed 1.25 lakh people and Mufti employed 40,000 - did the Kashmir government not have funds then? Then why don't they have funds for us?
conspiracy
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He talks of the difficulties stalking his community. He says there should be a job quota for Pandits. He says politicians need to take steps that will truly make them into a composite culture. He feels something must be done for the young and things should be done for the Pandit and Muslim community alike, with no discrimination.
Kashmiri Pandit has always seen difficulty. What I say is that if 9000 Kashmiri pandits moved out of jobs / retired, then why cant we at least get Kashmiri pandit boys to be employed against those posts. I want a quota for Pandits. At least persons between the ages of 18 and 60 will find some source of employment.
We have been pleading our case for 18 years. We have raised our voices to the international level but till date we have not seen any relief or benefit in our favour.
I want the government to take steps towards peace and solidarity, towards uniting the Kashmiris - making all pandits, muslims, Sikhs, into one community. This is the way will become the 'composite culture' all the politicians keep talking about. When our young people go out and become educated, become doctors, engineers, professionals, they speak of the composite culture. But we need to take steps - politicians need to make decisions that will truly make us a composite culture.
This gap of eighteen years between us and our muslim brothers will only reduce if proper and genuine steps are taken. They have to consider the life cycle - the employability of the youth, the retirement, these things have to be thought out holistically - for all hindus and muslims alike.
At the moment we don't see any of this - which has 'mentally frustrated' us. When we asked for loans, they were declined. This is why the government should seriously think of an unemployment package - so that the bright children in our community don't go away. They actually stay here and work here and serve everyone.
composite culture
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He discusses how the migration and the difficult living conditions, especially compared to the 'haven' that Kashmir was, has led to a increased death rate, a reduced birth rate.
Int: The death rate is increasing, and the birth rate is reducing. Do you think the government is trying to end your community? What do you have to say?
R: when is 1989 we came here, you remember, Kashmir had a different ethos - it was heaven, the place was peaceful. People were happy and there were no major diseases. Suddenly, on reaching here, we found a different atmosphere here - with 48 degrees Celsius of heat and a hundred percent humidity, it was different.
I saw things like snake bites, worms, sunstroke, I came to know of diseases like heart problems, kidney failure, we were mentally frustrated, we saw pressure and depression, people got diabetic, we saw drastic illnesses in kids. The result of this was that the death rate increased. And migration took a toll on our resources which had a social impact on marriages and birth - hence, reducing the birth rate.
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He discusses lack of privacy, lack of restfulness, too much economic responsibility, as part of the reason why their birth rate is falling. He talks of a promise made by the prime minister, Manmohan Singh, for an education fund for the Pandits, it is a promise that is not kept.
We discussed these issues with Government of India. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came to Muthhi Camp and he announced a package of Rs 5 crore for the education of Kashmiri pandits. But then ever since we spoke to the Chief Secretary and several Ministers who came to visit the camp - but we never saw that money or any benefit out of it.
This money could have had a positive social impact. It could at least cover medical aid in this area. It could help reduce mental frustration.
Int: What is the reason for reduction in the birth rate?
R: I can only say, as a Kashmiri, when I don't have resources or a source of income, I can't feed myself or afford a large family. So obviously I would prefer to have only one child because I don't have the source of income. I don't have the avenues of income, or I don't have the accommodation to lodge a family. If you see how we live you will know. We live in one room which is 10 x 12 where we live with my parents, siblings, wife, children - all of them where I have to study, relax, cook, wash clothes, do everything.
An international human rights team had visited and I questioned them to tell me what human rights meant. What was Clinton in trouble for - Sexual Enjoyment? I can't have that sexual enjoyment in this one room! With so many problems and lack of resources, I will always try and keep a small family - have no more than one child.
camps
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manmohan singh
medical aid
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Int: the boys who have been brainwashed / misled in Kashmir, what is your message to them?
R: that is good question. In Kashmir, our brothers were misled, brainwashed in unique circumstances. The whole world knows who has done that. The whole world knows that Pakistan is responsible - whether they were given religious reasons, or were attracted to monetary rewards, or were exploited on some basis, or the youth were informed wrongly which led them to choose this path (take the gun / become a militant).
My message is "they should shun militancy (in English)..". the should come into the mainstream. Militancy will never result anything. Weapons don't yield any solution. They must believe in unity, brotherhood. They should believe in India. They must realize that nothing can be achieved with violation.
Int: What do you think of the peace talks between India and Pakistan?
R: Good point. Who would not wish for India and Pakistan to be peaceful and cordial with each other. To prevent deaths and killings, the peace talks between the two countries are welcomed by one and all.
The interviewer asks him what message he might have for those misled into militancy? The young man from the Pandit camp says the whole world knows that Pakistan is behind this activity, the youth should realize this and withdraw from militancy. Weapons make no solutions. He says they should believe in the idea of India.
He talks of how everyone welcomes the peace talks between India and Pakistan.
brainwashed
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He feels that till Pakistan does not take stern measures against militancy in its own country, and holds the ISI accountable,
nothing will change on the ground, in Kashmir
Int: Do you think that Kashmir Solution will emerge from these talks?
R: A solution will come from these talks. Ever since India and Pakistan split into two countries, the Kashmir issue has lingered. There were always conflicts - no matter which government came into power in India or Pakistan. Talk about 1979 or 1985 or even now, there has always been trouble. If they consider the Kashmir issue a serious one, then they must resolve it once and for all. They spoke many times, even the Lahore talks. These talks fail every time. We have to get to the root to find out why the talks fail. While we welcome the peace process, we must identify what is causing the talks to fail, deal with it, and move on. I don't think we can see any solution of the Kashmir issue until there is total control on militancy and terrorism is out of the way, until Pakistan commits to it and bans all the militant organizations, until Pakistan's ISI is held accountable, I don't think there will be a solution.
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lahore
power
We were in Gita Bhavan. Then we came to Baba Chiti(unclear)s spot, in Chiti, we ame there, in tents. We got a tent of 9x12. They came from Katra.. We were given these tents through the army. That time Jagmohan ji was the Governor of all of Jammu Kashmir. And Pravesh Dewan was the DC of Jammu. After that Bakaya Saahab was the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, so we did a Dharna there. In Gita Bhavan, in AmphaleI , for the first time, that we want, from Kashmir Valley, some place, to stay 2 yards
Interviewer: Shroud
Man in pheran: Shroud. Then they gave us Jidi, Batanwali, Muthi, Bantalai, all sorts of places, Jyoti Kotwara also has our camps. After that, Patni Top, no, we did not go to Patni Top, so in short we were kept in this area of Jammu, in cremation grounds, where Lord Shiva/Shankar lives, but it is very regrettable that we were looked at as beggars.
accommodation
amphalel
baba chiti
bantalai
batanwali
camps
cremation ground
cremation grounds
dc
dharna
dilsaad
gita bhavan
jidi
katra
kotwara
mahabaharat
muthi
rabble rouser
ramayan
refugees
yudya
A middle aged man, speaks loudly, of what happened when the Kashmiri pandits first came to Jammu. He talks of his own contribution to the protests, he sees himself as a re incarnation of the warrior saint, Guru Gobind Singh
I request the media, Sony Channel, Sen media(unclear), that right now, the Pandit is awake, he is not asleep, my knowledge, Mahabharat, Ramayan, Yudya, Dilsaad(unclear), Guru Grant, we are all one, from one and a quarter lakh to one, I am of Guru Gobind Singh's name(unclear), now Ram Avtaar is over, Vishnu Avtaar/incarnation is over, I amover, my incarnation is of Guru Gobind Singhji, my name is Ashok Kumar, now I am going to rule over all of creation, no Khalsa should be left(unclear), thereofe I say, media beware! By the evening. you are my daughter, Premlatas', so listen carefully.
Interveiwer: Alright, do you want to go there? Go there?
Man: I go to Kashmir, next week, next week, next year that will come, all of us will move off to Kashmir Valley. Any Pandit should take this out of their thought, their conversation, their body, we have to go to Kashmir
guru granth
incarnation
Paved lanes, open drains running alongside, small brick houses with corrugated metals roofs. Some women, a young girl walks around, two men in pherans sit in the un on the paved lane.
A woman with traditional ear rings, sits in her yard, cleaning green vegetables. Clothes on the line, children run around. An old hand pump, a child in school uniform drinks water from it, same shot twice, children in school uniform.
We were migrating. We were in Gitawal then we went to Baba Situ's tomb in Jidi. We moved into a tent (9 x 12 in measure) received through Army from the Shrine Board. Jagmohan was the governor of J&K at that time. Parvez Dewan was the Deputy Commissioner of Jammu Region. Then Vijay Bakaya was the Divisional Commissioner. For the first time we protested out Gita Bhawan. We wanted some place to stay (refers to coffin cloth). It was then that they allocated Jiri, Muthi, Bantalai and all these places to us as camps. But I feel sad to say that we are treated like beggars. But through you I want to say that the Pandit is awake. The Pandit is not sleeping anymore. My knowledge, Maha Bharath, Ramayan, Granth Sahib, all are one. I am an avatar of Guru Gobind Singh. My name is Raj Kumar and I will rule the world. Int: Do you want to go to Kashmir?R: Next year, which arrives a week later, we will all go to Kashmir.
Baba Situ's
Bantalai
Gita Bhawan
Guru Granth
Jagmohan
Jiri Muthi
Parvez Diwan
beggars
camp
hand pump
incarnation
leaking
meta
yard
refugee
1947
Woman outside the shop
Interviewer: Were you given a monetary compensation with which you started this shop?
R: first tell me, why were we made to leave Kashmir? Government has never explained why this was done. Why Kashmiri pandits? There were other people there. Why weren't they made to migrate? Whatever has come - money, relief - everything has come for them. Nothing has come for us, no one has ever died for us. What did they make for us?
Int: Government built quarters for you in Muthi and other places.
R: You think those are quarters? You think they will give those to us. Those quarters are not for us. They will also be given to 'those people, from that side'. This has been the case from 1947. Kabailees came and killed us then also. Since 1947, the pandit has been moving - comes from one side and leaves from the other. You should see how families are living out of one room. We left everything in Kashmir. We should be rehabilitated properly once and for all. Let the government only compensate us for what we left there. Nothing more. If the government wants us to live in Jakti, fine - but we should be given at least as much as we left in Kashmir. That's it. Let them compensate and send us wherever - Mumbai, Calcutta or Jakti!
Ever since we have migrated, I have never seen a suitable compensation made to us. The jobs we have been given are not good. A police job is a not a proper job. We don't want crores to build bungalows. We will go to Jakti if the government has made quarters for us there. But we want a proper package. Educated youth are still unemployed. Isn't that a part of the plan? Has the government ever given us anything?
accusation
exterior
interview
jakti
kabailees
muthi
package
people talking outside a shop, one with a hookah.
Interview with one of the women sitting there.
persecution
shabby houses
shop
unemployment
woman
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