RJ Sayema on Delhi’s Kashmiri Pandits

Brut India

"We have to spread love and end hatred.” Back in 2020, RJ Sayema shared her experience, meeting Kashmiri Pandits for her M.Phil dissertation.

Transcript

00:00The religion that those terrorists took out of their homes in the name of religion was the same religion which is my religion.

00:07Of course, when they used to tell their story, the soul used to tremble.

00:11But like, terrorists have no religion, no religion.

00:15Some years back, I did my MPhil from Delhi University Department of Social Work.

00:21And the topic of my dissertation was internally displaced people, a study of Kashmiri Pandits in Delhi.

00:28It is supervised by Dr. Manoj Jha.

00:30And we discussed a lot of topics and then we finalized on this one.

00:34And I asked brother, brother Manoj, why did we finalize this topic?

00:40And he said that there is very little research work on the plight, condition and story of Kashmiri Pandits.

00:47And we should contribute in that.

00:49Only then reforms will be thought about and all that.

00:53So I started my study and we identified Kashmiri Pandits migrant camps in Delhi.

00:59And we found out that there were a lot of camps in Bapu Dham, Amar Colony, Nand Nagri, South X in Lajpat Nagar.

01:07And when I started my research work and I used to go to meet these families,

01:13honestly, I used to get scared in the beginning because whenever they used to ask my name and I used to tell my name,

01:19there used to be a strange silence and they used to look at each other.

01:26And I used to understand because obviously the religion on which they were expelled from their homes,

01:33the religion on which those terrorists expelled them from their homes,

01:38that was the same religion which is my religion.

01:41But terrorists have no religion, no religion.

01:45Sometimes they use the name of Islam, sometimes they use the name of Hinduism, sometimes they use the name of Christianity.

01:53Because they can't say that we have only one religion and it is the religion of hatred.

01:58Anyway, when I went to those families and we started talking and I told them that I am a student and I am doing research on this.

02:05So maybe there was a different place in their heart for me.

02:10And then I used to go to their homes for about a year and I used to talk to them.

02:15I met different families.

02:17I mean, they are so beautiful.

02:20I mean, they look so beautiful.

02:22And so many beautiful people and think about it,

02:25so many people who have gone through so much, they are such positive people.

02:31So positive.

02:32Of course, when they used to tell their story, the soul used to tremble.

02:36Like they used to tell how a poster used to be put in front of their house at night,

02:42a paper was put on which the names were written that the next number will come to these people.

02:47And people had to leave their homes all night.

02:52I remember when I was four or five months old,

02:56one day I asked a family that there is something in my heart that I want to ask you.

03:01And I asked them that when I told you my name,

03:05did you hate me for a second?

03:11So I remember that there was a grandmother,

03:15she hugged me and she said,

03:17No, son, why would I hate you?

03:20You know, when we had to go out all night,

03:25when we used to run away from our house,

03:27our neighbors helped us a lot.

03:30Our neighbors were also Muslims.

03:32They took care of us the most.

03:35And even today we know that if we go back,

03:39they will welcome us with open arms.

03:44They will do everything to make us feel comfortable and back home again.

03:51What we don't understand is that those people who have endured,

03:56those people who have gone through,

03:58whether they are Kashmiri Pandits or the victims of the 1984 riots,

04:03or the victims of the 2002 riots,

04:06when you go and talk to them,

04:08when you ask them,

04:10then every family says the same thing,

04:13that may God forbid,

04:15may this never happen to anyone.

04:18May God forbid, may this never happen to anyone.

04:21They always say that no one should ever have to go through this terror.

04:26The terror they have gone through,

04:28they never talk about revenge.

04:30They never talk about hatred.

04:33They have lost a lot.

04:37But they have not lost their humanity.

04:41Then why are there such people around us?

04:46Whether it is the 1984 riot victims,

04:49or the Kashmiri Pandits,

04:52why do they spread so much hatred in their name?

04:56They should be ashamed.

04:58And they should learn,

05:00from those people,

05:02whose names they use,

05:04to say such filthy and disgusting things.

05:09What is humanity?

05:12How much love is needed in this world of love?

05:17How much need is there for us to stand with each other,

05:21without seeing this,

05:23without knowing this,

05:24without thinking about the difference between us.

05:28If we pay attention to just one thing,

05:31that we are all human beings,

05:34then in this world,

05:36in this world,

05:37hatred should be reduced to such an extent,

05:40and we should not make anyone else understand,

05:43we should make ourselves understand.

05:47We know exactly,

05:49for whom there is hatred in our hearts,

05:51and for whom there is love.

05:53So we have to keep increasing love,

05:56and we have to completely end hatred.

06:01Neither is it good for others,

06:03nor is it good for ourselves.

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