It has now been thirty-six years since the forced exodus of the Kashmiri Pandit community from the Kashmir Valley - a tragic and defining moment in India’s recent history. This painful displacement uprooted an entire population from its ancestral homeland, scattering Kashmiri Pandits across Jammu, other states of India, and even abroad. Over these decades, while successive governments have occasionally revisited the issue of return and rehabilitation, and various KP organizations have passionately advocated for “Ghar Wapisi,” the ground realities have evolved in ways that necessitate a serious rethinking of priorities.
KP Organizations such as, All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS), All India Kashmiri Pandit Conference, Panun Kashmir, Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS), and many other smaller outfits have remained focused on the return narrative. Their commitment to preserving identity and demanding justice for historical wrongs is understandable. However, thirty-six years later, a sobering truth emerges: most of the displaced community has moved on. They have built new lives, forged new relationships with the cities and towns they now call home, and adapted to cultural and professional ecosystems far removed from the Kashmir they once knew.
Further, Around 4,500 KP youth were employed in Kashmir under the Prime Minister’s Return and Rehabilitation Package, touted as a step toward Ghar Wapisi. But the harsh reality is different. These employees live and work under fear and insecurity in a volatile environment. Worse, after retirement, they are expected to vacate their transit accommodations, with no provision for permanent settlement. This clearly shows that their presence in the Valley is temporary and conditional - not genuine rehabilitation. Their future remains as uncertain as it was decades ago.
Leadership must stop using such placements as evidence of successful return and instead focus on long-term development: new colleges, universities, medical institutions, and better relief for poor Pandits.
For the younger generation of Kashmiri Pandits, those born post-1990, Kashmir is not a lived experience. It is a story passed down through memories, family conversations, and the grief of elders. These young individuals have grown up in Jammu, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, and various parts of the world. Their educational institutions, social circles, and professional identities have taken shape in completely different environments. For them, the Valley is part of a cultural heritage, not necessarily a place they see themselves returning to live in. And this distinction is vital to understand. It is, therefore, time for KP leadership to acknowledge this shift and recalibrate its mission. Continued emphasis on Ghar Wapisi not only risks sounding out of touch but also sidelines more urgent and practical concerns facing the community today.
The return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley in any large or meaningful number appears highly improbable under the current geopolitical climate. Kashmir remains a region marked by periodic unrest, political instability, and deep-rooted communal fissures. Despite constitutional changes and efforts to restore normalcy, the perception of insecurity continues to linger.
Even if security were ensured, the psychological scars of past trauma and the absence of a welcoming social environment are serious deterrents. Rather than focus energy on an uncertain return, leadership should now concentrate on building robust institutions for the community wherever it has resettled. This includes pressing for the establishment of new degree colleges, medical colleges, agricultural universities, and research institutions in Jammu and other parts of India with significant KP populations. There is a clear and pressing need for quality education that caters specifically to the needs and aspirations of young Kashmiri Pandits. Educational institutions can play a dual role: fostering academic excellence while also preserving the unique linguistic and cultural identity of the community.
Moreover, investment in infrastructure for school education, vocational training centers, and skill development programs is essential. Such steps will not only empower KP youth to succeed in the competitive global environment but also instill in them a sense of community, pride, and purpose. It is through education, not mere symbolism, that the future of the community can be safeguarded. In parallel, attention must be paid to the economic upliftment of those who continue to live in relief camps or under strained financial conditions.
Many displaced Kashmiri Pandit families still survive on government relief packages that have not kept pace with inflation. The cost of living has soared, yet the monthly relief amount for migrant families has seen only marginal increases over the years. Leadership must prioritize advocacy for substantial enhancement of these relief measures, along with job reservations, entrepreneurship assistance, and permanent housing schemes.
Additionally, there is a need for the establishment of community hospitals, health insurance schemes, and psychological counseling centers to address both physical and emotional well-being. The long-term trauma of displacement, coupled with the anxieties of survival in a competitive world, has taken a toll on many families. The community’s leadership must rise to meet these multifaceted challenges by creating platforms for holistic development rather than limiting itself to ideological goals. Cultural preservation should remain a key focus, but it must evolve with the times. Instead of attempting to recreate the Kashmir of the past, the leadership should foster a cultural renaissance through festivals, publications, digital archives, and language promotion. Encouraging creative expression through literature, music, and theater can help younger generations stay connected to their roots in a way that is meaningful and relevant.
What the Kashmiri Pandit community needs today is not nostalgic politics, but visionary leadership. A leadership that speaks the language of development, that understands the needs of a new generation, and that works toward practical solutions grounded in present-day realities. The time has come to build, not mourn. To empower, not merely remember. The older generations have carried the burden of loss with remarkable dignity and resilience. Now, it is time to ensure that their sacrifices translate into opportunity for their children and grandchildren. By focusing on educational empowerment, economic development, and institutional support, KP leadership can chart a new path - one that honors the past but embraces the future.

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