The bitterness between Kashmiri Muslims and displaced Kashmiri Pandits has died down to a considerable extent due to some social media groups that bridged the 25-year-old gap between the members of two communities in the Valley.
The members of the two communities can be seen organizing various programs on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Whattsapp.
So far, Facebook groups like ‘Moderate Voices’, ‘Miraas’ and ‘Saariy Samav Aksey Razi Lamav’ have organized several reunions in Srinagar and New Delhi between the two communities.
Social media has become a potent medium of catharsis and space to celebrate the shared history for the two.
“This generation of Kashmiris is war weary, embittered and despondent,” Nyla Ali Khan, the granddaughter of National Conference founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, wrote her Facebook status on the day when 25 years ago Kashmiri Pandits migrated from the Valley.
She wrote that she would venture to say, “We, Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri Hindus, crave for a world in which social justice, political enfranchisement, cultural pride and self realisation are the order of the day.”
Writer Siddhartha Gigoo, the author of ‘Gardens of Solitude’, posted, about his pain on the Pandit migration on Facebook, “It is past 10 am. By this time, most were already homeless and crossing the Banohal (Banihal) tunnel.”
Posts like Gigoo’s only evoked sad emotions from Muslims living the valley.
“We are not proud of what happened in 1990s,” wrote Nasir Ahmad to a Pandit friend. “It was a blind wave that engulfed the valley’s people and culture and we need to reconnect to reach all political goals together.”
Noted Kashmir broadcaster and writer B N Betab said it was through an open group on Facebook to share legends and Kashmiri phrases that he connected again with his old Muslim friends and made new ones.
“The 1990s first victim was breakdown of communications between the two communities,” he said. “However, the advent of social media bridged the gap.”
Together with a Muslim friend, Sadaf Munshi, Betab unknowingly started a movement when they together organized a two-day literary festival in Srinagar last year amid growing bitterness between the two communities.
Betab said there was a perceived hatred between the two communities.
“Unless, there is a dialogue how can we share our stand and narrow down differences,” he said.
Social media bridges Kashmiri Muslim-Pandit divide
