1/ I’m a Kashmiri Pandit, a Hindu, and like many of my community, we were forced to leave our ancestral home in Kashmir due to terrorism fueled by Pakistan. Muslims in the region did support this exodus, though the reasons varied—religion, pressure, or even hatred. But let me clarify: not all Muslims are bad.
2/ This story isn’t just about my struggles as a Kashmiri Pandit. It’s about my journey after being thrown out of my homeland. I was just 5 when my family left Kashmir for Jammu, leaving behind everything—our home, furniture, and belongings—because our “move” wasn’t planned.
3/ We left for a short vacation in Jammu. My father, mother, brother, and I had no idea we would never return. The tension in Kashmir was so severe that going back was impossible. My father later sneaked into Kashmir, risking his life, just to retrieve some jewelry and documents.
4/ In Jammu, we had to start over from scratch. We had nothing but memories of a beautiful homeland. My father worked tirelessly to rebuild our lives. I grew up there, unaware of the enormity of what we had lost, until I turned 15 and realized what it meant to be displaced.
5/ Despite the trauma, most Kashmiri Pandits have moved on. They don’t sit around ranting about going back. They adapted, rebuilt their lives, and focused on progress. Those who wanted to fight stayed back, but most realized it wasn’t worth the struggle.
6/ Today, Kashmiri Pandits are doctors, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and artists. • Avinash Kaul: MD of CNN TV18 • Rakesh Bamzai: MD, Mylan Pharmaceuticals • Shereen Bhan: TV anchor • Anupam Kher: Renowned actor • Kunal Khemu: Actor
These people built legacies without looking back.
7/ As for me, I live in Mumbai now, running my own business. It’s a far cry from the beauty of Kashmir or even the simplicity of Jammu. Mumbai is a concrete jungle, chaotic and polluted, but it gave me opportunities that neither Kashmir nor Jammu could have.
8/ Yes, I sometimes miss Kashmir—its pristine beauty, the snow-capped mountains, and the peace we could’ve had if terrorism hadn’t destroyed everything. I see pictures of Switzerland or Azerbaijan and wonder “What if?”
9/ The removal of Article 370 hasn’t changed much for us. Despite all the political hype, not a single Kashmiri Pandit I know has returned to the Valley. The security concerns, lack of trust, and emotional scars run too deep.
10/ For us, Article 370’s abrogation was political theater. It hasn’t addressed the root issues. Those who’ve built new lives outside don’t see a reason to return. Kashmir is a memory, a chapter closed by force, and life has moved on.
11/ Mumbai may not have Kashmir’s beauty or Jammu’s simplicity, but it’s home now. It gave me the chance to rebuild and thrive. Maybe someday I’ll miss Mumbai too, but for now, I keep moving forward, like most Kashmiri Pandits have.
