07-19-2011, 09:18 AM
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2011/...mir-47.asp
Tolerance in Kashmir
Who says Kashmiris are intolerant?
HARMONY BY AMIT KUSHARI
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There is a common misconception about Kashmiri Muslims in the rest of India. Many in India think that Kashmiri muslims have no religious tolerance towards Hindus. That's why they drove out the Kashmiri Pandits from the valley by putting the fear of God in their minds. That is why they want to secede from Hindu majority India. This conception is far from the truth as I have understood during my four decade long stay in Kashmir. In many gatherings I have to put my point forcefully to prove that this common perception is totally wrong. Kashmiri muslims dream of an independent Kashmir---not because they hate Hindus, but because like all muslims of the world they too would like to live in and breathe the air of a Darul Islam country. In the case of Kashmiris this dream appears to be an achievable goal because they live close to the Dar-ul-Islam borders of the Middle East and Central Asia. For the muslims of Jammu, Punjab or Rajasthan this is obviously not an achievable goal---being surrounded by Hindus and Sikhs. The Kashmiri Pundits were forced to flee Kashmir in 1989/90 because they refused to fight with their muslim brothers for achieving an independent Kashmir. They were also suspected to be spies of India.
Tolerance in Kashmir
Who says Kashmiris are intolerant?
HARMONY BY AMIT KUSHARI
SmallerDefaultLarger
There is a common misconception about Kashmiri Muslims in the rest of India. Many in India think that Kashmiri muslims have no religious tolerance towards Hindus. That's why they drove out the Kashmiri Pandits from the valley by putting the fear of God in their minds. That is why they want to secede from Hindu majority India. This conception is far from the truth as I have understood during my four decade long stay in Kashmir. In many gatherings I have to put my point forcefully to prove that this common perception is totally wrong. Kashmiri muslims dream of an independent Kashmir---not because they hate Hindus, but because like all muslims of the world they too would like to live in and breathe the air of a Darul Islam country. In the case of Kashmiris this dream appears to be an achievable goal because they live close to the Dar-ul-Islam borders of the Middle East and Central Asia. For the muslims of Jammu, Punjab or Rajasthan this is obviously not an achievable goal---being surrounded by Hindus and Sikhs. The Kashmiri Pundits were forced to flee Kashmir in 1989/90 because they refused to fight with their muslim brothers for achieving an independent Kashmir. They were also suspected to be spies of India.