Srinagar: The numb eyes of a Kashmiri Pandit, who had left Kashmir in 1990 after being fired upon in Srinagar, depicted the pain and agony he had faced in nearly three decades by staying away from his home and Kashmiri brethren.
It was after 29 years that a Kashmiri Pandit returned home in Srinagar and reopened his business unit in the summer capital of the state, where he received a warm welcome by the people.
Roshan Lal Mawa’s eyes spoke every pain; he bore during these 29 years by staying away from his homeland. Mawa was accompanied by his family members including his wife, sons and others.
“Living far from my Kashmiri brothers was awful moment for me as I always missed my brothers since last 29 years,” said Mawa when Kashmiri shopkeepers and local dwellers surrounding his shop were busy in greeting him and welcoming him to the Valley again.
“After returning close to my brothers, I am heaving a sigh of relief, which I was missing in Delhi,” he said, adding that he along with his family will never forget the honour he received from his Kashmiri brothers.
“I am basically a resident of Gada Kocha Zaina Kadal. My father was working here and had established his business in a well manner, but unfortunately, I was fired upon on 13 October 1990 following which I left Kashmir and went to Delhi where I worked hard and earned much. But I always missed by Kashmiri brothers and wanted to return here,” he said, adding that remaining far from Kashmiris was paining him always.
“I reopened my shop again as I aspire to die among my own people,” he said, adding that people here wished him in a unique manner, which he can never forget.
“Kashmiriyat still exists. There is no change in Kashmir. I can find same Kashmir what I have seen in my childhood,” he said, adding that Kashmir is literally a paradise.
He said there was a lot of difference between Kashmir and other places. “In Kashmir, I feel like I am in my home while in other places this atmosphere was missing,” he added.
About the return of other Kashmiri Pandits, he said that Kashmiri brothers are keen to see their Pandit brethren in Kashmir again. “I appeal my Kashmir Pandit brothers to return home. 99 per cent people here are pious, honest and human,” he said.