Sunday, August 21 2005 18:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kashmiriyat - The future of Kashmiris

Learning, understanding differences and to co-live with them was the focus of the six day theatre workshop. Children through discussions, facilitated by Pandies team and monitored by group coordinators, came up with storyline and scripts. Each day was packed with group exercises and role-plays. "It took us three days to shape the four episodes based on class differences, gender discrimination and communal harmony. These were interlinked through a common situation. Last three days were spent in practicing," shared Sanjay Kumar of Pandies' Theatre.

The objective of the initiative was to dispel myths and stereotype images of the 'other'. "They are human beings like us," said sixteen-year-old Sunaina Kothari from Nagrota. And for little Tajamul, busy painting in his tent, it was a surprise to learn that the children from 'outside' were Kashmiri Pandits, for he had heard about them from his parents but never seen them, "Yeh tou hamarey jaisey hain"(they are like us) he said with innocence. However some children grinned and said that they had seen Kashmiri Pandits on television.

"Yes we are alike, but our lived experience have been different", says Renuka Bhat, coordinator from Delhi and a Yakjah member. "But today we start our relationship on a clean slate. We need not pass on to our children our baggage of pain. This is a new beginning," she said with a smile.

And this is how curtains came down on the reunion when fifty-five children on stage, in College of Education, Maulana Azad Road, sang 'is desh ko na Hindu, na Musalman chahiye, par jisko har mahzab pyara who insaan chahiye' (this country does not require a Hindu or a Muslim, but a human being who loves all religions equally). With age-old tradition of Kashmiriyat, co-living in diversity and Sufi teachings of tolerance, love and brotherhood, this is a task not to difficult for Kashmiris to achieve.