The Kashmir Files - A story that the world needs to see

23 March 2022

‘The Kashmir Files’ was screened on 18 March at Killarney Mall in Johannesburg after its release worldwide on 11 March 2022. The screening was organized by Indian Community Leaders and among the attendees were South African government officials, diplomats and business people.

The Kashmir Files is about the racial persecution and cultural tyranny in the 1990s insurgency, which led to the Kashmiri Pandit's exodus from the valley. Vivek Agnihotri (Director of the movie), his wife Pallavi Joshi and Anupam Kher have tried to show the real face of the Kashmiri Pandit's "genocide" from the valley.

This was an atrocious affair with grave aftermath. While this exodus is still fresh in the minds of Kashmiri Pandits who live like refugees in their own country, The Kashmir Files speak for each Kashmiri Pandit who was persecuted and sent into exile.

It retains a documentary feel, like Schindler's list and tells the story which has hardly been discussed openly, even after 32 years. Like the Jewish Holocaust, this movie brings the Hindu Holocaust from the annals of history and how much pain the Kashmiri Pandits have endured over these years, keeping this deep in their hearts.

Pushkar Nath, played by Anupam Kher, tells his younger grandson Krishna Pandit, contesting for his university president, that he will not do politics but focus on education. The movie shows how the establishment failed to protect them from the Islamic militants. There was no government in Kashmir on the dreadful night of 19 January 1990. The then Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, completely abdicated his responsibilities a day before this tragic night. Kashmir was burning, and politicians were playing their games.

"Raliv, Galiv ya Chaliv" meaning "convert, die or leave." The slogan used by the Islamic militants was no less than a cultural cleansing. Farooq Malik Bitta, a terrorist commander, played by Chinmay Mandlekar was a student of Pushkar Nath Pandit before he became a terrorist. The scene in The Kashmir Files where the Muslim ladies and small children deliberately harass the Kashmiri Pandits women leave the viewers agonizing. This shows that tormentors mostly were friends, acquaintances, and neighbours. Five hundred thousand Kashmiri Pandits were rendered homeless overnight.

The enormous painstaking research and then to craft into a movie, to tell the truth in all its aspects, takes enormous skill, and one must admire Vivek Agnihotri and his team on their phenomenal work.

Shyama Prasad Mukherjee was perhaps the first leader who had protested for the complete integration of Kashmir with India. He died fighting for the principle that a single country can't have two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two national anthems. Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar had refused to draft article 370. Pushkar Nath Pandit says, ‘Article 370 hatao, Panditon ko punah sthapit karo.’

The Abrogation of article 370 is a historic achievement by any government in Independent India and has kept the hope alive for the homecoming of the Pandits. Given that Article 370 is no longer in place, there is hope that the return and rehabilitation of Pandits will be easier now.

The Kashmir Files reminds the Indic civilization's threats and showcases the dark chapter of India's history that left thousands homeless. For the last 30 years, the truth about Kashmir was not true at all. Kashmiri Pandits forced to flee from their homes were left with only their memories. The truth of their sacrifice, the unbearable pain they suffered and their unending struggle is outlined in this film for the entire world to see.

The time has come to act more resolutely to deal with the threats Kashmir faces. The narrative should never be, free Kashmir from India, but to start the homecoming of the Pandits.

by the IIA Team