Like me, every person who heard the news about the killing of 26 people, mostly tourists, at Baisaran in Pahalgam, must have gone through a range of emotions—from sadness to disgust, heartbreak to anger. Being Kashmiris, we are used to news of violence. But this time it was different. The people who were killed were not stakeholders, nor were they collaterals, spies, armed forces personnel, or outside settlers trying to change the demographics of the state—the usual victims of violence in Kashmir. These were innocent tourists, honeymooning, spending their vacations, taking time away from the frustrations of life, visiting their bucket-list destination; the so-called Paradise on Earth.
As always, the popular media started polarising the issue as All Muslims vs. All Hindus. What followed was widespread hate against Kashmiri Muslims: calling them terrorists and fanatics, issuing calls for Israel-like treatment, warnings to vacate other states or face consequences, and even beatings of students studying outside Kashmir. But all of this was an expected outcome, as was evident from various Instagram posts, where those living in Kashmir cautioned Kashmiri Muslims living outside.
In the past as well, cases of hatred towards Kashmiri Muslims have surfaced. Beating up students and labeling every Kashmiri as a terrorist is not the solution; it is the problem.
In such times of conflict, I have always wondered, why do Sikhs as a community come forward to help? Concerned and curious, I asked a few people who had posted their contact details on Instagram, offering Kashmiri students emergency help, shelter, or safe passage back to Kashmir: Won’t you be seen as supporters of terrorists? Don’t you think when everyone is against them, supporting them would be seen as a nexus between Khalistanis and Kashmiri militants?
The answers surprised me.
A person from Chandigarh says: “We are not helping them because they are Muslims, or because they are Kashmiris. Sikhs have opened their Gurdwaras in Kashmir for all tourists, they are Hindus, not Muslims. We are providing the same safe spaces, free food, and emergency services to Hindus stuck in Kashmir.”
He adds: “As we speak, all the Gurdwaras in Kashmir are filled with tourists; taxis are shuttling to and from airports. The reason is simple: we don’t see religion; we see human beings in distress. Whether they are Hindus, Muslims, or whatever faith, that is secondary. They need help, and we are just helping them. If we are labeled because of that, we don’t care.”
Another person, who had offered his number as a helpline for students in Haryana, told me: “Not all Kashmiris are terrorists. A few of them might be. But does that mean every single one should be punished? Hundreds and thousands of criminals in jail are Hindus, Sikhs, or Muslims, do we consider every person of their religion a criminal?”
He adds: “These students came seeking better opportunities in their own country. If we alienate them, we give them more reasons to hate us. That is how terrorists are made. If tomorrow, one of those survivors or family members of those killed in Pahalgam picks up guns to avenge their loss, would we justify that as righteous?”
A friend of mine who is currently in Kashmir helping tourists says: “We provide help to those who need it. Unfortunately, most of the time, they happen to be Muslims. But during floods, earthquakes, and COVID-19, we helped everyone. Back then, we were not labeled Khalistanis or terrorists. The media will say what it wants. If we are bothered by that, then what kind of Sikhs are we?”
Right now, as we read this article, hundreds of Sikhs across Haryana, Punjab, and Uttarakhand have come forward to provide safe spaces, food, and passage to Kashmiri Muslims.
As Indians, we have always claimed, Kashmir hamara hai (Kashmir is ours). But what about the Kashmiris? Are they not our fellow Indians too? No doubt, the land has often been soaked in blood, but the blood is not always of non-Kashmiris. No doubt, many Kashmiri Muslims have crossed borders to train as terrorists. But an equal number, if not more, have also joined the Indian Army. Thousands of local Kashmiris have suffered years of terrorism, sanctions, and repercussions.
If we want Kashmir, we have to accept Kashmiris as well. And if we accept them, we must give them the benefit of the doubt, embrace them, give them safe spaces, and make them feel they belong. Only then will they want to be part of India, not just geographically, but in spirit as well. The polarisation is working against this.
Despite all this hate, we must remember: it was a Kashmiri pony-walla, a Kashmiri tour guide, a Kashmiri taxi-walla, a Kashmiri hotel-walla who helped many tourists escape and find safety.
There are thousands of Kashmiris out on the roads, crying and raging against the terrorists.
Let us steer clear of the agenda of hate and polarisation and start asking the right questions to the right people.
Bupinder Singh Bali is the author of Those Who Stayed; The Sikhs of Kashmir, a documemoir published earlier this year
