Kashmiri Pandits mark 36 years of exile, renew call for genocide recognition

Thirty-six years after their forced exodus, displaced Kashmiri Pandits gathered in Jammu on Monday with somber determination. They observed Balidan Diwas—a day of sacrifice—not just in remembrance, but as a renewed plea for justice and a homeland they can safely return to.

A ceremony steeped in memory and resolve

Participants wore black armbands, their quiet presence speaking volumes. A "Veer Jyoti" was lit—a flame dedicated to community members and security personnel killed by violence. Later, it traveled to the Bhadrakali Temple in Thalwal, where it became the "Amar Jyoti," an eternal light for those who never made it home.

"We have been observing this day since 1990 to honour the martyrs and reaffirm our commitment to continue the struggle till the achievement of our goal," said Panun Kashmir chairman Tito Ganju.

The unresolved demands

For over three decades, the community’s appeals have centered on two core issues: official recognition of their suffering as genocide, and the creation of a separate homeland in Kashmir under direct Union oversight. Ganju emphasized that without a homeland, there is "no other way forward." He also voiced sharp concerns about the safety of Kashmiri Pandit employees currently working in the Valley under government employment schemes, describing them as effectively "hostages" to persistent security threats.

Broader alliances and historical context

Colonel (Retd) Ajay Raina of the Jammu State People’s Movement linked the Pandits’ struggle with Jammu’s own push for statehood, suggesting that both causes could strengthen each other. Meanwhile, Panun Kashmir convenor Agnishekhar rooted the day’s significance in the 1989 assassination of Kashmiri Pandit leader Tika Lal Taploo—a brutal prelude to the mass exodus that followed.

The observance was not only about looking back. It was a collective promise to keep fighting—for recognition, for return, and for the right to live without fear.