Ahead of the 30th anniversary marking the unfortunate expulsion of Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir, scores of Kashmiri Pandits took to Twitter to intone a poignant couplet from the upcoming movie Shikara asserting that they will one day return to their homeland.
#HumWapasAayenge started trending on Twitter as members of Kashmiri Pandit community joined in to pledge their return to their homes in valley by narrating the dialogue-“Hum Ayenge Apne Watan” from the movie Shikara, a yet-to-be-released film produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and based on the book written by author Rahul Pandita ‘Our Moon Has Clots’.
The movie which is slated to be released on February 7, chronicles the harrowing tale of Kashmiri Pandit exodus which took place on January 19, 1990 when lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee their homes following threats of genocidal persecution issues by the Islamic terrorists in the Valley.
Eminent political commentator and a foremost champion of the cause of Kashmiri Pandits, Sunanda Vashisht shared her childhood image with #HumWapasAayenge, stating that her resolve to go back to home has only strengthened.
I don’t have many pictures left of my childhood. Choosing between life and family albums is really no choice at all. When lives were rescued, family albums got left behind. 30 years have passed. Resolve to go back home has only strengthened. #HumWapasAayenge pic.twitter.com/mZr14n95a8
— Sunanda Vashisht (@sunandavashisht) January 18, 2020
Journalist Rahul Pandita also took to Twitter, exhorting Kashmiri Pandits to tweet with the video of #HumWapasAayenge and express their desire to return back to Kashmir.
“Hum Aayenge Apne Watan Haji Sahab, aur yahin dil lagaege, yahi pe marenge aur yahi ke paani me hamari rakh bahayi jaegi,” Rahul said.
30 years of exile from Kashmir. Let us now pledge that we will return home.
[Kashmiri Pandit friends: please record this video statement and put it up with #HumWapasAayenge ] pic.twitter.com/d0PBXx7QRU
— Rahul Pandita (@rahulpandita) January 17, 2020
Heeding Pandita’s call, several Kashmiri Pandits followed the suit, uploading their videos of the dialogue and enunciating their will to return to the Valley.
Tomorrow is 19 Jan, 30 years after exile #HumWapasAayenge. Jai hind ?? pic.twitter.com/ShQVqrntMG
— Rohit (@rohitkp_) January 18, 2020
Nothing can heal the corroded memories of a Kashmiri Pandit’s life.. but a hope is alive.. that #HumWapasAayenge pic.twitter.com/0XX7bT3wlu
— Acancsha Bhat (@bhatallion) January 18, 2020
We dont live in Kashmir any more but Kashmir lives in us. We left Kashmir with our body but left our soul there which is still wandering in the meadows, mountains, lakes and streams. One day we will return and reunite our body with our soul. #HumWapasAayenge #KashmiriPandits pic.twitter.com/Yimo8o8yZU
— Rajesh Raina راجیش رینہ राजेश रैना (@rainarajesh) January 18, 2020
The campaign has garnered support from several quarters, with netizens actively supporting the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits back in the Valley. Union Home Minister Amit Shah in July 2019 declared that the central government is committed to bringing Kashmiri Pandits and Sufis back to the Valley saying a time will come when they will offer prayers at the famous Kheer Bhawani temple.
PM Modi too had acknowledged the travails endured by the dispossessed Kashmiri Pandits community while meeting their delegation in Houston. “You have suffered a lot and it is time to move towards building a new Kashmir,” PM Modi had said.
