Kashmiri Pandits have been, time and again; persecuted and brutalized by religious zealots who ruled the Valley, reducing the community which was once in the majority to a small minority. The last exodus of Pandits has torn their social fabric, and today they are scattered all over India and abroad, totally alienated from their roots. The book gives the reader a glimpse into the political history and thousands of year old culture of the community.
The chapter on culture includes: the religious practices of Kashmiri Pandits, their language, literature, character, ceremonial marriage rituals and rites associated with birth and death with their significance. The questions ‘will the Kashmiri Pandits return to the Valley?’ and ‘will the Kashmiri Pandit community survive?’ are discussed in detail in the appendix.
The book fulfils the need for a concise political history and culture of the Kashmiri Pandits in a simple, understandable language without...