Kashmiri Hindus Suffering Silently since two decades

Islamic Terror reared its ugly head in India way back in the late 1980s. It was masquerading in the guise of freedom fighters of Kashmir who wanted to separate the state of Jammu and Kashmir from the republic of India. It was and probably continues to be supported by the Muslim majority of the state.

On 19th January 1990, terrorism became so rampant that hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri Hindus didn't have any option but to leave their homes and become refugees in their own country. Their homes were plundered by marauding neighbors, Hindu men were killed mercilessly and women were raped and tortured in the most inhuman manner possible. The then ruling congress government instead of taking stringent military action against the terrorists told the Kashmiri Hindus to move to makeshift refugee camps in Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country.

A majority of these refugees continue to live in these camps as refugees in their own country. The local and national government or the human rights agencies doesn't seem to be concerned about the plight of these displaced people.

Now across the world this day is being celebrated as the Kashmiri Hindu Exile Day I wonder when the world will stand up and take notice of the untold atrocities being inflicted upon Kashmiri Hindus by the Islamic terrorists in their homeland and the apathetic government in India. These people certainly deserve to be given their basic human rights.

Happy Makara Sankra & Pongal

Today is Makara Sankranti and Pongal Festivals, a festival that is associated with the movement from darkness to light. Today is the day when the sun begins its northward motion. When I was in India I didn't really bother to celebrate the festival to the fullest extant, but now being in the US there is little opportunity to participate. Moreover whatever one does the ambiance is never right here. A Hindu festival is best enjoyed in the land where it originated, i.e. Bharat/ India.

I can only make a resolution that next time I visit my home and if it is providentially during a festival I should participate complete in the celebrations. Here it is limited to customary temple visit, possibly eating out and maybe visiting some friends.

Neglected Hero Stones - Ignored History

For my school project I made a PPT on the ancient Indian tradition of installing Hero Stones in memory of those who sacrificed their life in defense of their community, village, kingdom or country. As I compiled the presentation I realized that I have a pretty good repository of pictures of different types of Hero Stones. I thought it would be a good collection to share on this blog.

Hero Stone in Tumkur district, Karnataka, India

Damaged Hero Stone in Tamil Nadu