Gurgaon NGO helps Pandits return home

◗ Raabta came into existence since February 2018, and in April, both Mr Ahmad’s grandmother and her friend Dinanath were able to talk to each other after 29 years of separation

Even as successive governments over the years have struggled to reintegrate Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, an independent Gurgaon- based organisation Raabta is making efforts to ensure those who were forced to leave are once again re- united with their Muslim brethren.

Talking about the "lost friendship" of Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims, Jaibeer Ahmad, the founder of Raabta, said, "It's really important for us to restore the lost friendship which was torn out because of Kashmir conflict in the 1990s."

Raabta, which translates to ' connection', came into existence in February this year, because of a personal quest of Mr Ahmad and his grandmother of a long lost Kashmiri Pandit friend.

"My beloved grandmother who is in her 80s had a friend called Dinanath who was like her third son. They separated after 1989, when Dinanath uncle migrated and left the Valley. Since then we have been searching for him but couldn't trace him," he said.

"She often talked about him and wanted to meet him once. And then one day, it suddenly struck me. I discussed it with a few others who also felt same about their friends and then I realised that it's a common sentiment across both communities. They want to get back in touch with their lost friends, neighbours, and schoolmates," he added.

Soon, Raabta came into existence since February 2018, and in April, both Mr Ahmad's grandmother and her friend Dinanath were able to talk to each other after 29 years of separation.

"The moment was affectionate and fully charged up. Both my grandmother and Dinanath uncle were happy and also promised to meet each other. In one word it was satisfactory," he said.

The organisation then reunited another set of friends - Ashima and Abbas - who got to speak to each other after a gap of 28 years.

"When Ashima and Abbas spoke for the first time, the moment was surreal," said Mr Ahmad.

Abbas Hamid, a 51- yearold practising lawyer at District Court, Anantnag said, "Talking to Ashima was totally emotional, I was also searching for her but wasn't successful in tracking her. Ashima and I were like brother and sister. It was like one big happy family. In the home we were friends, but in school, we were competitors for the first position."