36 years on, Kashmiri Pandits remember Exodus, demand justice and safe return

Social media posts and commemorations marked the 36th anniversary of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus, sharing images of refugee camps, personal stories, and calls to remember the displacement of the Hindu minority amid the 1989–1990 insurgency in the Kashmir Valley. The mass flight followed open threats and extremist calls issued on January 19, 1990 , when slogans and announcements warned Kashmiri Pandits to leave the Valley. O fficial records note around 60,000 registered migrants, though community estimates range from 300,000 to 500,000, with reported deaths between 219 and 399.

Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits participated in protests in Jammu and other locations , raising slogans and demanding a comprehensive policy to facilitate their safe return. Some groups also called for a separate homeland within the Valley and for parliamentary recognition of the violence they endured. Despite rehabilitation efforts post-2019, which included jobs for thousands, mass returns have remained limited , with many survivors continuing to demand security guarantees before returning.

The exodus began in early 1990 when renewed insurgency and a campaign of threats, intimidation, and targeted killings created an atmosphere of fear for the small Hindu minority. Tens of thousands of families fled with little more than memories and belongings. Decades later, many refugees and their descendants continue to live outside Kashmir, carrying the trauma of displacement and interrupted lives.

Amid the commemorations, National Conference president and former Jammu & Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah said that displaced Kashmiri Pandits are “always welcome to return to their homes in the Valley.” However, he expressed scepticism about whether many would make a permanent return, noting that many have established lives elsewhere. Abdullah added that many Pandit families never left the Valley and questioned what was stopping others from coming back.

Asked about the community’s longstanding demand for a formal rehabilitation policy, Abdullah said that assurances about housing and support were given during his tenure, but implementation stalled after his administration fell. He added that it was now for the Central government to take forward such initiatives.

As families marked the anniversary with protests, tributes, and calls for justice, the day served as a reminder of the deep and lingering impact of the exodus , a chapter of loss and displacement that continues to shape the lives of many Kashmiri Pandits decades after they left their homeland.