"We have to spread love and end hatred.” Back in 2020, RJ Sayema shared her experience, meeting Kashmiri Pandits for her M.Phil dissertation.
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00:00The religion that those terrorists took out of their homes in the name of religion was the same religion which is my religion.
00:07Of course, when they used to tell their story, the soul used to tremble.
00:11But like, terrorists have no religion, no religion.
00:15Some years back, I did my MPhil from Delhi University Department of Social Work.
00:21And the topic of my dissertation was internally displaced people, a study of Kashmiri Pandits in Delhi.
00:28It is supervised by Dr. Manoj Jha.
00:30And we discussed a lot of topics and then we finalized on this one.
00:34And I asked brother, brother Manoj, why did we finalize this topic?
00:40And he said that there is very little research work on the plight, condition and story of Kashmiri Pandits.
00:47And we should contribute in that.
00:49Only then reforms will be thought about and all that.
00:53So I started my study and we identified Kashmiri Pandits migrant camps in Delhi.
00:59And we found out that there were a lot of camps in Bapu Dham, Amar Colony, Nand Nagri, South X in Lajpat Nagar.
01:07And when I started my research work and I used to go to meet these families,
01:13honestly, I used to get scared in the beginning because whenever they used to ask my name and I used to tell my name,
01:19there used to be a strange silence and they used to look at each other.
01:26And I used to understand because obviously the religion on which they were expelled from their homes,
01:33the religion on which those terrorists expelled them from their homes,
01:38that was the same religion which is my religion.
01:41But terrorists have no religion, no religion.
01:45Sometimes they use the name of Islam, sometimes they use the name of Hinduism, sometimes they use the name of Christianity.
01:53Because they can't say that we have only one religion and it is the religion of hatred.
01:58Anyway, when I went to those families and we started talking and I told them that I am a student and I am doing research on this.
02:05So maybe there was a different place in their heart for me.
02:10And then I used to go to their homes for about a year and I used to talk to them.
02:15I met different families.
02:17I mean, they are so beautiful.
02:20I mean, they look so beautiful.
02:22And so many beautiful people and think about it,
02:25so many people who have gone through so much, they are such positive people.
02:31So positive.
02:32Of course, when they used to tell their story, the soul used to tremble.
02:36Like they used to tell how a poster used to be put in front of their house at night,
02:42a paper was put on which the names were written that the next number will come to these people.
02:47And people had to leave their homes all night.
02:52I remember when I was four or five months old,
02:56one day I asked a family that there is something in my heart that I want to ask you.
03:01And I asked them that when I told you my name,
03:05did you hate me for a second?
03:11So I remember that there was a grandmother,
03:15she hugged me and she said,
03:17No, son, why would I hate you?
03:20You know, when we had to go out all night,
03:25when we used to run away from our house,
03:27our neighbors helped us a lot.
03:30Our neighbors were also Muslims.
03:32They took care of us the most.
03:35And even today we know that if we go back,
03:39they will welcome us with open arms.
03:44They will do everything to make us feel comfortable and back home again.
03:51What we don't understand is that those people who have endured,
03:56those people who have gone through,
03:58whether they are Kashmiri Pandits or the victims of the 1984 riots,
04:03or the victims of the 2002 riots,
04:06when you go and talk to them,
04:08when you ask them,
04:10then every family says the same thing,
04:13that may God forbid,
04:15may this never happen to anyone.
04:18May God forbid, may this never happen to anyone.
04:21They always say that no one should ever have to go through this terror.
04:26The terror they have gone through,
04:28they never talk about revenge.
04:30They never talk about hatred.
04:33They have lost a lot.
04:37But they have not lost their humanity.
04:41Then why are there such people around us?
04:46Whether it is the 1984 riot victims,
04:49or the Kashmiri Pandits,
04:52why do they spread so much hatred in their name?
04:56They should be ashamed.
04:58And they should learn,
05:00from those people,
05:02whose names they use,
05:04to say such filthy and disgusting things.
05:09What is humanity?
05:12How much love is needed in this world of love?
05:17How much need is there for us to stand with each other,
05:21without seeing this,
05:23without knowing this,
05:24without thinking about the difference between us.
05:28If we pay attention to just one thing,
05:31that we are all human beings,
05:34then in this world,
05:36in this world,
05:37hatred should be reduced to such an extent,
05:40and we should not make anyone else understand,
05:43we should make ourselves understand.
05:47We know exactly,
05:49for whom there is hatred in our hearts,
05:51and for whom there is love.
05:53So we have to keep increasing love,
05:56and we have to completely end hatred.
06:01Neither is it good for others,
06:03nor is it good for ourselves.