Jahangeer Ganaie
Shopian, July 23:In yet another example of communal harmony and a sign of love between the two communities, Kashmiri Muslims performed the last rights of a Kashmiri Pandit man at Zainapora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district.
An aged Kashmiri Pandit Kanth Ram son of Anant Ram, passed away after a brief spell of illness at Zainapora village. Soon after the death of Kanat Ram, large number of people from the locality, all of them from the Muslim community, rushed to Ram’s residence to mourn the demise and to ensure all preparations for the last rites of deceased are done.
Witnesses told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), elders, young and children were among the villagers who flooded the deceased’s residence and ensured all preparations for the last rites were done on time.
Ajay Lal, a close relative of the deceased said that that Muslims have been part and parcel of the age old cultural ethos and a communal harmony since past so many decades. “Our bond became stronger when the majority of KPs deserted Kashmir in 1989. Though very few KPs live in Kashmir, we share a very common and a strong bond and harmony with each other,” Lal told KNO
He thanked the Muslim community members for always helping them and remaining with them in happy and sad times.
Rafiq Ahmad, a villager said that they help the KPs in conducting last rites, marriages and share joys and sorrows with each other. “This is what a neighbour is supposed to do. Today, there aren’t more than 15 relatives and friends of the deceased. Rest all are from Muslim community. We share the pain of losing Kant Ramji. He was a noble soul and gentleman,” said Rafiq.
The Muslims of the area walked along with a few relatives of deceased up to the cemetery where the body of Kanat Ram was cremated amid religious rituals.