By: Aabid Hameed
Pulwama: In yet another instance of communal harmony, the local Muslims in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district Sunday helped perform the last rites of an 80-year-old Kashmiri Pandit, who died on Saturday.
Setting an example of communal harmony and brotherhood, the local Muslims in Wahibugh village of Newa hamlet in Pulwama came together to help perform the last rites of their 80-year-old Pandit neighbor.
Kanaya Lal, resident of Wahibugh village about 8 kilometers from Pulwama town, was a retired teacher and a known figure in the village.
As only a few of his family members were around, Lal’s local friends and neighbors from the Muslim community took it upon themselves to help perform his last rites.
The local Muslims organized and performed his last rites and mourned his death as one of their own. They shouldered his coffin and arranged wood for the cremation in the village.
“He was one of us. We never thought of him as a KP. We arranged everything needed for the cremation,” said Mohammad Ramzan, a middle aged man from the locality.
He has been living here among us for many years. “We have lived alongside each other and done everything together,” said another local.
Javaid Ahmad, a local resident and one of his students said that Kanaya Lal was posted in Wahibugh and Goosu villages for decades and he has taught hundreds of students of the area.
He said his students once heard about his sad demise, rushed to the spot and arranged everything and took part in his last rights.
Besides a neighbor, it was our duty to take part in last rites of our teacher who had taught us at primary and secondary level.
He said that his most students are in Goosu villages, they all participated in his last rites and condoled his demise as well.
