The Kashmir Valley, known as the paradise on earth, has always embraced many cultures, traditions and faiths.
Yet the region has also been dogged by religious tensions, political sceneriors and a spell of savagery that has put a strain on the social fabric. That is all the more reason why there is a greater need today of uniting people of all faiths, working towards interfaith dialogue, healing and hope.
The groundwork that interfaith engagement in Kashmir can lay for reconciliation, peace, and coexistence cannot be overstated.
At the same time, Kashmir’s history is a testament to its pluralist traditions. Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism, as well as smaller communities of Buddhists and Christians, have coexisted in the region for centuries.
The restoration of emotional and psychological scars of decades of long divergence is perhaps one of the greatest powerful objectives of the interfaith dialogue. Kashmiris of all faiths have endured trauma—loss of family members, displacement, destruction of homes.
For all, religion expands itself as a pillar of spirit in times of upheaval. Interfaith dialogue can foster empathy and understanding by creating spaces in which people of different faiths can share their pain and provide support for each other and listen to one another’s stories.
We first and foremost should train everyone in Kashmir by giving them education of inter faith dialogue. Curriculums in schools and universities across Kashmir valley must focus on the significance of being religious tolerant and an understanding of the histories and philosophies of different faiths.
Such an education could make a contribution to nurturing a new generation of Kashmiris who will understand that diversity of faith in the Kashmir Valley and India is an asset — and not a threat, because it will develop in them shared values of love, compassion and respect and unity for humanity.
