Delhi: In search of a home

Safoora Zargar, a sociology student of Jamia Milia Islamia, hails from Kashmir. She is thrilled about her marriage in September, but cannot come to terms with the fact that her best friends will not be part of the festivities.

She says their families have refused to allow them to travel to Kashmir.

“Their families feel it’s not safe in Kashmir and anything can happen at any time,” says the 25-year-old bride who will get married in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar, her hometown.

Her association with Delhi goes back to 1998 when her father was posted in neighbouring Faridabad, part of the National Capital Region (NCR).

She recalls her childhood, when being the only Muslim in class meant, “You are a terrorist, go back to Pakistan”.

This was when she was just five years old.

“I belong to Delhi; have lived here for 20 years. I grew up here, went to Delhi University and now I’m pursing my Master’s degree. Why should I be seen as an outsider?”

Sitting in the university canteen, wearing cargos and a t-shirt, Zargar says she doesn’t have the typical Kashmiri features or the accent, since she has lived in Delhi since the age of five. She is comfortable speaking in Hindi, but is often reluctant to give away her Kashmiri identity.

“People tend to judge me or look at me differently the moment I talk about my Kashmiri identity.”

YOUNG & RESTLESS

It’s the students and young professionals from Kashmir who are mostly at the receiving end of this prejudice. There are many who have real estate investments in posh South Delhi and spend the winter months here. But it’s the youngsters who have built a life for themselves in the state, who struggle convincing people.

Another student, Shafat Yousuf, a research scholar from Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), says finding accommodation in Delhi is a task.

“It’s all fine till the landlords get to know they are renting out their place to a Kashmiri. Many end the negotiations abruptly. Most of us have now become used to this,” he says.

He says Kashimiris do not feel welcomed in the Capital, unlike other parts of the country where bias is not as apparent.

He recalls an incident from 2008 when he was beaten up in the middle of the night and called a terrorist by drunk men in his neighbourhood.

“I was sleeping in my room in Safdarjung Enclave, when someone banged at my door late at night. When I opened the door, another tenant, in an inebriated state, started thrashing me and my roommates, calling us terrorists.”

Scared, he spent the night at a friend’s place.

Iqbal Sonaullah, from Sopore and a PhD scholar of West Asian studies in JMI, came to Delhi seven years ago. He says it was easier to get an accommodation earlier, but lately, things have gotten worse.

“When I first came here in 2011, I didn’t face any issue in getting an accommodation. But, as Kashmiri Muslims, we tend to look for a Muslim-dominated area as we do not get places easily.”

(Clockwise from top left) Schoolchildren in Kashmir; Gulfam Kashmiri Wazwan, one of the most popular food joints in Nizamuddin; and A Kashmiri vendor displays handcrafted Pashmina

THE TURMOIL

Increasing number of Kashmiri youth joining terror ranks has alarmed the security agencies.

On an average, there is one new recruit every three days. This is a disturbing trend that needs to be controlled.

There have been 4,799 stone pelting incidents reported in Jammu and Kashmir in last three years. Frequent clashes between the protesting mobs and the security forces keep the situation tense.

Since the killing of Burhan Wani, a local commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen who became a poster boy for terror outfits, the cycle of violence in the strife-torn state has spiralled.

The situation back home has made things worse for the Kashmiri youth in Delhi who find themselves caught in the crossfire.

Yousuf says the anti-Kashmiri sentiment has amplified.

“There has been a sudden wave of nationalism in India with the change of the government. In addition to life being threatened in J&K because of the turmoil, we receive constant threats outside the state. People are biased and think we are terrorists because we are from Kashmir,” he says.

Another student, Yasir Basir from Bandipora, echoes the same view.

He says Kashmiris are politically sound and can have a strong political discussion on Kashmir, India and Pakistan as they have witnessed the conflict up close.

“We always have our families at the back of our minds. You never know what can happen when in Kashmir. Even they are worried about us. They ask us to keep silent, not get involved in any political debate, which might turn violent,” says Basir.

From “do you have schools in your state?” to “have you spoken to any terrorist?,” Kashmiris have heard it all.

Back home, it’s common for security forces to knock at doors in the middle of the night as part of a search operation, Yousuf adds.

Was the recent attack on a Kashmiri family a hate crime?

Recently, a long-simmering feud between a Kashmiri family residing in Sunlight Colony in south-east Delhi, and its neighbours came to a boil. The family said a mob of 30 to 40 men barged into their home and assaulted them, including the women; while the Residents’ Association says the men of the family had misbehaved with some women and then created chaos as a cover-up.

“The mob entered into our home bearing sticks,” says a 30-year-old male of the family. “They attacked us and even pinned my sister to the wall. I kept requesting them not to hit my sister, but they kept shouting ‘Kashmiri terrorist! Go back’. They beat me up, too,” he added.

The society’s association had written to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik and the home ministry on April 2, claiming that the family was indulging in illegal activities and harbouring terrorists.

Actor and model Tariq Dar, a Kashmiri Muslim, was mistakenly imprisoned in New Delhi for weeks for having terror links in 2009. He was later found innocent.

Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani, a Kashmiri, was even awarded the death sentence in connection with the 2001 Parliament attack case, but was later released.

Here is where the prejudice toward Kashmiris comes out in the open. With no evidence, the family was accused of harbouring terrorists, Dar was mistakenly imprisoned and Geelani was given a death sentence, only to be released later.

Commenting on incidents like these, a Lajpat Nagar resident from Kashmir, asks, “Aren’t we humans, too?”

“Why are we always ill-treated? The society says we indulge in illegal activities. May I know what have we been involved in? People who are misinformed about the Kashmir issue are all politically unsound. And if we try explaining our part, they call us anti-India,” he talks to DNA on the condition of anonymity.

“Although some people in Delhi have been extremely welcoming, but there are some who try to provoke others against us,” said the resident.

Cricket matches between India and Pakistan often trigger high passions, with Kashmiris facing a backlash.

“People ask us which country we support during a cricket match? I believe it’s an individual’s choice.”

He narrates an incident when India beat Pakistan in the group game during last year’s Champions Trophy.

“Some people from our locality stopped our bike and burst crackers in front of us.”

“Kashmiris can’t walk out in open till late. If they are caught by Police, they are harassed. We even get to hear comments like ‘ugharwadi hoga (must be a terrorist),” a student from Jawaharlal Nehru University says.

HEALING TOUCH

Kashmiri food, artifacts, the carpet industry and the culture has always been a big hit in the Capital.

Despite so many problems, Delhi is home to many Kashmiri Muslims. A home, which has provided many opportunities, regardless the social status — for both the rich and poor.

Shefy Khan, owner of Ahad Sons, a Kashmir food outlet in Uday Park in South Delhi says, “Delhi is my first home.”

In the past 32 years of his stay in Delhi, Khan talks about the difficult times that he and his father faced in the city. His father had come to Delhi much before the trouble started in Kashmir.

Khan’s father came to Delhi in 1984 with dreams of becoming a chef.

“Initially, it was difficult to convince Delhiites to try Kashmiri food. But over the years, people have started loving the cuisine. Now, we get almost 8 per cent of our orders from the non-Kashmiri population,” says Khan.

The outlet is run out of his family home. They deliver Kashmiri food in South Delhi, but, they plan to expand and convert the outlet into a restaurant, Khan adds.

Khan recalls that he was brought up along with in a Kashmiri Pandit family, back in Srinagar. “There was no hatred amongst us,” he says.

The busy and chaotic Lajpat Nagar has become a hub for Kashmiris, many of who are in the carpet business.

Earlier, the carpets were made and brought to Delhi to be sold, but, over the years, city residents have brought the artisans here and set up small manufacturing units.

Owais Rashid, a Kashmiri vedndor in Dilli Haat — a craft and cultural hub — says Pashmina is always in high demand in the Capital.

This is what keeps getting him to Delhi. Even though Delhi is not home for him, he feels he has an ‘affair’ with the city. “After all, the city helps me earn, which runs my family in Kashmir.”   

He sells original Pashmina, claims Rashid with pride, and wants people to distinguish the real from the fake. “People do not know how much effort it takes to hand craft a Pashmina,” he says.

“The road has not been easy, but we have made this city our home now. People have given us love and respect over the years. I believe that if you are not creating any issue for locals, they won’t have anything against you,” says Khan.

Similarly, Altaf Raja, who came to Delhi in search of work from Baramulla in Jammu Kashmir around 11 years ago, is very happy to have settled in the Capital. He works at a tours and travel company.

“This city is full of opportunities. I get to visit different places around the country because of this job. It is a friendly city, which has given me everything I need. Now, I have settled in Azadpur. I have not faced any issues while living in the city. I feel like I’m home here,” said Raja.

Tens of thousands of people have died during 20 years of anti-India insurgency in Kashmir. The strife has left nothing untouched in the scenic region, once the heart of Sufi Islam in the subcontinent and home to an easy-going society.

The smallest reality of Kashmir is one’s own experience. What is the way out of a Gordian knot? Should we ignore the biggest reality of violence? Can we ever realise a future of freedom, solidarity and peace? Can we honour the principles of human rights?