The Hindu : Front Page : Accept the concept of Kashmiriyat: Aiyar

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Monday, Oct 30, 2006
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Accept the concept of Kashmiriyat: Aiyar

Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR: The Union Minister for Panchayati Raj and Sports Mani Shankar Aiyar on Sunday said that it was impossible to be a Kashmiri without being Indian. Addressing an International seminar on ``Approaches to Kashmir Studies" organised by Institute of Kashmir Studies, University of Kashmir, Mr Aiyar said, ``We have to accept Kashmiriyat (tradition of living together)," he said adding ``we wish to be one country with diverse cultures and religions." Referring to diverse cultures and religions, he said ``in a remote village in Tamil Nadu a villager proudly says that he is an Indian though he has never been to Delhi and his culture, language and costume does not match with what people have in north."

He said that Kashmiris had forgotten that what Kashmir is. "It (Kashmir) has to be part of a composite nation". He said that for strengthening Kashmiriyat, the Centre set up by Kashmir University could play a big role.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that Kashmiriyat was to live and let live. ``It used to be part of our lives before the start of militancy but now it is only to live. We need to change that."

Governor S.K. Sinha said that that Kashmiriyat was not a religion but a culture `influenced by three religions Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.'

He said there were many schools of thought in Islam but it was Sufi Islam which came to Kashmir.

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