The Hindu : National : “Pandits should avoid drawing room discussions”

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Monday, Oct 08, 2007
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“Pandits should avoid drawing room discussions”

Special Correspondent

Talk held on multidimensional challenges faced by the community

All Kashmiri Pandits suffer from one or multiple neuro-psychiatric problems: study
Problem due to being uprooted from an illustrious historical relevance, says Dr. Bali

CHANDIGARH: To reverse the epidemic like spread of hypertension, diabetes and related disorders, the beleaguered community of Kashmiri Pandits, while changing their lifestyle, especially food habits, must also avoid their recurrent intense drawing room discussions. There was an urgent need to transform, under which they should steer away from living in denial of political reality, with hostility towards self, colleagues and other communities.

Heart complications

This advice was handed down by acclaimed cardiologist, H.K. Bali, who in a lecture here dwelt upon concerns of the Kashmiri community which is faced with multidimensional challenges including an ever increasing threat of heart complications owing to considerable changes in their dietary patterns, lifestyle, sociological and psychological profile ever since they were uprooted from the Valley more than one and a half decade ago due to terrorism.

Dr. Bali quoted a study by his colleague, K.L. Chaudhary, to elucidate the extent of disorders that prevail in the community, which was heavily exposed to coronary artery disease (CAD) and sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Profiling cases over the last few years, it had been found that all Kashmiri Pandits suffered from one or multiple neuro-psychiatric problems, 76 per cent were susceptible to anxiety, depression, phobia and panic, while another eight per cent had post-traumatic disorders.

Nearly 11 per cent reported dissociative disorders and major neurosis, nine per cent developed personality disorders, 16 per cent suffered sleep disorders, 41 and seven per cent reported minor and major depression respectively, two per cent fell to substance abuse and three to delusional disorders and psychosis.

The study also brought out that 15.6 per cent of the Kashmiri Pandits could be categorised as pre-hypertensives, 10.5 per cent were in the initial stages of hypertension (HTN), while four per cent were in the stage-II HTN.

Psychotrauma, diabetes

While the prevalence of pyschotrauma was nearly 30 per cent, only 11.3 per cent were aware of the problem. High incidence of diabetes was also reported.

Dr. Bali was of the opinion that the highly sensitive Kashmiri community developed these problems while trying to reconcile with changed environments both physical and psychological. Having been uprooted from an illustrious historical relevance, Kashmiri Pandits are now facing a socio-psycho compatibility crisis in far off lands like Chandigarh, Punjab and New Delhi.

To reduce stress levels which stem from an inherently insecure mindset, he advised Kashmiri Pandits to avoid undue and lengthy drawing room talks, anger and aloofness from local communities.

While underscoring the need to accept and absorb the changed social circle, Dr. Bali called upon social intermingling to be an important factor to reduce the stress borne out of incompatibilities, aloofness and the feeling of being an alien, which was proving to be damaging for the entire community. Dr. Bali also exhorted changes in the normally followed dietary patterns to accommodate the changeover from hilly region to the planes and from a pleasant and cold climate to the one with extremities in terms of heat and cold.

Food habits

Urging Kashmiris to avoid certain quintessential food habits, he suggested replacing red meat and high cholesterol foods with fish and fruits. While avoiding fatty acids, smoking, fried food and rice, the community should increase physical activity.

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