The Kashmiri Pandit exodus

The Kashmiri Pandit exodus refers to the forced mass migration of the Hindu minority community (Kashmiri Pandits) from the Kashmir Valley in 1989–1990, following the rise of militant insurgency and targeted violence in the region.

Background

• Kashmiri Pandits are an ancient Hindu community native to the Kashmir Valley, with a history going back over 5,000 years.


• Before the insurgency, they made up around 3–5% of the Valley’s population.


• The majority of the population was Muslim, but the two communities had largely coexisted peacefully for centuries.

The Insurgency (Late 1980s–1990)

• In 1989, an armed insurgency broke out in Jammu and Kashmir, demanding either independence from India or accession to Pakistan.


• Pakistan-backed militant groups such as JKLF (Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front) and later Hizbul Mujahideen began operating in the region.


• Amid this turmoil, many Pandits were targeted — prominent community members, government officials, and intellectuals were assassinated.


• Threats, slogans, and propaganda spread through mosques and local media created an atmosphere of fear.

The Exodus (1989–1991)

• By early 1990, the situation became unbearable for Kashmiri Hindus.


• After the killing of several prominent Pandits (like Tika Lal Taploo and Sarwanand Koul Premi), mass fear spread.


• Between 100,000 and 150,000 Pandits fled the valley, mostly to Jammu, Delhi, and other parts of India.


• Reports estimate that several hundred were killed during the violence, though numbers vary by source.

Life in Exile

• Many families lived in makeshift refugee camps around Jammu under harsh conditions — inadequate shelter, water, and healthcare.


• The government provided relief, but the displacement caused deep trauma, loss of property, and cultural disruption.


• Generations of Pandits grew up away from their ancestral homes, and their return remains a major political and emotional issue.