Jammu,July 03 (Scoop News) -Condolences are still pouring in for Amar Nath Vaishnavi,the veteran leader of Kashmiri Pandits, who breathed his last on Monday morning at his residence. The 87 years old the dynamic Pandit leader had the honour of serving as a source of inspiration for Kashmiri Pandit Community during the much hyped Parmishori Agitation in Srinagar.
The President of All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference Mr Vaishnavi also contested elections in 1996 on BJP ticket.
Born in Srinagar in 1925, the 87 year old Vaishnavi fought for the country’s Independence was jailed several times, including during the Emergency in 1975.
As their leader, Vaishnavi had led the Kashmir Pandit (KP) community for past several decades and became the first president of Yuvik Sahba (Sheetal Nath).
He was the main architect in bridging the gap between the Kashmiri Pandits of rural and urban areas.
He had headed the Sahita Samiti, which provided relief and food to the displaced KPs soon after their migration from the Valley to Jammu and other areas in the region in 1990.
He led several delegations to Round Table Conference along with Panun Kashmir.
Pt Vaishnavi Ji passed historic resolution-4, which demanded establishment of security zone for 7 lakh KPs that became the basis of Margdarshan Resolution of Panun Kashmir 1991.
He was conferred with a prestigious Sharda Samman in 3rd World Kashmiri Pandit Conference at Zorawar Auditorium, Jammu in 2008.
His death has come as a shock to all Kasamiri Pandits all over the country and as the news of Amar Nath Vaishnavi’s death spread here thousands of KP’s rushed to his residence to express their grief and shock.
Meanwhile, various organizations and leaders have deeply condoled the death of the senior leader.
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla expressed deep sorrow and grief on sad demise of Vaishnavi. He prayed for peace to departed soul and courage to bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.
The Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir while paying rich tributes to the KP leader said that Vaishnavi was a secular minded person who always worked for mutual brotherhood and communal harmony among various sections of the society, adding that he will be remembered for his untiring efforts in supporting the cause of Kashmiri Pandits in particular and Kashmiris in general in living a peaceful life in Kashmir.
The members of All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference in an emergency meeting have expressed deep sorrow and grief on his sad demise, while KK Khosa on behalf of Kashmiri Pandit Sabha has also expressed heartfelt condolence on his sad demise. He said that community has lost a great leader whose contributions will be remembered for a long time, adding that he always remained active in representing the cause of community without compromising on principles.
Dr KN Pandita, Convener JKNM, Surinder Ambardar, Political Analyst and Ajay Bharti, President, JKVM NCR have also condoled the death of the freedom fighter.
Dr Agnishekhar while condoling the sad demise said that Vaishnavi Ji was a social reformer and a Satyagrahi to the perfection and his role as community saviour
will be remembered for many generations.
Kundan Kashmiri, President All India Kashmiri Pandit Conference said that the KP
Community has lost such a leader who is impossible to be replaced by any other person, adding that the void created by his demise can never be filled.
“Vaishnavi Ji was only leader of the community who changed the fate of the young generation by ensuring they get reservation in the professional colleges and universities”,
general secretary of State Congress and Apex committee member Hira Lal Pandita said.
While condoling the sad demise of the prominent KP leader, Ashwani Charangoo,
President Panun Kashmir, said that Vaishnavi Ji was the tallest leader who always stood for nationalistic cause, never compromised with his principles, went to jail and infused in us the spirit of strength. “The strong KP leader was simply Lala Lajpat Rai of KP Community and the community now feels absolutely leaderless.
The J&K National Conference Minority Cell leaders while paying homage to
Vaishnavi Ji said that he was the selfless leader who dedicated his entire life for the service of the community. Panun Kashmir in a condolence meeting held under the
chairmanship of Dr MK Teng and attended by Omkar Nath Trisal,
ML Koul, Kulddep Raina, Daya Krishan Koul and others, has stated that Pt Amar Nath Ji Vaishnavi will be remembered for his selfless services and his vital role during the ethnic cleansing when the KP Community was facing severe crisis in 1990. Dr Teng said that the community has lost a social activist who worked among the masses in the time of
grave crisis.
President TRT Nagrota, PL Dhar while condoling the sad demise said that the he (VaishnaviJi) served as a beacon light to guide and goad the KP Community in this grim atmosphere of banishment.
The Kashyap Progressive Commerce and Commercial Foundation Jammu Chapter said
that he was the father figure in every struggle of the Kashmiri Pandit community and an epitome of simple living and high thinking.
Migrant Teachers Welfare Association (MTWA) held a condolence meeting under the presidentship of Ramesh Kumar and expressed that in the death of Amar Nath Vaishnavi the community has lost a selfless leader, who worked for the community cause day in and day out.
Migrant Masters working in Kargil and Leh also condoled the death of Vaishnavi. Ramesh Padroo termed it as a great loss to the community.
RK Bharati Foundation while expressing its shock over the demise of the leader said that the void created by him will be difficult to fill. While condoling the demise of Amar Nath Vaishnavi,
Chairman All J&K Non Camp Displaced Forum Jammu, DN Kissu, said that was a tall and visionary personality, who spent his whole life for upliftment of the under-privileged segments of society.
Sharika Peeth Sanastha Koshur Bhawan, Subhash Nagar Jammu, held a meeting under the presidentship of MK Jalali, wherein the members condoled the sad demise of the President ASKPC.
Chairman Kashmiri Hindu Conference ML Tussu, while condoling said that the contribution made by Vaishnavi Ji to the community cause needed to be appreciated.
President Kashmiri Samiti Delhi Rakesh Koul also condoled the sad demise of the KP leader and said that it is was a great loss to KP community.
Vice President, Migrant Teachers Forum Kashmir, Rakesh Pandita while condoling the demise of the iconic leader said that such leaders are produced once in a generation.
Meanwhile, the members of the KP community regretted that there was no representative from the Jammu and Kashmir Government at the Cremation Ground to pay last respects to the veteran leader, who was also a member of the Government’s apex decision making body for Kashmiri Pandits.
Prominent among others present in the procession were Shamsher Singh Manhas, President, BJP J&K, Vinod Koul, former Relief Commissioner and Secretary Technical Education, RK Pandita, Relief Commissioner, Moti Koul, HN Jattu, Swami Kumar JI, Swami Pran Nath Bhat Garib and other saints and intellectuals.