Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 21: In yet another instance of communal harmony, the local Muslims in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district Tuesday helped perform the last rites of a 71-year-old Kashmiri Pandit lady who died on Monday evening.
Setting an example of communal harmony and brotherhood, the local Muslims in main town Tral in Pulwama district came together to help perform the last rites of their elderly lady Pandit neighbour.
Shishi Raina, wife of Pandit Nath Raina, resident of main town Tral Monday evening died after a brief illness on Monday evening.
As only few family members were around, Nath’s local friends and neighbors from the Muslim community took it upon themselves to help perform his last rites.
The local Muslims organized and performed his last rites and mourned her death as one of their own. They shouldered her coffin and arranged wood for the cremation in the town.
“She was one of us. We never thought of him as a Kashmir Pandit. We arranged everything needed for the cremation,” said Abdul Gani, a middle aged man from the locality.
“She has been living here among us for many years. We have lived alongside each other and done everything together,” said another local.
Locals said that this family has never left Kashmir despite facing many problems and it was our duty to help them.
“Once we heard about her sad demise, locals rushed to the spot and arranged everything and took part in his last rites like they took part in last rites of Muslims,” they said.
