Jahangeer Ganaie
Pulwama, Oct 22: Local Muslims in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district came together to help perform the last rites of a 70-year-old Kashmiri Pandit, who died on Monday.
Setting an example of communal harmony and brotherhood, local Muslims in Lajurah, Narva, Koil, Ratnipora and its adjacent villages in South Kashmir’s Pulwama came together to help perform the last rites of their neighbour.
Pandith Bhushan Lal Ganjoo, a resident of Lajurah village about 5 kilometers from Pulwama town was a retired teacher and a known figure in the area.
As only a few of his family members were around, Lal’s local friends and neighbours from the Muslim community took it upon themselves to help perform his last rites.
The local Muslims organised and performed his last rites and mourned his death as one of their own. They shouldered his coffin and arranged wood for the cremation in the village.
“He was one of us. We never thought of him as a KP. We arranged everything needed for the cremation,” said Mohammad Abdullah, a middle-aged man from the locality.
He said that Bhushan has taught thousands of students in the area and has always worked for the welfare of the people irrespective of religion. He has been living here among us for many years.
“We have lived alongside each other and done everything together,” said another local. Gh Nabi one of his students said that Bhushan Lal was posted in neighbouring villages for decades and he has taught hundreds of students of the area.
He said his students once heard about his sad demise, rushed to the spot and arranged everything and took part in his last rights. Besides a neighbour, it was our duty to take part in the last rites of our teacher who had taught us at primary and secondary level.
Locals said that Bhushan Lal’s contribution for the welfare of the society is immense and even on death bed; he used to teach local students Hindi. “We share a bond that goes back hundreds of years. When we heard about the sad news, all of us rushed to console the family members and arrange the last rites,” locals added.
Locals said that this family has never left Kashmir despite facing many problems and it was their duty to help them. “Once we heard about his sad demise, we rushed to the spot and arranged everything and took part in his last rites,” they said.
Ravinder, one of his students who had come from Batote Banihal to take part in his last rites said that he was pleased to see that the majority community has continued to work for communal harmony and co-existence even facing odds.
He said that Muslims in J&K have always worked for communal harmony and he is sure they will continue to do so in future.
