Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jan 30: A beautiful display of communal harmony and brotherhood unfolded in Srinagar on Tuesday as Muslims performed the last rites of a Kashmiri Pandit, who passed away at his home in the Tankipora area of Srinagar.
As the Kashmiri Pandit left this world late on Monday night, Muslim neighbors from the area visited the Pandit’s house to offer emotional support and performed the last rites of the deceased.
A local from Tankipora, Srinagar said that Sohan Lal, the Kashmiri Pandit, passed away around 3:00 AM. “He was a very helpful man. He was ill for some time,” he said..
He added that, “his relatives are in Jammu and Delhi, and until they arrive, they will wait. “He has been in Srinagar for a long time and we have shared a significant part of life with Sohan Lal. He was a man of words,” said Gulam Mohammad Lala, a local.
Another local said that Sohan was like his brother and always used to help them and was present whenever we needed him. “During any function or event in the locality, Sohan made the his home available for the people and he was like a family member for us,” added Zahoor, a local.
Ashok Koul, a relative of Sohan said that they had been urging Sohan to return to Delhi and live with them, but he consistently said, “he will stay here in Kashmir, as It is my home, and the neighborhood here has taken great care of him.” I am thankful to the neighbors and the Muslim community members who helped in the last rites of my uncle, Sohan Lal, as we shifted to Delhi nearly 34 years ago,” he said.
He added, “all the neighbors have been present since last night, and we hope the brotherhood will continue in the valley as we are overwhelmed.”
