Srinagar, Sept 14 (JKNS): All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) and Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM), in association with GKPD, observed Balidan Divas at the B.K. Ganjoo Memorial Park in the national capital on Sunday.
The day was marked to honor the sacrifices of Kashmiri Pandits killed during militancy since 1990 and to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji.
The occasion also recalled the martyrdom of prominent Kashmiri Pandit leader Tika Lal Taploo, who was assassinated by militants in Srinagar on September 14, 1989. Since then, the Kashmiri Pandit community observes this day every year as Balidan Divas.
The program was graced by Sanjay Kundu, former DGP Himachal Pradesh, as the Chief Guest, and Ram Niwas, ex-DGP Chhattisgarh, as Guest of Honour. AIKS President Ravinder Pandita and Paramjit Chandhok of DGPC also attended the event, along with hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits from the Delhi-NCR region, who offered floral tributes at the memorial.
Addressing the gathering, Ravinder Pandita said, “Our Balidan tradition traces back from Adi Shankaracharya to Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, and continues through the painful exodus of 1990.” Similar sentiments were echoed by other speakers, including Sanjay Kundu, Ram Niwas, Paramjit Chandhok, Utpal Kaul of GKPD, and Pammi Pandita.
The program also witnessed cultural presentations by community children, including bhakti songs and a skit portraying the plight and resilience of the community
