In Sopore, Muslims help perform last rites of Pandit woman

Setting an example of communal harmony in Kashmir again, the Muslim brethren in Zaloora village in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district assisted a Pandit family to perform last rites of their family member.

As soon as the news about the death of a Kashmiri female Pandit spread in the village, hundreds of Muslims including men, women and children visited the family to express solidarity with the bereaved family. The Muslim brethren also attended her last rites.

110 year-old Kashmir Pandit, Rupa Devi wife of Late Ardanath Pandit of Zaloora Sopore died after remaining ill since last many years.

The Muslim brethren helped the family to perform the last rites of Rupa Devi as per the Hindu rituals.

“This is true Kashmir. This is our culture and we share brotherhood. We do not believe in duality or divisive politics. We share composite culture,” said Abdul Rashid Mir, a neighbor of Rupa devi.

Rupa devi decided to stay in the Valley in 90’s, when a majority of Kashmiri Pandits chose to move out of the region. Since then she was living with her son, Ramesh Kumar.

“A majority of people present during the last rites were Muslims. We condemn incidents which try to create differences between Hindus and Muslims. We live here in peace and harmony,” said Ramesh Kumar.

Devi never left her native place, saying that she grew up here with her Muslim neighbors and she would prefer to die among her own people.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.