Remembering Tikalal Taploo on Kashmiri Pandits Martyr’s Day

On September 14, 1989, a day forever engraved in the collective memory of Kashmiri Hindus, the life of Pt. Tikalal Taploo, a prominent leader and advocate, was brutally taken by Pakistan-sponsored Muslim terrorists. This moment in history marked the beginning of an era of terrorism in Kashmir, with the tragic murder of Taploo serving as a harrowing signal for the ethnic cleansing that followed. The attack wasn’t just an isolated act of violence; it was the launchpad for one of the most horrific mass exoduses in modern Indian history. Nearly half a million Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee their homeland, leaving behind centuries of cultural heritage.

Tikalal Taploo: A Life Dedicated to Justice and Nationalism

Born into a middle-class Kashmiri Pandit family in Chinkral Mohalla, Srinagar, Tikalal Taploo’s life was a testament to courage and conviction. After obtaining a degree in Law (MA, LLB) from Aligarh Muslim University in 1957, Taploo’s journey was never without struggle. He was denied admission to law school based on communal grounds, but his refusal to accept injustice led him to launch a Satyagraha alongside other Kashmiri Pandit students, a display of his unyielding commitment to fairness and equality.

In the years that followed, Taploo not only carved out a name for himself as an advocate for the poor and downtrodden, but he also became a passionate voice in support of Indian nationalism. His legal skills and his belief in standing up for justice earned him the affectionate nickname “Lala,” a term of respect that reflects his stature as a guiding figure in the community. Regardless of caste, religion, or financial status, Taploo fought for the rights of his clients, which made him a target in the eyes of those peddling sectarian agendas.

Political Activism and the Struggle Against Radicalization

Taploo’s activism went beyond the courtroom and entered the political arena. His affiliation with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and outspoken support for nationalist ideology placed him in direct conflict with the rising tide of radical Islam in the Kashmir Valley. His voice, calling for a return to nationalist fervor and unity, ran counter to the growing influence of Saudi-funded radicalism and the influx of extremist ideologies propagated by outsiders.

The Kashmir Emergency (1975-77) was another critical juncture in Taploo’s political journey. He was arrested and tortured by authorities for opposing the imposition of internal emergency measures, alongside fellow activists Pt. ML Khushu and Pt. Shiban Ji Pandita. This treatment symbolized the intense pressure placed on those who dared to challenge the political status quo in a region increasingly driven by communal and separatist forces. His release, however, only served to strengthen his resolve, and he became an even more powerful orator who could galvanize audiences with his calls for unity and national integrity.

A Targeted Killing: The Beginning of the End for Kashmiri Pandits

By September 1989, the situation in Kashmir had reached a boiling point. The valley was awash with extremist rhetoric, and figures like Tikalal Taploo became the prime targets for those who sought to divide and dominate through violence. After receiving multiple threats and surviving an assassination attempt just days earlier, Taploo was gunned down in broad daylight near his home in Srinagar. His murder was not an act of random violence but a calculated effort to silence the voice of a patriot.

The message sent by his murder was clear: anyone who stood for a united, secular India would be eliminated. This tactic, often described as “killing one to scare a thousand,” was designed to instill terror in the hearts of the Kashmiri Pandit minority. And it worked. Within four months of Taploo’s death, the Kashmiri Pandit exodus began, with hundreds of thousands of families fleeing to escape persecution and violence.

The Aftermath: Exodus and Ethnic Cleansing

With the death of Pt. Tikalal Taploo, Kashmir lost not just a man but an entire ethos of cultural plurality. His assassination marked the beginning of the end for the composite culture of the valley, a culture where Hindus and Muslims once coexisted in relative harmony. Kashmiri Pandits, who had lived in the valley for centuries, suddenly found themselves being hunted, and their homes, temples, and businesses were destroyed or seized. Ethnic cleansing was no longer a theoretical concept; it was a grim reality.

The mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits to various parts of India, particularly Delhi and Jammu, created a generation of refugees who became political orphans in their own country. The exodus was not an unexpected event; it was the culmination of a long-standing agenda by Pakistan to alter the demographic makeup of Kashmir. From the time of Partition in 1947 to Operation Gibraltar in 1965 and the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, Pakistan’s designs on Kashmir always included the goal of driving out the Pandits. Terrorism, fuelled by external forces and internal collaborators, became the weapon of choice in achieving this sinister aim.

The Legacy of Pt. Tikalal Taploo: A Martyr for Nationalism

Today, September 14 is observed by the Kashmiri Pandit community as Martyrs’ Day, in remembrance of Pt. Tikalal Taploo and the countless others who lost their lives to terror. His death is not just a chapter in the tragic history of Kashmir but a reminder of the resilience and sacrifice of those who refused to bow down to extremism. Taploo paid the ultimate price for his beliefs, and his legacy continues to inspire those who stand against hatred and violence.

The ethnic cleansing of the Kashmiri Pandits was not an unforeseen event but rather the execution of a deliberate plan to alter the socio-political landscape of Kashmir. It is a stark reminder of how the forces of extremism can wreak havoc on an entire community, reducing them to refugees in their own country.

Conclusion

The story of Tikalal Taploo is a testament to courage, nationalism, and the relentless pursuit of justice. His assassination was not just the silencing of a voice but the opening salvo in a broader campaign to erase an entire community from the landscape of Kashmir. As we remember his sacrifice, we must also recognize the importance of standing up against extremism in all its forms.