Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri turned poignant on this somber January 19, commemorating the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits three decades ago. Through a chilling animated post on Instagram, he illustrated a Hindu family’s desperate flight from masked attackers, symbolizing the terror that emptied the Valley of its indigenous Hindus.
’19th January – the day Kashmiri Hindus were forced out of their ancestral homes. 36 years on, they remain exiles in their own nation,’ Agnihotri captioned, evoking visceral responses. Netizens rallied with vows: ‘Never forgive. Never forget.’ This digital vigil revives the nightmare of 1990, when ultimatums echoed from loudspeakers: embrace Islam, face death, or vacate.
Agnihotri’s magnum opus ‘The Kashmir Files’ immortalized this saga. Hitting screens on March 11, 2022, the low-budget epic (15-20 crores) roared to 350 crore worldwide collections. Amid fierce backlash – labeled propaganda, shunned by platforms – its power prevailed. Governments in several states waived taxes, propelling it to blockbuster glory.
The 1990 atrocities displaced over 3.5 lakh Pandits, many perishing en route. Temples razed, lands usurped – a systematic purge. Today, scattered in urban slums and camps, they cling to fading memories. Agnihotri’s post isn’t mere nostalgia; it’s a clarion call against historical revisionism.
As India grapples with its past, such voices ensure the Pandit tragedy endures in collective memory. Will governments act on rehabilitation? Agnihotri’s unflagging advocacy keeps the flame alive, urging a nation to confront its conscience and restore what was brutally stolen.