Mir Irfan
When Kashmiri Pandits left the Kashmir valley in the early 90, a very few chose to stay behind, including five families in Zainapora area of Shopian in South Kashmir, one of these families headed by Kanth Ram Tickoo.
A Teacher by profession, Ram Nath Tickoo was a corporate employee and was closely threaded to his Kashmiri roots. “Despite many others, friends leaving, he choose to stay back home and lived here happily for the rest of his life till he passed away late on Wednesday night,” one of his family member today.
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He is remembered by locals as someone who was the only surviving link between the Golden days of Kashmir’s long cherished concept of communal harmony and diversity. “he was someone who would not mind sitting and eating with a Muslim or Muslims eating with him, He was someone who represented our older generation of Kashmir, i mourn his death,” one of his friend Ghulam Nabi told The Kashmiriyat.
Ghulam Nabi said Ram Nath Tickoo would often visit the Khankahs in the area, he was a kind and generous person. “I remember him helping Muslims on several occasions, he preached us to live in harmony and peace with each other.”
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The Locals revered him and in respect of him, many Local Muslims visited his house and his family too received invitations on weddings and functions in many Muslim households, likewise, his family invited many local Muslims to events and functions at their home in Zainapora.
As a mark of tribute to Ram Nath Tickoo, dozens of Muslims women thronged the house of Ram Nath Tickoo and consoled the wailing women, while as men joined helping for the last rites of the deceased.buy cymbalta Canada buy cymbalta generic They gathered firewood and rest of the things needed for the last rites.
“Despite covid, risking their lives, hundreds of Muslims came to us, they have always been helpful, without them, the last rites would not have been possible,” Makhan Lal, a local Pandit told The Kashmiriyat.
He said that the two communities have been living happily amid communal harmony and brotherhood. “We have always cherished this concept of Kashmiriyat,” he said.
Bilal Ahmed Naik, a local speaking to The Kashmiriyat denouncing the narrative of mainstream media in India said that Kashmir still has open arms and open heart for its Hindu members, “They should come and see, this is not a solitary incident, we have been doing these every now and then, the mainstream media in India wants to help the Political agenda of some parties, but we have and will do enough to prove which ever narrative they portray is not true,” Bilal said.