SRINAGAR: Reviving the memories of the glorious traditions of communal harmony in Jammu and Kashmir, Muslim neighbours in this town aided in the last rites of a Kashmiri Pandit who passed away on Tuesday evening.
Ashok Kumar Wangoo died at his residence in Drangabal, Pampore town on Tuesday around 5.00 pm. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Rather than transporting the body to Jammu, the Kashmiri Pandit community chose to conduct the last rites locally. The members of the minority community expressed their gratitude to local Muslims for standing by their side through thick and thin.
“The deceased is Ashok Kumar Wangoo. He died yesterday around 5.00 pm. As soon as the news spread, people from the entire Drangabal mohalla and adjoining areas came over and helped with the formalities and arrangements for rituals of the departed soul,” said Raju Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit neighbour of the deceased.
“Men, women, and children all helped us in it. We did not have to do much. This is not new for us as it has been there for a long time. This is Kashmiriyat. However, doing it in present times really means something. We are thankful to them,” he added.
Mohammad Yousuf Malik, Wangoo’s childhood classmate and a Muslim neighbour, mentioned that his area has always been known for Hindu-Sikh-Muslim unity.
“We have never had any problems here. Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs have lived together amicably. We share each other’s joys and sorrows. The Pandit community decided that they will not take Wangoo to Jammu for last rites, and it will be done here only. So we all came together to help,” Mr Malik said.
Reviving the memories of the glorious traditions of communal harmony in Jammu and Kashmir, Muslim neighbours in this town aided in the last rites of a Kashmiri Pandit who passed away last evening.
Ashok Kumar Wangoo died at his residence in Drangabal, Pampore town on Tuesday around 5.00 pm. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Rather than transporting the body to Jammu, the Kashmiri Pandit community chose to conduct the last rites locally. The members of the minority community expressed their gratitude to local Muslims for standing by their side through thick and thin.
“The deceased is Ashok Kumar Wangoo. He died yesterday around 5.00 pm. As soon as the news spread, people from the entire Drangabal mohalla and adjoining areas came over and helped with the formalities and arrangements for rituals of the departed soul,” said Raju Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit neighbour of the deceased.
“Men, women, and children all helped us in it. We did not have to do much. This is not new for us as it has been there for a long time. This is Kashmiriyat. However, doing it in present times really means something. We are thankful to them,” he added.
Mohammad Yousuf Malik, Wangoo’s childhood classmate and a Muslim neighbour, mentioned that his area has always been known for Hindu-Sikh-Muslim unity.
“We have never had any problems here. Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs have lived together amicably. We share each other’s joys and sorrows. The Pandit community decided that they will not take Wangoo to Jammu for last rites, and it will be done here only. So we all came together to help,” Mr Malik said.
