Srinagar: Well-known cardiologist and a social entrepreneur Dr Upendra Kaul Saturday said it was time for Kashmiri Pandits to “forget, forgive and move on”.
Dr Kaul made these remarks after he released his book “When the Heart Speaks”.
The book release function was attended by former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, noted academician Amitabh Mattoo, Director SKIMS Dr Parvez Kaul, senior National Conference leaders, Mian Altaf, Sheikh Mustafa Kamal and people from different walks of life.
The event was moderated by senior journalist Nidhi Razdan.
Talking about the bonhomie of Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmir Muslims pre- 1990s and how things changed post 1990s, Dr Kaul said if even 50 Muslims write a letter with an open heart that will make a difference.
“Kashmiri Muslims never apologised to Kashmiri pandits from the bottom of their hearts whatever the circumstances. It is a fact. (Kashmiri musalmaaneeon ne ek baar bhi sahi dil se maafi nahi maangi. Yeh haqeeqat hai),”
Dr Kaul said there is a sense of insecurity in Kashmir but despite that he often visits Kashmir. “I am related to this place. I love my motherland,” he said.
Dr Kaul divulged that his real surname was
Khan. “Khan became Kaul when his father went to Lucknow for college Education in early 1940s,” he said.
Dr Kaul talked about his deep sense of belonging for the Kashmir valley in spite of spending most of his life in Delhi.
He said the book revolves around Kashmir, his mother Gauri and his varied experiences of the last 7 decades.
His visits to Kashmir have become very frequent and he also has built a house “Gauri Manzil” in the memory of his late mother.
The book is a full expose of the events during this period including the period of 1990s and his contributions for the people of Kashmir irrespective of religious and caste barriers, he said.
Giving a brief summary of the book, Dr Kaul said the book talks about the beginning of kickbacks in the medical profession, the differences in medical institutions like the AllMS and the corporate hospitals.
His relations with personalities as varied as Mian Bashir of Wangat, Yasin Malik, Shabbir Shah and Sathya Sai Baba.
He also talks about the Covid experience and finally the formation of Gauri Kaul Foundation and its contributions for the remote areas of J&K UT.
