Ganderbal, Apr 21: In a heart-warming display of communal harmony and brotherhood, Muslims in Wussan village of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district came together to perform the last rites of an 80-year-old Hindu man, Avtar Krishan, who passed away on Friday.
According to reports, upon hearing of Krishan’s death, his Muslim neighbors rushed to his house to pay their respects and offer their condolences to the grieving family. Muslim men were seen carrying Krishan’s hearse to the cremation ground, while the Muslim community helped perform the last rites as per Hindu rituals.
Krishan had chosen to stay in the Kashmir valley in the 1980s, despite the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the region. His decision to stay in the valley was a testament to his love for the place and his faith in the spirit of Kashmiriyat, which advocates communal harmony and brotherhood.
The news of Krishan’s passing and the Muslim community’s gesture of support and solidarity have garnered widespread praise and admiration from across the region. People have hailed the incident as a shining example of the composite culture of Kashmir, where people of different faiths and beliefs have lived together in peace and harmony for centuries.
One of Krishan’s neighbors summed up the sentiment when he said, “This is true Kashmir; this is our culture and we share brotherhood. We do not believe in divisive politics. We share composite culture.” The incident serves as a reminder of the power of unity and the importance of preserving the bonds of communal harmony and brotherhood in our society.