JAMMU KASHMIR VICHAR MANCH

Jammu Kashmir VicharManch (JKVM) is a nationalist organization working primarily for Displaced Kashmiri Pandit Community. JKVM started working informally, in the year 1995, in Delhi and was later registered formally on 14^th June 2002 under Societies Act of 1860.

JKVM works with a strong belief that “Kashmir Bharat haiaur Bharat Kashmir” meaning – Kashmir is India and India is Kashmir.

The main objectives of JKVM are as under:

• To defeat the nefarious design of separatists and terrorist by creating awareness among masses.
• To work for complete integration of entire J&K including parts under the control of Pakistan and China with India.
• To work for displaced Kashmiri Pandit community and address their social and political issues.
• To preserve rich culture and traditions of Kashmiri Pandits and propagate and promote the same among young generation.
• To keep the urge for return to Kashmir alive among Kashmiri Pandits and put pressure on Government that they create an environment for dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to Valley. The return should be sustainable which can be ensured only if all Kashmiri Pandits are settled at one secure location and given political empowerment and provided with economic security.
• To honour and felicitate Kashmiri Pandits who make a remarkable contribution for Kashmiri Community.
• To remember and highlight the role of those Kashmiri Pandits and other nationalist people/security forces who lost life and got Martyred for being patriots and for defending the honour of the nation.

Jammu Kashmir VicharManch has right from the day one worked with great zeal in achieving above objectives. Various flagship programmesorganised since last three decades include:

SamoohikShivratri Mohotsav: The annual event is organized on the following Sunday of Shivratriin an auditorium in New Delhi. The event contains various elements including Spiritual Discourse, a Political message, cultural & creative competitions for Children, Bhajan Sandhya and Felicitation of deserving KPs who did an exceptional contribution for the KP community. Leading political, social and media personalities have graced this event in the past including Sh L K Advani, Smt Sushma Swaraj,Sh Madan Lal Khurana, ShKedar Nath Sahani, Sh S S Ahluwalia, Sh Nitin Ghadkari ji, SmtSimriti Irani, Swami Chinmayanand, Poojniye Mohan Rao Bhagwat ji (Sar Sanghchalak RSS), Sh Madan Das ji (Seh Sar Karyavah RSS), ShKrishna Gopal ji (SehSarkaryavah RSS), Gen G D Bakhshi, Sh Bal Apte ji (Sr Vice President BJP), Dr Nirmal Singh (Dy CM J&K), Sh Ram Bahadur Rai (Chariman IGNCA), Sh Jai Ram Thakur (CM Himachal), Sh Vinay Sehestrabudhe (President ICCR) etc.

BalidanDiwas: 14^th September is the unforgettable day in our recent history when the tallest leader of Kashmiri Pandit community Pandit Tika Lal Taploo was gunned down by the terrorists in Kashmir in on 13^th September1989 and was cremated on 14^th September 1989. His assassination triggered a mayhem let loose by militants who killed thousands of KPs throughout the Valley in the months to come, resulting in their eventual exodus from their land of ancestors. Ever since, this day is being observed as Balidan Divas by the community.Jammu Kashmir VicharManch has been observing BalidanDiwas at B K Ganju park, near Gol Dakhana, Kali Bari Marg, New Delhi. The park has been dedicated by Telecom Department  on 18^th Jan 2004 as a memorial in honour of Sh B K Ganju a telecom employee who got martyred in Kashmir on 18^th March 1990. Leading personalities who joined the occasion for paying tributes include Yogi Adityanath, ShMahendra Nath Pandey MoS HRD, ShManoj Sinha MoS Telecom, Smt Meenakshi Lekhi MP etc

Gaashtarukh: In order to promote the rich culture and traditions of Kashmir JKVM started a series of event called Gaaashtarukh from year 2013. The event was designed on the pattern of Indian Idol and competition was held among children in different age groups in three domains including Kashmiri Singing, Dance and Music. The event starts with area wise auditions, semifinals and then culminates into finals. Hundreds of children have taken part in this competition so far. The six editions of Gaashtarukh held so far has helped in reinforcing cultural values among children and many young Kashmiri artists have developed due to this exercise. These artists are in great demand these days at every cultural event being organized by various organisations in different parts of the country where Kashmiri Pandits have settled. These young talented artists got an opportunity to perform at Bahrain also.

In addition to the above annual flagship programmes JKVM has also organized various events including Black Day on the occasion of July 13^th (Batte Loot day) to remember the sacrifices made by Kashmir Pandits who were killed and looted on July 13^th 2031 during an uprising against the Maharaja.

19^th January is also observed as Holocaust day to mark the exodus day of 1990 when lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits had to flee from Kashmir for honour and safety. Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits were brutally killed from 1989 onwards due to terrorism.

For promotion of culture JKVM has been organizing many workshops, seminars, Kavi Samellen etc.

JKVM organized ayear long chain of programmesunder Acharya Abhnavguta Millennium Year celebrations from 2016 – 17 in different parts of the country under the guidance of JK Study Centre. The programmesincluded workshops, yatras, seminars, conferences, distribution of literature etc.