All India Kashmiri Samaj was formed at Allahabad under
the leadership of Justice P.N. Bakshi. (AIKS sought the affiliation of
KOA)
" Justice Janki Nath
Bhat while visiting the country said, “I feel happy to pen down a
few lines for the News Letter started by our young men living abroad
as a medium of social and collective life and possibly collective
planning. …..Independence of India has been a boon for all Indians
but it has proved a blessing in disguise for our people, because
having been wisely and steadily squeezed out of our beautiful state by
the secular popular government thereof, the young men of the community
have made a mark in scientific and intellectual fields in the whole
world and thus proved their worth and saved themselves from ignominy,
frustration, dejection and pessimism consequent upon unemployment and
political victimization……I would appeal to them to devise ways and
means of having more social contacts gatherings and within permissible
distances celebrate some important functions and festivals
collectively to keep track of all our people whether in India or
abroad; set up some media of expressing their matters and problems,
keep abreast of the events happening in their motherland and try to
help less affluent and fortunate young men. ”
(ASIDE) “In
the last issue of the News Letter we had mentioned about the
celebration of a picnic at Neerwood lake in which about 30 members of
the association had participated. Following that we received some
letters indicating that only a few members were taking advantage of
the association funds. The Association
wants to make it clear that at no time since the Association has been
formed have its funds been utilized
for these social and cultural purposes……They have all been managed
by private contributions….”
“With this issue it will be the 6th issue of the
News Letter in your hands since it was started one and a half years
ago. While I am immensely pleased to see the improvement that we have
made since the first issue, it is very discouraging and disheartening
to see a cold response and lack of enthusiasm on the part of our
members. Except for Miss Neelam Khushu who has done a beautiful work
of designing, art work and printing of the News Letters and Mrs. Ratna
Qasba who has been doing the work of dispatching, I ……….must say
that the response from the members has been absolutely none.” Editor
Dr. I.K. Bhat
“There are about 200 Kashmiri families in the United
States. Out of these one third do not want to have any concern with
the other members of the community……The other one third probably
do not want to get involved with anything but however do send their
dues just as a formality and do not want to do any thing more than
that. The remaining third however seems to be more eager and
enthusiastic to have an association and more and more cultural
functions and get-togethers and are really interested in doing
something worthwhile for the community.” Dr. I.K. Bhat
