The Kashmiri exodus, which began in the early 1990s, remains one of the most tragic chapters in modern Indian history. Over 300,000 Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee their homeland due to escalating violence and terrorism in the Kashmir Valley. This mass displacement left many in refugee camps across India for decades, with the global community largely unaware of their suffering.
In recent years, awareness of the exodus has grown, driven by media coverage, social media campaigns, films, and advocacy groups. The tragedy has become a key part of global discussions on human rights, ethnic displacement, and the impact of terrorism on civilians.
The abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019 raised hopes for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to their ancestral land, but ongoing security concerns persist. The world is now beginning to recognise the profound loss and enduring struggle of the Kashmiri Pandit community.
Mrs Krishna Bhan wrote on behalf of IEKF & HCUK: "On 19 January 2026, Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus will observe the 36th Exodus Day, marking the tragic exile of their community from Kashmir on 19 January 1990. This day reflects the terror that uprooted families and threatened the cultural identity of Kashmiri Pandits, who have deep roots in the Valley. The abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019 brought hope for their return, but security concerns persist. Despite this, Kashmiri Pandits remain resilient, hopeful for healing and rebuilding their heritage in Kashmir."
On this solemn day, Kashmiri Hindus stand in solidarity with the Hindus of Bangladesh, empathising with their pain and supporting their struggle for justice. Our prayers are with those who have lost their lives protecting their identity and with the families who have lost their loved ones. Om Shanti."
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Speaking to Asian Voice, Freelance writer, published author, and activist from Jammu and Kashmir, Manu Khajuria said, “Each 19th January, the nation confronts the harrowing exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the Valley. Over the past decade, heightened awareness has illuminated the systematic persecution of minorities in Kashmir, the ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of this ancient community. This reckoning has shattered decades of enforced silence, dismantled revisionist narratives, and unmasked efforts to recast Islamist jihad as a benign quest for ‘Azadi’. For a Dogra from Jammu, such truths evoke no surprise. Jammu has long served as India’s refugee capital, extending sanctuary to persecuted groups since the 18th century. In recent history, it absorbed Hindu refugees from West Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK). Yet the massacres scarring mainland Jammu and its hills, events that reshaped demographics remain obscured from national memory.”
“Preceding the Jagti Kashmiri Pandit camp were enclaves like Bakshi Nagar, established for POJK refugees. The annihilation of Hindus and Sikhs in Mirpur, Bhimber, and Kotli, integral Jammu territories now under Pakistani control, were shocking in scale and savagery. These parallel tragedies demand excavation from historical amnesia. Authentic resolution requires unequivocal recognition of Islamist terrorism as the root. Only through justice for victims and the secure rehabilitation of displaced Hindus in their ancestral lands can Jammu and Kashmir heal, ” she added.
