Ever since it was discovered by a Muslim shepherd in 1850, the Amarnath shrine and the annual pilgrimage to it signified a bond between Hindus and Muslims. Having survived the Valley’s worst years of violence, a land transfer now threatens to polarise the state. MUZAMIL JALEEL charts the journey of a raging controversy.
One of the most revered Hindu shrines, Amarnath was discovered by a Muslim shepherd in 1850. Buta Malik and his family became the custodians of the cave shrine along with Hindu priests who came from two religious organisations—Dashnami Akhara and Purohit Sabha Mattan. This unique ensemble of faiths turned the pilgrimage spot into a symbol of Kashmir’s centuries old communal harmony and composite culture.
In 2000, the J-K Government decided to intervene, ostensibly to help improve the facilities for the annual yatra and the then ruling National Conference enacted a legislation to form a shrine board, with the Governor of the state as its chairman.
As soon as the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board was formed, the Government evicted the Malik family as well as the Hindu organisations that were traditionally involved with the pilgrimage. The board did substantially streamline the pilgrimage but in the process completely destroyed the unique aspect of the yatra when they removed the Muslim custodians of the shrine.
In fact, the idea of a shrine board to provide better facilities to the pilgrims had taken shape following the recommendations of the Nitish Sengupta Committee in 1996, set up by the state Government to identify the causes behind the death of over 200 yatris who were caught in bad weather. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Act introduced by the then J-K tourism minister S.S. Salathia set up a board headed by the Governor to “administer, manage and govern the affairs of the cave shrine”.
As per the Act, the board has to have 10 members—two people who have distinguished themselves in service of Hindu religion and culture, two women with exemplary service to Hindu religion, culture or social work, specially in regard to advancement of women, and three persons with renown in administration, legal affairs or financial matters. The board, however, has “two eminent Hindus of the state” as its members while all others can be non-state subjects. Under the Act, if the Governor happened to be a non-Hindu, he can nominate any Hindu of the state to head the board.
The board’s finances come from funds consisting of grant-in-aid from the state and Central Governments, contributions from philanthropic organisations or persons, NGOs, registration fee and others who initiate economic activity en route and the ‘chadawa’ (offerings made by pilgrims).
