Kashmiri Pandits' Association, Mumbai, India

Vitasta Annual Number

Editor-in-Chief: Dr. B.K.Moza
Editor (English Section): Dr. B.K.Moza
Editor (Hindi-Kashmiri Section): Smt. Niva Kaul

Vitasta Annual Number has over the years become synonymous with the ancient glory and past heritage of our motherland - Mäj Kåshìr. The 35th Annual Number (2001-2002) of the Vitasta, blessed by Sharika Bhagwati (an artistic vision) in Kashmiri Panditani attire, unfolds a Kaleidoscope of the 'Asthapanas' of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley, which instil reverential devotion into the minds of Pandit community.

The 'Adi-Sthapanas', the 'Consecration' and the 'Sanctification' of our ancient temples and shrines have their own legends and history, which has been encompassed within the covers of the Annual Vitasta Number by eminent writers and scholars.

The agenda/theme of the Annual Numbers of Vitasta set by its Editorial Committee, since years now, depicts the zeal and the concern of the Committee to cover such subjects which in the present-day diaspora of the community needs prioritization for preservation, before the dust of the times obliterates our rich religious and cultural heritage.

The theme of the 35th Annual Number presents a panaroma of Homeland Pilgrimage Centres of Kasmiri Pandits - a timely and pressing need for our youngsters to know about their proud legacy.

While the Annual Number speaks about the various better known Asthapanas like Ksheer Bhawani, Hari Parbat or Amarnath, at the same time, indepth information into some important but 'little known' Asthapanas, has been provided by eminent writers, which perhaps, hardly a few of us know.

The 'tsuk' - P+kqd [Sorry, I can not find the exact English word which can give the intensity of Kashmiri word P+kqd] with which Moza Sahib along with his team worked assiduously throughout the year in finalization of the theme, selecting the writers and approaching them to contribute (which by itself is a big task), and then sit through months in editing and compiling the data, is discernably evident from the compendium which is before you as the 35th Vitasta Annual Number.

In the post-exodus era, when Kashmiri Pandits have been, apart from living in ghettos in Jammu & Udhampur camps, scattered in the country, either struggling to make their two ends meet, or when the younger generation is pursuing their studies (courtesy- Maharashtra state and now more states which have come to the rescue of what otherwise would have been a generation wasted), the regular publication of Vitasta Annual Number seems the only periodical which sincerely endeavours to keep the ethos of Pandit legacy alive even in odd and hostile atmosphere.

... J.L.Manwati
 
 

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