Lived experiences of Kashmiri pandit women :

Abstract

Migration, whether forced or voluntary, has been an intrinsic part of the broader processes of social change across the world. However, there is a marked difference in the way different forms of migration are conceptualised and the resultant implication that it has. For instance, the difference between refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and the expected role of the state in dealing with them. Officially termed 'migrants', the Kashmiri Pandit community – originally belonging to the now Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India, is a quintessential example of a community that was forcibly displaced and forced into a life of exile in their own country over three decades ago. The exilic conditions that characterised their lives have left an indelible print on their minds and have shaped their life discourses polemically, in the forms of ruptured social fabric, disoriented identity, barriers to education, healthcare and restricted labour market opportunities. Although displacement affected the entire community at large, the impact of displacement was experienced differentially. This difference stemmed from gender, the social capital they possessed, educational qualifications that they had, their place of residence (rural or urban) and the quality of social networks they had access to. The most explicit difference can be seen between those who were set up in tents that were sunk in filth and were a breeding ground for disease and ill-health versus those who were displaced but never had to live in 'migrant camps'. But even within these two groups, there are apparent differences in the lives of men and women. The challenges of everyday life are felt more acutely by women who have had to navigate the murky waters of patriarchy in addition to physical displacement. And yet, available literature on the subject is androcentric and homogenising in nature. The paper attempts to shed light on the manner and the source for the differential impact of displacement as seen through the impact of displacement on health, education and employment, which are more pronounced for women than men.