KASHMIR BHAVAN

A unit of Kashmiri Hindu Cultural Welfare Trust (R), Bengaluru

VISIT AND ENJOY THE FACILITIES AT THIS PRESTIGIOUS HOUSE OF KASHMIRI PANDITS IN BENGALURU

A prestigious cultural hub for the Kashmiri Pandit community in Bengaluru, where heritage and tradition flourish, and the community celebrates its roots through festivals, culture, and a deep sense of collective belonging.

Background - How the Samithi and Trust came into Being

A unit of Kashmiri Hindu Cultural Welfare Trust (R), Bengaluru

The Kashmiri Hindu Samiti (KHS), Bangalore, established in 1990, gained significant momentum under the leadership of Shri R. K. Mattoo, who was unanimously elected as its President to oversee the welfare of the displaced community. In its early years, monthly meetings were held at the office of Late Shri G. L. Saproo, a Founder Trustee, located on JC Road.

During this period, the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community faced numerous challenges in securing school admissions, ration cards, gas connections, priority railway tickets, and admissions to professional and non-professional colleges, along with the need for broader moral support. Addressing these urgent concerns became the primary mission of KHS.

On 29.3.2001, under the leadership of Shri R. K. Mattoo, and with the support of Late Shri G. L. Saproo and Shri M. Krishnappa, MLC, the Kashmiri Hindu Cultural Welfare Trust was established and registered as Public Welfare Trust for the purpose of developing, promoting and running institution for the purpose of public in general and promote Kashmiri Cultural Activities and upliftment of displaced persons from J&K. The elected 27-member Managing Committee of KHS, Bangalore, also supervised the activities of the Trust as it was constituted through a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority at the KHS Annual General Meeting (AGM), chaired by Shri R. K. Mattoo, and this body served the community effectively from 2001 to 2008 under his leadership.

The Trust was established on 29.03.2001 to advance the community’s objectives. Efforts soon began to acquire a prime plot of land in Jayanagar, and an initial payment of thirteen lakh rupees was made to the BDA for registration. The Trust envisioned creating a centre that would preserve and promote Kashmiri Pandit cultural heritage while contributing to the welfare of the community.

Construction of the Bhavan commenced in 2003, but in 2004 the KHCWT became entangled in a legal dispute with the local Residents’ Association, resulting in a stay on the project. After an arduous legal battle lasting eight years and ten days across lower courts up to the Supreme Court, the case was finally resolved in favour of the Trust in September 2012.

Construction resumed immediately thereafter, and the Bhavan was completed within 13 months. It was formally inaugurated on October 6, 2013, by former Chief Minister Late Dr. S. M. Krishna, Late Shri AnantKumar (MP & Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs), and local legislators Late Shri Vijay Kumar and Shri M. Krishnappa, former Minister in the Government of Karnataka.

Evolution of Trust vis-a-vis Bhavan

A unit of Kashmiri Hindu Cultural Welfare Trust (R), Bengaluru

Objectives

To foster resilience, unity, and cultural continuity among the displaced community affected by the turmoil.
Preserving cultural heritage by safeguarding traditional arts, literature, rituals and religious practices through community events and other various activities.
Providing humanitarian support by offering healthcare, livelihood support and psychosocial well being.

Achievements & Activities

A unit of Kashmiri Hindu Cultural Welfare Trust (R), Bengaluru

As Chief of News Bureau and Associate Editor of Indian Express Newspaper, Shri RK

Mattoo utilized his position, time and energy to help community in providing all facilities. Initially, priority slips for train travel from Bangalore to Jammu and back were issued personally by him during the early migration days.
- Around 400 KP families were issued migrant I/cards by the Dy. Commissioner Bangalore after hectic efforts.
- Gas connections were provided to needy.
- Admissions in KV schools and professional institutions were facilitated.

Various seminars, demonstrations were held to create global media awareness of the exodus.
Social & cultural events were organized annually. Prominent artists and singers, such as, Daleep Langoo, Deepali Wattal, Ravi Bhan and Dhananjaya Kumar came to Bangalore on various occasions to entertain the public.
Several demos on MG road were held under incessant rains, where the Bangalore KHS team stood solid rock. Later, memos were presented to the Governor for speedy help to the community. Help was also sought from local Kannadigas, from time to time. To name a few, contribution of Shri Somshekhar VK, Virat Singh, Madhusoodan Rao Maney, T C Venkatesh, Prof E Radhakrishna, Prof Dooraiswamy, R Seetaram, and many others cannot be forgotten.
Salary issue, displacement, forced VRS of HMT employees were averted through representations and bureaucratic interventions. Ex –CM’s attention was drawn to unmitigated KP problems and these were resolved.
Reservation of seats in professional colleges with timely intervention of CM was sought.
178 engineering seats, 23 medical seats including dental were made available to migrants in Karnataka through CM’s intervention and this still continues.