J&K: Kashmiri Pandit's eatery sparks 'ghar wapsi' calls
Akash Dhar, a visually impaired Kashmiri Pandit, has opened a restaurant in Kupwara, marking a return to his ancestral home after his family migrated in the 1990s. The local community has embraced the business, with his landlord waiving rent and local residents providing support and employment.
Why it matters
The story highlights grassroots communal harmony and the potential for social reintegration of Kashmiri Pandit migrants in the Kashmir Valley.
LANGATE (KUPWARA): At the centre of Langate's main market in north Kashmir's Kupwara district stands a brightly lit restaurant with modern decor and eight neatly arranged tables. In one corner, 29-year-old Akash Dhar welcomes customers with a smile. His eyes remain open though he cannot see.Two weeks ago, Dhar - whose Kashmiri Pandit family had migrated from J&K as violence peaked in the 1990s - tentatively opened 'Taste and Treats' restaurant.However, he was hardly ready for the response he would receive from the local community.
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