New York: In what organizers described as a historic reconnect with their homeland after nearly 36 years of exile, the first-ever Global Kashmiri Pandit Heritage Tour and Conclave 2026 will be held in Kashmir from June 6 to 14.
The event will culminate in a two-day conclave at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre on June 13 and 14 under the theme: “From Exile to Excellence – Kashmiri Pandit Journey of Resilience, Renaissance and Return.”
The initiative seeks to reconnect displaced Kashmiri Pandits with “their ancestral roots, sacred spaces, cultural memory, and collective aspirations for the future,” organizers told IANS.
The program will include a specially curated heritage tour across Kashmir. Delegates from India and overseas are expected to visit temples, heritage sites, cultural landmarks, and historically significant centres associated with Kashmiri Pandit civilization.
Organizers said the tour is intended to serve as “an emotional and historical journey of remembrance, reconnect, revival, and return.”
Seven community organizations, including Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora, Jammu & Kashmir Vichar Manch, Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj, Kashmiri Pandit Association Mumbai, Kashmiri Overseas Association USA, Sanjeevani Sharda Kendra Jammu, and All Minorities Employees Association of Kashmir, are jointly organizing the initiative with support from more than 30 organizations in India and abroad.
The conclave will bring together scholars, entrepreneurs, policymakers, youth representatives, artists, heritage experts and civil society leaders for discussions on heritage preservation, cultural renaissance, political participation and social cohesion.
The organizers said the conclave would feature heritage tours, round-table discussions, academic panels, interactive youth sessions and cultural programs celebrating Kashmiri language, literature, music and spirituality.
The initiative is aimed at creating “a constructive and inclusive platform for dialogue, bridge-building, and collective reflection while honoring the enduring spirit, resilience, and contributions of the Kashmiri Pandit community across generations and geographies,” eminent Kashmiri American Dr. Surinder Kaul told IANS in an interview.
“This conclave is not merely an event, but a historic initiative to reconnect with our roots, preserve our heritage, strengthen community bonds, and envision a future built on dignity, inclusion, and cultural renaissance. The heritage tour symbolizes our collective journey from exile toward reconnect, remembrance, renewal, and hope,” Dr Kaul said on behalf of the organizers.
Delegates from India, the United States, Europe and the Middle East are expected to attend. Organizers said it would be among the largest international gatherings focused on the cultural and civilizational legacy of Kashmiri Pandits.
Invitations have been extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The organizers said invitations were also being sent to mainstream political leaders, Kashmiri Muslim and Sikh civil society representatives, and members of the PoJK and Valmiki communities to encourage “inclusive participation, dialogue, and mutual understanding.” (IANS)
