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hehjar met with Dr. Agnishekhar at the 3rd World Kashmiri Pandit Conference headquarters at F-177 Hari Nagar, Old Janipur in Jammu. Several organizing team members including Mr. Khembri and Mr. Moza remained busy even late into the night. Dr. Agnishekhar was working at his own desk with several checklists pinned up on the walls around him as his wife, the eminent writer Dr. Khema was busy jotting down some conference points. Even in this hectic scenario, hot tea was served to all present. How community service efforts need the passionate and selfless involvement of one’s entire family!
This team is putting all their efforts and then all their money. The organization of WKPC-3 needs funds and volunteers on a very urgent basis and the contact email address is panunwkpc3@gmail.com. The contact phone is 91-191-253336.
Shehjar asked Dr. Agnishekhar the reasons for holding the conference and walked away convinced. Here are the main ones:-
1. It has been 20 years from the day we were sent into exile. We need to retrospect, assess, analyze and then decide on our future steps. If there is any dejection or if people are facing withdrawal from the issue of KP rights, WKPC-3 should break that negative spell and usher in a new era of positive action.
2. The conference will explain the loss of the KP community by establishing it’s connect with the scourge of global terrorism. They will explain that the brief quiet of many in the community is to be understood as the effect of pain-killing drugs and not as the healing of our deep wounds of separation from our motherland.
3. The conference will be a clarion call to the Indian nation, where the Indian State is in conflict with the Indian Civilization. The apathy of the Indian State towards the issues of KPs is one of the results of the situation. A new wave of Islamic imperialism is making Bharat a past tense in the constitution of India. The KP understands this well because he has seen such events in the flow of time and even more so Panun Kashmir understands this because it has in a scholarly manner studied the situation and analyzed it thoroughly.
4. Jammu people are the victims of communalism and not regionalism. Panun Kashmir intends to connect with the people of Jammu in the spirit of its earlier work with the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti.
5. The main political session will discuss our struggles, challenges and also work on building new alignments. Representatives of 55 lakh Saraswat Brahmins who have an inalienable claim on Kashmir will be at the conference.
6. A session for women will be a highlight. We need to build a support structure for the KP woman of today who is many times a career woman besides being a family woman.
7. Youth opinion will be cultivated. The community, their parents, KP organizations have all invested in building the professional KP youth of today. We need to help them maintain a strong connect to Jammu and Kashmir.
8. Sharda Samman awards will be conferred and Sh. Amar Nath Vaishnavi will be honoree for the Lifetime Achievement award.
9. Cultural programs and performances will be a treat to remember. Arts and Artists will be showcased and presented.
All said and done, WKPC-3 will be an event that nobody should give a miss without making a sincere effort to be there. At least, we have to ensure that we give funds for the landmark event so that the organizers are saved from the situation whereby not only do they have to devote months and years to the task but also have to bear the entire financial strain. Finally, to remind everyone, the organizers can be reached at panunwkpc3@gmail.com and the phone number 0191-253336. They need donors and volunteers.

3rd World Kashmiri Pandit Conference
11- 12 APRIL 2009, Jammu
(A PANUN KASHMIR INITIATIVE)
Dear Community Members,
It gives me immense pleasure to inform you that the preparations for the forthcoming 3rd World Kashmiri Pandit Conference are going on with full gusto. Hundreds of Panun Kashmir activists are currently involved in making the conference a huge success. With the grace of almighty and the good wishes from all of you, I am sure ‘we shall accomplish’.
As has been communicated earlier, this edition of World Kashmiri Pandit Conference will focus on the terrorism. An eminent panel of experts will share its concerns on the unattended to implications of terrorism on Kashmiri Pandits as well as India. They will also try to suggest measures needed to be taken for achieving victory over this dreaded menace.
During the conference, as in past, some eminent personalities will be honoured with Sharda Samman for their significant contributions. Our ladies folk will share their experiences, concerns and wishes for the future. A complete session will focus on the travails of our youth and their vision for future. We have also involved major Kashmiri Pandits artistes to present a cultural programme during the event. There is a special session for people belonging to other regions of the state.
Though conceived by Panun Kashmir, we have never considered WKPC-3 as our exclusive prerogative. Right from the day one, we have tried to make WKPC-3 a true community programme. It has been our earnest endeavor to invite a cross section of our community for participating in various sessions of the programme. We have also ensured all KP organizations, irrespective of their ideology are invited to the conference. We are also sincerely trying to get some of the other organizations to play a role during the conference. I would like to personally assure you that I am committed to making WKPC-3 a true community affair.
I would like to extend my personal invitation to all of you for coming and being a part of this historical programme. You may also extend this invitation to all your friends and relatives. We would welcome them all.
shall be looking forward to seeing you in Jammu on 11th of April.
Orzu.
Dr. Agnishekhar.
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