Keeping the Flame Alive
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Keeping the Flame Alive Honouring Shri Amarnath Vaishnavi at 100 Rohini Vaishnavi 
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| The life and legacy of Shri Amarnath Vaishnavi (1925–2012), a stalwart of the Kashmiri Pandit community, came alive at Abhinav Theatre, Jammu, as the Amarnath Vaishnavi Foundation marked his birth centenary with an evening of theatre, scholarship awards, art, and reflection. Theatre set the tone for the evening with “Jaikara – The Legend of Prajaparishad & Amarnath Vaishnavi,” a play written by Rohini Vaishnavi and presented by Vomedh Rangmanch under the mentorship of Rohit Bhat. The production captured not only Vaishnavi ji’s political courage during the Praja Parishad movement, but also his human side — the sacrifices, struggles, and resilience that defined his journey. One of the most powerful moments came with the Shri Amarnath Vaishnavi Memorial Lecture delivered by Padmashree Prof. Amitabh Mattoo. Speaking on “Between Sharada and Shakti: The Cultural Odyssey of the Kashmiri Pandits,” he described Vaishnavi ji as “dharma incarnate—silent, sturdy, and utterly unshakable,” and urged the community to see the centenary as a call to rebuild and renew. Carrying forward his legacy of service, the Foundation awarded scholarships to 21 deserving students from marginalized Kashmiri Pandit families — a tradition that has become a cornerstone of its mission. Author and art critic Shri Avtar Mota was conferred with the Shri Amarnath Vaishnavi Samman 2025 for his contribution to literature and culture. The release of two commemorative paintings — by acclaimed artist Ravi Dhar and Shivani Koul Bhat — further immortalized the spirit of a man who lived for his people. Sh. Balkrishan Sanyasi, acclaimed author and poet, who also penned the biography of the legend – The Chronicles of Kashmir spoke about the contributions of Pt. Vaishnavi over seven decades and how he was given the sobriquet, father of the Kashmiri Pandit community by the masses. “As part of its year-long centenary celebrations, the Amarnath Vaishnavi Foundation carried out a special youth initiative on public speaking, which culminated with three outstanding students from the community being honoured for their research and inspiring presentations on history.” They are Ayushi Bindroo, Diksha Mirza and Nirvi Jotshi. The event was graced by Col. Yoginder Khandari, Dr. P. N. Trisal, and Dr. Susheel Wattal, Dr. B L Zutshi who joined community members, scholars, and artists in paying homage to a leader remembered as both a fearless activist and a compassionate guide. For Rohini Vaishnavi, his granddaughter and founder of the Foundation, the centenary was “not just about remembrance, but about carrying forward Lalaji’s ideals of selfless service, courage, and truth.” | |
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Rohini Vaishnavi has done her Master's in Business Management from a prestigious European university. She has been in various leadership roles in the corporate world for many years . And now she has founded a content creation and brand communication agency . She is a columnist in the Times of India Opinion. She has also edited ” The Chronicles of Kashmir “, a book by Bal Krishen Sanyasi, her father and a well-known Kashmiri poet.She belongs to the family of Pandit Amar Nath Vaishnavi, the well-known selfless leader of Kashmiri Pandits. She is directly connected with many Initiatives of Amar Nath Vaishnavi Foundation , a social organization working for the exiled Kashmiri Pandits . | |
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