Desperate disturbing visuals of Afghanistan citizens trying to escape, clinging on to planes to escape the Taliban are being circulated on social media, but Pandit Rajesh Kumar, the last Hindu priest of the Rattan Nath temple stands as an exception. As the Taliban continue executing their terror in Afghanistan, minorities are fleeing the state, fearing atrocities by the Taliban military regime. President Ghani, himself abandoned his people and fled Kabul in a helicopter stuffed with cash. Only a few chose amongst to stay back and face their fate.
One such person is the last Hindu priest in Afghanistan, Pt. Rajesh Kumar of the Rattan Nath temple in Kabul. Pt. Kumar was also urged to leave Kabul by several Hindus, arranging for his travel and stay. However, for Kumar, his loyalty and love for the Temple meant he was seeking no escape.
On his Twitter handle @BharadwajSpeaks, Bharadwaj posted, “Pandit Rajesh Kumar, the priest of Rattan Nath Temple in Kabul said: “Some Hindus have urged me to leave Kabul & offered to arrange for my travel and stay. But my ancestors served this Mandir for hundreds of years. I will not abandon it. If Taliban kills me, I consider it my Seva.”
https://twitter.com/BharadwajSpeaks/status/1426977857167781891?s=20
He further tweeted: “You know what is Ironical? There is no need to even ask this question. There are NO HINDUS in Afghanistan. Except for 15 people from priestly families who don’t want to leave their temples. All the other Hindus have long been killed, persecuted and hounded out of Afghanistan.”
https://twitter.com/BharadwajSpeaks/status/1427348873186463772?s=20
Another user tweeted: “2021 reports indicate not even 1000 Hindus and Sikhs are left in Afghanistan now. In the 1970s they used to number 2,00,000 plus. And forget about Buddhists, we went extinct there centuries ago.”
https://twitter.com/NoyanSubutai/status/1427350072333783057?s=20
Another user tweeted: “It is, surely n dedication n intention of seva, that the priests of the remaining temples in Afghanistan are still remaining there. Pray for their safety, but feel uneasy, when comparing the odds against them!”
It is in fact, super bravery n dedication n intention of seva, that the priests of the remaining temples in Afghanistan are still remaining there. Pray for their safety, but feel uneasy, when comparing the odds against them.!
— Rukmani Varma 🇮🇳 (Modi Ka Parivar) (@pointponder) August 17, 2021
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi said in a statement, that India will help members of Afghanistan’s Sikh and Hindu communities to come to India. “We are in constant touch with the representatives of Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities. We will facilitate repatriation to India of those who wish to leave Afghanistan,”.
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Many from the Hindus and Sikh community have taken refuge in Kabul’s Karte Parwan Gurdwara after Afghanistan fell into the hands of the Taliban, DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa claimed on Monday. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief was in constant touch with the president of the Gurdwara Committee of Kabul regarding the safety of minorities in the state.
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Hindus and Sikhs minorities in Afghanistan are in constant fear yet some are hopeful about living a safe life in the future despite political and military changes happening in Afghanistan. Many had already fled, yet the loyal priest pt. Kumar despite constant urge by fellow Hindus, preferred to stay back and keep praying till his last breath.