The Impact of Historical Trauma on ‘Internally Displaced’ Kashmiri Pandits

The aim of this research is to investigate the psychosocial impact of trauma due to violence and forced displacement during the insurgency in 1990 on the Kashmiri Pandit community of India. Data is collected through semi structures personal interviews of the Kashmiri Pandits(n=20), 6 women and 14 men, who were displaced during the insurgency of 1990.The internally displaced Kashmiri Pandits report various encounters and adversities that they experienced due to the exodus. Three major themes and twelve subthemes pertaining to the psychosocial aspects of the life of the survivors is identified by conducting a thematic analysis of the content. The study reveals that the victims of the forced migration experienced tremendous psychosocial stress due to the pre migration violence and acculturative stress post migration and are still emotion-ally scarred by the event that occurred 32 years back. While the community has moved forward demonstrating incredible resilience and works to create their bequest through strength, dignity and meaning, the yearning for the homeland remains with them. The study suggests that while most survivor continue to carry residual emotions of fear, anger, and humiliation they continue to stride forward to reconstruct their culture and community.