Ground-breaking Monograph on “Decivilisation and Displacement” Released in Jammu; Dr. Dileep Kaul Announces Advocate P. N. Bhat Chair

Highlights: 

• The monograph “Decivilisation and Displacement – Indic Perspective on Social Death,” co-authored by Dr. Dileep Kaul and Mr. Ravinder Gurtoo, was officially released in Jammu by the Dr. M. K. Teng Chair of the Jonaraja Institute of Genocide and Atrocities Studies (JIGAS).
• Dileep Kaul announced the establishment of the Advocate P. N. Bhat Chair, which will focus on the social, political, and legal dimensions of genocide and displacement, with Shri Behari Lal Kaul as its Head and Advocate Vishvaranjan Pandita as Co-Head.
• The event underscored JIGAS’s expanding global footprint in genocide studies, particularly through international collaborations led by Mrs. Sunanda Vashisht, and emphasized the Indic worldview where remembrance is crucial for reclaiming life from social death.

Jammu, November 09, 2025: A profound moment in contemporary Kashmiri scholarship was marked today with the official release of the monograph “Decivilisation and Displacement – Indic Perspective on Social Death.” Authored by Dr. Dileep Kaul and Mr. Ravinder Gurtoo, the significant publication was unveiled at K. L. Saigal Hall, Jammu, during an event meticulously organized by the Dr. M. K. Teng Chair of the Jonaraja Institute of Genocide and Atrocities Studies (JIGAS). The ceremony also featured the announcement of a new academic initiative, the Advocate P. N. Bhat Chair, further solidifying JIGAS’s commitment to in-depth research into genocide and atrocities.

The poignant ceremony commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp, a powerful symbol of knowledge triumphing over darkness, setting a contemplative tone for the day’s discussions. Mr. Nitin Dhar, who expertly conducted the event, observed in his opening remarks that “JIGAS has become the living conscience of a people who refuse to let erasure become their history. Through works like this monograph, we are reclaiming the civilisational grammar of remembrance,” emphasizing the institute’s vital role in preserving collective memory.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Mahesh Kaul, Head of the Dr. M. K. Teng Chair of JIGAS, provided insights into the institute’s expanding global footprint and the academic depth it has brought to genocide and atrocity studies. He highlighted that under the visionary stewardship of Prof. Tito Ganju (Founder, JIGAS), Mrs. Sunanda Vashisht (Chairperson, JIGAS), and Dr. Dileep Kaul (Director, JIGAS), the institute has remarkably evolved into a leading intellectual platform dedicated to chronicling genocide through an Indic civilisational lens. Dr. Kaul specifically noted Mrs. Sunanda Vashisht’s instrumental role in forging JIGAS’s international collaborations, particularly through a series of impactful academic initiatives across the United States. These included a comprehensive Workshop on Genocide Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where over a hundred Students engaged in a day-long study of the Kashmiri Pandit Genocide. Mrs. Vashisht also presented a compelling paper titled “Continual Genocide of Kashmiri Pandits – Seven Stages of Genocide” at SANKALP, a convention organized by the Hindu Yuva Organization in Los Angeles, which saw participation from representatives of 80 universities across the U.S. and Canada. Her engagements further included delivering the Keynote Address at Rice University, Houston, on “Indic View of Genocide Studies – Why Are Genocides of the Eastern Hemisphere Forgotten?” and presenting the Kashmiri Pandit Genocide case study at the Hindu American Foundation’s Advocacy Forum, aptly titled “Combating Genocide Denial with Active Remembrance.” Moreover, she represented JIGAS at the Hindu University of America, where the institute is currently finalizing an MoU for a significant academic collaboration in genocide and atrocity studies.

Speaking about the newly released monograph, Dr. Dileep Kaul, Director of JIGAS and co-author, articulated a profound understanding of its core theme. He explained that “the concept of social death, in the Indic context, is not merely the absence of life but the severance of a community’s sacred ties, its memory, geography, and spiritual continuity. This study attempts to reinterpret displacement as a civilisational rupture.” In a significant announcement, Dr. Dileep Kaul informed the gathering about the establishment of the Advocate P. N. Bhat Chair, a new academic initiative that will specifically focus on the social, political, and legal dimensions of genocide and displacement. He further announced that Shri Behari Lal Kaul has been appointed as the Head of this crucial Chair, with Advocate Vishvaranjan Pandita serving as its Co-Head.

Co-author Mr. Ravinder Gurtoo further elaborated on the monograph’s objectives, stating that “the work seeks to locate the Kashmiri Pandit experience within a framework that understands genocide as the dismemberment of culture, ethics, and belonging, not only the destruction of bodies but of meanings.” Former MLC Surinder Ambardar lauded the publication as “a civilisational intervention that reclaims agency for a people who have lived through systematic erasure,” underscoring its historical importance.

Dr. Arvind Karwani, Commissioner, Relief and Rehabilitation, Government of Jammu & Kashmir, who graced the occasion as Chief Guest, commended the scholarly endeavor. He remarked that “this monograph articulates the pain of displacement in the language of intellect. It turns grief into knowledge and remembrance into resistance,” encapsulating the profound impact of the work.

The event also featured discussions on other ongoing research initiatives under JIGAS, including Dr. Neha Kachroo’s insightful study on socio-economic changes among Kashmiri Pandits post-exodus. Furthermore, Pavak’s comprehensive compilation of 32 research papers in the JIGAS Yearbook has been formally presented to eminent legal and administrative figures, including the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Justice of J&K High Court, other Hon’ble Judges, the Chief Secretary, and the Director General of Police, signifying its widespread recognition and scholarly value.

The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. Mahesh Kaul, who expressed deep gratitude to all dignitaries, scholars, and attendees for their presence and contributions. The event, attended by prominent Citizens, Academicians, and Community Leaders, stood out as a powerful affirmation that in the Indic worldview, remembrance itself is a profound and active form of reclaiming life from the realm of social death.

Picture Courtesy: Epilogue and Nitin Dhar

Content: Epilogue News Network