While many are aware of the Kashmiri Migrant Quota in educational institutions across India, few know that it was the outcome of an unflinching vision , intense groundwork, emotional appeals, political negotiations, and immense personal sacrifice. It was a major breakthrough that transformed the lives of generations of Kashmiri Pandits for good.
At its heart, this is a profoundly human story—of leaders like Pandit Amar Nath Vaishnavi and RSS swayamsevak Shri Heeralal Bhat and many others—who travelled from state to state, not seeking sympathy, but demanding dignity for a community that had lost everything.
This article is a tribute to the visionary leadership of Pt. Amarnath Vaishnavi, who saw education as the most powerful tool to empower an uprooted community of Kashmiri Pandits—and carved a path to make that vision a reality.
What follows is a first-hand account of their mission to Maharashtra in April 1994—a mission that laid the foundation for an educational lifeline, one that continues to transform lives to this day.
March 1994: The First Strategic Gathering
In a special meeting organized by Pandit Amar Nath Vaishnavi at Shri Triloki Nath Shalla’s residence in Jammu, the issue of “Apartheid in Education” was passionately debated. Present were key figures like Shri Kidar Nath Sahani (specially invited from Delhi to preside), Shri Ajay Bharti, Shri Heeralal Chatta, Shri Pushkar Nath Karneil, Shri Motilal Malla, and Shri Heeralal Bhat.
The gathering raised urgent concerns: countless Kashmiri Pandit students and children of security personnel had been forced to abandon their academic aspirations due to terrorism and displacement. A consensus was reached: this issue must be taken up with RSS leadership.
RSS Backs the Cause: Eyes Set on Maharashtra
A crucial follow-up meeting, chaired by RSS Prant Pracharak Shri Indresh Kumar, with participation from Sahani and Vaishnavi, led to the idea of approaching states where BJP was in power or influence. Maharashtra emerged as the prime candidate.
The RSS decided to dispatch a two-man delegation—Pandit Amar Nath Vaishnavi and young swayamsevak Shri Heeralal Bhat—to Mumbai to advocate for reservation in technical colleges. Their journey would change the lives of thousands.
April 1994: Mission Maharashtra Begins
On 21st April 1994, Vaishnavi and Bhat landed in Mumbai. Their first stop was with Bansal Trust, seeking initial support. On 23rd April, they visited the RSS office in Central Mumbai, where Vaishnavi unexpectedly met Prof. Rajinder Singh (Raju Bhaiya), the then Sarsanghchalak of RSS. The moment was light, even humorous—with Raju Bhaiya joking that both should run a marathon together, despite being in their seventies.
But the mission ahead was no joke.
Karyakarini Meeting in Andheri: Building a Case
On 24th April, the delegation attended the Maharashtra RSS Karyakarini meeting at the Maharashtra Ashram in Andheri. Present were key activists—Shri Suresh Rao Ketkar, Shri Paresh Bhat, and Shri Vimal Kedia. Shri Kedia was tasked with facilitating meetings between the delegation and Maharashtra’s political leadership, including BJP leader Shri Gopinath Munde.
The media also took interest, particularly Shri Om Prakash Tiwari, editor of Hindi Blitz.
Vaishnavi begs Placing his Turban before the Minister
With the help of Shri Hashu Advani (BJP MLA), meetings were arranged with Maharashtra’s Education Minister and Chief Minister Shri Sharad Pawar.
In a particularly tense meeting, the Education Minister casually suggested allocating NRI quota seats for Kashmiri Pandit students. That remark triggered an impassioned response from Vaishnavi.
“How have patriots become Non-Resident Indians?” he thundered, taking off his turban and placing it on the table. “I beg you—for the sons and daughters of Kashmir, forced out only because they loved their nation. Their only fault is patriotism.”
The room fell silent. Outside, media rushed in. The moment created a stir, but it also created momentum.
The Long Wait: Building Pressure and Sustaining the Fire
The file remained stagnant for a few months. Yet, Vaishnavi and Bhat did not relent. They met with influential figures—Shri R.C. Shivpuri (Indian Express), Shri Moti Kaul, Shri Satish Kaul (CEO, Plistner), filmmaker Shri Ashok Pandit, and Shri G. Vasudev (Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari). All offered support to move the proposal forward.
During their 12-day stay in Mumbai, they spent only ₹1,800 out of ₹3,000 allotted by the organization—and returned the remaining amount to headquarters in Jammu.
1995: Political Winds Shift—Opportunity Strikes
In early 1995, the Shiv Sena–BJP coalition came to power in Maharashtra. Gopinath Munde became Deputy Chief Minister. On direction from Shri Kidar Nath Sahani, Vaishnavi resumed lobbying—this time with Shiv Sena supremo Shri Bal Thackeray and others.
To resolve anticipated backlash from local residents, Vaishnavi proposed a novel idea: “Add just one seat per college for the displaced students.” This avoided encroaching on existing quotas and won legislative approval swiftly with support from the Maharashtra Assembly.
From Engineering to Every Discipline: Expansion of Opportunity
Initially limited to engineering colleges, the reservation policy was later extended to other professional disciplines. The foundation had been laid for future generations.
In June 1995, ASKPC (headed by Vaishnavi) held a landmark conference in Jammu, attended by Shri L.K. Advani and Shri Kidar Nath Sahani. Despite black flag protests from Panun Kashmir, a resolution was passed requesting the Government of India to extend these facilities nationwide.
1999: The Dream Realized Under NDA Government
It was only after the BJP-led NDA came to power in 1999 that the policy was formalized across India. The Ministry of Human Resource Development, under Shri Murli Manohar Joshi and with active support from Secretary Shri M.K. Kaw, issued official notification to universities across the country.
The special quota for displaced Kashmiri Pandits and wards of security forces became a sanctioned reality.
A Community Expresses Gratitude
The contributions of Shri Bal Thackeray, Shri Gopinath Munde, Shri Murli Manohar Joshi, and Shri M.K. Kaw are etched into the collective gratitude of a community that finally saw a path to higher education and dignity.
A Legacy of Struggle and Hope
This is the untold history of how a displaced community, stripped of everything, began to rebuild—not with violence or vengeance, but with the timeless tools of knowledge and perseverance. The students who benefitted from this quota—many of whom are now successful professionals across India and abroad—are the living legacy of that movement. But the work is not done. There are still families languishing in migrant colonies, still children whose dreams remain deferred by poverty.
This legacy is not just to be remembered—it must be carried forward. Those who received this gift must now extend their hands to others. To honour this sacrifice is to ensure its light never fades.
The article is an excerpt from, “ The Chronicles of Kashmir- A biography of Sh. Amarnath Vaishnavi.” By Balkrishan Sanyasi
Amarnath Vaishnavi Foundation 