Kashmiri Hindu Community was hounded out of Kashmir in the early 1990 after centuries of persecution. Almost entire community left the valley to safeguard their life, honor and freedom (religious and otherwise). The community’s first destination was Jammu which saw a huge influx of refugees. Thousands of families restarted picking up their lives by living in temple premises, community centers and makeshift camps after having left behind their often sprawling homes in Kashmir. A young Kashmiri Hindu refugee boy of 15 years “Sumesh Bhan” fondly called “Baiju” started a group called “Hindu Welfare Front” to help out with the community and social work. He organized many fellow refugee boys around volunteering efforts in makeshift camps where Hindu refugees were living.

One of the biggest challenges that forced exodus brought to the hapless community was around education. Education is something Kashmiri Hindus accord the highest importance. The camp schools were set up in tents in the scorching summer sun of 45 degree Celsius and refugee kids started attending these segregated schools. However these schools and colleges for refugee students continued to be a serious challenge for years to come. The three year degrees took four to five years to complete because of the official apathy, examinations would often run into delays. While all this was happening the soft state that India was, used to take due care to ensure the education and welfare of “the jailed Hizbul Mujahideen and other terrorists' ' remained a top priority. These terrorists were the very same people that caused all mayhem , genocide and displacement of a small peaceful Hindu minority in Kashmir.

Sumesh started a campaign to protest against the gross injustice and discrimination  that was met out to Hindu refugee students for a long time. 

Sumesh was very passionate, courageous , bold , idealist, selfless and stood for justice and fairness. He was hugely inspired by the ideals of Bhagat Singh, particularly one incident had left an indelible impression on him where during Indian Independence movement, Singh and his associate Batukeshwar Dutt had set off explosive devices inside the Legislative assembly in Delhi to make a statement to the colonial powers, and then allowing the authorities to arrest them. This for him was the bravery and courage of the highest order.

Sometime during the end of 1992 at the examination center where “Hizbul Mujahideen and other terrorists” were being ferried to take exams, Baiju and his friend, taking a cue from his ideal Bhagat Singh did an encore of what the revolutionary leader had done decades ago.  None but Baiju’s own associate died on the spot, and he himself lost his hand, courted arrest and was incarcerated for the next 5 years. His intent was to make the deaf authorities sit up and take notice that systematic injustice has to end. The sacrifice and price he and his friend paid was immeasurable. The year 1993 and beyond, the college woes that refugee students previously faced started mitigating by a whole lot. 

After 5 years of imprisonment and all that he went through,  he resumed his life and the selfless soldier that he was, didn’t care for the offers in politics he was getting. He picked up a modest job and went on to raise his family. He passed away recently after prolonged illness on Friday, February 5, 2021 at a young age of 46. He is survived by an old mother, wife and a college going son. Sumesh,  by virtue of his immense sacrifice ensured that the lives of thousands of Kashmiri Hindu refugee students were improved , now it is our turn to take care of his son's education and family. We want to raise funds to help and support his family--a martyr’s family--Bhagat Singh of our times.