By Sarwar Kashani / IANS

Her 'Mission Kashmir' remains incomplete (Remembering Nirmala Deshpande) India National,Politics Srinagar, May 1 (IANS) To end the miseries of Kashmiris torn between two guns, "dialogue is the only way out", said peace builder Nirmala Deshpande during her visit to the valley some three years ago.

Didi, as she was popularly known, had a great desire to see peace return to the Kashmir Valley. Today, when she has left the world, her 'Mission Kashmir' remains unaccomplished, if not abolished. In the difficult days of militancy, Deshpande managed to organise peace workshops at a time when talking peace spelt trouble.

She entrusted a few outsiders and many local friends with the task of working for peace and maintaining communal harmony in a state, where thousands have been killed in the bloody separatist conflict since 1989.

Abhorring violence in any form, the prophet of peace also made frequent appeals to militant groups in Kashmir to throw away the gun and adopt the path of peace.

A Gandhian to the core, Deshpande was a frequent visitor to the trouble torn valley, talking to people irrespective of their political lineage and meeting all kinds of people, particularly women.

From mainstream politicians to separatists, from former militant leaders to army officers, this frail looking soldier of peace spared no effort to propagate non-violence.

Photographs: From Nirmala Deshpande's official website