People from all communities are looking to leave Afghanistan at the first chance they get as the Taliban gains power. But Pandit Rajesh Kumar, the priest of a Hindu temple in Kabul, says he would not flee. Kumar is perhaps the last Hindu priest living in the Afghan capital, some reports suggest. Why does he want to stay?
As the Afghanistan government of Ashraf Ghani capitulated to the Taliban on Sunday (August 15), one Hindu priest whose family has been in charge of the Rattan Nath temple has refused to be evacuated from Kabul.
Pandit Rajesh Kumar, the priest of Rattan Nath Temple in Kabul said, “Some Hindus have urged me to leave Kabul and offered to arrange for my travel and stay.”
“My ancestors served this Mandir for hundreds of years. I will not abandon it. If (the) Taliban kills me, I (will) consider it my seva (service).”
Afghanistan was once home to lakhs of Hindus and Sikhs who lived in peace and harmony, but now the Taliban which has declared Afghanistan an emirate will impose Sharia law. It has said it will demand Jizya from any non-Muslim minority who stays in the country.
