A History of Kashmiri Pandits

Justice Jia Lal Kilam was born in a Kashmiri Pandit family in 1998. After his graduation in Srinagar he joined Law College in Lahore in 1919. Starting his practice in the High Court of J&K State he earned a name both as a civil and a criminal lawyer. He was elected president of the Kashmir Bar Association for nearly a decade. Justice Kilam also played an important role in many social and political activities in the State. Besides his profession and interest in politics he had a flair for writing and dabbled in journalism when there were not many newspapers published in the State. He was the first Kashmiri Pandit to be elected to the Praja Sabha (Legislative Assembly) besides being elected as municipal commissioner. In 1948 he was elevated to the Bench as judge of the High Court of J&K State.