Insights for a Pro-Azadi Kashmiri...

(Response to a recent comment on my post: Time for Introspection.... , relevant for many pro-azadi kashmiris..)

Dear Anonymous,

It is very easy to post a comment without thinking about the implications.

Why do you think that when 100Crore people in India have a say in their future, much better than rest of the developing countries, (even incomparable to Pakistan!!), a mere 70 lakh people would have a problem? (70 Lakh include population from Rajauri, Poonch, Doda, Kupwara, Baramulla, Srinagar, Badgam, Pulwama and Anantnag as per old district setup, 2001 census)

The problem is that we Kashmiris never think.

Suppose you get the "Azaadi" that you demand. Would you then be able to decide your "future"?Who will decide it?

Your Hurriyat Leaders, who keep on changing their allegience every now and then? And have hoarded their houses with money flowing in from different agencies? And live under Indian security shouting slogans of Azadi? And spend Indian taxpayers money for innumerable five-star treatments?

Or the two Lone brothers, who find it difficult to accept even each other?

Or the innumerable tanzeems and Ikhwanis who were active a few years back? (Who will certainly be revived in case you get your "Azadi")? Who killed people for ransom, and for settling personal scores?

Or the Muftis? about who I need not comment.

And how do you define "say in future". There cant be an idealistic state. To be practical, we have to compare the "say in future" we have, to existing countries around us. And let me tell with pride that India is amongst the top ones in the list.

Now coming to sustainability, that you "feel" is not an issue.

What is our population today? 70 Lacs....

Out of these, how many do you think would be young people? say 30% which makes it 21 Lacs.Out of these how many do you think will join your army? Even if the number is 1% (The % for India, which has one of the largest Army in the world, is 0.25%) that makes it just around 21,000 (After considering a 4-times turn out of 1% from 0.25%)

Today, our forces, excluding Police, are estimated at 7,00,000 who protect our borders against Pakistan & China directly and against innumerable countries indirectly.How do you think you are going to address to this issue with just 21,000 people (By exaggerated estimates)?

Today you talk about "say in future" because you are in India. God forbid, if you have what you desire, you would no longer talk about these issues. And I need not say what the new issues would be.

Official estimates claim that more than 7,00,000 people have been killed in Afghanistan. They dont have proper systems for health, education, sanitation, governance and the people cannot have a "say in their future" Do we want this for us?

If educated people (Educated because so far we are not Afghanistan) like us start neglegting the issues of sustainence and stability, we have no locus-standi to pass judgements about the future of 70 Lac people, whose future depends upon opinion of each one of us.

This is just about military stability. I can go on and on and give insights about political, social, economic security and stability. But I want you, and people like you to ponder over what we realy want for ourselves...

Time for Introspection.....

In the earlier posts, this blog has tried potray one side of the coin. This one tries to address the other side...

We as Kashmiris also need some introspection into what went wrong with the paradise that was.

Response to one of Kashmir Blogs that advocate an independent Kashmir...

"It is not only about economic viability, we need political and military stability as well. Sheikh Abdullah's speech to the Constituent Assemby gives pros and cons about the options that we have...And why we acceeded to India by choice and not by compulsion.

There have been issues. But just think, will Azaadi really give us what we want?
Do we have a leadership that can drive us, or resources that can protect us against Pakistan, China, Afghanistan?

And against Taliban ?
Do we want to create another Afghanistan?

Is this what we dream of?
Why do we raise Pakistani flags every now and then?
It was Pakistan that attacked us and snatched away a part of our valley.
Pakistan could never establish even a single system after separation and is today fighting for survival.

An improved system under the existing setup is what we need for Kashmir.
Our so-called leaders have always misled and used us.

We did not participate in the Census of 2001 and allowed flawed numbers to flow into the report. Had we participated, it could have made a vast difference in the electoral setup of the valley.

Why do we not participate in the elections? Some of our bigest leaders today, who issue farmaans for boycotting elections have been a part of the electoral process in the past; when it suited them. Since they get a better deal today by singing the songs of separatism, they want all of us to refrain from voting.

I agree that in the past, many of the elections were manupulated. But things are different now. The whole world is watching. Last election was quite transparent by Indian standards.

Every one of us must participate in this election and bring to power an accountable government.
Indian leaders have mishandled Kashmir to an extent for so many years and that has led to alienation of Kashmiris. But, we also have not been less responsible for our condition today.

Do you remember what we Kashmiris did during the militancy?

Innumerable "Tanzeems" demanding ransom..Killing innocent people..branding them as Mukhbirs...Muslims, Kashmiri Pundits..sikhs.. alike..

Who are renegades or Ikhwanis? They are all Kashmiris..
It is high time we introspect what these twenty years of bloodshed have brought to a common Kashmiri.
Do we have a better option than to stay in harmony with India, albeit, demand an equitable treatment? Treatment that every Indian gets in free India.
Should we look at isolated incidents, and keep blaming India for every wrong? Or should we think positively and make a difference to our lives to lives of our fellow citizens?

There are extremists from the RSS who want us thrown out. But there are also a large number of Hindu intellectuals who come and defend our cause. That is the greatness of our country, India.

I firmly believe that it is only because of India that you and me enjoy this freedom. Had India not come to our rescue during the Kabali raid, you and I would have probably been in some Afghan town defending ourselves with klashinkoves. Or who knows, would not have been there at all?
It is high time that we understand the designs of separatists for whose vested interests more than 1,00,000 Kashmiris have already laid down their lives.

A new thought process must be started by us; Young Kashmiris who can strive to bring back peace again to the lost paradise..."

Time for Introspection...

Recently, I read an article (Will the Jhelum Smile Again?) written by Col (Retd) Anil Athale on rediff. Although he has written nothing relevant or even worthwile in the article (For example he says the Indian Govt. sells rice at Rs. 3 a KG to Kashmiris!!!), it became a discussion board for me to explain to my fellow brothers the actual state of affairs in Kashmir.

I was more shocked than surprised to see everyone attacking me in a synchronized manner. And the sad part is, not even a single person talked anything relevant about the Kashmir issue.

Most of the readers appeared to be inspired by Sangh-Parivar-like-stories with base neither in reality nor in history.

People talked about "Islamic Terrorism", a term coined by God knows who (Since Islam preaches peace, equality and justice more than anybody else), about Pakistan, about all Muslims being terrorists and even about a new strategy of minorities in India whereby an author, Ashish commented that minorities were playing victims in India and were planning to divide-and-rule India. I quote, "Currently the strategy is simple. Single out the strongest part of the body from it, which can fight or protect the body. And then work on and target the weaker parts and eat them all away eventually."

God knows where such ideas come from! However, he was not the only one. Many others rhymed with him.
People even talked about Muslims taking a weekly snan (The only one in a week!!) on a Friday. Having heard such things for the first time, I didnt have ready answers to many of these questions, Since being a Muslim, I know that Islam teaches us to keep highest level of personal hygiene.

The point I'm trying to make here is that Islam has been grossly misunderstood by our fellow brothers and sisters. I dont however blame ignorant people asking irrelevant questions. Blame for such an image of Islam today equally rests with us as well.

We as Muslims have not only failed to create a correct perception about ourselves, but have also allowed the perception to become synonymous with terrorism and backwardness.

While I was trying my best to restrict the discussion to Kashmir, all others kept on raising questions about Islam, terrorism and Pakistan. Some even went to the extent of quoting what Islamic Terrorists had been doing across the globe.

Another friend even went ahead to suggest a partition of population. Unfortunately, we have a short-term memory and nobody in our generation remebers that more than 1 Million people, Hindus and Muslims, were brutally killed in the worst ever partition of our country, not very long back. People seem to have no compassion left for each other.

Since rediff has auto comment moderation, a fellow brother even went ahead and coined a slogan for us (Muslims), (albiet written backwards!) "ak hsed hey aran ah "MILSUM ORAM HSED OOAHCAB"

I wonder why our brothers and sisters, on the other side of the Pir Panjal cannot see Kashmir issue independent of these inconsequential doctored fables. I wonder why nobody wants to address the people of Kashmir instead of land of Kashmir. I wonder why nobody realises the value of human lives. I wonder why there is no compassion left in the world. I wonder.....

What went wrong...

We have been treated as property and not as individuals. In the 19th century, Gulab Singh purchased us for a discounted price of Rs. 75 lakhs (Since the original demanded amount was Rs 1.5 Crore), at less than Rs. 2 per person!!

Today is no different. India and our brothers and sisters in India do not realise that they are dealing with people, not with property. I am an Indian and would want each Indian to introspect and try to listen to our grief, pain and sorrow, that has worsened over the years due to alienating policies of the government and indifferent attitute of the people.

Unfortunately, the face of India in Kashmir is the Army (Including Paramilitary Forces). The uncontrolled and unlimited power given to such entities has resulted in more than 1,00,000 killings over the years. (Both by terrorists as well as security forces)

How does a common Kashmiri see India under such circumstances?

Now a possible solution to our problems that comes to my mind is that India should adopt a compassionate policy towards us, and much more than that, our brothers and sisters in India must start respecting us. Every individual deserves respect and so do we.

Many Kashmiris have lost faith in the Indian system and the reasons are not very difficult to find.
How do you expect someone to trust you when more often than not people start doubting your allegience?
When you are looked upon as a synonym of terrorism?
An outcast?
A Pakistani?
By your own brothers and sisters?
In your own homeland?
I wish someone had answers for these questions.
We need a major shift in the attitute of government and people towards us.

The world has been hearing echoes of Kashmir being an integral part of India.
Has somebody ever heard anyone claiming "Kashmiris" to be integral part of India?
I bet no one ever has.

Time for some introspection brothers!

George Bush on Islam...

"Islam is Peace" Says President Remarks by the President at Islamic Center of Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much for your hospitality. We've just had a -- wide-ranging discussions on the matter at hand. Like the good folks standing with me, the American people were appalled and outraged at last Tuesday's attacks. And so were Muslims all across the world. Both Americans and Muslim friends and citizens, tax-paying citizens, and Muslims in nations were just appalled and could not believe what we saw on our TV screens.
These acts of violence against innocents violate the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith. And it's important for my fellow Americans to understand that.
The English translation is not as eloquent as the original Arabic, but let me quote from the Koran, itself: In the long run, evil in the extreme will be the end of those who do evil. For that they rejected the signs of Allah and held them up to ridicule.
The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war.
When we think of Islam we think of a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around the world. Billions of people find comfort and solace and peace. And that's made brothers and sisters out of every race -- out of every race.
America counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country. Muslims are doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the military, entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, moms and dads. And they need to be treated with respect. In our anger and emotion, our fellow Americans must treat each other with respect.
Women who cover their heads in this country must feel comfortable going outside their homes. Moms who wear cover must be not intimidated in America. That's not the America I know. That's not the America I value.
I've been told that some fear to leave; some don't want to go shopping for their families; some don't want to go about their ordinary daily routines because, by wearing cover, they're afraid they'll be intimidated. That should not and that will not stand in America.
Those who feel like they can intimidate our fellow citizens to take out their anger don't represent the best of America, they represent the worst of humankind, and they should be ashamed of that kind of behavior.
This is a great country. It's a great country because we share the same values of respect and dignity and human worth. And it is my honor to be meeting with leaders who feel just the same way I do. They're outraged, they're sad. They love America just as much as I do.
I want to thank you all for giving me a chance to come by. And may God bless us all.
Remarks by the President at Islamic Center of Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.
September 17, 2001