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!

Identity and Violence

This blog seems to be centered on the Jammu-Kashmir divide and seems to portray a picture that this is the problem facing the state/region. While the issue (Shri Amarnath land transfer) has invoked strong sentiments on both sides, I see it only as an effect of what has been going on.
Protests in Jammu were a reaction to what happened in Kashmir.
It is thus, I believe, important to understand why Kashmir reacted the way it did.
For a start, there are two basic issues-that of identity and of recognition, that must be considered if one honestly seeks to understand the ‘people of kashmir’, keeping the biases aside.
Identity
I am a Muslim. I am a Kashmiri. Am I an Indian?
I envy the confidence with which Omar Abdullah asserted that he is one and that he did not see a problem with it. I wish I could say that too.
What is my identity? On what equation does a Kashmiri identity stand when juxtaposed with a Muslim and an Indian identity?
The question is not an easy one to answer. I have been looking for answers. I have been trying to discover my identity. Do I look for it in Islam, in the preamble of the constitution of India or just confine myself to Kashmiriyat? Or is it a blend of them? If it is indeed a blend, is there a hierarchy between them? If not, are they totally unconnected and/or mutually exclusive? Most of all, why am I faced with such questions?
I am facing a major crisis. The issue that I hold closest to my heart has been that of Kashmir. It is a tragedy that I do not have an opinion about it. However hard I might have tried.

Is the Kashmir problem a result of this confusion that I am also facing(if it indeed is, what is the reason for this confusion)?Is a majority of Kashmiris(if not just everyone) facing the same problem as I am? The picture that the past few decades have presented about us..undecided, confused, one moment for azadi, the other for Pakistan and yet another for India, is pathetic. Is this nature inherent in our genes? Is that what I am, a hypocrite?
There is one answer I do know. It is not in my genes. It is not in Our genes. We are not hypocrites. We want peace and we want democracy.
It is not the confusion that is the cause of the problem. It is the way Kashmir has been handled that has given rise to this confusion-of identity, which is inextricably linked to the fact of recognition, of recognition of the simple fact that Kashmir belongs to the people of Kashmir also and it is the people of Kashmir who belong there.
Recognition
I was born a Kashmiri. Something I have always been proud of and a fact that I cherish. Like any other individual, right thinking individual, I am terrified when I see what I see in Kashmir and have often thought about why the situation is so.
I do not propose to delve into any philosophical analysis of the problem. I only wish to bring forth one single experience of mine that shattered me as an individual(not just as a ‘Kashmiri Muslim’) and invoked the abovementioned and various other questions, some of which I find myself incapable of articulating .
I had just finished college and had invited my friends home. To Kashmir. Since I was the one who belonged to the place, they trusted me with the task of planning the trip. Morning of day 3 was booked for Shankar Acharya Mandir.
I was the early riser in the group. That day too, I woke up, offered my namaz and woke everyone up. I got into the drivers seat and set out.
I was really proud of being where I was. Each and every word of praise that I heard about Kashmir from my friends elated me so much as if it was me who was being praised. This was not to be.
There is a barricade about 3 kms before the temple. We were stopped, like all other cars. I stopped and greeted the ‘army wala’. Still proud of the fact that I was in my motherland. Her beauty was still captivating despite the years of turmoil.
The ‘army wala’ asked us where we were headed. I answered. He asked me who the ‘local’ were. I, swollen with pride, declared it was me and a cousin of mine who was sitting behind. All the pride, the self worth, a sense of belonging, the identity, was reduced to ashes when the ‘army wala’ ordered-dono niche utar jao.
It was the two of us who were frisked. The others, my friends, my hindu friends, received a warm greeting and the army wala waved them off with a smiling face.
It was their turn to be proud. I was shattered. Was it not I who belonged to the place?
I needed recognition. I needed respect. I needed the army wala-the state, to, at least, acknowledge the fact that I belonged to the place. The least I needed was to be treated at par with my friends. I have not been at peace ever since. The incident has left a deep scar on my soul. The greater tragedy however is that I see no signs of it healing-not now, not any time in the future.
One can not be but amazed at the linkage between the two incidents. Of Amarnath and of Shankar Acharya. Of a Muslim driving his Hindu friends. But it is the third aspect of the similarities that needs introspection.
It is the problem of recognition and assertion. Perhaps, everyone is not a coward like me. There are some people who would risk their lives to give it back to the ‘army wala’. I could not. I regret. Pehaps some years of living in kashmir would instill that courage in me(I must clarify that ‘give it back’ does not necessarily imply violence.It takes more courage to lodge a non violent protest-just as the Mahatma did)
It is not the mere fact of land transfer, in vacuum, devoid of any history that is causing havoc. It is a million incidents of dissimilar treatment like the one I faced en route Shankar Acharya Temple that build up a psyche. It is this fact that needs to be taken care of.
To say the least, WE also want a right to live with ‘human dignity’.

(The topic derives its name from the book of the same name authored by Amartya sen)

Thoughts for an ignorant citizen

I got some comments from some anonymous blogger who appears to be totally at bay as far as facts are concerned. I have put in a small effort to gather critical facts for enlightening such people.
Dear Anonymous Ignorant Citizen from Jalandhar,
The reason for the sad state of Kashmir affairs today is ignorant people like you – Unaware of history, blind-eyed and deaf-eared towards present - vociferously shouting irrelevant facts.

First, you must read History of Kashmir and of your own motherland. Your grandfather might not have told you, but we were not even under British Occupation. Not even like your 500 princely states. We were an independent state when India and her 500 princely states were fighting for Independence. Do you know that even today, J&K is the only Indian state to have its own Flag, and its own set of laws? You might have never heard of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) (and not Indian Penal Code (IPC)) that is still being followed in all courts across J&K.

After India got Independence, Nehru and Jinnah decided to divide (and thus fulfill the wishes of the British Crown, by falling to their policy of divide and rule) the great nation into India and Pakistan. About 12 million people were displaced and about 1 million killed in the aftermath of partition. However, personally I feel that millions of people who were killed till date in innumerable riots across India and Pakistan, and the Hindu-Muslim divide that exists today are primarily because of the seeds of hatred that were sown by our leaders by enacting the unique and most dreaded partition of people.

Even after the partition, Kashmir was independent. Seeing a weak neighbor with no military power, Pakistani tribesmen attacked Kashmir. Sheikh Abdullah, who was then the Prime Minister of Kashmir, had no option but to ask India for help. India agreed subject to the state of Jammu & Kashmir acceding into India.

J&K was the most peaceful country and that is the reason why it didn’t even have its own army. It was a symbol of peace. Hindus and Muslims lived in absolute harmony, just as they did in India before partition. Shiekh Abdullah, having seen the dreaded partition did not want that hatred to flow into J&K. That is the reason why he negotiated for Article 370. To insulate our motherland from the hatred that had spread across India and Pakistan, but only till such time an independent plebiscite of the State was conducted as per the UN resolution.

"Led by Britain and the United States, the U.N Security Council passed another resolution (Resolution 47) on April 21, 1948, which enlarged the membership of the UNCIP from 3 to 5 , called for cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, withdrawal of all Pakistani troops and tribesmen and bulk of Indian troops(except for a minimal number required for maintaining law order),allowing return of refugees, release of political prisoners and holding of a U.N supervised Plebiscite in the (Princely)State of Jammu and Kashmir to determine the aspirations of her people. The Plebiscite was to be held by a U.N appointed Plebiscite administrator. The U.N Security Council passed another resolution on June3, 1948, which reaffirmed the previous resolutions and asked the UNCIP to proceed to the "disputed areas" to carry out its mission as stated under Resolution 47 of April 21, 1948.”

“The U.N involvement in the Kashmir Conflict largely lasted for 17 years (1948-65).After the Indo-Pak war of 1965, the U.N engagement with Kashmir continued at a very nominal level till the 3rd Pakistan-India war of 1971 and completely ended with the signing of the Simla Agreement in 1972, an Indo-Pak peace agreement, which laid emphasis on adopting a bilateral framework to solve the Kashmir imbroglio and kept the U.N out of the picture afterwards.” .

For more on Indian stance on Kashmir during this period click here

What had happened had happened and could not be changed. People of J&K had reconciled with the fact that they were better-off with India. (If you are meek and weak, you need a big brother). However, when our big brother started bullying us the unrest started all over again. Election rigging was the main cause of hatred against India.

"From 1953 to 1975, Chief Ministers of that State [of J&K] had been nominees of Delhi. Their appointment to that post was legitimised by the holding of farcical and totally rigged elections in which the Congress party led by Delhi's nominee was elected by huge majorities." B.K. Nehru, who was Governor of Kashmir from 1981 to 1984, in his memoirs published in 1997.

Now, that you have some background, let us come to your 1-2-3 Agenda.

1. “Stay with us, i.e. INDIA.we`ve all ways treated you like our misbehaved/rotten brothers. We`ll continue to feed you with essential commodities, food supplies, money, central packages, developmemtal work etc. ( All for our motherland HINDUSTAN)”

The fact that you have treated us like your rotten brothers is a justification enough for what is happening today in Kashmir.

2. “Fight with us, leave us and goto the Mighty Pakisthan - the country with ISLAMIC rules. ;)We would be more than happy to see our rotten brother happy. But come to think of it, how and where would you sell those apples, those shawls, those carvings, or nights at dal lake? whom? i bet pakishan with its poor poor people would be more than willing to pay.Fact: pak population 144 million.Poverty rate 35%Ref: CIA Factbook.I`m sure how big a buying power Pakistan is. BIG BIG Industrialised economy of pak. :)”

I have already said that we are weak and cannot fight India or Pakistan militarily. But whatever voices we are raising are against the ill-treatment by our elder brother.

You may like to see how our elder brother treats us:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTNBB94hDBw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gbWI8QHitA

If you have a weaker neighbor, or a brother, do you help him come up or do you stamp upon him with all your might and beat the hell out of him? As far as I have read no religion preaches that. The sad part is that we do everything in the name of religion but never bother to see what it actually preaches.

3. BE independent of INDIA & Pakistan. - This one is a real joke.If you are independent of us, then:you get no subsidised essentials, no telecom, no tax breaks, no cheap food, no cheap labour, no access to our vast capital base, no army protection, amogst others.China, a dictatorship, is more than willing to attck u, to show its superamacy in the region. Pak, with nothin to show off really, would still try n attack, to salvage pride.kashmir would be the worlds biggest terrorist school, a haven for al quidas and SIMIs..America would be more than willing to attck and invade you. The best base america can get, seeing the approxmity with CHINDIA.So, while u decide, i`ll have to get back to work, as you are my liability rite now, if i dont earn, how you get subsidised food, great rail, air, road connect, huge central packages, subsidies for haj ..etc…etc..

Some disgusted people have been raising this point these days. I am happy though that such people a small bunch - uninformed, immature and naïve.

Thoughts for you from another blogger:

“Kashmiris are happy to take the money…’ he (Vir Sanghvi)mocks. One may ask why extend special rights and billions of rupees if there is no justification for them in the normal functioning of the State of India. Or is it that these are given with an insidious intent- a purpose to appease, to numb, to help forget.”