Kashmir...part 2

At the time of Indian independence, Kashmir was a princely state under the autocratic rule of Maharajas who bought it from Britishers. Kashmiris were fighting the Dogra usurpation and Maharaja signed the ‘Instrument of Accession’ with India on fear of losing Kashmir to Pakistani tribals.
India took Kashmir issue to the United Nations where Security Council resolution asked for plebiscite for determining the fate of Kashmir and vacation of Pakistani Occupied part of Kashmir by Pakistan. But was that feasible or in favor of Kashmir when an option of independent nation was taken out on Pakistani insistence? No matter even that resolution on plebiscite never saw the light outside the UN head quarters.
The relative silence till 80’s was a result of broader role of democracy that kashmiris may have hoped and preferred over feudal Pakistani regime, but that didn’t last longer. Scrapping of autonomy, which had given Kashmir a relative independent status; broken promises and finally rigged elections, triggered a rebellious revolt. Pakistan was again in the scene with a support in the form of ammunition, training camps and men of faith from Afghanistan, Sudan or their own country. The innocent Kashmiris that always knew the only path of mutual existence, compassion and love were now up with the artillery to fight for their rights of freedom and self determination. This was something inconceivable for an ethnicity which was inherited through seers and saints. In the armed struggle, Kashmir lost millions of its innocent lives. Millions of families were affected and the Pundits who were the integral part of their co-existent nature left en mass, polarizing the society and giving the struggle a color of religion. Indian forces showed a brutal resistance on being given free hand to combat. Kunan Poshpora incident of 23rd feb. 1991, which witnessed the rape of more than 53 women including a 9 year old child and an 80 year old lady by Rajputana rifles of Indian army, to Shopian double rape cum murder case in May 2009 by CRPF saw several such unending examples of rape and molestation of women which was silently observed or ignored by the world community. Sopore massacre of Jan 1993 and setting up on fire of local houses and businesses, where 55 civilians were killed in indiscriminate firing on locals by Border Security Forces; Massacres like Tengpora on march 1, 1990; Gawkadal on Jan 21, 1990 killing 55 civilians; Handwara on Jan. 22, 1990 killing 26, indiscriminate firing on the procession carrying the body of Mirwaiz Molvi Farooq on May 21, 1990 in Srinagar killing 76 people, burning alive of 47 people on setting the Lal Chowk locality of Srinagar on fire on April 10, 1993, Bijbehara massacre of oct 1993 where firing on a peaceful protest lost 43 civilians and injured hundreds are few examples on the tip of Kashmiri memories. Fake encounters like those of Pathribal on March 25th 2000 and the fake enquires which showed DNA fudging have never been uncommon. In all this, the struggle by Kashmiris for their rights and against the gross human rights violations has never been less genuine, but this Pakistani support casted Kashmir in a much darker light. World and the Indian public gave deaf ears to the happenings and the sympathy towards Kashmir’s was on the lower side. The reason for Indian public was always their men in uniform fighting for the country, and world was shown the picture through Indian prism.
Kashmir was deceived by lies and false hopes given by India and Pakistan. Pakistani support in raising the Kashmiri voice at the international level made Kashmir believe a friend in the neighborhood, forgetting those tribal men who on leaving Kashmir after attacking it left snatching even the Samavar (Kashmiri tea pot with a golden color handle) handles thinking it to be of gold. The interest in Kashmir was always there for everyone because of its richness, resources and beauty.

To be continued…..

Kashmir - the paradise lost

A university professor set an examination question in which he asked what the difference between ignorance and apathy is. The professor had to give an A+ to a student who answered: I don’t know and I don’t care. Kashmir has been at a center stage of realms of crisis and one would wonder, with an intense sigh of grief, if the world around is ignorant or showing apathy. The current turmoil, apparently, seems to be a result of certain unfortunate incidents which lead to a cascade of civilian killings. A protest against the casualties was confronted by killing of more young people. An outbreak of rage of protests was tipped as instigated furore by Indian leaders at the centre. The state and centre governments acted like mute spectators to the on-going killings, and the statements hurled by the home minister of India makes one bite his nails. A hangover of finance ministry doesn’t seem to be over for him yet. Silence of opposition on the issue is not something inconceivable. Unfortunately, when it comes to something as big or as small as Kashmir, Indian politicians irrespective of party or ideology show solidarity to what they may call national interests. It is this silence, non-seriousness and unwillingness from the political fora that has been alienating the valley further. Scene of teenagers and youth, everywhere from north to south of this valley, daring to confront the armed forces who by their own words are being protected by a law sacred to them, tells the seriousness of things happening around. A stone thrown is always greeted by bullets or teargas shells ready to pierce the bodies that have not yet grown to the full bloom. The anger seen in the kashmiri youth on the roads is not something that has piled in these last two months or so. It has roots in the constant apathy and ignorance shown to their miseries by people who show more interest in their land than the inhabitants. The place which was known as heaven on earth or Switzerland of Asia may now reasonably be called Kosovo, Chechnya, Palestine, East Timor, Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda or Darfur of Central Asia. Caught in between three hostile countries which have always been facing her like hungry crocodiles swooping towards the food, Kashmir has been occupied by all these three nuclear powers. For one country, Kashmir is in its blood and for the other a part of its juglar vein, but the people in it was always an infection or suspected infection. A place which sees all the four seasons in its own charm - blanketed by snow in winter, maple leaves in autumn and greenery in spring and summers, Kashmir valley is now soaked in one color of blood in all the seasons. Men in uniform with sophisticated ammunitions and bunkers with gun nozzle holes, depressed and dismayed population, army camps, empty markets, charred buildings, crowded hospitals, congested graveyards, orphans, widows, parents, half widows, half orphans looking for disappeared beloveds, newspapers full of incidents of death and casualties, prisons fully occupied by youth is what defines the present day Kashmir.
Youth of Kashmir is frustrated and their alienation is aggravating the situation further. Born during the time when peace is something heard only in stories of very elders at home or just a little hope for the future, all that this youth could experience is the bloodshed and crisis torn surroundings.
To be continued….