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….
This is an interesting point of view on the history and on-going events.
ReplyDeleteI completely criticize and am against brutality and human rights violation by forces.
But I would beg to differ on the right to freedom and right to self determination part. Born and brought up in the 'peaceful' India whatever i have seen from a distance has made me believe that given an opportunity, not even states but every little district or city would like to be a separate nation. There are far too many vested interests in fueling such desires and far too many stupid and ignorant people (mainly youth) to follow that path.
If people in Kashmir could live happily (it is a very subjective term) for 20 years in India they can live happily in India even now (not in the present situation). India is a federal and secular republic and I do not understand a single reason why Kashmir should be a separate nation or even autonomous.
If anyone would dig really down in the history of any Indian you would be able to fathom reasons for that part being a separate nation. Meet a Babbar Khaalsa member and he will give you thousand irrefutable reasons why Khalistan should be a separate nation. As a nation should we allow such sentiments to gain momentum? Definitely not. But definitely force (pun intended) is not the way to stop such sentiments.
I have been brought up in a surrounding that treats Kashmir as an integral part of the nation and I hold the same belief.
The right to freedom is justified after every continuous and yet probable and expected human right violation . For other states , where separatist tendencies are gaining momentum , there is a visible political and sometimes , religious interests , which can be respected by the constitution of India . But the Armed forces act in Kashmir , which permits right for army to do "extra judicial execution" which may or may not follow rape, makes kashmir constitutionally slave of New Delhi.
ReplyDeleteInfact there is a visible similarity between British Rule in India , and Indian rule in Kashmir. They signed agreements with your maharajas , you signed agreements with their maharaja (which no one recognizes except you). British collected taxes from you by the signed deewanis of Indian rulers themselves , you collect taxes from Kashmir . Your ancestors protested against British Rule , which rightfully won trade and land agreements from Indian Rulers , Kashmiris are protesting against India (And the agreements which permit Indian rule in kashmir are not recognised by the world community).You say you protect Kashmir from Pakistan , britishers protected Indians from each other .
They killed lala lajpat rai in protest,you killed kashmiri youth in protest. They raped your women , you raped their women . They did Jalianwala Bagh , you did Kunan Poshpura , sopore Massacre , Tengpora Massacre ,Gawakadal Massacre , Handwara Massacre .Your ancestors revolted in 1857 , Kashmiri youth is now revolting. Britain's problem was your extremists , India's problem is Kashmiri extremists. You picked ammunition , kashmiris picked stones .British then increased penetration of Army , exposing your women to rapes , you imposed armed forces act , leading to rapes in Kashmir .
And yaa there are differences too ...You infact introduced the world to new words , which humans in first world gaze upon ... The definition of Fake Encounters, Half Orphan and Half Widow , originated in Kashmir thanks to the atrocities of the Indian Army .This extent of human right violations is something that even britishers were not capable of .
A child born in India in 18th century would have been confused on seeing two flags everywhere, one of the britain , and other of the slave ruler of his slave state, who collected tax. He would be afraid of red uniformed soldiers who keep moving here there in streets . Kashmiri youth is similar ... two flags make him curious about their history which tells them that they are and have to be independent .. and the armed forces in street and their acts provoke them for independence ..
to be continued ...
The argument that "what will happen after we free them , which usually follows after the justification of Freedom of Kashmir " is also baseless, because ,even during the time of Indian Independence , the probability of Riots in India was unity. New Delhi celebrated India’s independence while the riots were happening on Indian Streets. Still that didn’t made India ineligible for freedom. Kashmiris are united , and eager to work for themselves. Freedom in Kashmir can not go worse than what happened during and after the Indian Independence.
ReplyDeleteWhen the freedom fighter R Venketaraman , the president of India awarded Nelson Mandela the Bharat Ratna in 1990 , he recognized Mandela’s struggle for independence , the freedom , something that he himself fought for ..This was the same freedom that Indians struggled for , freedom from bowing before other’s flag , freedom from taking own decisions , freedom from getting represented by others internationally , freedom to speak , freedom to move freely in streets , Freedom from discrimination .Indian History textbooks have failed in appreciating freedom as an emotion , and have showed Indian Independence as just a change of government , which is making the entire next generation , justify the annexations by their own government.
Kashmir was never alienated from India , it was army that was barrier, Indians were alienated from Kashmir . Be it Prime Minister’s Relief fund , be it NGO participation , be it Charity , collections for Kashmir earthquakes were shockingly low , compared to funds for tsunami and Orissa cyclone, proving the general de-recognition of kashmiris as fellow citizens.
US is handling Japan's security ( No rape there !! believe it .. can third world stand closer ??),China is turning lhasa to skycrapper and SEZ city ... but what has India done to Kashmir , makes India ineligible to rule there.
Any argument that justifies Indian Rule in Kashmir after so much of human right violations , justifies British Rule in India too . Apparently , 300 years of slavery were quite insufficient for some Indians to understand what the freedom is, and what their own ancestors had to fight for ...
Most of my friends have complained of having trouble in posting their comments. I suggest you to post your comments as anonymous and write your name at the end, in case the open ids or name/url doesn't allow you to do so... This works. I apologize for the technical flaw and will try to rectify the same as soon as possible. Please make sure you copy everything before you post the comments, so that you will not have a problem in posting it again, in case, you face any sort of trouble.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Kashmir cannot be Integral to India.The scars and the wounds inflicted by Indian Oppression are too deep to heal.Freedom is the only healing to the People.Very Good brother.
ReplyDeleteSilence over Graveyards
What Peace is this?
Dear friend,
ReplyDeleteI am happy to see that you have penned down a very nice article that talks about the Kashmir issue that has been a pain for Kashmiris for the past 20 years (or more). I really enjoyed reading the article and found the mentioned history somewhat interesting. I wont place myself at the level to say that will call for my disagreement with you because what you have mentioned is the truth. But I have to say this that your truth is from one perspective alone, but nonetheless it is the truth and no one can deny this.
As I expected, when I finished reading your posts, I thought of writing something on the similar lines from my perspective. I am halfway through it and will send it to you as soon as I have finished it.
Keep writing.
Naveed
Am quoting an article"the young ones should stand against giving and accepting each small thing everyone says but no one stands to it.A study by the sociology department of University of Kashmir – “Emergence of late marriages in Kashmir” says that the average marrying age has increased from 24 to 32 years in boys and for Females 21 to 28 years. The socio-economic, educational and political developments in the J&K state have affected the practices, rituals, values and norms of marriage, the study says adding, conflict, poverty, modern education, dowry, unemployment, caste consideration as the major reasons for late marriages in Kashmir. Many people believe advent of modernization, unhealthy customs and traditions, and “irreligious” attitude in the society have played their part in pushing up the average marrying age. “This two decade long insurgency had to leave a distinct mark on the social and cultural structure of the society apart from politics,” says Professor Bashir Ahmad Dabla, the supervisor of the research. “Marriage is already delayed by many years when the employed person starts looking for a suitable spouse. A highly educated person looks for relevant match that delays the process further,” said Jabeena Begam, a mother of four. “Late marriages are taking a heavy toll on the mental health of Kashmiri youth. When a person has no one to share his feelings with, frustration is likely to occur; whether it is physiological or psychological. Many unmarried patients come to us with complaints of depression; half of their problem is solved when they are being listened to patiently,” says senior psychiatrist, Dr Aijaz Ahmad Khan. “One out of every 700 children is born with Down’s syndrome. But when the mother is in her late 30s and early 40s chances of birth of mentally retarded child increase manifold,” says Dr Khan. Late marriages alter social fabric with pre-marital and extra-marital affairs creeping into the society. “Late marriage and sexual promiscuity cannot be avoided in a conflict situation,” says Professor Dabla. “Modernization gave rise to materialistic outlook and highlighted the ill effects of early marriage. But absence of a partner results in the crimes, immoral activities and drug addiction,” says Dabla. Apart from financial uncertainty and political instability, many young boys and girls hold their parents responsible for their delayed marriage by compelling them to go for extravagance. “Every person needs someone to be with and rely on. Life seems worthless when you have none. But when your own parents commit sin and make you suffer for their desire of your extravagant marriage, you cannot help it but wait,” laments Shabir Ahmad, 29. The huge amount of money needed in a traditional Kashmiri marriage has turned it into a burden, says Dilshada, a housewife. “An average person spends around Rs 10 lakh in a marriage; almost a decade rolls by till all the money is gathered,” she adds. Besides dowry and pomp and show, the traditional wazwan - local multi-cuisine feast - has become expensive and unaffordable for many people. To make marriages simpler and inexpensive, Humsafar Marriage Counselling Cell was established by Islamic Dawa Centre in 2005. The bureau organises marriages in austere and religious manner and discourages extravagance. In a place, like Kashmir, where women still are not considered as the bread winners of the family, those with government jobs are preferred for marriage pulling many women towards higher education. With the warnings like decrease in population, mental depression and suicidal tendencies; solutions suggested by the experts include guest control and legal ban on dowry practice, and marrying children at early age in religious manner without extravagance. Author is a free lance Journalist and can be mailed at salmannizami@gmail.com.
ReplyDelete