Separatism in Kashmir

The problem in Kashmir is a colonial legacy, the legacy of communalising the society to rule. Kashmir is a Muslim majority region the main reason for demand for separate state. In ancient India this region was known as centre of Buddhism. This blogger believes that Article 370 was a blunder it prevented assimilation of the region from the benefit of growth and isolated the people from pluralist influence, this was exploited by extremist elements. Hindus in kashmir were systematically eliminated (consider the appalling condition/rights of minorities in many Islamic countries starting with the Saudis). Although this blogger is in favor of self determination by people anywhere in the world in here there is a cause of worry. Muslim extremists have a juvenile world view of superiority and god given right to rule themselves through religion, clearly it is not self determination for common people but a clever ploy of fundamentalist to create a muslim ‘holy land’, the loss is of kashmiriyath, the loss is of inclusive tradition. Secondly this kind of move will have serious repercussion on Muslims in India since this is not about people but religion, so definitely Hindu power brokers will exploit this emotive issue. Why are Ladakis or people from Jammu not inclined for separatism?.

Religion is known many a times to poison its follower against the other when the other becomes minority the job is easy. They generally don’t tolerate pluralistic traditions even going against the local norms and values. Most religious fundamentalists whether Muslim, Christian or Hindu come from these surroundings. So even though the Kashmiris have nothing against hindus they were cleansed, so who is doing this?. Who are training the young Kashmiris on using weapons? Muslims or for that matter Hindus, in Bangalore or Delhi when don’t get water or electricity or other basic needs don’t shout for separate country. Kashmiris are not the only one who find themselves in the wrong end of security forces infact most people in India don’t have very positive view of police force. So what is so special about Kashmiris this blogger fails to understand other than the fact that it is Muslim dominated and has been kept isolated from other communities for 60 years.

This blogger is tired of “muslims as a victim” on the contrary the victims of Islam instigated invasions through out the history as also terrorism through bombs in the contemporary world are quite significant as compared to other religions, albeit local happenings add the fuel. However one may say that terrorism has no religion the fact is there are people who are ready to kill and religion has provided them the alibi. Also if followers of one religion are found to be involved in many violent activities it is but natural for man on the street to be suspicious of all people belonging to this religion. Prejudices are sometimes reaction to event around the person it may not be possible for people to take egalitarian worldview all the time particularly when they feel threatened. Further if I belong to a community whose members are committing heinous crimes then I should understand the context of prejudice towards me rather than react in belligerence, the onus is on me. The West may have space for such belligerence and they do have better law and order system but in poorer societies these suspicions can produce deep fractures. India today faces most from religion instigated acts of violence next probably to Iraq. In the meantime politicians worry about their vote bank (which is expected ditto Corporate worry about profit. CSR is basically brand building exercise. Is Market making the world more selfish and crude??. A study is needed on this. The man in suit maybe providing a suave alternative but beware). So some politicians blatantly support SIMI while others support Hindu fundamentalists.

The Muslim as victim has been quite hyped after the 9/11 because of misguided policies of Bush, this is what is being exploited by extremists for power. Common people following Islam do suffer and many suffer terribly first due to poverty second through prejudices. Many therefore get further marginalized and so exploited. Another irony is that this predicament of poor Muslims is exploited by pretenders in elite Muslims generally found next to power centers who fill in the gap as representing these Muslim masses. The truth though is that they have absolutely nothing to do with the reality of common people (if you study Indian history you will see that elite Muslims like Brahminical variety never really had to face any significant problem. They wallowed in extravagance and self inflicted degradation).

Kashmir just happens to be on the fault line. This is not about common people or their voice; it is about peddlers of religion. Peddlers have quite successfully sold the vision of paradise to Kashmiris. The fact is it is going to get difficult for common people. The power brokers on both sides are in for a terrific time. In the meantime more soldiers will die more kashmiris will die.

Post Script: Kashmir where it all began: A personal account

This blogger is into traveling and visiting new places. Sometime back used to spent almost four months in a year on traveling for months at a stretch now though I have reduced to specific periods of the year. I have traveled to almost all part of the country. Although my traveling started quite early (few months after I was born I was moving from Cochin to Assam!!) the place I first visited alone was Kashmir!!. Now that is what we can say incredible. Kashmir was in a way coming of age for me, the fun of travelling alone.

I probably was around 17, when I took this journey in the longest train route- Kanyakumari to Jammu, I got in from Trivandrum. The train stopped for hours at what was then Madras and although I was strongly instructed not to venture from the bogie, I went out and took a walk through Moore market (this market, bloggers will recall got destroyed in a major fire). It took me three to four days to reach Jammu (i recall early morning in the Pathankot railway station the news was about assasination of Zia and there was animated discussion in the bogies on who could have killed him). We were staying in Udhampur, a week later few guys known to us were going to Kashmir in a van so I joined them. It was a scenic journey we had a breakdown so ended up pushing the vehicle for few Kilometers. In the meantime there was a light snow, I recall stopping at a hotel on the outskirts of srinagar where we ate from the big tava itself!!. I met some fierce looking soldiers at Jawahar tunnel. I stayed for the night at probably the biggest house ever (just like the one we get to see in the movies), the fellow was a military contractor (that’s where the money is dear!! For details Dick Cheney would be much help. Soldiers die, people die but some people will always make money. Ever wonder why defence contractors and arm dealers are mostly related to senior officials. Nanda BMW car hit case is well known basically because it happened in delhi the important thing for me here was his father was a arms dealer and that his grand father Admiral. Not at all a coincidence. They know where the lick is, it is anybody’s guess whether national security was compromised). The family I stayed with, I recall was extremely courteous; the guest room was a like a five Star hotel- the servants serving hot milk before going to sleep and waking with bed coffee. Next day though I shifted to Army mess that was a familiar surrounding to me.

For two days I roamed around Srinagar going for long walks and boating at Dal Lake, even going for a late night movie. Although I was told not to eat from outside I did venture out (I am a big fan of Kashmiri wazwan. There is a small shop in Nizamuddin delhi I drop in for Rogan josh and pounded spicy meat balls in curd-goshtaba. There is also one at dili haat that rarely opens. Then of course at the Kashmiri stall at annual trade fare, Pragathi maidan). It was a great experience and I guess I got hooked to it and have been traveling since. Kashmiri people are quite friendly it is the outsiders who fill them with poison not to mention apathy of government.