Article 370 of Indian
constitution has severely undermined the Idea of India as a secular and
inclusive society, where every culture and faith is given space to
prosper. Even after so many years if I
cannot exercise my rights as an Indian citizen in J&K then it is an
injustice on me. It is an injustice on more than a billion people. Kashmiris are victims, when you create such
boundaries wherein amalgamation/exchange of cultures and people are prevented
then it becomes easier for fundamentalist forces to easily capitalize and
create spaces to propagate their limited worldview. The State has helped in creating
these insular spaces for fundamentalists to play their game. It is playing into
the hands of purity driven creeps across the border, who regularly try to cross
and instigate, very much supported by opportunistic agencies across the border.
Also in the game is response by Army. Violence and counter violence, it has
become a macabre absurdity. This has emboldened the hands of communal force within
the region –who are ironically playing victims, indeed they have systematically
eliminated kashmiri hindus (don’t know why they are referred to as pundits!)
and are detrimentally trying to dogmatize the people and radicalize their
worldview. Bigger victims are ordinary Indian people, they have been denied
their basic rights as Indian citizens, as also so much taxpayers money is being
spent to maintain this anachronism. In the hierarchy of victimhood much bigger
victim is the idea of India. With this enforced isolation there definitely is
no chance for peace, this will go on forever. Further these chronic violence
leads to sickening of minds and gross human rights violation.
As an Indian if my
rights are not respected in other part of the country then it is a serious violation.
We rightly criticize Shivsena goons on the streets of Mumbai for attacking the
outsiders since it violates the idea of India. We rightly criticize when
someone is not allowed to buy property in the locality. It is prejudice, it is
a bias. If I am denied the same in J&K then it is bias against me, it is
prejudice on my nationality. Idea of India, without sounding too pretentious,
is the idea of a vibrant world. If we have this kind of system in every state
then each state will be violent pockets like Kashmir. Then having created
antagonistic sections if plebiscite is conducted then obviously people will choose
to move out of the misery, indeed this is valid in any part of India. If people
are not allowed to settle and conduct their life normally then it leads to animosity
against the people who are not from the region. These legal guarantees for
people of the region against the outsiders within the country is a serious
violation of human right and is certainly fuelling division and chauvinism. Article
370 is deviant and must be removed at the earliest, it is indeed indecent to
begin with. This is leftover of the colonial legacy. These are the outcome of
purity seeking scoundrels, the elite of the society who also metamorphosed into
freedom fighters. So according to their purity concerns they divided the
country, ably supported by the Queen’s army (British are really proud of
their ‘royals’, there must be something terribly wrong here).
In the last many years
Kashmir has suffered, more so have people of India, what we got is a colonial legacy pupating on the blood of
Indian soldiers and Kashmiri people. Realistically speaking LOC is the border
and it is quite unlikely this will change. The idea of nations have permeated
into jingoism and pride. Under no circumstance any political party in India or
Pakistan will agree to creation of a separate Kashmir, indeed it shouldn’t be
allowed as it will be based on religion, and this fragile society will very likely
morph into theocratic hell, the affect of these on internal social dynamics
of India will be detrimental (further no nation will like to be in geopolitical disadvantage).
These are medieval ways of defining state (Pakistan foundation is an invitation
for religious totalitarian state, the reason why institutions are fragile as it
lacks credibility). So is defining society or human being in terms of
religions. Religion as an identity is the narrowest expression, and any society
or individual claiming as such is primitive. It is negating wholesomeness of
life and living. It also is a threat to institutions.
The violence that
Kashmir is enveloped in is in and for the framework of an insular and
artificial world; I guess much better option would be struggle (violence) for
an inclusive world. Article 370 is an affront
to modern values and an alibi for obscurantist elements. Bomb and bullets have
not solved anything. Kashmir should be open to an idea of inclusive and
assimilative world. Indeed if we believe in true values of democracy then we
must fight in favour of removal of Article 370 at the earliest, it is expected
that Kashmiris too join rather than being ghettoized for eternity. This will be
a step towards an inclusive vibrant world. Inclusive world is the beginning where
human rights are respected.
