Let Kashmir be Kashmiris
OPINION | September 8, 2008 | Share
Within a week of my return from Srinagar, where I spent the better part of my summer holidays, the state I completely fell in love with, burnt up in flames of violence, protests, cries and pain! When I had met my friends distributing all the souvenirs I had brought for them, I described Jammu and Kashmir. Talking about Kashmir’s beauty, Jammu’s peace and the innocence and hospitability of its people. How their young listened to Bollywood songs on radio driving late into the night, how they followed IPL as intently as us, how women and children could freely walk around Dal lake at midnight (something that is unimaginable in Delhi). I even went to the extent of saying all they needed were Malls to be just like us!!
But one hasty decision and add to it late reactions from the Centre turned the state into a boiling point. The issue- transfer of land use rights for 39.88 hectares of forest land to Shree Amarnath Shrine Board sparked off differences between Jammu and Kashmir and started a fire!
Had I imagined the pride, the happiness, the look of peace on peoples faces when I was there? It all seemed a distant past or rather something I had “seen” because it was what I wanted to see. Because it made things so much simpler ! The images of fury, violent demonstrations made my trip, my chats with the locals, our jokes with our guides our long drive conversations with our hotel manager about J&K, about peace and good times seem so futile, almost dishonest, like a transparent veil which hides yet shows. Many Kashmiris truly believe that the defiant march to Muzaffarbad , to the LOC is going to serve as a landmark in the states history. Once again, after a break of 13 years, the ‘azadi’ slogans were ringing through the valley. Television screens and newspaper headlines screaming out Kashmir’s peoples cries of azadi, of people waving Pakistani flags was nothing less than a slap on my face, on my country’s face. But this time instead of feeling raging possessiveness or the easy hatred for Pakistan , I felt betrayed of what I had felt in the state, of my experiences there. I felt let down by my fellow brethren in Kashmir. The fact that an incident that should ideally be considered an internal matter between the country and the state could so easily be converted to cries of freedom made me question myself. Are these people really my fellow brethrens? Was what I saw really happiness and national pride?
People call my generation the ‘Rang de Basanti’ generation, one which believes in the gun. But however popular Churchill may have been, his words-‘War is the ultimate way to peace’ doesn’t go to well with me. We have fought wars, suffered attacks every month, lost men, women, children, land, money and stacks of paper to the so called talks and discussions. Many of my friends would argue Kashmir is ours& there is no doubt about it, so damn Pakistan. But is Kashmir really ours? Kashmir is Kashmiris and are they really a part of us? Do they want to be? Recent photographs and situations seem to contradict this. People of Kashmir should be the first priority. They should get to decide where their future lies. Pakistan and India are not the issue, Kashmir is. And as uncomfortable as it makes many, this time Pakistan had nothing to do with this. The trouble is this time the ISI didn’t start the fire.
So this time we need to look deeper and introspect. Should we continue to make this an ego hassle? Should we let politics- old brains in parliament with same rotten ideas, bruised egos continue to do as they have been doing?
So what does India have to lose? Apart from a reduction in its size in million hectares, and a change in its shape, I would say very little.
Jammu-Kashmir is the only state with a separate constitution. Any non-kashmiri Indian is not allowed to own land in Kashmir. For many years it has been a fragile state. It also has enjoyed many concessions, subsidies, special treatment. Like Vir Sanghvi said- “ Every Kashmiri might be an Indian, but every Indian is not a Kashmiri”. Kashmir has very little agriculture. In terms of GDP, it has very little to offer to India. On the other hand think about the lives, the money we would be saving. Expenditure on arms, defense would be significantly reduced. Lives of both would be saved. Let them decide. Do they want to go with Pakistan whose own future is undecided or do they want to complete independence in which case lets give them a chance to prove themselves( with little or no agriculture and industry). A week’s blockade showed the extent to which Kashmirs economy is dependent on India. True, Pakistan may inch closer, but this time they wouldn’t have an excuse. And I have enough confidence in my country’s army(with a large military base in Udhampur). Also hopefully much of the angst of the Kashmiri freedom fighters (or terrorists for India) would be solved. As far as its beauty is concerned, India is a country with 3.28 million sq kilometers. There is no lack of beautiful places. The argument of tourism too, is of no relevance as Kashmir contributes very little to India’s overall Tourism Revenue( with it being closed for most of the time). How many of us have even been there? I know as a county we really can’t be proud of what we have done for the state, but whatever “little” we have done, what have we got in return?
Its time we thought of Kashmir as Kashmir, a land of ‘its people’.. Its time we defined who its people are. Its time India grew, not only in numbers demographically and economically, but it is time it matures politically and socially. Its time India acknowledged Kashmir and its people.Its time we let Kashmir be Kashmiri’s.
Shruti Choudhary
(20 votes, average: 3.55 out of 5)
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[Image source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbukhari/2788953194/]
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@ the fake kashmiri… well Kashmir was founded by KASHYAP rishi.. after whome the valley is named… we, the kashmiri pandits are aboriginals of kashmir and all you muslims are converted ones… the place belongs to us.. not to you.. and SHIT is what you are… and the peace will prevail only when the SHIT.. (thats you) is out of the place..
if KPs were shit then peace would have prevailed when we left and you would have gotten to be with pakistan..
but it didnt happen.. Allah in whose name who fight cant see innocent people dying.. he is always with truth and justice.. he is with us..
and we are not angrez,.. we are well educated and cultured people who have survived the ethinic cleansing that you people can not digest
Well….India is named after river Indus…look who controls it now (Indus Water treaty)- samj gaya angrez ki aulad, educated and cultured aulad. How can peace prevail, why are you ignoring 700K Indian shits who are still struggling to contain the uprising,Once they are out..peace will prevail..Rest about your culture and education, I can judge by your writing and thoughts, you better not explain, if you are educated then we have delete the word illiterate from dictionary.
and moreover i dont need to prove that you are a terrorist.. the entire world knows that.. i think you skippd the documentry that was shown on NDTV two days back..
even pope bennadict in his first message said that evil happened to this earth when muslims started to form..
the entire world is against you people… i guess there is no TV at your home thats y u r deprived of world events..
and i know how much you people respect kashmiri pandits.. believe me i have the same respect for you guys
Yes, that is the problem,for you every Kashmiri is a terrorist, and what is this TV, NDTV..lol. Man, Now its too funny for a discussion like this…Are you a kid or you are just kidding…lol
and about etiquettes .. ha ha ha ha ha ha…. look who is talking..
atul sahab u ppl are a disgrace not only for urslf but India. Jab karnae ka time tha tab tamasha dekh rahe thae. u r jst cowards..and plz dont relate education with culture. if u ppl had any culture u wudnt have left ur homeland. jo apne watan se wafa nahi kar sakha woh hindustani kahlane kae layak nahi.
Good culture teaches bravery….not running away
@ NIKHIL.. i know this is a fake name… you are a kshmiri muslim disguising as Nikhil.. i can figure it our from your language.. so Mr. what whosoever you are… we people had culture thats y we didnt become terrorists .. good culture doesnt teach to kill people.. it teaches you to be civilized.. educated.. it gives you power to flourish whereever you go… please next time have balls to speak from your true ID.. i know you are Hurriyat and JKLF employees whose job is to spread lies about kashmir andindia…
and by god we wont let you succeed
This comment is not directed to any particular person but is a general comment.
Only Kashmiris can understand their situation best. After what they have suffered, we are no one to comment on what kind of people they are.
Also, please understand that India is being run by the combined efforts of all its people. Please do not target people on the basis of caste or communities/religion.
An Indian who calls other communities as terrorists can never be a true Indian.
Thanks!
@ANSHUL… i dont know if it is a true id or not… but ya.. as you said that only kashmiris know the situation and have right to comment.. well yes. so just go n sleep like you people were sleeping when these terrorists were involved in mas killing of kashmiri pandits.. and do not comment if you dont know any thing. LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS TOO DANGEROUS my friend… i m labelling those people terrorists who actually are..
for those who think kashmiris r shit,
first of all i wud like to adress them as bastards.hw can they comment on such a sensitive issue wid which they r nt fully aware of.hw can a person whose living far away from place where people are literally slaughtered.innocents are sufferin because of the wrong doings of big fishes in the politics.
want to edit my comment,
hw can a person, who is living far away frm the place where innocent people are being slaughtered, judge sufferers as shits.this shows hw cultiured r they.religion has nothin to do wid the kashmiri struggle as evident from the harmony which used to previal between muslims and hindus living together in kashmir.the struggle is abt rights which they are being deprived of since decades.whatever is happenin in kashmir it is merely due to the wrong doings of big fishes in the politics.they jus want to hv power so that they can dominate world wid their evil deeds.try tyo b sensible and mature enough before u start commentin on sensitive issues.try to bring harmony among people not hatred.thats the mantra of todays youth!
@Atul: Well if you are talking about little knowledge then I am afraid you have to take many, maybe including yourself, in this bracket. Be aware that a person who comments on other people’s lives is the one who is ignorant, not the one who chalks out ways to solve them.
I can proudly say that I am doing something for my nation, and I need not give details to prove my point. If you feel so strongly for Kashmir then why don’t you work things out for them. Why don’t you go there and then work for them, or probably join an NGO that has been working in Kashmir.
When the terrorists were involved in mass killings I was probably too young to act. But today if they strike back I know what to do, and I need not make it public. I am a part of India’s fourth estate (if you know what that is) and talking about knowledge, presenting just one side of the story is as dangerous as bringing a terrorist in your home.
I hope you will present all sides of the coin before writing a story and not only be a responsible citizen journalist, but also a responsible citizen.
Talking is easy, acting is difficult. So try it out. You might just be the next change maker.
All the best my friend.
@Anshul…. well talking about the knowlwdge and the two sides of the coin ..i wd like to remind you THAT I AM A KASHMIRI… by the way… i know what happens there and y that happens… so dude.. u check out your responsibility and stop arguing with the person who actually belongs to that place….
and about doing things for Kashmiris… and joining an NGO… sorry dode i didnt join any NGO because i have my own youth initiative group called SHARIKA FOUNDATION – A youth initiative who works for the children and migrants living in camp….
just keep your mouth shut if yoou dont know any thing and get your concepts cleared before arguing with a person who is the victim of what has happened….
@ SAM.. there was never any harmony between the muslims and kashmiri pandits… and it aint even political… our government does every thing in their hands to keep the kashmiri muslims happy… but they keep on demanding more…. what else can a government do?? they didnt even capture terrorists like YASIN MALIK and BITTA KARATE… if you know who they are…
they killed the people who actually belonged to the land… they craved for pakistaan right from the begning.. so it doesnt mean we shud allow them to get away with it… we people have a say in our state…. and we want to be with india…
most of the tax collected from jammu and kashmir is spent on kashmir only to keep those terrorists happy… and to add to your knowledge… kashmiri muslims do not pay taxes….
our taxes are spent on the development of madrassas.. were primary terrorism education is given.. under the disguise of islamic teachings… muslims dont want the money to be spent on improvement of schools.. bcoz most of the muslims refrain from goin there…
what else can our govt do to keep them happy.. what have they done to keep us happy… where were you people when mass murders of kashmiri pandits wes taking place???
pity on you
Get yourself a doctor you rude person.
you please reply from your true id mr. rahul… and dont sound gay please…. and i fail to understand where did i sound rude??
do u even know the meaning of rude or learnt this word from a frnd???
@atul.either u r misguided or u r a terrorist who iz wilfully using tis site as a tool of spreading voilence by distorting facts and passing provocative remarks. u cannot mislead people with ur ignorance.u cant deny the evidences proving the atrocities done to kashmiri muslims.
u hv written abt bitta karata…let me inform u the person waz imprisoned for 17 years.as per indian law only 14 years are fixed as lifer bt he haz given extra 3 years in jail.
about taxes………..if u r not aware abt the facts thn y d hell do u need to write..muslims all over india n in kashmir also r the highest tax payers.
abt mass killing…..pandits were killed once bt kashmiri muslims r murdered every day.mass killing of muslims happens everyday in kashmir. r u blind and deaf to watch and hear the reports from indian media.the biggest inhumane act of the govt waz unfolded by the indian madia only.they showed the graveyards full of innocent kashmir boys and tagged as foriegn militants by the govt when the truth was uncovered by the forensic reports dat the boys were innocent locals.
u r a big blot on humanity.
Mr Sam,
I dont know where are u from but u seem to have lots of misconception about Kashmir.Dont talk in air come with facts.Tell me one mass killing of Kashmiri Muslims that has happened.If one kashmiri is killed by a Indian Jawan there is a big outcry in not only Kashmir but also in India and Indian Army takes action against the aggressor.This fact is accepted by even the most vocal proponent of Azadi.Whereas if a indian jawan is killed no body cares.Indians owe resposibility terrorist dont.In Kashmir only one mass killing has happened and that was of Hindus.Get your facts straight and then argue on this forum.
@Abhinav Regarding mass killing (massacres) by indian occupied troops,Bijbehara is one such example where troops from BSF 47th Bt opened fire and slaughtered 31 innocents within minutes… http://www.indianexpress.com/news/bijbehara-massacre-victims-families-to-get/220332/
First of all people were not sitting in home they were out protesting and in such situation things like this always happen.Even same report says that people attacked the army with gun.U cant expect army to sit silent when they are attacked and dont make this as a bench mark for the Army general behaviour.If Army had massacred the way it is being said then all kashmiris would have either died or fleed
there has been enough hue and cry on the brutalities meted out to kashmiri pandits.there is Panun Kashmir, roots in kashmir, all india kashmiri samaj and others.these all are doing good work.let them do it.
we have seen it all(studying in tents,under candles,unhygienic conditions etc.we dont want others to undergo this.
we at sharika foundation believe in universal brotherhood.
we are a group of youth dedicated to the development of the society because we believe we have gained a lot from it and we owe a lot to it.
the group comprises of engineers,doctors,managers,commerce graduates(all students),working professionals.
we organized Jammu marathon-09,creative art carnival on global warming and terrorism,workshops for youths,winter festivals.we sponsor education of needy students.
JOIN US.
naveen raina
Sharika Foundation
(krazyindian_naveen@yahoo.com)
@ SAM… please use your original profile while commenting on the posts…
you are confused… u startred by saying that i am a terrorist.. a misguided one also/… then you admit that kashmiri pandits were killed…. please be clear in your posts…
secondly about media.. media is government controled.. it never showed to the world what happened to hindus in kashmir.. becuse their muslim bank would have gone away..
thirdly.. omar abdulla accepted the fact of the killing of kashmiri pandits in an interview to NDTV… you can find the clip in you tube…
fourthly.. bitta karate has accepted killing of 40 kashmiri pandits… he should have been hanged… or electricuted for that mater..
fifthly.. please provide proof of your statement that kashmiri muslims are the highest tax payers in india… i am waiting… i can provide you the proof of what i have said that we people form jammu pay our taxes that is spent on your madrassas and so that you may get food…
sixthly.. if you pay our taxes.. then it is proved that you believe in the system of your country and in your country for that matter.. then army shudnt beat you..
seventhly.. army beats only those who creat turmoil on streets.. its your modus operandi.. firstly to attack army.. involve children in that too.. and when army retaliates.. cry foer help and show the world that you ddint do any thing
@atul u r a big blot on humanity.u r sick so u desperately need medical help.u shud b hanged for writing voilent text. instead of bringing harmony between two religious sects u r gifting hatred to the young generation.U R A HINDU TERRORIST.
@ NAVEEN… JAI GURUDEV
@ SAM…
you should be deported to paakistaan you bloody traitor..
i have the balls to speak the truth…. its because of the people like u that we kashmiri pandits have suffered…
u psudo secular shit….
@atul
u rnt a kashmiri pandit dats for sure coz ur writin etiqutte reveals sumthin else.pandits were famous for their etiqute n wisdom bt u hv proved to b a terrorist.if i shud b deported to pakistan thn u surely desrv to b hanged.i hhv talked abt secularism which gandhiji has taught us and its coz of him only india got freedom.if u wud hv been born dat time u wud hv surely adressed him d same way coz his mantra wz only secularism.i pity on u.u r really a big blot on humanity.
@SAM…. who told u i m not a secularist?? did i say anything about muslims???? have u even done ur primary education??? i am talking about kashmiri muslims.. not muslims in general…
and i know who i am… so dont bother about it u stupid fuck.. go and lick some pakistaani ass..
i have muslim friends not only from india but from all over the world… iran, oman, arab, somalia etc. so u aint even close… get a life u paakistaani
Don’t want enter the very uncultured discussion…
but a few points about letting Jammu and kashmir go..
first it has 3 parts jammu valley the kashmir valley
nd the ladakh
now outside kshmir valley
thr r budhisst nd jammu was predominantly hindu
so we can’t let it all go, but if we want to let go we’ll have to let go all of it or else pakistan nd ISI nd the terrorist organisations will not stop..
the so called freedom fighters of kashmir might. the irony is
that its being turned into a fight for God…
But God never drew boundaries he never said this is yours nd tht his
i hv worked with NGO’s trying to heal the wounds of war…
i know how the pundits feel how angry thy r
nd at th same time how angry the youth of kashmir is right now…
the future holds much more blood for us than it did before
And im not a political expert but ya the solution is not in sight in the future…
God deliver us…
Nd for the people above courage is about shouting its about working every time u get a chance for your beliefs…
but don’t forget to do good you need to be humane…
I guess…all are Indians here. So, instead of abusing each other, better we join hands to better the situation. Instead of feeling different and getting apart on basis of region and religion, better be just Indians and work towards the nation and its harmony. History has already shown a lot of fights, its no time to fight again..but to get together as a nation and humans to fight the enemies living wid us or away from us.
@ monica and Deven.. m sorry for being uncultured… well please tell me where was your culture when thousands of kashmiri pandits were being killed in india??? didnt ur culture tell u to save those innocent people???
DEVEN.. you work with an NGO ri8?? what have you done for KPs so far?? have u even bothered to see how they have lived like refugees for 22 years??? if yes please contact me.. we have a voluntary organisation.. that works for the ppl living in camps… lets see your humane side.. i am waiting..
Mr Atul enough is enough… its people like u tht make working in a NGO difficult, because people like u want to prove to the world tht im doing good… and my dear i don’t need to prove anything to u… as far as working for a NGO im currently working for one… and very happy to be working here as it has given me what i desire most peace… inner peace… best of luck with your work… bu you might want to visit a doctor to get urslf checked for depression…. may God be with u…
@Atul
I would just like to say 2 things.
We have seen a lot of fights and slaughtering in past and now its not the time to count those and ask every other person for their accountability at that moment.
Second, its people like you who can always be brain washed and used against some1 by the terrorists as u already hv hatred in you and you are already against a section of society (infact u r against every1 in the society leaving jst 1 section that u r speaking for here).
So…better use ur own brains…for the GOOD
I dont understand ,y u ppl, seem to b educatd bt using obscene words fr each othr.Let me tell u n clear d facts.In 1990 thts wn up rising startd in kasmir againt indian rule,Mr. Jugmohan the hnble Governor f kmr at tht tym told kashmiri Pandits to leav kmr not kashmiri muslims,moreover thr wr some black sheeps who targetd our pundit brothrs,whch v can acknowldge bt u shd knw also tht nt only pundits bt muslims also became d victim by d same ppl who killd our pundit bros.Evn sikhs wr targetd bt thy showd courage n didnt let wrng ppl ovr rule thm.U ppl also update urselves tht during last 20 yrs more thn 1 lac kashmiri ppl got killd,hw can u jstify tht mch number.Whr evr uprising ocurs ,blood has to shed,black sheeps get birth and inocent ppl die.Bt these r whm v call terrorists bt wht abt d ppl ,who r saviors f nation ,the so calld securty forces n kill inocent ppl,can v jstfy tht, n evn nw kashmir govt acknowlgde tht securty forces r nt abiding rules.Plz v r nw fed up wd thez blame games,cant v work as human beings n shw ryt path to our cuming generatn.hw far v wl go wd ths blame game agenda,evn aftr tht v hv to show cooperatn wd each othr.If sm ppl wl nt acept it,evn thn kashmiri pundits r our brothrs,v cn undrstnd thr suferings whch thy hv suferd during thz years out syd kmr.Thy myt hv sm greviences wd us n v evn hv wd thm.Bt tym z nt far away,wn v wl remain again wd each othr n exhibit brothrhood.
@ SRA… while blaming security forces.. i wd like to make clear to every one… that after the 3pm nimaaz, youngsters are given 200 bks for stone pelting.. they come out on streets and start pelting stones at security forces.. what are security forces supposed to do??? get killed?????
isnt it justified that they retalliate. if u are so concerned abt the children… take care of them.. what are 5 year old children.. who instead of going to school stand on the front row for stone pelting??? thats coz they are mindwashed and given 200rs for that…
black shheps is a famous word in kashmir… coz u ll find them in abundance there
Quite a long comment thread, albeit full of hatred and extreme views.
First I would like to thank atul for the work they are doing through Sharika Foundation. Working for any people (KP or otherwise) is a work commended by all Gods, but the essense lies in keep doing that with humility…thats an Indian trait.
I am a KP too and not a migrant, hence, I was not there when the mass exodus happened. I know relatives and families who had to move under the threat of rape pillaging and murder of women and children. It’s correct that we didn’t fight back. I wish we were raised like the Israelites on martial code of honor, but as our history says, we just weren’t raised that way. There was no point of a fightback, we lacked the training and logistics (my father was in the Army and I can opine without bias on this aspect).
As for the muslims in the valley, I haven’t interacted much with the general populace but the top 10% have everything and rest 90% don’t even get crumbs. The liveihood could possibly have been Tourism but unrest in the valley means a big NO for inflow of potential customers. This stands in stark contrast to the 70s and 80s when it was the destination of choice and the only truly international place we had in India (terms like Cashmere for pashmina sweater etc got coined and immortalized, even Led Zep composed their haunting song “Kashmir”).The point being that the valley had already tasted something which stands in stark contrast to the utter neglect of world right now (for all the right reasons).
In contrast, the rich kashmiri muslims have their fancy shawl salons and boutiques in Connaught Place, Goa, McLeodGunj, Hyderabad….and where not. They care a damn about the so called “azadi” movement…..other Kashmiri muslims would be surprised to see how indulgent they are (wine, beard, namaz etc etc). One factor remains common though, the young kashmiri muslim lads in the CP cirle in delhi still try and trap unassuming foreigners at Barista and Cafe Day into buying wares, arranging trips, lodging etc
…….the same way in 70s and 80s Kasmiri muslim (pre dominantly) boys would strut along Dal Lake’s periphery after foreigners singing (and in that way asking) “Memsaab saalam, patt patt ghulam” (Salutations lady, this slave is after you)!!
The moment Pakistan ruffled few jerks in Kashmir the people came out on streets as anyway they didn’t have anything else to do. Food supplies from India, Medication through India, Electricity bills running into crores being written off…..and what did we actually gain economically from Kashmir ? Zilch.
Patience is running out on both sides now…..for Kashmiris to realize that opportunities exist outside the valley too and for India to heed to the stone pelting mobs.
Kashmir will either be a battleground or a paradise. For KP’s its been a blessing in disguise as we moved out and melded with the diaspora of the country, treating it as our mother. Thats why there is no state, organization, field where we don’t have a representation and where we don’t come out as true blooded Indians who in spite of being thrown out of our homeland on threats of bullet and blood have still survived and made our mark.
Kasmiri muslims need to realize soon that the borders beyond Kashmir that run into Punjab, HP, Haryana etc are their extended homeland only….either they can move out and hug it as their own or they can die in some fool’s paradise demanding what they assume is “azadi” or go to POK and live in worst conditions then what are in Sudan/Somalia.