By JRK
Indian Dog Commiserates
Some years ago, I had infiltrated into a Facebook Group called “Voice of Kashmir”. I was inquisitive to know their stance, preach and convert. The members were mostly young and a rabid anti-India sentiment was the common thread. But the ‘Indian Dog”, an endearing term used for addressing me, was abused, retaliated almost daily in vitriolic language by both sides, which is now standard practice in Twitter and other Social Media platforms. But there was a young boy in his late twenties supposed to be the leader of the group who was doing a higher study course in a Pune Institute. He was restrained and fancied himself to be the Finance Minister in Azad Kashmir. His aspirations might have been a bravado but he called for a truce with me realising that neither of us would be a convert to the cause of other. He had invited me to visit Kashmir, maybe to his den, to see first-hand. But I had a job then which was exacting and the visit did not materialise. Suddenly, after the recent cataclysmic tremor, I wanted to commiserate with him. I visited the Group but it has been inactive since 29.05.17 when the last message was “Ramadan Mubarak”. I can never know whether he has been killed or is still alive benumbed but raging inside. Indian Dog has bitten very strongly but it is not for celebration.
Many parts of India including Odisha erupted with joy when the decision about Article 370 was made. Did India celebrate when Modiji had announced the Swacch Bharat Scheme which had the potential of elevating us to a different milieu? Is it because we are proud of subjugating 85 million Kashmiri Muslims? In case it was the Final Frontier of National Integration, such integration can only come through integrating minds, hearts and souls. We cannot annihilate or drive out 8.5 million people without ceding territory, cannot keep them in concentration camps or keep them in silence through security force which costs resources that pinches our pocket through taxes. Nor it jells with Hindu ethos. Article 370 was mostly sentimental that never conferred any financial benefits. The article has been diluted over the years.
Mainstreaming Outrage
Gupkar Road in Srinagar was the hub of political mainstream which deflated the periodic bouts upsurge of violence and carried a semblance of normalcy in the valley. But both Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba have lost their credibility with locals post Article 370 invalidation, the former because Shaikh Abdullah had acceded to accession and later for bringing RSS to the doorstep. But nature abhors a vacuum.
It is here the Father of the Nation who assumes relevance. Two Thousand ordinary Indians imbued with Gandhian values must descend on Srinagar for at least 6 months. Aam Aadmi movement had seen thousands of Indians taking a sabbatical for a New India. They can do it again and they must. They might have their ideological predilection but that must be kept on hold. They have to soothe the hearts on fire, balm the frayed nerves and mute their dejections and unmute their mundane lives with dreams and aspirations. Gandhi did it in Noikhali. It is incumbent upon us to see that they do not feel helpless and hopeless getting drawn into a violence spiral. For the last ten days, they have been besieged and once there will be a little bit of communication, the conflagration may emerge. Pakistan, a failed state, is waiting in the wings to meddle because the tension suits their military leaders to keep the democratic aspiration of people under check. So it is time to act by the NGOs, student leaders and intellectuals of all hues. Local leadership must be nurtured. Shah Faisal, IAS topper of 2010, is an ideal choice. He must not be considered a stooge, or a separatist. We have to give them space and they have to be encouraged to come up quickly.
Palliative
Modiji had got the overwhelming mandate and he is well within his rights to nullify Article 370. After all, for Jan Sangh, it was their original demand and they have to implement the manifesto. But reducing a State into Union Territory was never in manifesto and in fact, it is a constitutional fraud, The State must exist. If the Govt has some apprehension, they can prolong President’s rule. Of course, the matter is yet to be scrutinized by the Supreme Court. But 56-inch chest must show some heart.
Everything is not muscular and linear. There are shades of grey. Maharaja Hari Singh had signed the instrument of accession. But it was the Kashmiri Muslims who had rejected Pakistan as a choice because it was not compatible with Sufiism and Kashimiriyat, which is close to their heart. Some months ago, a survey was done by a British agency in which only 7.5% of the violence-infected districts had given Pakistan a choice. It is time to give them a semblance of respectability and BJP must rise to the occasion.
Kashmiri Youth – Making an Opportunity out of Perceived Humiliation
Sub-nationalism is a passé. Baluchistan, Tibet, Rohingya Muslims in Burma, Uyghur Muslims in China, Hong Kong and Madhesi in Nepal – they are all persecuted. Jews suffered genocide before getting a homeland and now they have become persecutors of Palestinians. Sub-nationalism must be subsumed under Nationalism. Kashmir youths must see the larger picture. 55% of your land is in India, Pakistan owns 30% and China has already annexed 15%. Pak-occupied Kashmir has already undergone a demographic change with Punjab Pathans, your bête noire, being settled there. Jammu and Ladakh residents may not be in sync with you. India has faced agitation for Khalistan, Greater Nagaland and in distant past Tamil land – all secessionist. Can India allow them to become independent by reducing itself and more important, can they survive without being a vassal state? It is a good dream, a passionate dream but as a reality, it is junk.
This is time to use Indian brands to prosper. Not long ago, you had hounded out Kashmiri Pundits of their home. But they were not despondent. They quit, they started from scratch and rebuilt themselves with energy and vigour. They are happy lot, wealthy lot. So, you can use the brand, enjoy the freedom enshrined under the Indian constitution and be a greater citizen. money will flow to tourism sector. You can make your State another Malaysia or Thailand. So it is time to live, love and enjoy life. It is your call now. Pervez Rasool prospered in cricket. Kashmir football team is creating waves in India. Indians are not hostile to you. Embrace them, exploit them.
Article 370 Scrapped? Correct English?
All mainstream English Newspapers wrote Article 370 scrapped or abrogated. Only there was an exception by one foreign newspaper which used ‘voided’. In reality, Article 370 has not been scrapped, only made inoperative, a subterfuge adroitly adopted by the Govt. With Indianization of English have we lost the sense of the sanctity of a word?
(JRK is a Kolkata based Economic & Political Analyst)
