Monday 11 July 2016

Kashmir Violence


I am deeply sad at the recent incidents of violence in Kashmir after the killing of Burhan Wani, the Hizbul Mujahideen commander.

I am myself a Kashmiri, and I have always condemned atrocities against Kashmiris, whether Pandits or Muslims. The fact that presently Kashmiri Muslims are being killed or injured makes no difference. Their DNA is the same as mine.

However, I would like to express my views here.


The test of every system or political act is whethe...r it will raise the standard of living of the people.
Many Kashmiris demand azadi from India. If they can demonstrate that such azadi will raise the standard of living of Kashmiris I will support their demand. But Kashmiris never seek to demonstrate that. All they demand is azadi.

Kashmiris forget that azadi can only be a means to an end, not an end itself. The end must be raising the standard of living of Kashmiris. But Kashmiris never discuss how that will be achieved in an azad Kashmir ( assuming it is created ). 

Moreover, the pro-Pakistani slogans blared out from loudspeakers of nearly all mosques in Kashmir, and the call to wage jihad, makes me very suspicious as to who is really behind this ' azadi ' struggle ?
So called ' freedom struggles ' having a religious colour e.g. the Sanyasi Revolt in Bengal in the late 18th century ( which is the historical background of Bankim Chandra's reactionary novel ' Anand Math ' ), Ayatollah Khomeini's movement, Muqtada al Sadr, ISIS, etc. tend to divide and weaken the peolple. 

If azadi is achieved in Kashmir, will the outdated feudal Sharia Law be imposed there ? And if azadi means azadi from India but joining Pakistan, will the jackboots of the Pakistani army not fall on the necks of Kashmiris, replacing one jackboot by another ?

Real azadi is azadi from poverty, malnourishment, unemployment, hunger, lack of health care etc. Did Burhan Wani and his comrades ever think of this, and how it will be achieved in an azad Kashmir ? Have the 'brave' JNUSU and Jadavpur University students who supported this demand of azadi for Kashmir ever thought of that ?

It is not enough to be brave, it is also necessary to have brains, but about this I have my doubts

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