Today, Kashmir is not only trapped in venomous cycle of killings, it is a victim of malicious propaganda to defame a just struggle for peaceful and dignified life, writes Malik Junaid
|| MALIK JUNAID
The struggle for independent Kashmir is not a new phenomenon. Kashmir is one of the oldest disputes in the world and people here have suffered beyond imagination. In its history of past 75 years, millions of lives have been lost, thousands have been subjected to disappearance and lakhs of women have turned widows and half widows. The land which was once abode of learning, Kashmir – the “paradise on earth” – is today the land of destitute, widows, orphans, disabled, blinds, maimed people. In this unfortunate land even the nonviolent voices are being crushed with pellets and bullets.
The shift from armed struggle to nonviolent civilian resistance is being seen zenith of the movement where the age, class, strata and lineage have no bearings on the collective resistance. Today the land which has been the fountain of cultures, civilizations and faith’s has been turned into a land where innocent blood is spilled in broad day light. Its mountains and Valleys are filled enveloped by clouds of sorrows and grief. The civilian unrest in the Valley, which has spread to every nook and corner of the region, is seeing no end. This macabre situation points towards the fact that hot roaring lava of unrest and alienation was awaiting the fissure to engulfing in itself the whole Valley.
That fissure was provided by the killing of young face of new age resistance of, 21-year old militant commander leader Burhan Muzaffar Wani and his associates. In last three decades of armed struggle in Kashmir thousands of rebels have been killed. But the question that seeks answers is that why an encounter in a distant village is giving sleepless nights to the de-facto rulers of the State. Yes, it’s an embodiment of collective, inclusive and wholesome uprising of an alienated society subjected to uncalled and unimaginable human rights violations for decades now. Kashmir today is trapped not only in venomous circle of killings and destruction but the Valley is a victim of malicious, planned, concocted propaganda which knows no limits of lies and deceit to defame a just struggle for a peaceful and dignified life.
The national and state pseudo leaders hand in glove with the jingoistic media houses are defaming the struggle of Kashmir as religious trouble. Amid continuous curfew in Kashmir since the killing of Burhan, local media continues to face the state’s iron fist. The medicines and essential supplies are not being dumped to be transported, hospitals are being attacked by forces, the ambulance drivers are beaten and their vehicles damaged and the injured and dead are beaten. Now, the forces have found a new toll to suppress people: the nocturnal raids — the women are mistreated, men beaten to pulp and arrested and the property is damaged.
Kashmir is not only victim of “occupation” but clutched in a situation where the youth are hounded, women and children terrorized, the seer and elderly are helpless and every class and strata has become victim of psychological trauma.
The schools, colleges and campuses are being handed over to the forces at a time when the government wants students to join the classes. This hypocrisy and deceit is like rubbing the salt on wounds. Kashmir today is not only victim of “occupation” but clutched in a situation where the youth are hounded, women and children terrorized, the seer and elderly are helpless and every class and strata has become victim of psychological trauma. On one side the talk of Insaniyat, Jahmooriyat and Kashmiriyat is reiterated again and again in national media and on the other side people are made to suffer beyond imagination at the hands of the forces. For the sake of the argument, let’s assume that only five percent people are out on roads.
The land which has been the fountain of cultures, civilizations and faith’s has been turned into a land where innocent blood is spilled in broad day light. Its mountains and Valleys are filled enveloped by clouds of sorrows and grief.
Then it’s really a moment of embarrassment for the country that they are not being able to control those five percent people despite using so much of force. The main stream leadership is in chaos and slumber who does not know whether they are governing the state or dragging the state because their rhetoric change with the change of geographic scales stretching from Kashmir to Delhi. The people are in dilemma whether to strive for sustenance or join the battle for freedom of their homeland. The visits and adventure trips of national leadership, the hollow cries of humanity and rhetoric of free society have lost relevance in Kashmir.
These leisure sojourns, delegation and committee diplomacy have been tested and tried before by the government but in vain. Until the aspirations of people are respected and their wishes are taken in to account, the peace will remain elusive. We must remember that lands and geographies only make continents but the nations are made by the progressive people and minds. Why should India not remember the words of Gandhi that “eye for an eye will make the whole world blind”. Only legitimate means could lead to peace and real solace. ([email protected]).
Now, the forces have found a new toll to suppress people: the nocturnal raids — the women are mistreated, men beaten to pulp and arrested and the property is damaged. The visits and adventure trips of leaders from New Delhi, the hollow cries of humanity and rhetoric of free society have lost relevance in Kashmir. These leisure sojourns, delegation and committee diplomacy have been tested and tried before by the government, but in vain.
