Malik to reveal ‘untold truth’ of Kashmir
My autobiography will answer some of the most important and unanswered questions: JKLF
chief
Ishfaq Ahmad Shah
Srinagar, Feb 18: The first casualty of conflict is the truth and Kashmir is no different. In the maze of
multiple narratives, it is difficult to tell fact from a lie. Muhammad Yasin Malik, the man who has done and seen it all, has taken on himself the
task to ‘remove the veils of misinformation’ that have cloaked the subject for so long.
Writing his autobiography, the Jammu and
Kashmir Liberation Front chairman attempts to tell the ‘untold truth’. He believes that it was necessary to tell people about what brought
Kashmir to the situation where its people find themselves now.
Malik has seen the conflict up close being a prime witness of the events as they
unfolded. He mobilized youth to vote in favour of pro-Islamic parties in 1987 elections, which were subsequently “rigged” and proved to be
the watershed moment in the modern history of Kashmir.
He saw the non-violent movement assume the shape of full-fledged armed conflict, playing
a pivotal role as a JKLF militant.
“An era of youth activism, deceit and later on the bloody armed struggle that has left lakhs of people
dead, thousands disappeared and some unanswered questions that shaped the situation in Kashmir to the point where it is now. Expect all this and more
in my autobiography,” says Malik.
“I have started to pen it down as it is my supreme responsibility towards my
nation.”
The autobiography, Malik says, will answer some of the most important and unanswered questions that people of Kashmir, Pakistan,
India and the whole world need to know.
“The nation is asking questions about many things and many incidents that took place during the
past 30 years of life. My effort will be to answer the untold and hidden truth.”
Malik’s life witnessed major transitions. He
started his political career as a youth leader, waged armed freedom struggle and later shunned the gun for non-violent political
struggle.
“The romanticism of youth, the enthusiasm of a militant and then as a leader of a political group, I am witness to some of the
most important phases in Kashmir’s history which I think has to be conveyed to our younger generation.”
The autobiography will
chronicle Malik’s life before militancy, the militant era and the political struggle.
“Things that have happened here are not as
simple as people think. The truth sometimes is beyond the imagination of common masses and it is the truth that I will pen down.”
The
book will be a single volume written in English and it is expected to touch many important issues like political killings, high profile kidnappings
and many controversial things. It is also expected to make some interesting revelations about the role of different actors including Pakistan and
India.
But the JKLF chief refused to divulge details. “I can’t say much. For that you have to wait for the book, but I can assure
you that if everything goes well, the book will unravel some gory and grave secrets of Kashmir’s history.”
“The content of
the book will decide what will be the title. As of now, I can tell you that I have started writing the book and will try to finish it as soon as
possible.”
[Rising Kashmir]
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