RUFAIDA MANSOOR
Human rights are those basic rights with which every human being is endowed by the mere fact that one is born on this planet. These rights are the indivisible rights that are sacred and cannot be violated by anyone including the state. Therefore, it becomes the obligation of the government to recognsze, respect and protect those rights. A famous quote ''worth of a nation is the worth of the individuals constituting the nation'' holds good for the present scenario in Kashmir. However, all this does not seem to be true in the case of Jammu and Kashmir. This disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir, has passed through one of the worst phases in its history. Kashmir has always been exploited by foreign invaders who would often get charmed and attracted by its beauty. From 1586 AD to 1752 AD it was under Mughal rule, then from 1752 AD to 1819 AD it was ruled by Afghans, then till 1846 AD it was colonised by Sikhs. In the year 1846 AD Dogras purchased Kashmir from British for just Rs 75,00,000. Kashmir under foreign rulers lost everything i.e. dignity, self-respect and right to self-determination in its people. Kashmiris have always been driven like dumb cattle.
Over the years, violence has shown a continuous and disastrous trend. Ever since 1989, Kashmir has been witness to the gory dance of death and destruction at the hands of both the guns be it be it Indian or Pakistani. Since then Kashmir has been witnessing a very unfamiliar and hostile environment with highly unpredictable happenings. In the morning, when an average Kashmiri leaves for work or children leave for schools, they have little hope of returning their homes safely in the evenings. Killings in Kashmir have become the order of the day. They have now become just like any other mundane occurrence. It's only a Kashmiri who becomes the scapegoat in the battle between India and Pakistan. Both the countries while pursuing their respective interests just watch Kashmiris spilling their own blood. Time and again Pakistan has been making people sentimental on the basis of religion and as Kashmiris are emotional, they too get swayed away. India on the other hand is to a large extent responsible for genocide of Kashmiris, which takes place at the hands of the Indian security forces. Indians seem to forget the teachings of their own political leaders and freedom fighters. These Indian leaders, who always very boastfully tend to preach non-violence as propagated by Gandhiji, then why don't they apply the same principle when it comes to Kashmir. 'Freedom is my birthright and I shall have it" was a very famous slogan by Bal Ganghadhar Tilak at a time when Indians wanted independence from Britishers. When Indians were so desperate for their own freedom then why these double-standards on Kashmir?
The famous Indo-Pakistan Indus Water Treaty has never proved beneficial for Kashmiris, who deserve the most of it and get only a meagre amount. The average capacity of the power generation from the hydro-electricity is estimated to be 20000 mega watts. However, only 20 percent of this potential has been tapped so far. Out of this we get a measly 12% of all this power and rest is utilised by India. Here not forgetting Pakistan, which makes the most of it and has never been able to pay the water cess to Kashmir which they are officially supposed to?
Due to its political and geographical importance, Kashmir has always been the topic of discussion around the world. Talking of the current political scenario, I would say that right now human rights violation is definitely at its worst, where there is no freedom of speech or expression; we don't even have the right to live! People cannot agitate peacefully or even raise a voice against any injustice done to them. Stone-pelting has become a let-out for their anger and frustration. India, which is the biggest practicing democratic country in the world, could not restore democracy in this part of the country. Here, it's nothing but a mere farce in the name of the democracy. This very pseudo-democratic state of Kashmir gives me a sense of deja-vu and I can't help but recall the Russians at the time of Stalin when people were brutally treated and were denied even the basic fundamental rights. People were severely punished if anyone dared speak against the government as the press and media were controlled by the state. Here the situation is almost similar except for the fact that Joseph Stalin had full authority and control over its masses and all the happenings in the state. In Kashmir, the situation is worse because the head of the state doesn't have any control or authority over the happenings in the valley (by his own confession). The head of the state is nothing but a mere pawn used by New Delhi to implement its agenda. Nor does he have the leadership qualities which a head of the state is required to possess.
In this "democratic" type of government people choose their head so that he/she could fulfill his/her aspirations, listen to their grievances and demands, provides them with facilities and overall helps making their lives better. Alas! But our chief minister Omar Abdullah could not safeguard the lives of so many people, forget about fulfilling their demands. He is totally inept and immature. No doubt Omar Abdullah is young and may be energetic but at this point of time Kashmir needs a rather mature, far-sighted, responsible and credible leader, who can tackle the present situation in Kashmir.
However, I would like to convey a message to Omar Abdullah that being the head of the state like Kashmir is no cake walk. Kashmir, as we all know is a disputed territory which needs special care and attention. It is your duty as well as responsibility to safeguard the lives of people. People have chosen you not to sit back and watch all the drama happening around the state while you enjoy your chief ministership. To ameliorate the situation you have to nip the evil in the bud, you need to know the gravity of the situation. At least reach out to the people and engage with them to know the root cause of their problem and what makes them use violent methods to vent out their anger.
Imposing curfew and restrictions, subjecting people to confinement won't help bring peace and normalcy in their lives. Peace can never be acquired at the expense of gun. Moreover, you cannot curb their anger for long just by besieging them by army officials or security forces. Here I would like to clear one point that it is not these army men who are to be blamed for wantonly killing our youth, it is the system which is to be blamed, and the governments where such draconian and dreadful laws like AFSPA are in force. The removal of this law is intended by Omar Abdullah before 2014. God knows till then how many Kashmiris will have to become sacrificial goats. Murder doesn't cease to be a murder just because of its being held at the hands of the government for whom human life is totally expendable.
Not only the ruling party but the Kashmiri leadership as a whole, instead of taking cognizance of prevailing conditions has trampled upon the corpses of Kashmiri youth to boost their respective political careers. No party in Kashmir is worth its salt to lead this state because they just want to rule over Kashmiris, no one wants to own its people along with their issues and help resolve them. It doesn't make an iota of difference to them if the entire Kashmir bathes in blood. The reason being they have not seen their dear ones and family members becoming the targets of violence. It's always a common Kashmiri, who becomes the victim. These leaders better stop this system of blame-game and picking holes in one another's pocket. They should first and foremost search their own conscience and have a look at what 'they' are doing for the people of Kashmir. Now I wish these leaders were not as dual faced, where publicly (while giving out lengthy and sentimental speeches) they have one face but the reality is awfully different.
Now, looking from the other side of the coin, we come to "stone pelters", who are being given different names. Some people like to call them insurgents, others call them miscreants while as others prefer to call them a lynching mob. Where there are hundreds of fingers pointing at them, no one really bothers to find out the actual reason behind their anger and hatred against the state. They are doing this not out of fun or recreation, but out of compulsion as they do not have any other job where they could engage themselves. They are jobless, unemployed and have become frustrated sitting idle even after getting the highest of degrees. They have some genuine expectations from the government, which by now have always been shattered by this government. Stone-pelting seems their only way to vent their anger and frustration out. They want to have a sense of security, stability and predictability. They want their future secure. They want peace, freedom, freedom to roam around freely in their own place without being scrutinized and killed by some outsiders. The freedom to express their views and desires, freedom to dream and aspire. Most essentially the freedom to live a normal life like all human beings, not like dumb driven cattle, which have no control over their lives. Our youth has immense talent, the only thing that is required is to showcase and explore their talent.
The central government should also reach out to all shades of people including separatists to come out with some resolution for this dispute so that our young boys don't become the fodder for these separatist camps. While concluding this write up I am hoping, praying and with full anticipation waiting for the day when schools, hospitals, colleges and shops function as they should. When children could be sent to schools secure with the knowledge that they will return when there will be no curfew, no restrictions and life would be normal, peaceful and happy. To make all this happen Kashmir desperately needs a strong, powerful, honest, brave and compassionate leader who is not there just because of political hierarchy. One who acts as ourÿmessiah and takes us out of this mess for ever.
Author is doing Honours in History from Lady Sri Ram College, New Delhi and can be reached at chandu41189@gmail.com
[Kashmir Times]
Posted on 23 Jul 2010 by
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