Published:
The Jammu and Kashmir (Now J&K and Ladakh UTs) has always been
vulnerable and capricious in terms of peace and security. People who lived here
since centuries developed an intrinsic culture of state that was called as
‘Kashmiri’ and represented Pandit-Muslim collective culture in valley along
with Dogras, Buddhists, Hindus, various nomadic tribes etc. in regions of Jammu
and Laddakh. People in other parts always knew this beautiful land that was
popular by the phrase ‘Agar Firdaus bar roo-e-zameen ast, Hameen Ast-o hameen
ast-o hameen ast’ coined by great poet Amir khusro.
With
the undecided princely state king at the time when India and Pakistan emerged
as two sovereign nations, and then later developments of Sheikh Abdullah’s
campaign ,invasion from Pakistan, then accession of Kashmir, Mountbatten-Jinnah
Lahore meet, plebiscite promise of Nehru and UN resolution, bringing four
members from J&K in constituent assembly for Constitution of India,
provisions of Article 370 in Indian constitution and then 1954 Presidential
order in terms of J&K for introducing 35(a) separately, a separate constitution
of J&K, Emergence and Vanishing constituent assembly of J&K and then
many further amendments by Congress governments, the controversial elections,
the start of armed militancy and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, An everyday
violation of human rights, Separatist movements, Autonomy demands and AFSPA
1990, Confidence building measures of cross LoC trade and bus movements,
Interlocutors never implemented report, and then recently the present
government’s actions in August 2019; Kashmiri population that has witnessed a long
journey of sufferings.
Now
again with August 2019 decision by Govt. of India that came through imposing
Governor Rule then President Rule, then orders of President through Parliament
resolution of abrogation of Article 370, then Presidential order to remove
35(a) and making null and void of all previous orders, J&K state
reorganization act, J&K domicile act, and on ground, a long series of
sufferings, sometimes physical, sometimes psychological with curfews,
lockdowns, shutting internet etc. there are so many things occurred in J&K
in the name of restoration of peace and confidence building but still there
doesn’t seem any positive outcome from all these.
This
continuous treatment of the population with trial and error formula has made a
permanent mark upon mindsets of people and they internalized it deeply in their
unconscious mind. As I learn from people, few years back one of my friend told
me that when she went to Delhi Haat (A craft and art market in Delhi showcasing
diverse culture), a Kashmiri shopkeeper told her that ‘Crowd is very less here
in haat today and it seems like there is Hartaal (shutdown)’. Though it was a
simple line, what she observed was that the person has normalized the ‘Hartaal’
as he may be witnessing it frequently in Kashmir during state imposed curfew
and separatists mandated hartaal where both resulted in closing of shops,
emptying roads and vanishing crowds. For me, this was a new perspective and it led
me to think about the fact that how this everyday pain is now conceived in subconscious.
She also told me about what the family of one of her friends who was a Kashmiri
pandit witnessed during exodus. And while advocating human rights, we discussed
how narratives from all sides are important to understand anything in a better
manner and to look at the issue through a third angle. It was true that Kashmir
faced huge human rights violations under AFSPA for which no one received
punishment as security personnel have been granted impunity under the sections
of the act. Despite few very highlighted and controversial incidents like of
Asiya-Neelofer, Kunan Poshpora, Ramban, Maachil, Pathribal etc. and many less
known and unknown incidents where no complete truth ever came before people, this
only widened the already existed gap between state and people and created
separate groups.
Addressing
these challenges were like walking on tightrope with balance, but instead, government with August 2019 actions of abrogation
of articles, without bringing people in confidence pushed more internalization
of sadness, grief, anger and irritation among common people who couldn’t move
out, couldn’t even call each other to share pain, couldn’t make themselves busy
in even social media, couldn’t receive medical prescription through
tele-medicine, couldn’t continue studies and fear remained prevalent. Government
may have its own version of deriving the change to ensure minimum violence,
avoiding bloodshed and enhancing public safety and it may argue the similar
reasons for shutting internet, imposing lockdown and keeping hundreds of
political activists under preventive detention and arguments of government may
have its impact and validity to be judged in courts on techno-legal grounds but
certainly for common people, it is no-where a justice, particularly to those
who belonged to mainstream politics in J&K and social activists who
remained active for peace, developmental works, RTIs etc. in former J&K
state as now they are also felt cheated.
On
the other hand, by altering status, terrorist activities have also been not
reduced and instead it also forced Pakistan to reignite the issue in
international forums and exploiting it internally in the country to propagate anti-India
sentiment. The fact is that soldiers deployed are also in vulnerable positions
for their safety.
Nepal
moved its constitutional amendment to include few areas (Lipulekh, Kalapani and
Limpiadhura) as it was clearly stated by Nepal that India had issued a new map
after J&K state reorganization. A Chinese think tank also indicated that
this new map issue also contributed in Chinese aggression towards Ladakh.
Question will remain that what benefit India would be receiving with such
reactions and adverse environment where the three neighbor countries (Pakistan,
Nepal, China) may be objecting, Threat of terrorism increased, Local population
even losing its trust that were gained in last decades.
Such
moves, may have been well thought with all such angles before adopting it on
ground and India may be prepared to tackle it in a particular and well thought
way but it may not be true also. However, it must be remembered that the local
population, a common person in J&K remained a victim of all such state, anti-state
and geo-state dynamics.
Ceasefire
violations are still continuing, civilian populations near the border are in
fear as usual, daily lives in rest of places are restricted, a fear of any
unknown bomb and firing still persists, and memories of horrible past still
exist. Even in recent days, civilians and soldiers died in ceasefire
violations, while a few days back they had died in terrorist attacks. COVID19
is rapidly increasing, people are sitting in home, mass is leaderless, many
cellphones are still not working or in slow speed, media is being regulated
through new media policy, and all together, the local population is upon mercy
of state policies but still hopeful as there is nothing else except ‘Hope’ for
them.
By:
Ravi
Nitesh
Author
writes on issues of human rights, peace and developments. He tweets @ravinitesh
