Kashmiri Dignity

GLOBALIZATION and modernity demand that every nation considers its dignity supreme. In the era of “terrorism” and “terror war” unleashed by the US-led West and its allies in the East, like India, the notion of human dignity is at stake. Since the “terrorism” and “terror wars” are targeted against the Muslims, their self-esteem and dignity has suffered the most. Kashmiris who are being skillfully massacred by India after colonizing Kashmir and converting the valley into a modern cantonment as a fuffer from China and Pakistan, with the latest weapons systems, have lost nearly a lakh freedom fighters after India annexed Kashmir though a tactful maneuver after 1947, and are still under attack and torltue by Indian forces. Kashmiris are branded by India abroad as terrorists and are being arrested all over the country and in Kashmir on false charges. Kashmiris have regain not only Independence from India but, for now, gain their lost dignity, human honor and Kashmiri glory..

Betrayals by both Kashmiris and Indians have unleashed a lot of frustrations among those who fight for Kashmiri Independence. A struggle that takes too long to achieve its target of freedom is bound t be a troubled one and the India has wonderfully exploited the divisions among the freedom seekers arising out of frustrations and personal ambitions of a few leaders, leading to a sort of stalemate in the movement. India wants to delay the grant of freedom back to Kashmiris as long as it is possible. It is using its business agenda to influence the Arabs against the Kashmiris who are convinced now by India that Kashmiris are terrorists and cross-border terrorist. And Arabs who are more interested in business than Islamic nations, including the scattered ones, pretend to believe what Indian government and media tell them. But that has also worked against Kashmiris genuine interests. A sincere support from Arabs for Kashmiris would have intensified the process of forcing New Delhi to grant the Kashmiris freedom to enable them to decide their future by themselves.

There are quite a few Kashmiris work in many parts of India supporting their families and it has become a fashion for India to torture them first by calling them terrorists and later implicating in some vague cases. UN has no concern for these hapless Kashmiris in India as much as Kashmiris are killed in sustained manner in Kashmir itself by India.

As a result what India says and what Indian media report to the world carry weight for the world leaders who also eye on Indian cash. When every Muslim is branded as a terrorist of some category, Kashmir Muslims are arrested across the Indian territory as "terrorists" and the media flash out stating that" Kashmir terrorists nabbed by police" and that they are want in x or y murder cases in Kashmir or Delhi or Bombay. This bluff has been gong on for too long and Kashmiris’ simple human dignity is at stake as much as their lives in India and Kashmir.

It would be beneficial to Kashmiris to remember that USA that leads terror war agsint Muslim nations is determined to kill at least 100 Muslims for every singly Christian got killed in the war any where, not only in Afghanistan and Iraq. India comes to its aid by adding a few Muslims from India and Kashmir as a sop to Indo-US nuclearism and better relations. Hence Kashmiris should realize that the conspiracy in New Delhi to kill as many Kashmiris as it is possible in the so-called fake “encounters. The very fact a military chief as Governor to head the Jammu & Kashmir should al least now wake them up, because he control the Congress/PDP government of the state , and sends reports to New Delhi for further "terrorist" action in the state. And prompt, dreadful actions are taken in Kashmir, making the life of vulnerable Kashmiris more miserable.

Hence it is only necessary for Kashmiris not only to organize themselves in a systematical way and also take the support of the government. This requires good amount of diplomacy on part of those who have better rapport with the government.. Ultimately those now in government also have to be absorbed and given their due place in the movement fro full freedom India.

Any arrest of Muslims in India is invariable known in the country as a "wanted terrorist" and nothing can be dome about that, because the state says so. Recently a Kashmiri Khan was picked up in central Kerala by its police and the media blasted the "happy News" that a Kashmiri terrorist was nabbed. Later on it is clear that he is no terrorist nor he was wanted badly by Kashmir government. However, the Kerala court, on the advise of the public prosecutor, has denied him justice - not even bail- saying that his release from jail would encourage and promote "terrorism" in the country. They want brand those arrested as terrorists and kill them eventually. Shameless people call India a largest democracy only to food the Americans.

Aspiring for very big things abroad, India wants to show case its prowess across the nation and the region. Indian Strategists are more or less convinced that Kashmir is in there pocket and now only the “trouble shooters of the North East have to be coerced to fall inline. It is noteworthy to note that off late, India is also making moves to woo China to contain the freedom seekers move in the North Eastern region, now that Kashmiris as under “full control”.

If any Hindu is arrested any where in the world, the Indian government is struck frantic and is quick to get his/her release by influencing the government there. But Kashmiris are harassed and jailed across India and Kashmir, yet their own "popular government" has done nothing to seek their immediate release safety. That is the tragedy of the divided Kashmiris against united hegemonic Indian power. Unless, therefore, Kashmiris get properly united to make the present government in Sri Nagar to stand by Kashmiris, or quit, such nefarious activities would go on unabated and JK government and its military Governor would only add fuel to Kashmiris’ pains.

AN OVSERVATION

The fact that the Congress party that took the lead in independence struggle for India from the British rule by bringing all political and social factions under one umbrella has kept a low profile in the Kashmiris struggle for re-independence from India. And the Congress party in Kashmir, ruling the state along with other coalition partners of Kashmir, does not actively support the cause of the Kashmiris and perhaps wait in the wings to take advantage of the situation if freedom fighters got an upper hand in their struggle. This ugly situation has to change and they too should come to the main stream struggle of the Kashmiris. Freedom fighting factions have to both consolidate their position and engage the ruling parties to sea reason at least now after a lot of blood has been spilled over the valley. Kashmiris should do some soul searching and reflections on their path of struggle and now put together their act to achieve independence and human dignity back from India and join the UN as a sovereign nation to pursue its legimate national and people's interests. Time seems to be running out for them.

(DR.ABDUL RUFF Colachal is an Analyst, Researcher & Columnist based in Delhi)