[Reader-list] [Reader-List] Amarnath Yatra

[Shuddhabrata Sengupta]

Dear Kshemendra,

Thank you for your considered comment, and the opportunity it gives  
me for a clarification. if you are implying that the 'land grab' in  
Kashmir began before the advent of Dogra Rule, then you are  
absolutely right, and I am in agreement with you. All Kings and  
monarchs (no matter of what faith or dynasty) are land-grabbers who  
dignify themselves with royal titles. They claim an authority on  
land, based on the pure fact of their monopoly over the means of  
violence.

I have said this before, I have no brief, either to defend or to  
oppose, the actions of any king, anywhere, least of all, in Kashmir,  
on the basis of their faith. As far as I am concerned, all rulers and  
monarchs, represent autocratic principles of rule, that I have no  
reason to uphold or defend. This goes for Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist,  
Sikh, Christian, Jewish or Agnostic or Pagan Kings. I am absolutely  
certain that the Muslim kings of Kashmir, with some significant  
exceptions unleashed oppression and violence on the people of  
Kashmir. In this, they were no different, from the non-Muslim kings  
who came before them, or after them. My prejudices, in this specific  
instance, are against Kings and Kingship, not against the faiths that  
the Kings claim to uphold. Hence, I hope you will now agree that by  
saying this I have not in fact taken the debate into 'communal'  
territory.

best

Shuddha





On 01-Jul-08, at 3:00 PM, Kshmendra Kaul wrote:
Dear Shuddha


By linking the current day happenings with the Dogra Rule (be as it  
may have been in the context of 'land grants') you have crossed the  
1947 Rubicon.


What would stop anyone in going further back in time and bring in the  
excesses of the preceding ruling dynasties of various other faiths?


You yourself have now taken the debate into 'communal' territory.


Kshmendra Kaul

Shuddhabrata Sengupta
The Sarai Programme at CSDS
Raqs Media Collective
shuddha at sarai.net
www.sarai.net
www.raqsmediacollective.net