[Reader-list] Back home, I feel reborn

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

Thanks indeed Partha.

I hope one day you will agree with the most of it.

Regards
Aditya Raj Kaul

On 9/29/08, Partha Dasgupta <parthaekka at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Dear Aditya,
> Wonderfully put, and there are many areas that I agree with you.
>
> Rgds, Partha
> ...............
>
> On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 7:57 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul <kauladityaraj at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Dear Aarti ji,
>>
>>     I thought of not replying to this e-mail by you; but then you wouldn't
>> have known the truth. Yes, of course even I felt sad to react to such a
>> fictitious story. I simply wouldn't have commented; if he had genuine
>> concerns and it wasn't exaggerated out of bounds.
>>
>> Yes, I along with my friends have been arrested quite a few times and for
>> the right reasons. Please note that Malik Sajad wasn't arrested, he was
>> detained (though even this would be a strong term to use). With Sajad's
>> post, I feel assured at least the Delhi Police has woken up from its deep
>> slumber and is tough.
>>
>> I've been reading newspapers, Yes, and I know how to extract truth out of
>> those fake media reports especially from Kashmir based newspapers such as
>> Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir and Etlaat. Maybe, you are unaware of the
>> terrorism and the ground reality in Kashmir. And, how often the locals in
>> the valley shield the terrorists quite willingly. Also, you don't know how
>> Kashmiri Muslim youth crossed the border to PoK to get trained in arms and
>> then spread their tirade in the valley and now across India.
>>
>> You are unaware, of how disinformation campaign is launched by people like
>> Malik Sajad to hypnotise the Indian masses; especially the youth to gather
>> support for their pan-Islamic movement.
>>
>> I'm sad at what Malik Sajad had to face (if true) and am equally sad at
>> his
>> attempt to make it sound so tragic, emotional and dramatic. He was happy
>> all
>> through the Film Festival, I noticed that as a silent observer. He could
>> have been seen clicking pics with PSBT friends and even talking to
>> participants and even journalists freely. I could sense his childish
>> attitude but well chiseled brain-washing; when I heard of his drama during
>> the discussion on Kashmir at IHC.
>>
>> Aarti, I was 9 months old when Islamic terrorists forced my family to get
>> out of our homeland in Kashmir on gun point. My entire house was later
>> burnt
>> down to ashes; just because my great grand-father was the first
>> ornithologist of Asia, also a scholar on Kashmir Shaivism and had as well
>> maintained a good library and a mini-museum. The entire thing was burnt
>> within a few hours. When I mentioned this late last year on my blog and
>> compared it with the so-called demand for aazadi in Kashmir by some
>> brain-less terrorists; my blog was hacked along with my e-mail id. This is
>> how you suffer. I've stayed in a camp along with lakhs of other Pandits in
>> summer heat of Jammu. There was no Aarti Sethi to speak for me; neither
>> was
>> there a Malik Sajad to lend a helping hand. Instead his community was a
>> mute
>> spectator; it felt they were part of this agenda, this game plan, to oust
>> the minority Pandits.
>>
>> In the past, on many occasions I've stood against injustice at the cost of
>> my life; and through the justice delivery mechanism in India, and the
>> support of the masses and even the media, Justice was finally restored
>> after
>> a long and tiring battle. The list members here know of it well.
>> Unfortunately, in regard to Kashmir; in reality its different and the
>> picture portrayed is far from true. Only in present Kashmir can a bloody
>> terrorist become a youth icon.
>>
>> A couple of years back, I was even threatned by a reputed journalist for
>> protesting against this demon Youth Icon, Yasin Malik. And, they say he is
>> Gandhi..
>>
>> Why don't Malik Sajad's cartoon's also raise voice against the demons in
>> his
>> own community, responsible for the terrorism in the valley ?
>>
>> I don't acknowledge fake portrayal of injustice. I won't ever.
>>
>> And, there is a life beyond online world. I've seen it on ground. I don't
>> have sympathy for terrorists or their supporters. I don't want to support
>> them just for the world to know that I'm secular to the core. I'll rather
>> happily spit at them and not stop speaking against their lies at each and
>> every possible platform.
>>
>> Regards
>> Aditya Raj Kaul
>>
>>
>> On 9/28/08, Aarti Sethi <aarti.sethi at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > I think its really sad to react to a story like this in the manner that
>> the
>> > two of you are. Have either of your ever been arrested by the police for
>> > anything? I presume not. I honestly cannot think of anything more
>> > frightening than to be under the power of the state when they might
>> invoke
>> > anything against you including the NSA. I don't think there is any cause
>> to
>> > celebrate police harassment or be skeptical of it. Have you not been
>> > reading
>> > the papers over the last 5 years Aditya? You consider yourself such a
>> > well-informed and intelligent person. Here are just  four reports of
>> > Kashmiri muslim boys shot in "encounters". Spend a little more time
>> online
>> > and many more will surface.
>> >
>> > How come at such a young age all humanity has been leached from you
>> Aditya?
>> > I find it quite astonishing and deeply saddening that you measure all
>> human
>> > beings and experience and human worth in the prism of whether it extends
>> > your agenda or not. This apparently makes it completely impossible for
>> you
>> > acknowledge that there might be some truth and value to the expereince
>> of
>> > other human beings qua human beings.
>> >
>> > regards
>> > Aarti
>> >
>> > On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 6:22 PM, Kshmendra Kaul <
>> kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com
>> > >wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> > > Malik Sajad certainly is a good cartoonist. Very good art-work.
>> Content
>> > > sometimes very hackneyed.
>> > >
>> > > I am not discounting that some sort of an unfortunate incident took
>> place
>> > > that involved Malik Sajad being harassed by a policewoman or being
>> > > treated with suspicion at the cyber cafe. I would not expect him to be
>> a
>> > > blatant liar. It is sad, whatever be the degree, that any such
>> incident
>> > has
>> > > to take place.
>> > >
>> > > A few interesting/intriguing things though in his dramatic narrative.
>> > >
>> > > - Habitat Centre could not provide him Internet access. Possible.
>> > >
>> > > - A cyber-cafe would, in advance of Internet access ask for
>> > identification
>> > > from a complete stranger and not wait till the "owner of the cafe"
>>  had
>> > > "peered over his shoulders" and checked what he was doing. I could be
>> > wrong
>> > > about this.
>> > >
>> > > - The surprisingly efficiently prompt Delhi Police arrived "within
>> five
>> > > minutes" of being summoned to the cyber-cafe from a PCO. Interesting.
>> > >
>> > > - Malik had his mobile phone with him. Looks like, inspite of the
>> "within
>> > > five minutes" arrival of Delhi Police, he had enough time to make a
>> few
>> > > calls including one to the "Director of the Film Festival". Why didnt
>> he?
>> > > That would have avoided his having to shout "Somebody please go to the
>> > > habitat centre and tell them the artist whose installation is there
>> has
>> > been
>> > > arrested!" while he was being "dragged" to the Police Station.
>> > >
>> > > - The Manager of Habitat Centre asked Malik not to call from his
>> > (Malik's)
>> > > phone (or Email) for a few days. Why no Email? Why couldn't Malik use
>> > some
>> > > other phone to call home or the GK office?
>> > >
>> > > Kshmendra
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > --- On Sun, 9/28/08, Sanjay Kak <kaksanjay at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > >
>> > > From: Sanjay Kak <kaksanjay at gmail.com>
>> > > Subject: [Reader-list] Back home, I feel reborn
>> > > To: "Sarai Reader List" <reader-list at sarai.net>
>> > > Date: Sunday, September 28, 2008, 4:55 PM
>> > >
>> > > Just a slice of life story for a young Kashmiri...
>> > >
>> > > Malik Sajad is the young–very young–editorial cartoonist of the
>> Srinagar
>> > > paper, the Greater Kashmir. His excellent work can be seen on their
>> > website
>> > > too.
>> > > **
>> > >
>> > > Sanjay Kak
>> > > **
>> > > **
>> > >
>> > > *The GK Cartoonist Malik Sajad Narrates The Experience Of Being A
>> > Kashmiri
>> > > At A Wrong Time In New Delhi.*
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=28_9_2008&ItemID=61&cat=1
>> > >
>> > > I arrived home from Delhi yesterday.  I took a deep breath when I laid
>> > eyes
>> > > on the landscapes of the valley.  My mother was waiting for me at
>> home.
>> > Her
>> > > face was pale and her eyes were full of tears. My father held me for a
>> > long
>> > > time as if I were away for years. My brothers gathered around me as if
>> my
>> > > return was unexpected. My mother asked me in a weak voice, "Were you
>> okay
>> > > in
>> > > Delhi?" "Yes," I nodded, "My exhibition had a huge
>> > > response. Everyone
>> > > praised my cartoons and I enjoyed the trip."
>> > > They looked worried and I sought the reason for their worry." They
>> > > replied,
>> > > "Sajad, some policemen in civilian clothes came here to verify some
>> > > information about you while you were in Delhi. You didn't call us for
>> > four
>> > > days. We thought something bad has happened to you. We were all
>> crying."
>> > I
>> > > was surprised. My family already knew what I had tried to keep secret
>> for
>> > > the sake of my mother's health. At home I felt safe again, and I
>> narrate
>> > to
>> > > them the ordeal I went through in New Delhi for being a Kashmiri.
>> > > I was invited by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust to create an
>> > > installation art in the OPEN FRAMES, EXPLORING CONFLICT, an
>> international
>> > > film festival about peace and conflict held at the India Habitat
>> Centre.
>> > > The
>> > > festival began on the 12 September and lasted eight days. My
>> installation
>> > > titled "Terrorism of Peace" featured my cartoons hanging from rolls
>> > > of razor
>> > > wire with some alcohol bottles hanging on the wire, exactly the same
>> way
>> > as
>> > > found around bunkers of troopers on the streets of Srinagar. I put
>> some
>> > mud
>> > > and stones on the shiny green marble floor of the Stein Auditorium to
>> > give
>> > > the installation the real feel of Kashmir.
>> > > On Saturday afternoon, the second day of the festival, I drew a
>> cartoon
>> > in
>> > > my hotel room for my Sunday Slice column. I took a picture of it with
>> my
>> > > digital camera and headed to a cybercafé about 150 meters from the
>> > habitat
>> > > centre to mail it to Greater Kashmir. After I mailed the cartoon I
>> > visited
>> > > the Greater Kashmir website and my cartoon website. Meanwhile, I heard
>> > > another browser seated on a nearby computer chatting over the phone
>> about
>> > > the serial blasts at Connaught Place and Greater Kailash I. Soon
>> everyone
>> > > in
>> > > the café joined in on a discussion about terrorism and the blasts.
>> While
>> > I
>> > > was watching news videos on Greater Kashmir's website, the owner of
>> the
>> > > café
>> > > peered over my shoulders to glimpse what I was looking at. Soon the
>> owner
>> > > and others started to talk about me in hushed voices. "He is Kashmiri!
>> We
>> > > should check his identity!" they whispered. The owner approached me
>> and
>> > > asked me for my passport in a soft voice.  I gave him my identity card
>> > and
>> > > told him that I don't have my passport with me. He took it and xeroxed
>> > it.
>> > > He studied my identity card for a long time. He asked me where I was
>> > > staying
>> > > in Delhi and I gave him the address of the Habitat Centre. He asked me
>> > > which
>> > > websites I had visited. I listed them for him. I could hear the
>> customers
>> > > saying "He is looking at websites from Kashmir!" Then someone said
>> > > loudly
>> > > "Why should we take responsibility for this boy. He could be anything!
>> > > Just
>> > > call the police and let them verify who he is!" I started to panic.
>> > > "I am
>> > > Kashmiri," I thought "No one will listen to me."
>> > > There was a PCO in the café. They called the police and told them that
>> > > there
>> > > is a Kashmiri in the café and that they should verify my identity. I
>> > asked
>> > > the café owner to call the habitat centre to check my identity as
>> well.
>> > > They
>> > > refused. I pleaded with them to just call the centre, but they
>> wouldn't.
>> > > Two
>> > > fat police constables and a woman inspector wearing two stars arrived
>> > > within
>> > > five minutes, wearing a we-have-got-the-culprit look. Her face
>> frightened
>> > > me. Her hair was jet black and short like a boy's hair cut. Her eyes
>> were
>> > > stiff like black moles on her face. She held a very fine stick in her
>> > hand.
>> > > She entered the café shouting "Who is the guy? Who is the guy?"
>> > > Before
>> > > anyone pointed at me I raised my hand with my I card, shouting back,
>> > > "Madam
>> > > it is me, it is me! Here is my I card!"
>> > > She didn't look at the card, but slid it into her pocket, and ordered
>> a
>> > > constable to search into my bag. They studied my camera as if it were
>> a
>> > > bomb. They told me to pack everything in the backpack.  I quickly
>> managed
>> > > to
>> > > eject the memory card out of my camera and slip it in my pocket, since
>> my
>> > > photographs were the only proof of my installation at the habitat
>> centre.
>> > > Before they confiscate my mobile I memorized the number of the
>> director
>> > of
>> > > the film festival. The inspector shouted at me "Salay bahar chalo!" I
>> > > shook
>> > > with fear. I didn't know what to do. No one would listen to me. The
>> > > constables literally dragged me out of the cafe. Someone shouted "We
>> > > should
>> > > place him in the bus." I was shocked and cried, "Please listen to me!
>> > > Please
>> > > listen to me!" Almost two hundred people gathered on the road to see
>> the
>> > > "terrorist"--Me! The crowd was so big that it created a traffic jam.
>> > > I
>> > > shouted in the air "Somebody please go to the habitat centre and tell
>> > them
>> > > the artist whose installation is there has been arrested!"
>> > > As they were dragging me to the police station, the inspector shouted
>> at
>> > me
>> > > "You Kashmiri bastard! Why do you people have problem with being part
>> of
>> > > India? Sala…!" At the police station, they seated me on a bench with
>> > > another
>> > > person they had arrested. He had dried brown blood all over his face.
>> His
>> > > eyes were sharp and red. It was obvious he was drunk. I pleaded,
>> "Please
>> > > listen to me. I am a cartoonist in Kashmir! I am not a terrorist! I am
>> > > innocent!" They ignored me and listened to their wireless radios. They
>> > > continued to hurl abuses at me. Another woman inspector wearing
>> civilian
>> > > clothes with a wireless radio in her hand shouted at me "You bastard,
>> you
>> > > speak such nice Hindi! Why do you have a problem with being part of
>> > > India!"
>> > > I replied, trying to be as transparent as possible, "Madam, I am
>> speaking
>> > > Urdu actually, which sounds like Hindi."
>> > > The inspector woman who dragged me to police station began to record
>> the
>> > > evidence:
>> > > 1: He was looking at the website with diagrams of guns on it.  (This
>> was
>> > > her
>> > > definition for my cartoon website kashmirblackandwhite.com!)
>> > > 2: He was searching for information about the Kashmir conflict. (I was
>> > > reading some articles to prepare for my talk about the "Dialoguing
>> peace
>> > > in
>> > > Kashmir" at the Stein Auditorium on 17 September.)
>> > > 3: He had a camera with a memory card in it. (Obviously my camera is a
>> > > Canon
>> > > digital SLR and it can't be without a memory card.)
>> > > I was crying. I couldn't feel my fingers and feet. I felt like I had
>> been
>> > > electrocuted. The incandescent lights in the police station were
>> shining
>> > > brightly, but it seemed to me very dark.
>> > > I had no hope now. I thought of running away from the police station.
>> > "The
>> > > habitat centre is only 50 meters away," I thought. "Even if they
>> > > shoot me I
>> > > would be injured, but I can prove my innocence."
>> > > But I didn't want to give them any chance.  I thought my life was
>> over.
>> > > "If
>> > > there is no hope of life, I need to accept the reality," I said to
>> > myself.
>> > > But somehow this thought actually gave me strength. "I am not going to
>> be
>> > > scared of them any more," I thought "They are not going to listen to
>> > > me any
>> > > way." I stood up and said to them sternly, "Come kill me! Shoot me!
>> > > Do
>> > > whatever you want, but keep in mind that I am a guest here and my work
>> is
>> > > being displayed in the Stein Auditorium! Hang me or label me a
>> terrorist!
>> > I
>> > > am going to sit here silently now!"  Then they finally called the
>> > > Coordinator for PSBT. The number was busy. I asked her "Madam, can't
>> > > you
>> > > come with me to the Habitat Centre to check whether I am speaking
>> truth
>> > or
>> > > not? It is only 50 meters away." Finally, after fifteen minutes, she
>> > > relented and agreed to take me to the Habitat Centre. They held me by
>> the
>> > > collar as we walked to the centre. Once we entered the gate no 3 of
>> > habitat
>> > > center, she continued to curse Kashmiris. At this point however, I was
>> in
>> > > the habitat centre, so I shot back, "Mind your language!" My voice
>> > > was firm
>> > > and she became quiet. When she saw my work in the auditorium, she
>> started
>> > > shouting "You Kashmiris have a problem!" I wasn't in their grasp
>> > > anymore, so
>> > > I picked up a stone lying in the mud of my installation and started to
>> > > smash
>> > > my installation. The sound of the glass frames breaking echoed
>> throughout
>> > > the auditorium. Those watching a film inside the auditorium came
>> outside
>> > to
>> > > see what had happened.  The policewoman ran away.
>> > > I called GK to inform them what had happened, but the Habitat Centre
>> > manger
>> > > instructed me to not leave the premises and not to call from my phone,
>> or
>> > > email, for a few days. After three days I called home and the GK
>> office.
>> > > The
>> > > PBST issued a letter to the security agencies that I am their guest
>> and
>> > > they
>> > > are responsible for my accommodation and tickets. I thank God that I
>> was
>> > a
>> > > guest of the habitat centre and not alone as a cartoonist for GK.
>> > > Otherwise,
>> > > the story of another missing Kashmiri would have been all over the
>> news
>> > > here. I watched the news channel that night to see if they would flash
>> my
>> > > name….
>> > > _________________________________________
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>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > _________________________________________
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>> > _________________________________________
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>> > To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
>> > subscribe in the subject header.
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>> >
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>> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request at sarai.net with
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>
>
>
> --
> Partha Dasgupta
> +919811047132
>