[Reader-list] From Communists & forgiveness to Kashmir

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Dear Anupam
 
Some points I would request you to think about.
 
1. The 'battle' in Kashmir is rooted in and consequent to the "Aazadi" call. It is only the Muslims who subscribe to that "Freedom" call. Not all Muslims of J&K but only some of them. Many of such Muslims are from the Kashmir Division of  J&K. 
 
Unless you disagree with this, would it not be appropriate to recognise this "Aazadi" movement as a 'communal' or rather Islamist movement?
 
2. We could see justification for such an Islamist (communal) "Aazdi" movement if we could establish that post 1947 there has been a repression of Muslims in J&K or even Kashmir specifically. Can we establish and confirm that?
 
3. When Pakistan ventured with Operation Gibraltar against India in 1965, it intended to 'liberate' (read include into Pakistan), at the very least the Kashmir Division. It presumed support from the local Muslims. It did not receive that. Pakistan has never forgiven the Kashmiri Muslims for that. It would suggest though that between 1947 and 1965 there was no such 'repression' of Kashmiri Muslims that they would welcome 'Pakistan the Liberator'. 
 
4. What happened in the next 24 years after 1965 that led to the 1989 revolt against India. For one 1972 (creation of Bangladesh happened). Did Pakistan alter it's "liberation of Kashmir" strategies?
 
5. 1987 saw the formation of the Muslim United Front (MUF). Please note the word "Muslim".  Was this an instigated by Pakistan political formation or is this what had become of the much talked about "syncreticity" of Kashmir? You might also want to look into the constituents of MUF and the history of their political positions.        
 
6. If we take note of a few significant steps that were undertaken in J&K  Post-1947, it would be further difficult to find any justification for the Islamist (communal) "Aazadi" movement:
 
- Specificity accorded in the inclusion of J&K into India by Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. Protecting the demographic make-up of J&K.
 
- Agrarian Reforms giving Land to the Tiller, where, other than in rare exceptions it was the Muslims who benefited.
 
- Pro-Rata allocation of 'seats' on the basis of 'Religion' in Professional Colleges (10%allocated under Open-Merit) where again overwhelmingly if not totally it benefited Muslims.
 
7. One could not call the "Aazadi" movement an Ethnicity driven movement either since there are at least 4 major ethnic groups in J&K.
 
It is a battle for sure but not a 'communal' battle. The battle is against a 'communal' "Aazadi" movement.
 
That said, I would join you and your artist friends in questioning the wisdom of the policies followed by the "State" in J&K. I also have no hesitation in condemning and (as an Indian citizen) declaring totally unacceptable the Human Rights violations indulged in by the Security Forces.
 
 
Kshmendra 


--- On Mon, 4/6/09, anupam chakravartty <c.anupam at gmail.com> wrote:

yes sir, sure i would have love to learn all about the political turncoats
like you who justify all their actions by changing their political attire
like a bollywood star. but it doesnt suit my taste. although, at least you
are honest that you shifted allegiances for your own cause. i never said i
disrespect the cause of kashmiris especially those who were displaced. but
it is unfortunate, like you, several of them have been misguided to believe
that it is a communal battle. but there are voices independent of these
communal ideas. i was in jammu art college for a month and spoke to several
artists following various faiths. without being biased towards the human
rights abuse in kashmir and cause of the kashmiris who have been displaced,
they were all united against the state policies in dealing with kashmir.

they did not understand the communal side of the kashmir conflict. they
refused to. they were small in numbers, slightly whimsical about their works
but one voice from jammu and kashmir. i guess that was real. i would love
learn more from them instead of someone trying to educate me about where the
political parties are placed in the ideological spectrum of this country.

thanks again for saying learn
 anupam