[Reader-list] (PRIVATE) Fw: From Communists & forgiveness to Kashmir

[anupam chakravartty]

Dear Pawan,

I recieved your mail. would reply shortly.

thanks anupam


On 4/9/09, Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>   Dear Anupam
>
> Apologies for this intrusion into your privacy.
>
> I was wondering whether you received the below reproduced posting from me.
>
> I would look forward to your comments, in agreement Or disagreement Or as
> correction of information /perception.
>
> K
>
> --- On *Tue, 4/7/09, Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com>* wrote:
>
>
> From: Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Reader-list] From Communists & forgiveness to Kashmir
> To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>, "anupam chakravartty" <
> c.anupam at gmail.com>
> Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 8:03 PM
>
> 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
>
>
>
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