[Reader-list] Kashmir campaigns for peace, Facebook and beyond

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

Kashmir campaigns for peace, Facebook and beyond
The Peace Book Campaign is an effort by a motley crowd of peace loving
Kashmiris who wants a irenic and developed Jammu and Kashmir.

Link -
http://www.livemint.com/2010/08/10174832/Kashmir-campaigns-for-peace-F.html?h=A1
Simantik Dowerah

New Delhi: Not all Kashmiris want to battle government bullets with stones.
A fair number of citizens from Jammu and Kashmir would much prefer peace,
and are trying to reach out to likeminded people via Facebook. Last month, *
Mint* did a story<http://www.livemint.com/2010/07/07184209/Fling-it-on-Facebook.html?h=A1>on
Facebook groups that supported stone throwers and urged people join
their
cause. But the group Roots in Kashmir, is very different.

Started four years ago with 65 members, Roots in
Kashmir<http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18880022736>was started
to help Kashmiri pandits or the Hindu population who were forced
out of the state due to militancy. However, with their state simmering in
violence the group most recently launched the Peace Book
Campaign<http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112782675436590>asking
people to help restore peace in the valley. So far, over 1,700 joined
the campaign as on date.

“The *Peace Book Campaign* is not a sole Roots in Kashmir campaign but a
campaign where saner Kashmiris and non-Kashmiris cutting across religious
and sectarian lines have come together to appeal for peace in Kashmir,” said
Rashneek Kher, a representative of the group.

Kher said group members were hurt to watch Kashmiri youths being killed on
the roads. “On the face of it might seem that the young people are throwing
stones but the malaise behind the same are instigators like (Syed Ali)
Geelani and others. So as Kashmiris it is our duty to do our bit to bring
down tempers, cool frayed nerves and bring some semblance of sanity,” Kher
said.

The group has not limited its efforts to cyberspace. “Roots in Kashmir tried
everything from approaching the government to sending our proposals to
separatists to knocking at the doors of human rights commissions. But our
plea has fallen on deaf ears,” Kher said.

“So we have set forth a mission of peace that is completely unbiased and
requests nothing but sanity. We have no tolerance for people who support
violence and people who seek support for stone throwers are again those who
we think of as instigators and not someone who actually throw stones. So we
will be sending books to them as they need it most,” he said.

And what kind of books they are going to send?

“We already have about 400 odd books on different subjects from simple story
books to books on history and religion. We will send them as soon as we know
it will reach them and not got stuck in some post office,” Kher said. Books
are answer to stones and bullets, said Wangoo.

Explaining why he joined the *Peace Book Campaign*, another group member
Nadeem Jafri said, “This is the true way of fighting the menace. If we
educate people and equip them with right knowledge, I am sure they would not
face the atrocities which they are currently facing. And even if they face
they will be capable of fighting it out.”

On being asked, about the success of such a campaign, Kher was however, not
very sure.

“Honestly we don’t know how far it might or will go but that notwithstanding
we must make concerted efforts for peace no matter howsoever small or
inconsequential it might seem,” said the representative of group, which has
already registered over 1,500 members.

Jafri sounded far more positive.

He said the campaign would certainly create a flutter among the educated
people.

“It is going to take some time but it will be effective,” he said.

*simantik.d at livemint.com*

-- 
Aditya Raj Kaul

India Editor
The Indian, Australia

Cell -  +91-9873297834
Web: http://activistsdiary.blogspot.com/