We, the paradoxical Kashmiris, Junaid Qureshi
We Kashmiris, by
nature, are very paradoxical. We often tend to contradict ourselves based on
shaky arguments and untrue observations. More than often we behave in such a
way while having full knowledge of the actual truth.
Small illustrations
of our paradoxical nature can be easily noticed in our day to day life. While
attending a grand wedding with lots of food and extravaganza, we -with the
utmost certainty- conclude that the hosts have illegal (haram) money which
enabled them to pay for such a lavish wedding. If the marriage ceremony is
simple and the food is reasonable or just a little less than reasonable
compared to our expectations, we -with the utmost arrogance- conclude that the
hosts have always been beggars (shikas-lads).
Missing Salah
(prayers) is considered a heinous crime, while stealing electricity by the
method of hooking, before and after the prayers, is considered our birth-right.
Once, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed was asked that how many people of J&K were
supporting him. He replied, “40 Lakhs minus one (referring to Sheikh Abdullah
as the one not supporting him)”. When asked as to how many people were supporting
Sheikh Abdullah, he replied, “40 Lakhs, minus one (referring to himself as the
one not supporting him)”. Pertinent to note that the total electorate at that
time was 40 Lakhs.
To some extent
paradoxicalities, like the ones above, can be amusing. But our somewhat amusing
and silly behaviour has paradoxically become suicidal as it has transformed
into a way of life which totally nullifies the truth and realities of today’s
existing world. It continues to shame us as a nation and as human beings. Our
rather embarrassing ability to distinguish between right and wrong on the basis
of religion, nationality and political affiliations has made us believe that
injustice and atrociousness have a face, a name and a God. Depending on that
face, the name and the God, we either remain silent or choose to be angry.
Let me make it clear
that for me any kind of injustice is unacceptable, irrespective of the party
which is culpable. Be it the Indian Army, the Pakistani army, the militants,
event-based separatists, mainstream politicians or high level bureaucrats. Not necessarily
because I consider myself a man of high morals or impeccable character, but
more so because I deny to be oblivious to the truth. I understand that the call
for justice cannot be carried on foundations of injustice.
Any dispensation of
justice can only be thought of, if there is a broad-based consensus which
inevitably requires supporters and like-minded people. At times I get
bewildered when I get drowned in deep thoughts; why is it that the common man
in India, Pakistan and the rest of the world does not show solidarity with us?
Why do we Kashmiris feel that nobody, outside the Valley, shares our pain? Why
is it that they do not stand up for us in Mumbai, Lahore or Paris when
injustice is mounted upon us? Why are there no candle-light processions for the
resolution of the Kashmir problem? Are they not humans or are we not considered
humane enough? Are they blind? Deaf perhaps? Agents of CIA and Mossad?
Anti-Islam maybe?
Perhaps we must
contemplate on why we stand alienated from everyone and everything. Could it
be, because we have alienated ourselves from the truth?
We shout slogans of
freedom while lifting one fist with determination and simultaneously carrying
the flag of an occupying country in the other hand. We, with sheer arrogance,
demand the implementation of the UN resolutions while we wave the flags of UN
banned terrorists organizations like the Islamic State. An organization which
has been rejected by the whole world, including the Muslim World and correctly classified
as barbaric. What are we trying to tell the world by waving these flags? That
we support suicide attacks on praying Muslims in Mosques during the holy month
of Ramadan? That we support brutal decapitations of innocent men? That we
support the sale of female children as sex-slaves? Have we totally lost our
mind?
We call for the
return of the Kashmiri Pandits and assure them of protection, while our failure
to protect them and their properties drove them away from their homeland.
Still, we exhibit the courage and audacity to dictate them where and when they
can return.
Our genuine demands
for justice only deserve to be heard and respected by the world when we stop
distinguishing between culprits on the basis of religion or sentimental
alliances. While rightfully asking for justice in the Kunan Poshpora tragedy
and severe punishment to the guilty soldiers of the Indian security forces, we
must also -with the same ardency- seek justice regarding the Chittisinghpura
tragedy, carried out by terrorists of Lashkar-e-Taiba. We must collectively
reject and stand up against the murderers of Lashkar-e-Taiba and all other
mercenaries of hate and destruction.
The floods of last
year were not God’s fury because of our so-called disobedience to His word
under the influences of Indian Cinema and nor were they caused by any
intelligence agency. We caused those floods, as we blocked flood channels by
building our homes on them and by polluting our water bodies. Undoubtedly, the
Indian state has been culpable of human rights violations in Kashmir, but we
must try to understand that we have lost our credibility because of our
tendency of blaming India for each and everything that goes wrong in Kashmir.
Many amongst us, many
of our own people have been equally guilty of human rights violations.
Militants raped our daughters. Many militants used the gun of ‘freedom and
religion’ to settle personal scores. Perhaps our eerie silence over these human
rights violations, political killings and religious exploitation has caused others
to remain numb when we expected them to speak.
The reaction of the
people in Kashmir often indicates who is guilty. Whenever Kashmiris get killed
by Kashmiris or those foreigners who enjoy our support, we choose to look away.
Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammed Farooq was killed by three militants belonging to the
HM. The uncle of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Moulvi Mushtaq was also killed by the
‘Mujahideen’ of HM while offering prayers in the Mosque. Dr. Qazi Nisar,
Professor Wani, Professsor Ghulam Qadir, Dr. Ahad Guru and innumerable others
were also killed by the Hizbul Mujahideen. Moulvi Showkat Shah was murdered by
the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen.
On his visit to
Pakistan Administered Kashmir, Abdul Ghani Lone dared to defy the ISI. In a
public speech there, he told the Pakistani rulers not to send hard-core
criminals languishing for crimes like murder and rape in Pakistani jails, to
Kashmir for fighting. He also posed a question to them. He asked whether the
broken tents and miserable conditions of refugees (Mohajirs) and Mujahideen
from Indian Administered Kashmir in Muzaffarabad could justify Pakistan’s claim
of calling Kashmir their jugular’s vein. In response to this ‘betrayal’, he was
killed by militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Every Kashmiri knows
who has been responsible and why these killings took place. All these killings
triggered half-hearted protests, hartals, accusations hurled at India, America,
Israel and ultimately all was followed by that eerie silence again.
This eerie silence
has been a recurring tradition in Kashmir. Recently a few ex-militants were
killed in Sopore by unidentified gunmen. There were a few days of hartals,
stone-pelting and accusations that the killings were carried out by Indian
intelligence agencies. After a few days, we again chose that blanket of
silence. Why? Because we all know that the killers of Sopore are of the same
breed which killed Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammed Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone. Our
silence is nothing else than our silent confession of complicity.
The rape of a girl in
Delhi shook the whole of India and the attack on the army-school in Peshawar in
which more than 140 innocent children died, brought all of Pakistan together.
Not because the honour of their women or innocence of their children surpasses
that of our women and children, but because they had the courage to accept that
the culprits were people among them. They collectively stood up against
injustice without being selective. I salute the brave people of India and
Pakistan for their commendable fearlessness. Whether they achieve justice or
not, they at least deserve it.
We Kashmiris must
introspect and realize that we cannot keep blaming others for our own failures.
We cannot expect others to support us while we collectively choose to remain
silent. We cannot demand selectiveness from the world. Our silence will only
kill our trustworthiness. We must stand up and break our silence.
We must, before it is
too late. Before the world ceases to call us, ‘The paradoxical Kashmiris’ and
decides to refer to us as, ‘The hypocritical Kashmiris’.
- See more at:
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