EPILOGUE AUGUST 2010 ISSUE

Tsewang Rigzin Column : RAKESH ANKIT

Ladakh’s onw textbooks : Historiography in Kashmir The problem
A step towards autonomy Prof. Jigar Mohammad of poonch
P42 P54 P8

J & K ’ S M O N T H LY M A G A Z I N E ISSN : 0974-5653

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Jammu, August 1 ,2010 / Vol 4 / Issue 8 | Price Rs. 30 | Postal Regd. No. JK-350/2011 | www.epilogue.in

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Curren
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Statist
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SEMINAR
KASHMIR UNREST : THE CIVIL SOCIETY RESPONSE

UE B G Verghese ? Inder Malhotra ?
Gautam Navlakha
EP ILOG E ?Naeem Akhter ? Radha Kumar ?Rekha Choudhary
EXC LUSIV ?Hussain Talib ?
Arjimand Daya Sagar
se
nsible jo ? Ershad Mehmud ? M M Khajoria ?Ramesh Mehta
?Nyla Ali Khan ?
ur

Gul Mohammad Wani
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year o

44th
nalism

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issue o
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ANNOUNCES

Ladakh Women Writers Award
2010-11
2010-11
Open to women writers from Ladakh above the age of 18 years

LANGUAGE : English, Hindi, Urdu and Ladakhi

TOPIC : Reflecting community perspectives on Education,
Environment and Disability for positive change from the ground .

AWARD DETAILS : Ladakh Women Writers Award : 3 Awards of Rs.5,000/- each

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Applications may be sent by email to: charkha@bol.net.in or sujvan@gmail.com
For further detail, contact : Sujata Raghavan : 09811217054, 0124-4079082

The Awards will be announced on 7 Dec 2010 in New Delhi
at a function to mark Charkha Founders' Day.

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Sd/-
Sr. Suptd. of Police
Crime Branch, Jammu
DIP/JK-4207/2010
Dated : 24-6-2010

CRIME BRANCH, JAMMU

3

Epilogue
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www.epilogue.in CONTENT
Editor Prologue 5
Zafar Iqbal Choudhary Letters 6

Publisher Exclusive Stories
The Problem of Poonch 8
Yogesh Pandoh Rakesh Ankit

Consulting Editor Seminar Features 11
D. Suba Chandran Gautam Navlakha
BG Verghese
Manu Srivastsa Rekha Choudhary
Naeem Akhtar
Associate Editors Nyla Ali Khan
Ramesh Mehta
Irm Amin Baig M M Khajooria
Tsewang Rigzin Daya Sagar
Arjimand Hussain Talib
Zorawar Singh Jamwal Ershad Mehmud
Gul Mohammad Wani
Volume 4, Issue 8, August 2010 Inder Malhotra
General Manager Radha Kumar
Kartavya Pandoh
I N FOCUS Column
Art Editor Historiography in Kashmir 54
Ladakh Prof. Jigar Mohammad
Keshav Sharma
32 Society
Research Officer Donning New Roles
Raman Sharma Yangchan Dolma
33 Women in Governance
Phones & email A Search for an Identity
Yangchan Dolma
Office : +91 191 2493136 35 Agriculture
Editorial: +91 94191 80762 No winter chill for farmers
Administration: +91 94191 82518 Zainab Akhter
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editor@epilogue.in Glacial Melting causing havoc
Tashi Morup
subscription@epilogue.in 38 Able to challenge disability :
The unfolding of two lives
Printed and Published by Dolma Namgyal
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NewsCraft from Ibadat House, One in a series of onslaughts on Ladakh
Rekha Shenoy
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41 Personal Experience
Bathindi Top, Jammu, J&K - 180012 A Trek Through Life
and Printed at : DEE DEE Thinlas Chorol
Reprographix, 3 Aikta Ashram, New 42 Ladakh’s own textbooks :
Rehari Jammu (J&K) A step towards autonomy
Tsewang Rigzin
43 Pasture dispute
Disputes, if any, subject to jurisdiction
Trespassing cause unrest in Rangdum
of courts and competitive tribunals in Tsewang Rigzin
Jammu only. 44 A traveller’s perspective
Leh changed, and et it didn’t
RNI : JKENG/2007/26070 Eline Gordts
ISN : 00974-5653 46 Current Affairs
52 Statistical Profile
Price : Rs 30

www.epilogue.in Vol. 4, Issue 8 Epilogue, August 2010

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5 PROLOGUE
From the Editor

Time for Introspection
ZAFAR CHOUDHARY

T
his month in 2008 we had violence was apparently misconstrued
written that Kashmir Valley as proportional restoration of peace
is back to square one. In and stability. Authorities believed that
summer of that year five- now the only task before them was to
year long peace was finish 500 to 800 odd militants
breached, people were on the streets, operating in the state and stop entry of
government was clueless, separatism around 1500 who may be waiting to
was at zenith, mainstream political cross over from other side of the
leaders were pushed to the wall, anger divide. The Government in
and discontent was writ large on the Srinagar/Jammu felt that issue was all
faces of youths, divides in the regions about governance and the leaders in
were deepening and no one was able Delhi thought it was more about
offer a clue to what might happen next. economic disadvantages. Chief
That was the situation triggered by Minister went on cleanse his
Amarnath land row which dispelled administration and Prime Minister
many myths about peace in Kashmir. In pumped in wads of money. These
2002 Jammu and Kashmir went through initiatives were very useful in
most credible elections of the history. improving the quality of life but there
AUGUST 2008
Credit goes to the then Prime Minister was no organized attempt to
Atal Behari Vajpayee who promised and consolidate the gains of a positive was repeated. Massive participation in
delivered whatever little he could do. A atmosphere that sprung the landscape elections was apparently misconstrued
popular government of Peoples of Jammu and Kashmir after 2002 as victory and the warning signals of the
Democratic Party-Congress combine elections. Therefore, a very minor and previous months were hardly taken
came into being. Mufti Mohammad immediately correctible issue (transfer seriously. Rather those who revolted on
Sayeed's statesmanship and brought a of land to temple) trust spoilt the the streets were ridiculed by showing
visible turnaround in situation. Every Kashmir story written over the years them the statistics of voter
subsequent year 2002 onwards, jointly by people like Atal Behari participation in elections. Experience
incidents of militant violence declined Vajpayee, Pervez Musharraf, and Mufti of summers of 2009 and now what is
by 25 to 35%. Mufti's successor Ghulam Mohammad Sayeed. There were, of going on in Kashmir needs and
Nabi Azad inherited a relatively far course, many others who also played introspection at levels. Now is the time
stable political environment. Shortly their roles in making Kashmir a to clearly understand what do people
before that there was change of guard negotiable issue. Shortly after 2008 and what the maximum that can be
in New Delhi. Manmohan Singh had crisis people again offered an given is. We can't be at war with
taken place of Vajpayee. There opportunity of negotiating peace after ourselves all the times.
followed a string of errors from Srinagar they overwhelmingly participated in Feedback :
to New Delhi. The decline in militant elections but then again same old folly zafarchoudhary@epilogue.in


Letters 6
Readers Write

Manmohan put people first
T here is no denying the fact that Atal Bihari Vajpayee did a lot in
Kashmir but contribution of Manmohan Singh Government cannot be
overlooked. Let me say that you have been bit obsessive with Vajpayee
(Vajpayee's politics and Manmohan's economics, Epilogue, July 2010) in
your analysis. The major difference in their policies was actually not
touched upon in your essay. Vajpayee accorded top priority to Kashmir
issue while Manmohan Singh put people first. Vajpayee's stand and
initiatives revolved around the conflict, its resolution, keeping Pakistan
and separatists in loop and springing surprises between hot pursuits and
ceasefires. Manmohan's policy has remained steady. By launching a
massive reconstruction project worth Rs 30,000 Crore he tried to help
people who were denied of equal opportunities by Center's and State's
huge focus on the security and peace projects. At roundtable conferences
Manmohan Singh invited people from all regions and all walks of life; he
heard them and took note of their ideas. Through these roundtable
conferences he sent across a loud and clear message that people of
Jammu and Kashmir are the stakeholders in all the issues and not the
handful of separatists. Launch of Cross-LoC bus service and then Cross-
LoC trade was also a people centric initiative where people are the
beneficiaries and not the separatists. If this (putting people first) was JULY 2010
done 20 years back situation would have been entirely different.
Unfortunately only those leaders are hailed who appeased the separatists
and did nothing for people.
SANTOSH NEGI
New Delhi, Via Email

Indian army is no villain
A nmol Sharma's argument that only Army is responsible for the trouble in Kashmir is perhaps flawed. There have often
been deliberate attempts to dent the image of Indian Army though this article was not one like that. It is, however,
quite unfortunate that in his article (Repeal AFSPA – Epilogue July 2010) the writer is blaming the army for every mess in
the valley. Kashmir ever remained an epicenter of controversies and clashes because of many other attributed reasons.
Though, agreed that there are also black sheep in the force but it would be unjustifiable to tag the whole institution of
Army as villain.
No one can deny the role of Indian Army,when it comes to the question of service to the civilians, be it Kargil war,
the snow Tsunami, 8th Oct/ 2005 earthquake or any other Natural Calamity Indian Army rendered every possible help to
the state administration.
The advocates orchestrating the withdrawal of Army and repeal of AFSPA are knowingly or unknowingly supporting
the propaganda of Pakistan. Earlier these were only the separatists raising such pro-pak demands but unfortunately
obviously because of the failure of the government of India to noose such unjustified slogans now even such demands are
coming from many corners. To please Pakistan or on beheast of so called international rights groups we must not try to
criminalize the whole army.
JATINDER SINGH
Jammu


7 Letters
Readers Write

Kashmir is not for deal V I A F A C E B O O K
P eople sitting in South Block of New Delhi must not forget
that by giving perks and incentives they cannot built trust
in the heart of Kashmiris, in all these 60 years you people tried
Very unfortunate that they (leaders) are not
understanding the problem. Perhaps it’s
your best to buy a deal in Kashmir but let us be straight
because we want to resolve a political issue
forward that 'Kashmir is not for sale' Economics packages
cannot solve the basic problem and it demands a political with economic solutions....which never worked
solution. Instead of doing Hit and trial methods to solve and nor it will
Kashmir imbroglio the core issue be discussed with open mind PERVAIZ NAIK
and all those who matters must be heard. Dialogue for the
sake of dialogue cannot yield any result. We want to live in I believe creating a conducive environment for
peace but with dignity and autonomy. Let us decide what we talks is must and economic aid is a very positive
want, economic packages and so called free and fair elections
step in that direction, as underdevelopment is
may help for a moment but for long lasting stability you need
to be honest and allow Kashmiris to decide what they want.
itself a major issue...economic development can
MALIK ISRAR HUSSAIN play a significant role in Kashmir politics as we
Badgam, Kashmir can’t devoid politics of economics
POONAM SINGH
Voices must be heard Vajpayee is statesman of world class order but

J ammu and Kashmir is often seen as war zone between the
two nuclear armed neighbours and many a times has been
described as the most dangerous zone on earth. The land of
Manmohan Singh is a pure economist who leaves
politics and administration for Sonia Gandhi to
conflicts can of course be a platform of friendship between handle. At present India lacks a leader whose
Indian and Pakistan. As suggested by Mr. Nazir A Dar, President charisma works with the people.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. YV. Sharma, ANMOL SHARMA
President Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and by
Mr. Anil Suri Eminent Entrepreneur of the state (Perspectives Pragmatism is the cost/benefit analysis done by
on Cross-LoC Trade, Epilogue July 2010) Cross-LoC Trade has a
groups who continue to maintained their
lot to offer. Trade links between two regions of the state
–Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan administered Kashmir –can hegenomy over ignorant opium eaters...
help in reducing the political tension. Nazir Ahmed Dar, the unfortunately the game gets rougher and truth
President of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries has more opaque....so much for pragmatism
rightly pointed out that even after 26/11 Mumbai attacks the SANJAY PURI
LoC trade was not stopped this is a positive signal indeed,
despite the heat. How can Indo-Pak relations be improved? Will
People and business communities of both the sides are Mushraff's back channel policy be ever applied
demanding a full-fledged trade system instead of the present
again as it was halt in Agra summit in 2001?
barter system. The onus to carry forward this trust of cross LoC
trade is on both the governments. In this era of globalization Siachen and Kashmir like issues will ever be
none of us can afford to remain in isolation. Demands and resolved? Why people at the helm of affairs
ideas suggested by the concerned people must be given don’t understand the pathetic conditions of
patience and actionable hearing. general public?
There can be nothing more
SYED HAMID BUKHARI
soothing for people of the two
divided parts of the state that
they can do trade and bring peace
in the sub continent.
See more comments, participate in discussions
RAJAN GUPTA Join us at facebook
Jammu Facebook.com/EpilogueMagazine


Exclusive Series 8
New Research on Kashmir

The Problem
of Poonch
RAKESH ANKIT

B
efore Maharaja Hari Singh's profitable due to heavy taxation. President of the Indian Soldiers, Sailors
accession to the throne of Timber trade was the other main eco- and Airmen Boards in both Srinagar and
Srinagar in 1925, the Rajas of nomic activity. Consequently, the Poonch. Throughout 1938-39, minor skir-
Poonch – while maintaining a shadowy Poonchis had sought employment in the mishes continued between the National
allegiance to Srinagar – were recognised British Indian Army. Conference/Congress and Muslim
by the Government of British India and Undoubtedly there was a strong Conference on one side and the lashkars
were in a direct relationship with the separatist movement among the Muslim of Khan Mohammad Khan but nothing
Viceroy – the Crown Representative. Poonchis but for absorption into British serious happened.
Hari Singh's elder half-brother suc- India and ironically, given what tran- With the outbreak of the Second
ceeded to the throne in Poonch and this spired later, both the Indian National World War in September 1939 and Lord
was a considerable source of friction Congress and the National Conference Linlithgow's announcement making
within the family. By 1937, Hari Singh aided their movement against the Raja India a party to the British war effort,
had got the British Government to of Poonch as well as Hari Singh in the Poonchis were heavily recruited into
reduce the status of Poonch to that of an decade 37-47. the British Indian Army. Consequently,
autonomous jagir subordinate to There was a notable disturbance in they remained largely absent from
Srinagar even thought the title of 'Raja of 1938 led by the Suden tribe (the inhabit- domestic politics in this period.
Poonch' was retained. The Raja of Poonch ants of the area between the Poonch However, by 1945 it had become obvious
employed intrigue, propaganda, provo- and the Jhelum rivers) on the alleged that in Poonch the Muslim Conference
cation and civil agitation to change his abuse of the Holy Koran by a Hindu had emerged as the pre-dominant polit-
subordinate status vis-à-vis Hari Singh. police officer. This movement was led ical party with its principal objective –
Administratively, Poonch had a by the pensioned Subedar Major Khan union with Punjab and Pakistan (that
civil official and a resident appointed Mohammad Khan, ex-British Indian they were expecting to be established).
from Srinagar but otherwise its adminis- Army. He commanded lashkars and Therefore, the rising of 1945-46 in
trative structure was autonomous with ordered them to march on to the Poonch Srinagar led by Sheikh Abdullah and his
the tehsildar as the highest rank. It was town; enroute they were stopped by National Conference had only mild
a poorly-paid and slow-promotion ser- two battalions of the J & K State troops. repercussions in Poonch. With the end
vice and hence was corrupt, inefficient, For months the forces faced each other of the war, as the demobbed Muslim
discontented and disloyal to the Raja. but while tensions kept simmering, a Poonchis returned to Poonch, they fell
The Muslim members wanted the conflict was avoided through a settle- under the heavy influence of the Muslim
absorption of Poonch in British India ment. But from this time onwards, Conference and the Muslim League. The
while the Hindus desired total incorpo- Poonch remained garrisoned by a bat- leaders of the Muslim Conference in
ration into the J & K State. 90% of talion of J & K State troops. Poonch – Maulavi Ghulam Haider,
Poonchis were Muslim but the Raja, his Gopalaswami Ayengar was then the Maulavi Nazir Hussain Shah, Fateh
court, most of the judicial and adminis- Prime Minister in Srinagar and in the Mohammad Khan, Syaid Hussain Shah,
trative services, police and palace deal that he brokered with Khan Yar Mohammad Khan and others were
guards were Hindus. This was a source Mohammad Khan, the latter was made joined by the barrister Mohammad
of discontent but so was the poor eco- an Honorary Lieutenant, awarded the Ibrahim Khan who was to make a name
nomic life in which agriculture was not Order of British India and appointed the for himself as an eloquent fanatic.


9 Exclusive Series

The issue of the day – gifted to already said, was greatly exaggerated possibly military assistance from India'.
these men, it must be said – was the deci- and the state is in an uneasy quiet. The He, like Stephenson and just about
sion of New Delhi to pay money to sol- Maharaja and the Hindu ruling class everyone, too was worried about 'the
diers who had served in the Second would join India if they dared but in the gravest disorders' which would be pro-
World War. When months passed and present circumstances that will mean voked by Kashmir's accession to India
Poonchis did not get anything, anger revolution. The state army can not pos- and, among other reasons, axiomati-
spread against the integrity of adminis- sibly hold the whole border and could cally raised 'the Russian bogey'. He had
trative apparatus in Srinagar which was not meet the Muslim infiltration which heard, as was by now becoming appar-
accused of embezzling the funds would be inevitable if revolution ent, that 'no petrol has gone from
received from New Delhi. The first occurred. In the meanwhile, every Pakistan into Kashmir since September
clashes occurred in the Naoshera- effort is being made to push on the new 9th' and sought to enquire about it. He
Islamabad area as lashkars gathered. road into India which might be ready for feared that this breach of the standstill
The J & K State troops and their supply military traffic in three months time. agreement would be 'natural for
trucks were attacked in Islamabad- The alternatives are for Kashmir to join Pakistan to turn the heat in this way'.
Planderi and Naoshera. The State troops India, which the rulers want but which Despite being assured that Karachi had
were thinly spread engaged as they not taken any decision in this regard and
were in escorting refuges moving The Muslim members wanted the that the real cause was the reluctance
between India and Pakistan in August- absorption of Poonch in British India of Muslim drivers 'to go because of the
September 1947. Finally, the 9th while the Hindus desired total incorpo- presence of Sikhs from Gurdaspur and
Infantry Reserve Battalion was dis- ration into the J&K State. 90% of absence of military escorts'; Shone had
patched to Poonch which cleared the Poonchis were Muslim but the Raja, his 'little doubt however that local authori-
road to Naoshera, dispersed lashkars court, most of the judicial and adminis- ties in Rawalpindi are holding telescope
and cut off Poonch from direct commu- trative services, police and palace to their blind eye and are indefinitely
nication with Pakistan over the Jhelum preventing supplies of petrol and other
guards were Hindus. This was a source
River for fear that Sialkot and commodities from entering Kashmir'.
Rawalpindi authorities might intervene
of discontent but so was the poor eco- Norman Cliff – the News Chronicle spe-
on behalf of the lashkars. Small mobile nomic life in which agriculture was not cial correspondent – was among the first
columns remained dispersing lashkars and profitable due to heavy taxation. Timber to report on 13 October that Pakistan
September 1947 saw the re-establishment trade was the other main economic cut off Kashmir's supplies of petrol-
of the authority of Srinagar. activity. Consequently, the Poonchis had sugar-salt and kerosene in contraven-
This then is the celebrated revolt sought employment in the British Indian tion of the signed standstill agreement.
of Poonch of August-September 1947 Army. It was clear to the High-
which occupies a prominent place in the Commissioner that insofar as the valley
historiography of the first Kashmir con- they can only accomplish by a coup and areas surrounding Srinagar were
flict. While the proponents of the Indian d'tat, Indian troops being rushed to concerned the Muslim population there
case seek to either deny or downplay Kashmir and trusting to disorganization were not 'enthusiastically ardent sup-
the incidents, those propping up in Pakistan. Or, if that does not happen, porters of accession to Pakistan', led as
Pakistan's arguments interpret the Kashmir will eventually fall like a ripe they were by the National Conference
affair in terms of Muslim rebellion and plum to Pakistan'. which was 'sympathetic to Indian
liberation from the yoke of Hindu T. Shone dutifully relayed this mes- Congress ideas'. Shone, nevertheless,
Srinagar. More than religion, it was rec- sage as well as his own reading to flagged two concerns and rightly so:
ompense which provoked the Poonchis. London on 6 October. He understood the first, the impact of communal killings
H. S. Stephenson who was the release of Sheikh Abdullah and his travel elsewhere on Kashmir, specifically the
Assistant High-Commissioner for UK in to Delhi and the removal of Banbury and massacre of Muslims by Hindus and Sikhs
Pakistan in an interesting telegram to T. Powell from Kashmir armed forces and in the neighbouring Indian Punjab and
Shone (High-Commissioner for UK in their substitution by Hindus as 'a clear- second, the affiliations of the Muslim
India) tried prediction and wrote thus ing of the decks for action as soon as the population in Gilgit and Muzaffarabad
on 13 September 1947: Maharaja feels that he can rely on new areas.
'The Poonch affair, as I have road from Pathankot for supplies and At this stage, there was even a feel-


Exclusive Series 10

ing among in some officials at the the Attlee cabinet looking after Kashmir order? And, a flurry of official exchanges
Commonwealth Relations Office, and later leader or UK delegation to UN between Delhi, Karachi, London and
London that maybe the Maharaja was on Kashmir into confidence: Srinagar. Hari Singh's Prime Minister –
'bargaining for better terms (eg. an alli- 'There are large pockets of Dogras third in three months – Mehr Chand
ance) with Pakistan by making it appear in Poonch as in Jammu; and a major anxi- Mahajan was at the centre of this traf-
that he was contemplating joining ety of the Pakistan government derives fic. He wrote to Liaquat and Attlee on
India'. from reports of recent heavy infiltration the 15th, to Jinnah on the 18th / 19th
The trouble with, what I have of Hindu officials, Sikhs and former and to Mountbatten on the 26th. He
called, the Poonch problem is that once members of the “Indian National Army” read from Liaquat on the 19th, from
Henry Scott left Srinagar on 29 into Srinagar. They fear that the stage is Jinnah on the 20th and from
September 1947 there is a difficulty in being set for Kashmir's accession to the Mountbatten on the 27th. Meanwhile,
finding reliable and sober official Indian Union. This would inevitably be two brothers courted some infamy –
assessment of the ground situation. followed by disturbances within the Abdul Haq, the DC of Rawalpindi and
Scott's last reports did not 'encourage state to which neither India nor Pakistan Syed Ikramul Haq, ICS in MOD – and 'ap-
confidence in stories of Muslim ill- could remain indifferent, and civil war peared to be conducting a private war
treatment there at the hands of the in Kashmir might involve both against Kashmir' by preventing the pas-
Hindus but the balance may well have Dominions of hostilities of incalculable sage of petrol and other essential sup-
swung the other way, with the arrival of extension'. plies for the last.
Kashmir state troops reinforcements', What then can be said about the sit- The correspondence between
since he left. Atleast one very influen- uation in Kashmir in the week before Srinagar and Karachi ceased on 20
tial person felt thus and he was Sir the invasion began? The lull before the October. Liaquat had the last word. He
Lawrence Graffety-Smith (Stephenson's storm, apart from Poonch where if not warned the Maharaja to not accede to
superior and UK High-Commissioner to the storm then certainly a strong wind India as “gravest consequences” would
Pakistan from 1947 to 1951). He con- was blowing? Two imminent possibili- occur then. The stage was set. Kashmir's
fided in Philip Noel-Baker (Minister for ties, distinct but linked, namely: acces- history pressed the fast-forward button
Commonwealth Affairs – thus the man in sion to India and tribal invasion in either 48 hours later.

Department of Horticulture (J&K Govt)
Office of the Chief Canning & Processing Instructor
Fruit and Vegetable Graft Centre, Chand Nagar, Jammu
Applications on plain paper are invited for undergoing months training course in Fruit and Vegetable Processing
from interested persons who intend to establish their own units in the field. The desirous candidate should be Matriculate
with, science subjects. The candidates having additional qualification shall be preferred. The applications must reach this
office, by or before 16th August 2010 and should be accompanied with the following documents (attested copies):
1. Date of birth Certificate
2. Qualification certificate alongwith marks sheet
3. Permanent Residential Certificate of J&K State
4 Two Passport size photographs
5. Character Certificate from any Gazetted officer or from the Head of the Institution last attended.
No tuition fee shall be charged from the candidate for the said course. The interview shall be conducted on 25th
and 26th of August 2010 and the list of selected candidates shall be displayed on the notice board on 28th of August 2010.
No separate communication shall be given in this regard. The classes shall commence from Ist of Sep. 2010. The
candidates are advised for their own convenience to mention their contact number in application forms. For further details
candidates may contact at phone No.01912579072
during working hours on any working day.
Sd/
(P K Sharma)
Chief
Canning & Processing Instructor
DIP/J-4946 Fruit Vegetable Craft Centre; Chand Nagar, Jammu

CRAFTING PEACE IN KASHMIR

B G VERGHESE GAUTAM NAVLAKHA NAEEM AKHTAR
has been Editor of three top Indian newspapers –Times is a leading human rights activist and Consulting one of the seasoned civil servants J&K produced, he
of India, Hindustan Times and Indian Express. He
served as Information Advisor to Prime Minister Indira Editor of Mumbai based quit services in Jan 2009 to support
Gandhi, is with Center for Policy Research since 1986 Economic and Political Weekly Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s political initiatives

13 VIEWS
RADHA KUMAR
is Director of Nelson Mandela Centre for Peace
and Conflict Resolution at
Jamia Millia University, New Delhi 1AGENDA INDER MALHOTRA
former Editor of the Times of India,
his syndicated columns appear
in 30 newspapers

PEACE
M M KAJOORIA
IN REKHA CHOUDHARY
a social activist and columnist,
he retired as
Director General of J&K Police KASHMIR Professor of Political Science at
University of Jammu

RAMESH MEHTA DAYA SAGAR GUL MOHAMMAD WANI
is an artist and former Secretary JKAACL, is a social activist and leading columnist Professor of Political Science at the
top art and culture body in J&K based in Jammu University of Kashmir

ARJIMAND HUSSAIN TALIB ERSHAD MEHMUD NYLA ALI KHAN
leading columnist based in Srinagar, a native of Pakistan administered Kashmir, a Professor of English at a US University, she is author
he is author of he is a leading policy analyst of Islam, Women and Violence in Kashmir. She happens
Omar Abdullah –the burden of inheritance based in Islamabad to be grand daughter of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah

EPILOGUE SEMINAR

There is a protest in Kashmir over in issue that is hardly new. Soon
it assumes alarming proportions. Situation goes out of control.

SEMINAR Security forces fire a couple of teargas shells and a young boy is
killed. This triggers another round of protests. The confrontation
between protesters and state's forces is terribly shriller than the
previous one. As they take each other heads-on, two more are
killed. There is another round of protests spreading far and wide.
This cycle goes on and on. We saw this in 2008, in 2009 and there
is no visible end to the present season of unrest in the Valley.
Tourists are gone, tourism now seems a thing of past. Students have
not been to schools for almost two months now. Businesses are
shut. A government paralysed by stone pelters makes its occasional
presence through some press statements or television interviews.
It is not likely to go on life this for long. Situation is expected to be
better in coming few days. But return of the turmoil after a brief
interval is also equally certain. After all what is happening in the
Valley? Why this cycle of unrest? What needs to be done at this
stage? With these and more questions, Epilogue reached out to the
people this state and the country looks upon with hope. As we go
through their views, each one of them nearly disagrees with the
other in perspectives but the bottomline is common –there is a
problem which needs immediate measures for redress. There is a
near unanimity in understanding that peace is too essential a
commodity to be left alone to the youths who want to achieve this
by pelting stones or to those who sit in cozy rooms of north block
with their windows shut to the ground or even those who play the
dirty palace games from pristine bungalows of Srinagar's Gupkar
Road. At Epilogue we may agree or disagree with some of the views
but we respect each opinion for clarity of the head and mind of the
person. They have said, with abundant conviction, what they
mean. Since there can't be a consensus in a single go, therefore
this seminar offers a divergence of ideas on the problems and, may
be, some solutions.

13 SEMINAR
Kashmir Unrest :The Civil Society Response

Q This is third year in row that Kashmir is
erupting every summer. How do you look at
this cycle of unrest.

GAUTAM NAVLAKHA
Underneath these catalytic
triggers lies deep rage
A history of unfulfilled pledges,

Y
our question frames the question Palestinians do. To speak then of “cyclic
wrongly. In an area where eruption” is not only to de-politicise the broken promises, political
protests are considered problem but to be innocent of the
“agitational terrorism” by the army , context.
deception, military oppression,
“gunless terrorism” by the central para The protests manifests the truth illegal political detentions, a
military forces, where the Prime that military suppression may break the scathing human rights record,
Minister of India wants authorities to back of armed resistance but it cannot sterile political alliances, mass
curb, contain and check protests, and win over people to reconcile to a forced
every protest is held out as inspired, union with India. It is, therefore, while exodus, and New Delhi's malignant
financed from across the border it according to the officialdom, every interference have created a
follows that targeting youth would be indice of militant activities, presence, gangrenous body politic that hasn't
its operational fallout. Also it infiltration etc has reached “sub-
downplays the fact that denial of critical level” the presence of forces
even started to heal.
justice to victims of state terrorism, let monitoring the public and private lives
alone resolution of the 63 year old of people remains by and large intact. If NYLA ALI KHAN
unresolved problem, leaves them with 2008 protests was triggered by land
no choice other than to register their issue, 2009 by Shopian twin rape and anger. But underneath these catalytic
protests. It is when space for exercising murder, this year the Machil fake trigger lies rage at the violence inflicted
civil liberties are thwarted that they encounter of three youths and use of by the Indian State on a people, whose
take recourse to venting anger by brute force against stone pelters demand was for a democratic resolution
pelting stones. Not unlike what the resulting in deaths of youth caused of the problem.

BG VERGHESE
Some protests are partly engineered

T
his is most unfortunate. There may be reasons for dissatisfaction with the prevailing situation –
conflict-related distress, unemployment, lack of progress towards a political settlement, HR
violations, etc. But there are ways of discussing and mediating such issues without taking to the
streets in provocative (mostly Friday) protests that are being partly engineered by interested parties to
stir the pot and further their narrow agendas. The last Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board and Shopian
agitations are illustrative of issues or non-issues being blown out of all proportion and distorted to serve
nefarious ends. Never forget that Jammu and Kashmir (with Ladakh) is more than Kashmir or just those
parts of the Valley that are disturbed.


SEMINAR 14

REKHA CHOWDHARY
Frequent eruptions in
Kashmir clearly reflect a
deep-rooted anger
ance to the Human Rights violation is

O
bviously there is something
seriously wrong in Kashmir. The being disregarded to the extent that
frequent eruptions in Kashmir every now and then there is one or the
clearly reflect a deep-rooted anger not other case of loss of lives of the inno-
only among the youth who are seen to cent citizens either in cases of fake
be pelting stones on the streets but in encounters or in the cases of mishan-
the society as a whole. There is a feeling dling of protests. It is accumulated
It is not just a coincidence that that even after two decades of conflict anger which also reflects a sense of
these three summers have been and loss of thousands of lives, Kashmir betrayal, disillusionment and hopeless-
particularly hot in continuity. The has not reached anywhere near the reso- ness. Apart from the anger against the
lution of conflict. The pressure built by state, there is also anger within – in
problem goes back to 60 years
militancy has been exhausted and there respect to the separatist politics and
is no compulsion for India, internally or movement. With the divided leader-
NAEEM AKHTAR externally, to move forward. Hence, for ship, there is a sense of loss of direction.
long time now, nothing is happening in The middle ground of separatist politics
the name of peace process – no efforts has since long been lost as the moderate
are being made to engage Kashmiris in have been discredited in the process of
dialogue, no CBMs are being offered – their engagement with New Delhi. The
not even the ones approved by Working separatist politics is therefore danger-
Committees constituted by the Prime ously tilted towards the hardcore ele-
Minister, and on the contrary, the par- ments who despite the 'consistency' are
ticipation of people in the processes of cocooned in their non-negotiable posi-
governance is mistaken as the 'nor- tions and hardened stances. On the
malcy'. Worse, the commitment of the whole, there is lot of confusion which
Prime Minister that there be zero toler- gets reflected in the spontaneous politi-
cal responses of the people. The latest
phenomenon of stone pelting youth is
NAEEM AKHTAR further reflecting this confusion. With
no other expression for channeling the
Don't look at three years, anger of people, and no other political
avenues being available – it is the street
it is about six decades politics which has acquired importance.
The street politics however is not to be

I
f you just expend the time frame it will become easier to seen only in relation to the teenagers
understand the malaise. It is not just three years, not even two pelting stones– but in relationship to the
decades but all the sixty three years of the independence that society as a whole. With the separatist
the cycle of turmoil is haunting Kashmir. It is just a coincidence that organizations and leaders failing to
these three summers have been particularly hot in continuity. And offer any alternative politics of resis-
tance, the stone pelting is the only poli-
administrative reasons have worked as a trigger on all three
tics of resistance at the moment with
occasions. which people can identify.


15 SEMINAR

NYLA ALI KHAN
Politicians have failed the nation

T
he process of nationalist self- Kashmiri academics, it was pointed out
imagining is likely to remain in a to me that autonomy was an inadequate
nebulous state so long as the solution. The intractability of the
destiny of mainstream Kashmiri Kashmir conflict has made advocates of
politicians is etched by the pen of the conflict resolution rather wary of
calligrapher in New Delhi and applying a seemingly workable but
determined by maneuvers in the murky facile solution to the complex political
den of subcontinental politics. Can J & K conflict. Mainstream media,
politicians rise above their myopic intellectuals housed in academic
aspiration to willy-nilly grab the throne institutions, formulators of public
and scepter? The obvious lack of self- policy, and members of think tanks are
reflexivity in regional parties shows a quick to point out that regardless of the Sheikh Abdullah had launched
glaring inability to carefully consider bloody and seemingly infinite nature of
a political, ethnic, or racial conflict, a
movement against Maharaja
the stakes. I wanted to end my book on a
hopeful note but, sadly, the reins of J & viable solution can always be found to because he foresaw a better place
K are yet again in the hands of New dilute the fierceness of a conflictual in secular India. Today, there are
Delhi. The powers that be can pull those situation. But one is cautioned against
reins in any direction they deem fit. The glibly advocating a kitsch solution to the
people holding torch against India
two mainstream regional parties--the Kashmir conundrum by the complexity because they search for a future
NC and the PDP--are pawns in a game of of the Kashmir conflict, which embodies somewhere else
chess in which the odds are in favor of the brutalities of nation building devoid
the Congress. of myth or self-infatuation. The
J & K in the current political unruliness of the Kashmir conflict has DAYA SAGAR
context is a house divided. It is led many to confuse the idea of nation
paradoxical to watch political bigwigs, with the power and brute force of the
bureaucrats, and civilian and nation-states of India and Pakistan.
paramilitary officers preening and Although the idea of self-determination
gearing up to celebrate India's collides with military oppression on the
likelihood of its being adopted in an
Independence Day, 15 August, while contentious site of nationalism,
undiluted form to metamorphose
many Kashmiris continue to remain in political accommodation can lead a
Kashmir's political, cultural, or
the abyss of socioeconomic deprivation war-weary people out of the colonnade
territorial circumstances?
and political marginalization. J & K is a of duplicitous rhetoric, political
Both India and Pakistan have a long
palimpsest that has been inscribed upon domination, and forceful imposition.
The debate among political thinkers, history of deploying rhetorical
two or three times, yet the previous
scholars, and policy makers about strategies to skirt the issue of
texts have been imperfectly erased
finding viable ways to placate plebiscite or complete secession of the
and, therefore, remain partially visible.
marginalized ethnic minorities in J & K former princely state of J & K. When
A history of unfulfilled pledges, broken
has been infinite. Since the advent of feeling particularly belligerent,
promises, political deception, military
independence, New Delhi's self-deluding Pakistan cries itself hoarse declaring
oppression, illegal political detentions,
and self-serving “democratic” approach the legitimacy of plebiscite held under
a scathing human rights record, sterile
has been to allow the disaffected people UN auspices in J & K; India responds
political alliances, mass exodus, and
of J & K to voice their “seditious” just as aggressively by demanding the
New Delhi's malignant interference
opinions within the existing political complete withdrawal of Pakistani
have created a gangrenous body politic
that hasn't even started to heal. framework legitimized by governmental troops from the territory of pre-partition
rhetoric. The reasonableness of the J & K; or, in a moment of neighborly
After the first edition of Islam,
autonomy solution advocated by solicitude, for conversion of the LOC to a
Women, and Violence in Kashmir:
mainstream political parties in J & K may permanent international border. Which
Between India and Pakistan, published
seem axiomatic, but what is the of these solutions is the most viable?
in June 2009, was reviewed by several


SEMINAR 16

RAMESH MEHTA
There is obvious disconnect
between leaders and peoples

F
irst of all we must understand that Kashmiris are basically extremely
sentimental. It appears that the popular Governments between 2008 and
2010 have failed to gauge the mood and read the mind of the people of
Kashmir leave alone relating to them. There had been a disconnect between the
leaders of the ruling coalition and the public.
Well, it is very likely to be the outcome of a design but who allowed the
design to succeed? People's whole hearted participation in elections was construed
as a license to ignore the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. Omar's inaccessibility
to even his cabinet colleagues speaks volumes in this behalf. Even Dr. Farooq
People in Jammu and Kashmir are Abdullah is on record to have said only recently about Omar that, “ He must come to
fed up with present state of affairs. grips with the administration and show the door to officials who don't perform.”
This statement is self explanatory and endorses the views held by the common man
A recent survey by Chatham House in the streets.
has just proved that. A vast majority I would like to recall the SASB agitation in Jammu. It was the manner in which
wants substantive change in the body of Kuldip Verma was disposed off that fuelled the anger far and wide and
helped the agitation enormously otherwise till that day it was just another
present status agitation. Perhaps the same history is being repeated in Kashmir over the last few
years.
ERSHAD MEHMUD There has also been a clash of perceptions between the people and the Govt.
and Govt. had failed to clear the mist encircling its credentials. Failure of
intelligence gathering mechanism as well as lack of responsive administration has
been adding fuel to fire.

M M KHAJOORIA
This is a grand coupe

T
o keep Kashmir restless and simmering to be brought to boil at the time of their choosing was the tactical response of
Pakistan establishment to the changed politico-strategic ground realities as assessed probably in 2007. The people
were fed up with senseless killing .Terrorism had begun to yield diminishing returns provoking public apathy and defiance
This was evidenced by the level of participation in the elections. There were no takers in the world community for “ the
struggle for freedom “ cover for ongoing terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. And terrorism had become a dirty word
The strategic shift involved combination of over ground violent mass street action and spaced terrorist strikes on specific
targets. In the latest bout yet-to-mature , gullible and excitable teenagers were placed in the vanguard .The violent street
action with stones as the weapon of offence invited the use of force by the security forces ( the justification whereof was
subject to formal scrutiny) resulting in civilian causalities exposing the Indian state to Human rights violation et all . The
accompanying man oeuvres in successful management of Public Perception during the last phase of violence succeeded in
confounding the civil society, confusing the political class , put Indian security forces and J&K Police in the dock and gained
immense public sympathy for the “movement .This was sort of a grand coupe which could encourage similar adventurism in
future.


17 SEMINAR

DAYA SAGAR
For separatists, summer is best
time to communicate

T
here is a role reversal in Kashmir. ticularly the youth and new generation
After 1990 Kashmir Valley has was exposed to. The social matrix of
remained exposed to only a par- Kashmir valley was damaged, the
ticular class of views. With this the dia- Kashmiri Hindu left the valley and their
logues and opinions that question the return was not given the first priority
intentions of New Delhi are more often over other material projects.
expressed. This way the separatist have Unfortunately this further helped the
been getting easy space. The separat- anti India elements. The efforts of the
ists too have found it easy to carry their official machinery have not been
campaigns and propaganda. Rather the enough for confidence building since It is accumulated anger which also
separatists too see come competition the propaganda by the separatists was reflects a sense of betrayal,
from parties like PDP. New Delhi has not against the local civil government
been playing very soft on separatists as but it was and has been against the
disillusionment and hopelessness.
well as those who advocate separatist nationality. Even Indian National Apart from the anger against the
like preferences for Kashmir valley. Congress has worked as local party , it state, there is also anger within – in
National Conference that had in earlier cannot compete with National
days simply preached special treat- Conference politically and so the best respect to the separatist politics
ments for Kashmiris, has now started thought way to keep NC uneasy by and movement. With the divided
feeling suffocated in the separatist envi- allowing the anti NC elements alive in leadership, there is a sense of loss
ronment and for its survival is not able valley. Under these circumstances sum-
to play harsh on the separatist ele- mer is the best time for the separatists of direction
ments. The quit Kashmir torch that was to reach out to the outer world since the
held by Sheikh Abdullah, against borders are also live, the tourist season REKHA CHOWDHARY
Maharaja Hari Singh in 1946 to ensure is on, the State government heads are in
that in independent India the demo- valley . So we have been seeing the val-
cratic power in State of J&K comes in ley more disturbed in summers in
the hands of NC like it would be for recent times.
Congress in India, has now been very
cleverly held by Sayeed Ali Shah
Geelani. But now it is against India. ARJIMAND HUSSAIN TALIB

I
Moreover except central grants no any t would be foolhardy to see a conspiracy angle or a planned
other tool has been used by the
Government all these years in Kashmir pattern to this phenomenon. This eruption is simply a
valley to remedy the misconceptions, spontaneous public reaction to political and economic
separatist propaganda, anti India cam- suffocation, coupled by excesses by and impunity to armed forces
paigns, doubts on the genuineness of in the state. The problem is that there is a big disconnect between
1947 Accession, the two nation theory
the rulers and the common people, especially the youth, and the
and the status of princely states . Before
1996 almost all political cadres had former are not fully able to understand the nature of the latent
moved out of the valley. And when they aggression and discontent among the people. And the root cause is
returned in 1996 they moved amongst New Delhi's aversion to address the core issue – Srinagar's
the people under tight securities. This completely eroded political and economic rights. And an onslaught
way they could not win the confidence
of the people in an environment where on its larger identity.
anti India ideologies have been only
inputs that the common Kashmiri par-


SEMINAR 18

ERSHAD MEHMUD
Dividends of 2008 elections
were not consolidated

T
he massive destruction and human losses in the wake of militant struggle in
the Valley in 1990s had forced many Kashmiris to shun their armed struggle
and revert to a non-violent movement. The peace process initiated between
India and Pakistan imbibed a new hope in this segment of the society which fully sup-
ported it. However, things stand totally changed today as the process has failed to
yield significant results; mainly because of lukewarm Indian response coupled with
the political turmoil in Pakistan.
The people of Valley once again preferred ballot over bullet in 2008 when state
assembly elections were held in Kashmir. Pakistan too tacitly supported this exer-
There is a strategic shift in cise and things went smoothly. In fact, Islamabad put its weight behind Omar
Abdullah who promised to promote broader reconciliation between Delhi and
Pakistani establishment's approach Islamabad and also within Jammu and Kashmir to create local consensus. However,
to Kashmir. Keeping Kashmir he failed to create a space for the separatists in the local politics due to Delhi's ter-
simmering at the time of their rorism centric approach towards Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai attacks.
People of Kashmir are fedup with the current state of affairs. Recently,
choosing is their tactical response
Colonel Qadhafi's son Saif-Al-Islam commissioned the first opinion poll on both sides
to the waning scheme of terrorism. of LoC on the future of Kashmir. The poll was conducted by a well reputed organiza-
In the latest bout gullible and tion IpsosMORI in October - November 2009 and published by the Chatham House
London. The survey suggests that the protracted conflict made huge negative
excitable teenagers were kept in
impact on the people?s lives. The poll maintains that an overwhelming 80% of
the vanguard. This is a sort of grand Kashmiris ? 75% in AJK and 82% in J&K. felt that the dispute was very important for
coupe them personally. It shows that a vast majority of the people wants substantive
change in the present status. It also shows the people's frustration with the current
state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir. In my view, as long as Delhi and Islamabad do
MM KHAJOORIA not jointly take tangible steps to stabilize Kashmir Valley lasting peace cannot
return to Kashmir. In this regard, they have to pick up the threads where they were
left before Mumbai attacks.

GUL MOHAMMAD WANI
There is hardly anything surprising
about protests; anger is deep

T
he upsurge and uprising of youth power need not surprise us. The youth were always at the forefront of rights- based
movements in Kashmir .After all gun too was taken by the youth against the State. In recent times stone pelting youth
and the consequent disruption of civic, economic and political life has made many Kashmir watchers to offer their own
explanations as to what has happened and how to retrieve the further collapse. There is no doubt that the peace process
both in its internal and external domain had brought a sense of confidence and optimism in the life of an average Kashmiri
youth.The youth were feeling that the world has starting opening to them. The disruption in that process did make a dent in
the psychology of Kashmiri youth. Despite the fact that many organizations in Kashmir either in unionist or separatist's camp
are headed by young men and women but that has not translated into either their fascination or empowerment of youth. The
youth have a feeling that their leaders have lost their autonomy to confront the might of the Indian State. Some critical
issues dominant in Kashmir discourse like Land, demography, drug abuse, violations of human rights have their own impact on
youth psyche. Further rising economic and globalizing India does not mean much to an educated youth who remain under
scanner of security agencies once he moves out side the state for education or jobs.


19 SEMINAR

Q What should State and Center
do at this stage.

REKHA CHOUDHARY
The should come up with
political response

F
or achieving the minimum peace in the Valley, first thing that is required is the An internal political dialogue must
improvement of record of Human Rights violations and both the Central and
State government should see to it that the innocent civilians are not harmed commence on all issues – the task
in any way. The present cycle of violence needs to be broken and a message needs to force reports (centre-state relations
be given to those responsible for maintaining law and order that every life is and regional autonomy), governance,
valuable and order cannot be restored at the cost of human lives. However, there is
no possibility of peace without the political initiatives. The political response has to meaningful decentralization through
go beyond the knee jerk and adhoc response to crisis situations. Not doing anything empowered panchayati raj
will not lead us anywhere. There is a need of political vision and political will to structures, the future of the Pandits,
resolve conflict situation. Given the emotive response to Kashmir at the national
level, it may not be possible to immediately provide a model of conflict resolution, development and employment,
but at least some beginning needs to be made. New Delhi needs to address the trust disappearances, HR violations, etc.
deficit that it has in Kashmir. To remove this trust deficit, the Government of India Nothing and nobody need be excluded
will have take step, which might be very small, but which should reflect the
genuineness and sincerity of the Government of India. It is important the people
should get a feeling that a peace deal with Pakistan would not be brokered without BG VERGHESE
the participation of Kashmiris and whatever happens people would be given a
chance to deliberate upon issues.

RAMESH MEHTA
Make only those promises which can be fulfilled

B
oth governments should make only those promises which they are capable of fulfilling. Saying
that sky is the limit and not allowing even the rooftop is not going to work. Forming the Working
Groups and consigning their recommendations to records sends wrong signals. It is foolhardy to
believe that unemployment is driving the youth to stone pelting. It is a recognized fact that Kashmir is
not included in the list of 8 most poor States of India. Unemployment today is a worldwide
phenomenon. Hence, there is much more to it than meets the eye. Why is it that whenever there is a
crisis of this sorts the politicians belonging to the ruling coalition goes into hibernation instead of
going to and facing the people? Yes, by facing the people they are destined to face their wrath but that
is the price they should be prepared to pay for earning the title of being genuine representatives of
the people. Other wise the vacuum created by them in troubled times is bound to be, and is being,
filled by the separatist elements.


SEMINAR 20

NAEEM AKHTAR
First, acknowledge the basic problem

L
ook at the realities and acknowledge them. Unfortunately everybody has been
in a denial mode on Kashmir. The problem exists at more than one level. And
unfortunately the current turmoil has introduced yet another level to it. The
youth who are spearheading it sense an existential threat to them as a result of the
killing of scores of them. This has happened in the backdrop of comparable
situations receiving completely different treatment. Media has made instant
comparison possible. And the youth or the general public in Kashmir does not view it
as difference of approach but discrimination as in the case of dealing with Naxal
violence. While Naxals armed with guns and literally butchering security forces are
called and treated as “our own men” who can't be fought with weapons, bullet is
prescribed as the only solution to Kashmir's angry protestors. And to legitimize this
The rouge element in the counter- approach conspiracy theories are cooked up with the help of a media that in case of
Kashmir has always sided with the establishment and worked as part of security
insurgency grid of the State needs apparatus. Unfortunately the establishment in Delhi has never treated Kashmir as a
to be eliminated. All corrupt part of the country or its exciting democratic enterprise while accusing everybody
elements in government and else of trying to snatch it away. As part of that mindset which sees Kashmir as a held
territory rather than part of a nation full of different strains even a genuine
administration need to be weeded democratic opposition is treated with suspicion and dubbed antinational if the ruler
out.Saint Augustine [Christian is a darling of Delhi. Could it happen that Mamta Banerji is called upon to help
philosopher] used to say that all communists in diffusing Nandigram and if she didn't attend a meeting with the chief
minister be called antinational? While the political problem of Kashmir will remain
unjust rulers need to be
as long as it is not actually solved without waiting for it to disappear, governance has
killed}.That is one way to stop the also been an important factor. It is the administrative quality that has always
revolutions. determined the dormant or active nature of people's anger. History is a witness to it.
Quoting the more recent chapter of it may be relevant but not necessary. Compare
2002-2005 to the years that followed it or preceded it. Same human beings could
GUL MOHAMMAD WANI
produce different results. Same people of Kashmir were inspired to write a new
agenda of peace for South Asia that are now being maligned as stone pelters risking
lives for 100 bucks (foreign funds) a day. Same people crowded the polling stations
to create new records for the country who are now being defamed as Let terrorists.
That is enough to indicate what needed to be done. But it may already be too late
for Omar Abdullah to begin afresh. For credibility once lost is impossible to recover.

GAUTAM NAVLAKHA
Repeal black laws, stop brute force

R
ollback the regime of repression which is in place since 1989, indeed many of the extraordinary laws need to be repealed or
revoked which have been there since 1947, release political prisoners, and stop use of brute force to suppress people who
protest. These are what I consider as basic minimum required to ensure that a political process can be initiated for reaching
a democratic and peaceful solution. It is outrageous that people writing on Facebook or activists organizing protests should be
charged for inciting violence when it is the Indian and state police forces which are responsible for causing the unrest in the first
place by their commission of atrocities and then by cracking down on the media to ensure that people do not get to know the
truth. Take the most recent instance. Machill killing highlighted the fact that there is a co-relation between the disappeared and
the unidentified graves. Kalaroos graveyard, where the three youths were killed and buried was one of the many graveyards
investigated by the International Peoples Tribunal on Kashmir and the findings show that there were 2373 unidentified graves
containing unnamed 2943 bodies in 55 villages of just three districts! How can it inspire confidence when no steps are taken to
investigate this to reveal the truth lying buried in the mass graves in J&K? Why should this be considered something not doable. If
this is not doable why expect people to remain placid when faced with these harsh realities that punctuate their live


21 SEMINAR

MM KHAJOORIAl
Center and State have a lot to introspect

T
he central government should terminate the policy of pampering and
“pleasing” the political elite and focus on the aspiration of the common
man instead. It must ensure that the benefit of the huge financial inputs to
the state reaches the common man in full . More importantly speedy and effec-
tive steps be taken to convince the people that the financial support was neither
meant to be “Khairat” nor bribe money.
I am convinced that the most potent source of alienation in Kashmir is the
strong feeling that the government in Delhi as well as other states equate the
entire community with the militant anti-national fringe. Every Kashmiri Muslim
was suspect. The strong , transparent and painful emotions generated by this
humiliating treatment should be effectively addressed on topmost priority to
the satisfaction of the Kashmiri civil society. Political leaders of the state ought
, The state government had lot to introspect about. The foremost question
to be addressed was what made the Kashmiri Muslim youth so vulnerable to and
to be in constant touch with the
such easy prey for manipulation by subversive elements despite unprecedented people. But none is doing that. The
financial allocations by the centre, special economic packages, huge inputs in Centre is surprisingly even more
infrastructural development ,sanction of central universities and other institutions
inactive
of higher education and government claims of massive employment generation. ?
The Tourism was booming and Pilgrim tourism never had it so good. Was it frustra-
tion , desperation ,hopelessness or total loss of faith in the system and conduct of INDER MALHOTRA
governance? Chief Minister Umar Abdullah must initiate immediate steps to ascer-
tain what precisely went wrong with the system and take urgent corrective mea-
sures..On the law and order front. the state apparatus needed to be reoriented and
geared to face the challenges of normalcy . I wish someone had taken seriously and
acted on suggestions contained in my article titled “The challenges of Normalcy”
published in November, 2009.. It was still very much relevant.

GUL MOHAMMAD WANI
ARJIMAND HUSSAIN TALIB
Keep the core political Remove gaps
question in mind between promise
and performance
F
irst acknowledge that 60 years of carrot and stick

O
quick fixes have not worked to quell popular discon- n all issues like zero tolerance for human
tent in Kashmir. Anything skirting the core political rights violations, dialogue, reconciliation the
question is unlikely to help in achieving durable peace. The gap between promise and performance
needs to be removed. The independent enquiry
state government must act as a facilitator between New recommended by all party committee to probe
Delhi and those who see the solution to the Kashmir issue recent killings of youth needs to be speeded up and
beyond the political status quo. It must also try to explore a findings made public. The rouge element in the
common ground with all political stakeholders in the state counter-insurgency grid of the State needs to be
to set a political agenda for New Delhi-Srinagar talks which eliminated.All corrupt elements in government and
addresses people's political aspirations, and at the same administration need to be weeded out.Saint
Augustine [Christian philosopher] used to say that
time takes into account the economic and political realities
all unjust rulers need to be killed}.That is one way
of our region and the world at large. to stop the revolutions.


EPILOGUE AUGUST 2010 ISSUE

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EPILOGUE AUGUST 2010 ISSUE