Introduction to KashmirForum.org Blog

I launched the website and the Blog after having spoken to government officials, political analysts and security experts specializing in South Asian affairs from three continents. The feedback was uniformly consistent. The bottom line is that when Kashmiris are suffering and the world has its own set of priorities, we need to find ways to help each other. We must be realistic, go beyond polemics and demagoguery, and propose innovative ideas that will bring peace, justice and prosperity in all of Jammu and Kashmir.

The author had two reasons to create this blog. First, it was to address the question that was being asked repeatedly, especially, by journalists and other observers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, inquiring whether the Kashmiri society was concerned about social, cultural and environmental challenges in the valley given that only political upheaval and violence were reported or highlighted by media.

Second, the author has covered the entire spectrum of societal issues and challenges facing Kashmiri people over an 8-year period with the exception of politics given that politics gets all the exposure at the expense of REAL CHALLENGES that will likely result in irreversible degradation in the quality of life and the standard of living for future generations of Kashmiris to come.

The author stopped adding additional material to the Blog once it was felt that most, if not all, concerns, challenges and issues facing the Kashmiri society are cataloged in the Blog. There are over 1900 entries in the Blog and most commentaries include short biographical sketches of authors to bring readers close to the essence of Kashmir. Unfortunately, the 8-year assessment also indicates that neither Kashmiri civil society, nor intellectuals or political leadership have any inclination or enthusiasm in pursuing issues that do not coincide with their vested political agendas. What it means for the future of Kashmiri children and their children is unfathomable. But the evidence is all laid out.

This Blog is a reality check on Kashmir. It is a historical record of how Kashmir lost its way.

Vijay Sazawal, Ph.D.
www.kashmirforum.org

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Beyond Understanding, Beyond Control

Mushtaq believes the present crisis in Kashmir is bigger than the intellect and capacity of the state government

(Mr. Mushtaq Bashir Barq, 36, was born in Nowshera, Srinagar. He completed his post graduate degree in English from the University of Kashmir. His articles have appeared in newspapers since 2000.)


The Game is Lost

Understanding is ability. And misunderstanding is justification. Between art and excuse one has to learn to live beyond bread and butter. To survive on dictations can timely suppress the intellect demand, but the day intellect learns to comply with the laws of better understanding, justifications are the worst hit. The circumstances in which we are jawed have been created only to turn this substantial voice into an animal cry. Shame on the Indian Media that has always thwarted the state of affairs in the valley. They have time again failed to understand the pain of a Kashmiri. At times they label us terrorists and at the same time they do not hesitate to give this struggle an ugly name of unemployment.

The ruling party like Indian Media has been getting a feel of pigeonhole propaganda. The voices and words at Delhi are different to satisfy the Big Bosses. The words and connotations carry different interpretations in Kashmir. In Kashmir CM speaks in the media like a sage but in Delhi his spiritual wisdom looses the thread. For he speaks of ammunition than rehabilitation.

His thought gives an impression that he can go up to any extent to give explanation for 54 days unrest. Security Purpose. What security? For whom? Army or for General gender. If he is out of the ordinary, he should have come out of the bullet proof car to meet the needy ones. Centre Government can only understand the language of arms and ammunition. They have failed miserably to win the hearts and minds of the people of the state. A government good in prints than practice.

Killing of a seven year old kid is being justified by the government, thus exposing its own credibility. After every killing a press release “Probe Ordered” has been a custom of the Government. Who probes? Who listens? Who judges? Omar Abdullah has failed in all fronts to take in hand the long-drawn-out pain of the youth. He confined himself to official statements. He talks of more forces in a situation wherein, healing aids are more required. Continuous crack downs and curfews are justified by the state Government for they lack a concern for those who provided them a chance to address the general voice.

In a state where army chief has better understanding in declaring that Kashmir issues has reached to a stage wherein political advancement is the way out. But this encouraging voice was put in low-key by the ruling party for “truth is bitter”, the intensity of this statement pierced through the ailed ribcage of the ruling party and they openly criticized the voice of the Chief.

If there is still an inclination of compassion circulating in the gray matter of chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, he must step down as a gentle man and if he continues, it would be one more confirmation of his inanity for he has lost the game both in valley and in Delhi. The present crisis in Kashmir is bigger than the intellect and capacity of state government.

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