saga of sacrifices.....

Many struggles preceded the epochal uprising of 1931 and many have followed it, all were rooted in religio-cultural ethos of Kashmir, says Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain
Ever since Kashmir was sold by Britishers to Maharaja Ghulab Singh, Kashmiris never digested this sale. Soon after the deal was executed, people of Kashmir fought valiantly against the army of Maharaja Ghulab Singh and defeated it. The battle took place near Sheikh Bagh under the leadership of Imam-ud-Din, the last governor of Sikh rule. Dogra army retreated and for several months and Kashmir remained free from foreign rule. The Kashmiris who were martyred in this resistance were buried at Shaheed Gunj, previously known as Maidanpora. The army of Maharaja Ghulab Singh could control Kashmir only with the help of British army after several months. The resistance was followed by the rebellion of Poonch. Those who rebelled over there were skinned alive. This marked the second stage of resistance to alien rule. The third stage of resistance is represented by the Shawl weavers. The Shawl weavers staged a protest outside the house of Raj Kak Dhar against excessive taxation on 29 April of 1865. Raj Kak Dhar ordered a police action against unarmed weavers. Twenty eight weavers died as a result of police action. This marked the third stage of resistance against dynastic rule of Maharaja Ghulab Singh and his progeny. In 1925, the workers of Silk factory rose in revolt against Hari Singh. All these stages of resistance remained localized and fizzled out after sometime. The incidents however transmitted the spirit of resistance to new generations. What makes 1931 important is that the resistance this time was not localised. It was state-wide. It started from Jammu against the sacrilege of Quran by sepoys of Hari Singh, culminated in Srinagar in the form of massive protests. The protests remained confined for sometime to demand of action against those who were involved in sacrilege. Then a strange voice echoed to give a direction to it. It was voice of Abdul Qadeer, a disciple of Jamaal-ud-Din Afghani and an adherent of his ideology of pan-Islamism. He had come to Kashmir in the garb of a cook. He asked people to address the root cause of their desperation and subjugation. He perceived it was the despotic rule of Hari Singh which had rendered them helpless and subjected them to indignation with respect to their faith. His words catalyzed transformation of society. Abdul Qadeer was detained. People protested against his detention and wanted the trial to be open. Despotic rulers didn’t tolerate this demand. They subjected the demonstrators to indiscriminate firing. So many were martyred and others injured. The injured and the dead were taken in procession to Jamia Masjid. One of the injured whispered before his death, “We have completed our mission, now it is your duty to carry it forward.”
These words of the martyr keep on echoing within hearts and-- minds of Kashmiris. They have become custodians of an aspiration, transmitting it from one generation to another. There were attempts to betray this aspiration in past as well as at present, leaders became corrupt. Instead of pursuing the struggle, they made compromises for the sake of power, prestige and wealth but masses have shown time and again that they remain and will continue to remain the custodians of this aspiration. Dogra rule came to an end with controversial accession of the state to Indian union. The accession was supposed to be endorsed by people of the state through internationally supervised plebiscite. Instead of seeking endorsement of accession through plebiscite, Indian union proceeded with establishment of a scandalous constituent assembly having seventy three members out of seventy five elected without contest. Sheikh Abdullah, the architect of accession, was put behind the bars after being sacked in 1953. The constituent assembly was made to endorse the accession. Large scale development works initiated during the tenure of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad to dilute the sense of alienation. Along with large scale development, mobilization of Kashmiris for status quo was sought through cultural carnivals organized in the name of Jashn-e-Kashmir. For a while Kashmir seemed to be on the path of integration with Indian union. Reality of this estimation got exposed in 1963. Holy Relic of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was stolen from the shrine of Hazratbal. Within no time Kashmir erupted like a volcano. Everyone blamed the central government for the sacrilege of the holy shrine. Even Nehru realized that Kashmir is linked to India with “a half spun thread”. Secession in Kashmir shed its dormancy and became manifest everywhere. From 1990 onwards every day in Kashmir has been a day of martyrdom. Hundred thousand people have followed the path of 1931 martyrs. During the tenure of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Indian state was again overtaken by an illusion of Kashmiris abandoning the path of martyrs. It launched a ‘crusade of development’. This was supplemented by carnivals and music festivals. These festivals had an aroma of Pakistani participation. Pakistan government too seemed to be indifferent to Kashmiri aspirations. For Indian establishment the Kashmir problem was over. The only thing needed was to flood it with yatris and tourists. For this purpose, Amarnath Shrine Board was constituted. The board headed by the Governor-General, pursued for making settlements in the name of yatra. Provoked by land transfer to Shrine Board, Kashmir again became mobile in June. For two weeks Kashmir experienced unprecedented mass mobilization. Every child, woman and man was on streets tearing apart everything that symbolized Indian Union, hoisting green flags on every street, daring security agencies with stones and lathis. The coercion of draconian laws, the counter insurgency operations, the developmental crusades and music festivals, everything failed to make Kashmiris reconcile with the status quo. This uprising depicts the truth that aspirations are non negotiable irrespective of what so called realities demand. The march of martyrdom continues with everyday, with every month, with every year and Kashmiris keep on paying tributes to the martyrs of 1931. Every time they rise in revolt, the issues which catalyze rebellion remain religious. Every time they get mobilized, the colour which they use for depiction for their aspiration remains the favorite color of their Prophet (SAW) and dome of his eternal abode. Leaders may keep on changing their colours, but masses have shown their choice again and again. By changing colours the leaders became irrelevant but aspiration continues to echo in every village, every town and every city of Kashmir. Of late, Kashmiris have made it clear that they will keep on resisting irrespective of attitude of their supporters elsewhere. Like leaders of Kashmir, leaders of supporting countries may be guided by expediencies of geopolitics, Kashmiris have are determined to change the geopolitics the way Algerians, Afghans, Iranians and Vietnamese did. Kashmiris remain guided only by their determination to achieve freedom and mould their destiny in accordance with their religio-cultural ethos.

source: The Daily Etalaat; Dr.sheikh showkat hussain

Why Indians are silent

We have no hesitation in recognizing India as a country that has successfully evolved into a functional state where democracy has become a permanent feature of its governance and has struck deep into its political ethos. Making and unmaking of governments here solely rest on the sweet will of the people. A raised-eye brow wobbles and pulls down the power-intoxicated. A fortunate grin perches a lesser mortal atop. That democracy brings variety which is the spice of life, Indians have demonstrated it in bringing to power “jolly” Lallus, and social caste Mayawateees and wresting it from the “iron willed” Indras and “sagacious” Vajpayees. Wedded to this principle this state has remained immunized against any threat of military dictatorship.
But this beauty of India gets tarnished when it comes to Kashmir. Here democracy runs off its steam. “Sovereignty” belongs to people concept of democracy it peddles differently. “His Majesty’s” secular claims lose sheen and wear communalist trappings. Reneging from plebiscite pledge has generated a sense of betrayal and sown seeds of alienation. A true democratic face put up by Delhi would have, to a certain extent, mollified the resentment. But unpopularity of India has largely been the result of its wrong policies it followed and super-cop attitude it behaved with. Every succeeding generation had grown old in witnessing India playing the role of a conquer. We need not exhume the past. It is all told, all known. A legacy we are the victims of. Even today.
The Raj Bhavan stepping out of its constitutional authority, Shrine Board challenging the writ of its creator, state legislature, a petty State bureaucrat’s flexing his arrogant muscles, environmental vandalization and dangerous implications of land grab; in all these the offending silence of the Indian media, political leadership, civil liberty unions, environment sensitive groups , NGOs; and above all tacit support of Indian state for all this has again encrypted into the DNA of Kashmir that Delhi is not sincere and has something dangerous up its sleeves.
Sincerity and trust are not abstract propositions you can dole through Door Darshan, Radio Kashmir, news channels or news papers. Nor parroting Kashmiryat and “Rishi-sofi Islam” from Raj Bhavan and pro-Indian rhetoric of coalition government and of those hungering for power win you trust of the people. Sincerity and truth demands siding with truth, gravitating to the just cause and protesting against the forces hell-bent on carving a parallel authority in the state and intending to change the demography of the state. How many from Indian state have, at this moment, when Kashmiris find besieged from all sides, shared our woes? Except one honorable exception of Gautum Navlekha, a famous writer and human rights activist-before whom we salute for his courage?
Of late thousands unmarked graves have surfaced up in Uri Kashmir and Rajooree Jammu. Had only one-twentieth of these been reported, hell would have unleashed in India. There a child slipped in a pipe-hole gets the live coverage and keeps the media channels, army and executive glued. Here thousands are buried in nameless graves, none looses sleep. There a deer poacher is imprisoned even if he is a film ”star”. Here killers of thousands of innocent unarmed people remain untraced. Are Kashmiris worse than creeping insects? Why double standard?
Kashmiris are not against Amarnath Yatra. From the beginning of last century when ice Lingum (stalagmite) was discovered by Muslim shepherded and journey to the cave has assumed religious sanctity for Hindus, Kashmiris have been providing every possible help to pilgrims and have actively remained involved in the yatra; carrying Hindu pilgrims on palanquins, riding them on ponies and offering other assistance. There is no question of whatsoever, as being alleged by communalist forces, in causing any obstruction in the holy ritual. What worries people here is the manner and sinister design behind in turning a matter of spiritual belief and conviction into jingoistic exercise with dangerous implications on both environment and Muslim majority character of Kashmir.
Before creation of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) by National Conference, to please his masters in Delhi, the yatra was smoothly being conducted by the state administration with local participation. Lust of power has blinded NC Walaas not to comprehend the devouring capabilities of the Frankenstein they had created. Puffing the arrogant stance of being ‘sovereign body’ with ‘arbitrary powers’ for ‘promotion of Hindu interests, the Frankenstein virtually went on hunting spree, with Raj Bhavan under Retd. General SK Sinha providing the milking udder. The Board started grabbing entire forest land en-route to cave from Pahalgam on one side and Baltal on the other side. It virtually took over the functioning of Pahalgam Development Authority and started constructing permanent structures even in Pahalgam Gulf Course. On June 3, 2008; Gh. Nabi Azad led Congress-PDP coalition, in a major blow to the interests of Kashmir, transferred 800 Kanal to the forest land to the board. Still insatiated, the bulky “stomach” of the Board wants another 3200 Kanals. To unveil itself, the SASB has staked claim to set up an ‘independent’ Amarnath Development Authority. So everything is going according to the “blue print” for raising Amarnath Nagar. The fate of Palestines having been deprived of their ancestral land sends Shivers and looms large on Kashmiris in light of SASB’s “sovereign” authority beginning to show Zionist like spots.
Can it happen elsewhere and can Indians digest the indigestible. In the latest session of legislative council at Jammu, an MLC from coalition dispensation was informed by SASB that law makers do not enjoy the powers to question the decision of a body headed by the Governor. The “law maker” had asked whether the SASB was charging rent for erecting tents and makeshift shops from the locals. It is worth reproducing an extract of the letter SASB shot to deputy chief minister to show the brazen arrogance of the Board: ‘Governor is sovereign ex-officio holder of the power…which acts on his own personal satisfaction and not on the aid and advice of the council of ministers… The member (of the legislative council) be explained that he does not enjoy the powers to question the decision of the body’. One asks where lies the much talked ‘sovereignty’ of the legislature? When Indian sponsored ‘representatives of people’ are debarred from the right of asking a question, what message Indian state is sending to Kashmiris?
We have to remember that serving Governor is a servant of Government of India and his principal secretary is the CEO of the SASB. Thus in grabbing land, in inundating Kashmir with Yatrees and bringing devastation of delicate ecology and adding element of patriotism to boost morale of troops ‘fighting the enemy’ in Kashmir (as news portal of Indian government, Press information Bureau, puts it), it is Indian state that leads the onslaught. Gangotri in Utrakhand is one of the most revered Hindu pilgrimage destination. But realizing damage to the ecology and Gaumukh-from which springs Ganga-the state has restricted pilgrim flow to only 150 a day. In contrast twenty lac pilgrims are expected to visit the Amarnath this year, about over ten thousands a day. This monumental increase in period (from three weeks it has expanded to two and a half mouth) and number (last year four lac pilgrims have had a darshan of the ice-lingam) and three layer deployment of security forces (12000), the fragile ecology of glacier and that of tourist destination spots of Pahalgam and Sonmarg stand threatened severely. Add to this 55000 Kg of waste generated and its draining into the fresh waters of Lidder River, and pollution caused by buses, trucks, and sorties of helicopters, the degradation of environment of “paradise” is all but complete. Why Indian attitude is discriminatory?
Growing resentment of people, angry protests of students in Kashmir University campus, massive street demonstrations and, most importantly, unification of Hurriyat on this issue, point to the volcanic nature of the issue. Before things go out of control it is time for the Azad dispensation to wake up and rescind the order of transfer of land and hand over the Shrine Board to local Hindu community. The custodian of holy mast (Charri-mubarak) Deependra Giri has held actions of board against the Hindu scriptures and raised voice at politicizing and commercializing a simple matter of conviction and piety as Yatra is by Raj Bhavan and SASB.
Tail piece: - ‘Imagine if someone were to ask for setting up an independent Ajmer Sharief Dargah Development Authority with say control over a large part of Ajmer city. What would be the response of Rajastan’s BJP government? All hell will break loose and it will be projected a diabolical demand and may be even treason. So why is it that India’s self-appointed champions of secularism keep mute in face of naked promotion of sectarian Hindu interests by the Indian state in J&K?’, asks Gautam Navlakha.

(courtesy: greater kashmir; hassan zainagree

cry from a kashmiri's heart.........

The problem with the Indian Administration has been the same right from the start of the Kashmir issue. India has never admitted to kashmir being a dispute in spite of as many as 19 resolutions passed by the UN and seen as a dispute by the international community as well. India has been rigid and obstinate in its approach to the Kashmir issue from the very beginning. India and Pakistan have talked a million times over Kashmir but have always failed to reach a conclusive solution to the issue mainly because of India's rigid policies on Kashmir. Kashmir has seen the worse in the last 19 years of bloodshed and turmoil. It is time India and Pakistan talk sincerely over Kashmir and end the bloody conflict responsible for as many as 100 thousand deaths in the valley.
The Indian Government is still keen on solving the problem under its constitutional framework which may never work as an everlasting solution. India must realise the concerns of common Kashmiris before overlooking the plebiscite, an option which may settle the dispute for good. The Indian government under pressure from right wing parties is too weak to actually even voice out a probable solution for Kashmir which may not be under its constitutional framework. But the fact is that if Kashmir has to live in peace at all, all the three parties concerned that is India, Pakistan and most importantly people of Kashmir will have to sit together and draft a solution. Kashmir is much in need of peace and normalcy after so much turmoil but it is dependent on the sincerity of India and Pakistan to work out that peace.
Any solution where common kashmiri's concern and views will not be considered can never bring everlasting peace to the valley. India has time and again tried the tired formula of corrupting the people's representives and worked out a compromise but have always failed to settle the problem for good, be it the 1948 agreement with Sheikh Abdullah or the 1953 agreement with Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad. Everlasting peace will only come when India realises and respects the opinion of the majority population...........Kashmir and Kashmiris both are craving for peace which they deserve fully.......with such a beautiful and serene background Guns do not match the scene in any way..........India and Pakistan come out of your egos and the so called territorial superiority and bring end to the violence in kashmir.....this is a cry from the heart of every kashmiri..............

The struggle erupts again.......contd

Through out the year 1990 kashmiris were targeted everywhere. No one was spared children, women and adults all were made to pay the price of rebellion against India. India known to the world as the biggest democracy broke all democratic procedures and violated all human rights in crushing the struggle in kashmir. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act was passed and a reign of terror was let loose on innocent Kashmiris. Who can forget the unprovoked firing on demonstartions or the mass rape of women in konun Poshpora and hundreds of other places. Residential and commercial complexes were set ablaze in srinagar, Sopore and elsewhere in the valley. Young innocents were killed everyday. People were detained and held in custody without trials. Young boys from all over the valley were interrogated in ways alien to human culture. A fear was created in the general population in the valley. The Nineties were the worst period of time for Kashmiris which will always be remembered by them as the most difficult and traumatic. As a result of the pain and sufferings many kashmiris migrated to Pakistani side of Kashmir and many others moved to other countries to escape the bullets in Kashmir. Indian and Pakistani relations became tense and on a few occasions war like conditions prevailed. The turn of the century welcomed the new millennium for the world but nothing much changed for the Kashmiris who were still under the Indian occupation. Though things did ease a little bit but custodial killings and disappearances became widespread. It is 2008 now, conditions in Kashmir today are a little better than what they were a decade earlier but the ground situation has not changed much.Kashmiris still wait their birth right.......their right of self determination.............

The struggle erupts again.....this time with arms

1989 was the year when kashmiri youth were fed up with the stagnation of kashmir issue. They had tried everything from peaceful protests to getting their representatives elected by polls but had failed in it. It was time to try something else and try they did. In late 1989 thousands of youth started crossing over to Azad Kashmir and start a limited war with Indian troops, this time with weapons in their hands. JKLF lead the kashmiri youth in this war for the freedom of Kashmir. In no time other anti India groups joined the JKLF and a number of freedom seeking groups emerged. The government led by NC did not expect any of this and could not handle the situation. The Indian Government appoints Jagmohan as the governor of Jammu and Kashmir and on january 19 1990, the then Governor Jagmohan took charge of affairs at Srinagar.The same day the NC government resigns. On the night of January 19 people started coming out in huge numbers from all over the valley to protest against the appointment of Jagmohan in kashmir. More than 200 people are killed the next day when Indian paramilitary troops open fire on a peaceful protest in the Gawkadal area of srinagar.Srinagar is put under Curfew and shoot at sight orders are given to troops for any violation. Thousands of people come out in streets inspite of the curfew. In the end of february an estimated half a million people come out in a protest and rally towards Chrar e sharif as a mark of support for the freedom struggle in kashmir. On March 1 an estimated 1.2 million Kashmiris come out on roads making it the biggest demonstartion in the history of Kashmir. Protests continue for the month of march. In the month of april 1990 kashmiris are put through a virtual house arrest when the governor imposes a 17 day curfew in srinagar. People are made to suffer in the holy month of Ramadhan by house to house searches almost through out the city. Atrocities on common Kashmiris becomes the order of the day........to be contd

brief history.......contd

The 1965 war ends in a cease fire and the Tashkent declaration is signed in 1966 asking the two countries to revert to pre 1965 position. The same year Amanullah Khan and Maqbool Bhat form the Jammu and Kashmir National liberation front. In 1968 Maqbool Bhat is arrested and sentenced to death, but manages to escape and flees to Azad Kashmir. 3 years later in 1971 an indian passenger plane en route from srinagar to delhi is hijacked and take to lahore. The plane is blown up after the passengers are disembarked. The same year India sends its troops to East Pakistan to help rebels in a popular uprising against Pakistan and Bangladesh is born. After the cease fire, Simla agreement is signed in 1972 which states that India and Pakistan would settle all pending issues through bilateral dialogue. In 1974 Mirza Afzal Beg on behalf of Abdullah signs the Kashmir accord with the government of India which reiterates Kashmir's special status inside Indian union. Maqbool Bhat is arrested in 1976 on his return from Azad Kashmir and Ammanulah Khan moves to UK. Jammu kashmir National Liberation Front becomes JKLF. Sporadic clashes take place between the Indian And Pakistani armies at siachen glacier in 1984. 3 years later in 1987 elections take place in kashmir. It is the birth year of Muslim United Front, an amalgam of different anti indian political parties. MUF challenged the puppet government of NC in the polls. Kashmiris young and old are seen throwing enthusiasm and support behind the MUF. The Indian Government is worried and NC is declared winner after massive rigging during polls. This has been the turning point in the history of Kashmir, from their peaceful struggle from 1947 to the elections in 1987. It was after these elections that a common kashmiri realised that his wishes and aspirations had no respect for the ruling NC and the Government of India. This was the year Kashmiri youth after feeling betrayed by the peaceful and constitutional means opted for armed struggle........to be contd

brief history.......contd

India had plans to take Kashmir from the beginning, how can one forget the last minute inclusion of Gurdaspur, a muslim majority district supposed to go to Pakistan, to the Indian union by the Radcliffe boundary commission. Following its designs for Kashmir, the Indian Government went against the UN resolutions and in 1951 carried out the first elections in kashmir. UN passed another resolution the same year to the effect that such elections could not substitute the plebiscite and reiterated that a free and fair plebiscite be held in Jammu and Kashmir. A year after elections Sheikh Abdullah defected from his position of endorsing the accession to India and insisted on the plebiscite in Kashmir. In 1953 India and Pakistan agreed on appointing a plebiscite administrator by the end of April 1954. But as I mentioned earlier India had other plans from the beginning and in August 1953 the Indian Government dismissed and detained Sheikh Abdullah. And yet again India appoints a puppet government this time headed by Bakshi Ghulam Muhammad who officially ratifies the accession to India, for which he was actually appointed. In 1956 the puppet state government adopts a constitution of the state and declares it to be an integral part of the India without any mandate from the Public. UN passed another resolution in 1957 stating such actions could not constitute a final disposition of Kashmir and reiterated a free and fair plebiscite be held. In 1964 the ailing Nehru probably realised his misdeeds released Abdullah from prison and sent him to Pakistan to solve the Kashmir issue in accordance with the wishes of kashmiris but unfortunately he passed away a month later and the talks got stalled. Sheikh Abdullah is again arrested in May 1965 after he arrives in India from Makkah. And in 1965 India and Pakistan go to their second war over Kashmir.......to be contd

kashmir problem......a brief history

Kashmir has been a bone of contention for both india and pakistan for over 6 decades now......1947 was the year the indian sub continent was partitioned and India got its independence and Pakistan was created......Pakistan, a country carved out of India for muslims in the sub continent....All muslim majority regions were to accede to pakistan and hindu dominated to India...It was here that kashmir's misfortune started.....By theory Kashmir should have gone to Pakistan as it was a muslim majority state, but it was ruled by a hindu (Dogra) king who did not want to accede to Pakistan but wanted it to be an independent state.....In August a stand still agreement is signed with Pakistan....Later that month the Maharaja sends his troops to the Poonch area of Kashmir strenthening his hold in this muslim majority district in Jammu division...The people of Poonch revolt and an uprising starts against the Maharaja....By october the uprising reaches Mirpur and Muzzafarabad and on october 24 Poonch rebels declared the parallel government of Azad(free) kashmir.....It was in this month that hundreds of pushtun tribesmen joined forces with the Poonch rebels and crossed over to Uri and Baramulla. Seeing the kingdom being lost the maharaja in a hurry to save his throne signs accession to India on conditions that kashmir will retain its autonomy....on 27th october India sent its troops and a war started....In 1948 India took the Kashmir issue to united nations which brokered a cease fire between India And Pakistan and the line of control was drawn....United nations passed many resolution on kashmir and declared a plebiscite be hold and people be given the right to choose between India and Pakistan.....India and Pakistan both agreed to the resolutions....Now it has been 60 years and we kashmiris still await the plebiscite and our right to self determination........................To be contd...