The Author albeit renowned for his work in the field of journalism has erred this one time by bordering on yellow journalism for what can only be construed as an attempt to garner narrow & myopic gains and in the bargain has compromised legitimacy and research based journalistic ethos. Narrative building through excerpts and meetings with protagonists seems orchestrated with a lopsided and skewed tilt towards Kashmiri Muslims. The minority left in the lurch yet again for recognition and justice; belittling their soaring wounds.
By drawing parallels between actions of security agencies and actions of a majority community, the Author on one hand craftily bemoans the atrocities on Kashmiri Muslims, while on the other exonerates the same majority community who stood silent and thus abetted, the motivated and synchronous killings and forced eviction of Pandits by the likes of Bitta Karate and his Aakas who brewed this sinister design. Protests and near civil war like situation in 1990s perpetrated by separatists and extremists had created an incendiary situation and security apparatus reacted as deemed correct to quell the anti- national tide to uphold National Interests.
The divisive undertones and insinuations of portraying Mainland India’s Anti-Kashmiri sentiment through subtle incidents and narrations at best aligns with the wily and deceitful Cabals and Satraps who feed and thrive on anti-national agendas and conflict. Proliferation of extremism, stalling reforms, shrinking liberal thinking and radicalisation of the society are the desired end states of these closely bonded affiliates. National Interests never reign supreme in strategies developed by such coteries.
Strangulation of free media as claimed by Mr Bhardwaj stands in contrast to single story narratives peddled by local media before abrogation, aptly aided by innocuous funding channels. No one had the courage to counter the concocted half truths & stories of false victim-hood. Terror ecosystem was so entrenched that alternative voices and reportage by any reporter would have sounded a certain death knell in those torrid times . The Fourth Estate and Kashmiri Society stood in eerie silence to the plight of real victims of terrorists especially rape, molestation and torture of women in the most inhuman and despicable way.
Pulling wool over the eyes, the Author reconstructs datelines & timelines of Azadi by Kashmiris, while completely decapitating the rich historical moorings of Kashmir & Kashmiriyat. Generating communal sentiments to whitewash centuries of culture and history of a progressive & developed Kashmiri Society seems to be a rabid idea, which the Author seems to be perpetrating. The drift is evident. Poisoned by the rigid strains of exported Islamic movements, the aftermath of two decades of Terrorism created conditions where Mazaars and Ziarats saw declining footfalls, Burqa and Hijaab which were never part of Kashmiri culture has seen growing adoption among women and systematic subversion has propelled radical and Tablighi influences. Kashmir has to retrace its syncretic roots and that’s the moot point. No true Kashmiri can justify the exodus of Pandits.
The Author avers that abrogation of Article 370 was an attempt to refashion collective memories. On the contrary it is this very Section that wounded democracy, stalled development and fueled corruption for years in continuum. Political dispensations and Separatists in Kashmir wreaked havoc by supporting and sponsoring terrorism for their vested goals and created a negative perception of India being a “Occupier”. In the mid 90s when terrorist groups like LeT & JeM took over the militant movements, locals distanced themselves from the unfamiliar culture of radical interpretation of Islam. Yet Islam remained a mobilising agent. The Islamist propaganda & anti India stance created a facade of Pakistani Terrorist Organisations supporting Kashmiri Cause. These were all propagandas that created the ‘Us vs Them’ divide. The time had come for Indian State to supplement its policies with actions to meet its strategic ends as a violent and bloody Kashmir with separatist tendencies can never be in India’s National Interest. Majority of Kashmiris desire peace and progress rather than violence and instability and hence the time of fake narratives like shame and humiliation has expired.
Grass root democracy through DDC has shown increasing acceptability by locals both on account of governance and development. Dis-empowerment of traditional elites has given space to progressive local leaders. The Normalcy Indicators like reduction of resident terrorist pool, sharp dip in mass protests and increased economic inclusivity are pointers to prove that people are embracing good governance and economic incentives as against political ambitions of Kashmiri Nationalism. Semblance of normalcy is especially evident in North Kashmir and many districts of South Kashmir. Incidently the Author chose to interview a select group of locals from Srinagar rather than larger cross sections across various districts (Possibly creative content needs sensational and hard hitting packaging – Pun intended). The path to reconciliation cannot be based anymore on a Hindu India and Muslim Kashmir construct. Sufferings of the silent majority in Kashmir cannot be wished away in the cloak of misplaced sentiments of Azadi. Progress and development cannot be a casualty to terrorism anymore. This realisation by Kashmiris cements the integration of a Progressive Kashmir to a Strong India.
Kashmiris don’t identify with the Ghazis, the Burhans or the Adil Ahmad Dars. But they do identify with their Pandit Brethren’s – the umbilical cord that can not be cut only based on religious aggrandizement. The feeling of remorse and emptiness for “Mattoos and Sharda” of yesteryear or the “Bindroos and Bal Kishens” of today cannot be sacrificed at the exalted Altar of Azadi. Civil society and silent majority need to ensure emotional closure to their brethren and this can happen through Acceptance and Embracing them back in the folds as First Citizens of Wadi-e-Kashmir. Kashmir Files has churned the conscience as it has portrayed the genocide and the plight of a forgotten community in a vivid manner. This fact can’t be taken away from the historical chapters of Kashmir. It stands as a funeral pyre where the dead didn’t get their last rites and it appears that ‘their screams can’t be shut out’. Atleast till their Muslim brothers enable the refugees to reclaim their land and Temples and stand in solidarity.
“May be Bishamber Nath Mattoo can live his dream of finding himself in Devibal temple of Anantnag”
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