Cherry picking of events from history to paint a narrative of atrocities in Kashmir is not a new thing; older the event, better it is because no one can confirm its veracity. The aim behind such selective exposition of historical events is often to strengthen the feeling of ‘victim mentality’. Writings on ‘Begaar’ (unpaid forced labour) in J&K during the Dogra rule fall in the same category. Begaar system was prevalent before the time of Dogra rule also whether it was period of Mughals or Afghans or many of the rulers who came into the region. In fact, Begaar system was abolished by Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1920, but such facts are not brought out. Anyways, atrocities from older times are safe to bring out by people who have ulterior aim of creating an unhappy narrative in Kashmir.
They will not talk about atrocities on Pandits or about victims of grenade blasts carried out by terrorists or the large number of sarpanches, teachers, policemen, migrant labourers killed by terrorists everyday or about the women who face terrorists’ brutality everyday but do not speak out due to fear or about so many young men who die in Kashmir due to venom spread by Pakistan. Why? Because talking about these will not get them ‘likes’ on social media, may put them in danger and because everyone in the society is keeping mum.
This traditional lack of social conscience and fear in Kashmir must have assisted the rulers from far off lands to survive in Kashmir. The social media warriors who try to rekindle the feeling of incessant Zulm do not care to address this basic issue of lack of social cohesion in Kashmir. Everything in Kashmir is Zulm if it does not snow, it is Zulm and if it snows heavily, it is Zulm; winters are Zulm and summers are Zulm; paying for electricity is Zulm and not being allowed to cut trees from the jungles at will is Zulm but terrorist atrocities are not Zulm.
The victim mentality strengthened by the ‘Zulm’ feeling is a stumbling block on the road to progress because it makes our society weak. It also enhances the levels of undue expectations from the government as it makes the society feel that they are ‘special’. The society starts finding comfort in status quo and becomes feeble. In such a society, people chase their personal agendas and social causes get left behind. The unfortunate drug menace in Kashmir is an example of such phenomenon. Everyone feels that it is a major problem but all eyes remain on the government to do something; least realizing that government requires help of people to address such social challenges. But the society just keeps hoping that either government or some NGO or someone ‘else’ will do the needful. Also, the drug menace is the direct product of the machinations of Pakistan but surprisingly does not come under the category of Zulm.
The separatists and the social media warriors take full advantage of the ‘Zulm’ mentality. Their propaganda gets a response because subconsciously, the society feels that they would get something in return of every perceived Zulm. So when it snows heavily, it is common to find everyone, irrespective of the losses, making a bee line to the government offices for compensation. People look for more and more subsidies as they feel that they are special because they are facing Zulm. The leaders also take advantage of this mentality. They deftly rake up issues to arouse the feeling of victim-hood.
People in Kashmir love movies and the recent opening of the multiplex has made people happy. But the hate mongers will not praise this wonderful progressive step. They will dig into the history to discover incidents of Zulm. Being happy for them is not an option because their shops run on Zulm, sadness and victim-hood. For them, the Dal Lake is not a marvel of nature but a reflection of sadness. They would click photos of the Dal Lake with an old man sitting on the banks in a manner to portray societal sadness when there is none. They would not click photos of people enjoying themselves on the boulevard or a couple appreciating the beauty of Nishat Bagh.
They will not rejoice on the commencement of electric railways from Baramulla to Budgam and further to Banihal. They will not clap when a Kashmiri boy or girl makes a mark in the field of sports, art, music or other fields of talent they are only interested in sad stories, sagas of Zulm or perceived Zulm. These people who create the sense of self-pity do not lament the closure of cinema halls, cafeterias, beauty parlours on diktats of terrorists but they will dig deep into the history to bring out incidents of atrocities.
They will criticize a citizen being killed in cross fire between the police and terrorists but will not question the fact that the terrorists first fired from a mosque a place of worship. They want some material that can reinforce the feeling of victimhood in people. They will create some story to generate a false hope in people that in return of the perceived Zulm, they will get benefitted and that their ‘being special’ will fetch them some fortune. These people can generate some support on social media but the unprecedented footfall of tourists in Kashmir belies their obfuscation. The prevailing normalcy and ground swell for peace in Kashmir belies their false claims of atrocities. People of Kashmir want to move on. They want normal lives. They do not want terrorists to come into their homes. They do not want their sons to pick up guns.
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