I got posted to a Rashtriya Rifles unit for the first time in Jul 2019. After completion of one month leave I reported to my unit on 31 July 2019. I was pretty excited about my new tenure as it was my first tenure in Kashmir in 15 years of my service. I had served in Jammu division long time back and then in Ladakh region including Glacier, only Kashmir was left and God has filled that gap also. As I said I was pretty excited about my upcoming tenure as I had heard numerous stories about Kashmir from my seniors and friends who had served here earlier. These stories covered lot of aspects of Kashmir both positive and negative. Among the positive things I had heard about the natural beauty of Kashmir and the delicious cuisineof the valley. Among the negative I was told that people are generally anti Security Forces and you have to be very cautious while moving out and to strengthen those negative view I had seen various videos floating on Whatsapp which had shown numerous incidents of stone pelting and people gathering for Janazah (last rites) of the slain terrorist.
Because of those stories I had some pre-conceived notion before I actually came here. I finally landed in Srinagar Airport on 31 Jul 2019 and I moved to my area, I was welcomed by the lush green landscapes, noisy streams, beautiful flowers all around and the chirping birds of the valley. It was all too much for me to absorb. Kashmir valley was beautiful beyond my imagination. I had started thinking that such a beautiful place but it has been made hell by some nefarious elements. After 5 days, the historic day arrived when Article 370 was abrogated and everything in Kashmir came to a standstill. Communication was blocked with no mobile phones, no landlines and no internet. Everybody was expecting huge protests all over the valley but nothing of that sort happened. There was no protest, no stone pelting incidents anywhere. I was surprised as it was opposite to my preconceived notions. Due to communication blockade I also had lot of time to interact with the locals to know about their views. After interacting with various individuals I came to know that Kashmir is quite different from what I had visualized about it. Maybe it was like that longtime back when my seniors had served in Kashmir but over a period of time it had changed and it has changed for good. Everybody in the valley is not anti security forces and pro terrorists. Most of the individuals just want to live normal life without any fears. These people also have aspirations just like rest of us to live a peaceful life. They want their kids to go to good schools, get educated and do well in life.
One of the question which I had in my mind is that how do the locals felt after abrogation of Article 370. While interacting with locals over a period of time, I came to know that most of the population is unaffected by abrogation of Article 370. In reality for them it had no significance earlier also, it was only a symbolic thing. In fact they were happy because they knew that now they will start getting benefits of the various government schemes which they were deprived of earlier.
I also realized that majority of the population have more faith on Security Forces rather than on any other government agency because security forces follow strict code of conduct and do not get involved in illegal or unwanted activities.
Majority of the population is also not pro terrorists. In fact only a very small percentage of population favours terrorists and agree with their ideology. Rest of the population does not speak against terrorism or in favour of government or security forces openly, because they know that if they do so they will be targeted by terrorists. In a way they are right because everybody has a right to live and here their survival instincts come into play.
All Kashmiris have dreams just like any other normal person. They want their kids to do well in studies and go for some govt job where there is security. Numerous young boys are trying for Army & Police jobs and other govt jobs and even young girls are desirous of joining Army as doctors and nurses. This year itself 16 persons from the valley have cleared the toughest exam of the country and have been selected for IAS training and also a huge number of youth wants to join the Security Forces and serve our country.
During my tenure in last one year my preconceived notions about the valley have changed and I have realized that Kashmir is also changing and it is changing for good. In the coming few years that change will be visible not only to those, who are present on ground but also to the world and Kashmir will once again be called “Heaven on Earth”. This is our “Naya Kashmir”.
-As narrated by a Company Commander in the Rashtriya Rifles
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