Anil Anand
“Baat karni mujhe mushkil kabhi aise to na thee
Jaise abh hai vahan mehfil kabhi aise to na thee”
-Bahadur Shah Zafar
The words as stated above are of the last Mughal emperor, the narration this time was by redoubtable Dr Karan Singh in Rajya Sabha and the context obviously was Kashmir. This was a touching expression of pain and agony by someone who describes himself to be the witness to history in the Jammu and Kashmir for more than half a century.
If Dr Singh the former Sadar-e-Riyasat, before this expression was changed to Governor, of Jammu and Kashmir decides to openly express his anguish on developments in Kashmir, there is little doubt left in anyone’s mind that the situation is really serious and warrants attention. It was a pleasant surprise for Kashmir watchers, this writer included, that an ever-reluctant Dr Singh finally decided to set the record straight though not fully.
Nonetheless, though belated, it was a welcome sign. ‘Der aayat durusat aayat’ ( Better late than never). One can draw solace from this oft-repeated saying but there could be no two views that he as the witness to history always had a major role to play to retrieve the land of his ancestors from the political mess which had become murkier as the days passed. And he was better placed to do that than any other political leader either at the Centre or the state.
He chose not to speak and finally he chose to speak certainly cannot be a matter of personal choice to him. He is not only the repository of Kashmir’s recent history but his in depth knowledge about its ancient past and historic perspectives places him in a different league. Above all, being the tallest and perhaps the only leader of the state who enjoyed goodwill among people in all the three diverse regions of the state, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Dr Singh had a definite role to play.
This was amply visible when, during the course of his address, he not only expressed anguish over happenings in Kashmir particularly “disproportionate” use of force but also alienation of intelligentsia in the troubled Valley. At the same time he forcefully talked about stakeholders in Jammu and Ladakh also to be taken on board. Finally, his reference to “serious problem of trust and credibility” of Indian state in Kashmir gave an insight into his mind.
There is merit in his advice to start an all encompassing dialogue with all the stakeholders that include separatist fringe and Pakistan for a long term resolution of Kashmir crisis. This is another matter that this suggestion drew flak from noted historian of Jammu and Kashmir Prof Hari Om, who is currently on a mission seeking reorganisation of the state with focus on Jammu region, and his ilk.
Every word spoken by him on Jammu and Kashmir still carries weight notwithstanding the fact that a lot of water has flown down Jhelum and Tawi rivers and the generations that knew him from close quarters have gradually vanished. Whether he decides to move forward from where he left on finishing his brief but statesman like address in Rajya Sabha, is only known to him. But his decision to speak out has certainly generated interest both among his admirers and critics.
One message is loud and clear from Dr Singh’s impressive articulation on current situation in the state. The state of his ancestors has to stay united and that all the three regions require equitable focus and development depending on their problems and needs. Again he has an important role to play to achieve this.
The octogenarian royal turned democrat has many constraints one being the age though he is as fit as ever, in proactively working on Kashmir. But he still has a role to play as a guide and advisor. His suggestion to the Government to set up a small core-group of two to three people on Kashmir rather than creating an all party mechanism is valid and worth considering.
He very rightly backed this suggestion with emphatically stating that Kashmir issue is not any party’s affair. But it is a national crisis and a national challenge. So in his scheme of things it warrants a consolidated national approach.
Dr Singh is a Congress MP. It was encouraging to see that both he and the Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House Ghulam Nabi Azad were permitted by their party to address the issue by rising above party-lines. Both seasoned in their own respective rights rose to the occasion.
The Congress will have to continue in the same spirit if Dr Singh’s suggestion of national approach to a national crisis is to be taken to a logical conclusion. At the same time the onus also lay on BJP-led NDA Government to take his expressions in proper perspective and not view Kashmir issue from any ideological prism.
Another silver-lining emerging out of this brief debate was the admission, in some form, of collective failure in Kashmir. Azad’s mention that “we haven’t learnt our lessons in Kashmir,” was an index while as he warned that the terrorists and citizens cannot be treated with the same bullet is a point to ponder over by all concerned.
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