Tej K Tikoo
Name of Book: Kashmir Chronicles (1986-2023): Neoteric Analyses of a Rapidly Changing Landscape
Author : Dr Vijay Sazawal
‘Kashmir Chronicles (1986-2023): Neoteric Analyses of a Rapidly Changing Landscape’, is written by U.S.-based nuclear policy analyst, Dr Vijay Sazawal, whose association with India and, particularly with Kashmir, has spanned many decades. The book, compiled by Anita Limaye and published by Sabre and Quill is spread over roughly 500 pages.
The book is one more edition to the ‘Exodus Literature’, i.e., books written by Kashmiri Pandit authors, now living in exile for the last 35 years.
The book essentially contains a collection of the author’s speeches delivered at various fora, papers presented at many international seminars in the U.S and other places, and presentations made by him in various institutions of international repute, including those dealing with Human Rights issues, over the last thirty years. Having been born, and brought up in Kashmir till the end of his college education, and having maintained a keen interest in the developments in Kashmir, post -1990, when the Kashmiri Hindus, the microscopic minority of Kashmir, including his old parents, were cleansed out of the valley as a result of the jihadi upsurge, Dr Sazawal brings to bear on the contents an unbiased perspective on wide spectrum of issues that bedevil the beautiful Kashmir valley.
The compilation of the author’s presentations/speeches/ papers, etc., indicate his regular, intense and meaningful interaction with many important people in prestigious institutions, policy-making government agencies, think tanks, and human rights organizations. His work provides a peep into the deep state’s methodology of formulating policies on the burning issues of this world and its conflict-ridden flash points, including that of Kashmir. It is, perhaps, the first book on Kashmir in recent years that provides a glimpse of how the international policy-framing bodies look at Kashmir generally and on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in particular. The book clearly indicates that for policy planners, the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits is ‘no big deal’.
The author, through regular interaction with various opinion-makers and influential people in Kashmir and Delhi, provides a 360 degrees perspective of everything that has come to define the tepid response to our exodus and the continued negligence of our displacement by the government, both in Kashmir as also in New Delhi. The author has also, rightfully, provided a scan of how big powers and particularly the western nations, look at the Kashmir issue, of which our exodus is a part; important for us, the displaced, but of little consequence to others. Dr Sazawal has described the ebb and flow of the armed uprising in Kashmir and the ups and downs of Indo-Pak relationship which have impacted Kashmir. He has also described the western attitude to the violence perpetuated by the radical Islamists, whom they, particularly the U.S., created in the first place to serve their geo-political interests, in the first place.
The book conveys an impression that the author has, by and large, gone along with the existing narrative prevailing at the time when he presented his papers/ made a presentation. For example, on December 15, 2005, Dr Sazawal heaps praise on the now-incarcerated Yasin Malik who, at that time, was the toast of the media and had even been invited by the P.M. Dr Manmohan Singh for a meeting with him. He goes on to add,” Mr Malik has the public stature and support of the Indian civil society to contribute towards the goal of peace-making if he chooses to do so.”
Writing about the events of 1986 in south Kashmir, Dr Sazawal says that that event was a turning point in the history of Kashmiri Pandits as it reflected the attitude of the state and central government to the sufferings of Kashmiri Pandits at the hands of radical Islamists. According to the author, this event, actually shaped the later events of 1989-90. But the community failed to interpret its grave significance for their own future.
At many places in the book, the author significantly and clearly exonerates Syed Ali Shah Geelani of any wrong doing against Kashmiri Pandits, including their killings in the initial phase of the violent uprising and later, when the P.M. package employees were targeted. Most Kashmiri Pandits will, indeed, take this assertion with a mouthful of salt.
On more than one occasion, Dr Sazawal endorses the view expressed by some, including Dr Farooq Abdullah, that it would be fair for both, India and Pakistan, to agree on turning the Line of Control (LoC) as the International Border (IB). However, the author overlooks the historical background of how the area came to be occupied by Pakistan and how accepting LoC as the IB would amount to legitimizing the fruits of aggression. Besides, with Pakistan becoming a part of China’s BRI and its crown, the CPEC passing through our territory of Gilgit -Baltistan, accepting this formula will be suicidal for India.
On many occasions, Dr Sazawal has written about the excesses of our security forces. During his presentation to The Institute of Conflict Analyses and Resolution, George Mason University, Virginia, U.S.A. on 8 November 2007, he writes, “The excesses of Indian security forces for a long time went unchallenged in the Indian Administrative Service, but that has changed recently. There are more and more errant security personnel being held personally liable for the wrongful actions.” During the same year, in his presentation at a meeting organized by the Interfaith Society of the UNHRC Council in Geneva on Oct 19, he says,” There is no question that the Kashmiri Muslims have borne the brunt of police and security forces excesses…..In any case many civilians have suffered, much like Pandits, who never took to gun culture…”. Having spent a large part of my Service life in counter-insurgency operations across all insurgency-prone areas, I can say with full authority that no Army in the world has fought for so long, against so many odds, with so much restraint as Indian Army has done. I wonder whose narrative he is endorsing. Perhaps a typical KP balancing act.
In the last few pages of the book, the author dwells on the path to peace and the return of the displaced to Kashmir, their land for centuries. His ‘Path to Peace’ suggestions are not new. However, most of these suggestions, even though given with noble intentions, does not take into consideration the objective of Pakistani deep state, which is “To grab Kashmir Through Jihad”. Pakistan is unlikely to make any compromises in achieving this objective, even if it results in its own destruction. As far as the return of the displaced KP community to Kashmir is concerned, Dr Sazawal seems to veer towards seeking a ‘Homeland’ for them in Kashmir, though he has not defined it in clear terms, or maybe I overlooked it.
I am happy the author has quoted Joseph Korbel, the Chairman of United Nation Commission on India & Pakistan (1949), who summed up the Kashmir scenario in his book, Danger in Kashmir, “The real cause of all the bitterness and bloodshed, all the …..that have characterized the Kashmir dispute is the uncompromising struggle of two ways of life, two concepts of political organization, two scales of values, two spiritual attitudes…Conflict in Kashmir has become both symbol and background.”
The book is proof enough that through word and deed Dr Vijay Sazawal has invested his time, energy and resources over the last thirty-five years to make policy makers and other government agencies and institutions understand the causes of Kashmiri Pandit exodus and their plight as refugees in their own country.
The advantage of the book lies in its eye-catching presentation in bold font. However, I noticed a few editing errors. For those still smarting under the unforgettable experiences of our ethnic cleansing, this is a must-read book.
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