B L Saraf
In Kashmir, separatism habitually changes colors. The undercurrent, though, remains same. Having failed to achieve the ‘result’, separatist movement has under gone metamorphosis from the activism of ‘Slacks Moulvi’ in 1974 to the cacophony of ‘ban the pellet gun’ in 2016.
As a forerunner to the coming events,in mid-seventies of 20th century a moulvi would appear on the up-town streets of Srinagar with a lathi in hand, to wield it against the females spotted wearing tight fitting polyester stuffed trousers (slacks in the garment jargon). The puritanical move was intended to deter them from wearing it. He pursued with the exercise so zealously as to earn for himself a sobriquet – the ‘Slacks Moulvi’. By eighties the vigilante Slacks Moulvi disappeared from the scene. Come the ‘Allah Tigers’.
A vigilante group driven by the rabid religious zeal, ‘Allah Tigers’ claimed that they were god ordained to teach a lesson to the lovers of Bacchus ( Maikash ) and destroy the taverns (Maikhana). They ruled Srinagar streets till middle of 1989 when they got displaced by the ‘ freedom fighters ‘ ( JKLF), armed and trained by our neighbor, with a mission to ‘unbound the chained Kashmiri’. After creating mayhem of death and destruction the group lost its Azadi to yet another one of the ‘pure’ – Hizbul Mujahideen. Fueled by a rabid sectarianism, this band of militants was created and baptized by the ‘pure of the pure’ in the killer sanctuaries of our western neighbor. Their task was, first, to purge the Reshivaar of its aborigines,paint it green and, then, ensure its extra-territorial co-habitation and be governed by the ‘god’s own laws ‘.
The arrangement worked partially but failed to materialize Kashmir’s marriage with Pakistan. So track had to be changed. Thus came up the bogey of human rights violation, search for the ‘missing ‘ and raking up of the cause of ‘Half Widows ‘. Not feeling satisfied, the separatists and their sympathizers found a devil in the AFSPA. They started a campaign to revoke the law and withdrawal of security forces from the strategic locations in the Valley. Burhan Wani’s death came a god send gift to the disgruntled and stone pelting exercise re-commenced from where it was left in 2010. In consequence whereof, in self-defense and to protect the state security forces resorted to the pellet firing. Then, as they say, a hell broke out.
“Pellet” is the latest entrant to the separatist’s discourse. Even mainstream politicians seem to have been blown off their feet. From Salahudin in Pakistan- the patron saint of the militancy-to our own Gulam Nabi Azad in Lucknow – a true nationalist to the core – the ‘Pellet’ has become an object to detest. For Azad it is a big ‘alienator’ of the Kashmiris. True, it is heart rending to see faces and eyes strewn with pellets. But is the pellet as big a villain in Kashmir as it is made to be?
In separatist’s shifting narrative old ‘devils’ fall apart so soon. So, new villains have to be reincarnated to keep the pot boiling. Alibis must be in store to be put in place when required. Or else, they will have to shut the shop. They need ‘villains’ to sustain what is unsustainable politically, legally or morally.
It is a trick of the trade for many a sympathizer of the separatist’s cause to forget or conveniently overlook facts. The present unpleasant situation has not been brought about by the Indian state alone. Good many insiders are responsible for it. Political opportunism of every one – the separatists included – has role in this sordid drama. For no fault of theirs and despite having to pay heavily in terms of men and material, the security forces become a fall guy for everyone.
Kashmir is a story of political and administrative ineptitude: of promise not kept.We leave the matter to the other occasion. At the moment our heart goes out to the young and old who have suffered in the Valley ; to those who have received grievous injuries. It is as much time to grieve as it is to introspect. Where will the continuation of this insane situation lead us to? Young Kashmiris have suffered. So have the displaced young boys and girls suffered. It is they who,at the great physical threat, braved all odds and took up employment in the Valley to serve people there. As it is our duty to show our concern for the welfare of young and old in Kashmir, we expect the saner elements and civil society members in the Valley to rise up to the occasion and show same concern for the displaced young employees working in Kashmir. Otherwise, the prospect of eighth migration will become real sooner than later.
P.S : What about Government providing stones to the security forces, instead of pellet guns, to ward off the agitating stone pelters. For sure, presence of a security personal with one in hand to defend himself, the stone will soon become another devil to be detested by the separatists.To their comfort the government would then be praised in dumping the stone far away, and, mercifully, state, too, will breathe easy by seeing disappearance of the ubiquitous stone pelter from the streets. In no time the stone will turn into bane from the boon. Let us try it ?
(The author is former Principal District & Session Judge)
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