‘High Time To Set Goals For Azadi And Achieve Them’
ARIF SHAFI WANI
Srinagar, Oct 24: Reiterating that Kashmir was not an integral part of India, noted writer and Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy Sunday accused India of launching “a protracted war” to suppress the ongoing movement in Kashmir by its military might. She said it was high time for Kashmiris to set goals for Azadi and achieve them systematically.
“I believe Kashmir is not an integral part of India. It is a historical fact,” Roy said at a seminar titled ‘Whither Kashmir? Freedom or Enslavement’ organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society here. “By describing the pro-freedom leaders in the Valley as separatists, India in a sense has already acknowledged that secession has taken place,” she added.
Roy who has been vociferously advocating the cause of Maoists and Kashmiris minced no words in accusing India of waging war against minorities. “In Nagaland, the troopers have been targeting Adivasis, in Telangana Dalits and in Punjab, they target Sikhs. India is an upper caste Hindu state that is certainly at war with minorities. It has waged a protracted war in Nagaland and Kashmir to force inclusion of people into its system,” she said.
Maintaining that the ongoing movement has highlighted the aspirations of Kashmiris, Roy underscored the need for initiating a debate on Azadi. “Resistance is a beautiful thing. It is high time for Kashmiris to set goals for Azadi and steer the movement,” she said.
However, she cautioned that there is an elite section in Kashmir which is allowing the oppression. “Your struggle has raised the consciousness about Kashmir dispute and the oppression you face. But you must decide what type of society you have in mind once you are allowed to decide your future,” she said.
Elaborating she said imperial colonialism is fast being replaced by corporate colonialism. “Kashmiris will have to make a choice whether or not they want the Indian oppression to be replaced by a future corporate oppression of the local masses,” she said.
Roy stated that Kashmiris recruited in the army and paramilitary forces are being used to suppress the voices of dissent in the Northeast and other states. “I was heart broken when I saw Kashmiri BSF personnel in Dantewada. Mothers in Nagaland recalled their kins who were posted in army and other security agencies. I urge Kashmiris to ensure that they are not used to as tools of suppression,” she said.
Hailing the role of Kashmiri women in the ongoing movement, Roy asked them to contribute to the struggle in one way or the other. “Kashmiris have been breathing and inhaling through the barrel of AK 47.”
Terming India as a prison with many nationalities, Roy said attempts are being made to implement the policy of divide and rule. “After attaining freedom from the British, India itself has become a colonial power. It has left the legacy of partition in the shape of Kashmir. India opened the locks of two issues including Babri Masjid and tried to give it Islamist colour to act like a victim. The Home Minister, P Chidambaram has been maintaining that he wants to see 80 percent people of India who live in villages to shift to cities. They want to divide and rule. It can only happen with the help of Army,” she said.
Roy said during her visit to southern India state, she asked her a friend to show her the grave of a Dalit who was killed in Kashmir. “An SP accompanied us and showed the grave in a garbage dump. He said the people did not allow the body to be carried in front of their homes saying it will pollute them. One should not have any expectation from a country whose Prime Minister (Dr Manmohan Singh) has not been ever elected,” she said.
She said India has been using the façade of democracy to cover up the rights violations. In New Delhi she said 3000 bodies were recovered in recent past besides 20,000 children disappeared. “But nobody asks the questions as people in Delhi are not fighting for freedom. Democracy has become another form off tyranny,” she said.
Prominent human rights activist Gautam Navlakha said the gun has played an important role in highlighting the Kashmir dispute. “Gun kept the Kashmir issue alive. Now the stone pelters have taken over the mantle. Now the stones have the power and there is no need of guns. Azadi is not round the corner but you have fight for it. Whether all party delegations and interlocutors will visit Valley, talk and go back. But it is the Kashmiris who have to decide their future,”
Navlakha said there has been criminalization of dissent as all voice in Kashmir have been suppressed.
Navlakha impressed upon the civil society to establish its own institutions. “Their foundations have been laid in past four month and it is high time to give it a practical shape. The students should start exhibitions like draw paintings on what their concept of Azadi is,” he said.
Criticizing the Kashmiris who give vent to feeling through Facebook, Navlakha said battles are not fought from drawing rooms. “I am not against the face bookers but it is a shame on them. They have to openly support their fellow Kashmiris. Mere slogans can’t fetch us freedom. But if we maintain unity, steadfastness we will achieve Azadi and sacrifices will not go waste,” she said.
Noted Trade Unionist Ashim Roy underscored the need for strengthening trade union movement in the State saying it will help garner support for Kashmir cause. Ashim said he was privileged to organize a trade union conference in “three countries comprising Jammu and Kashmir, India and Pakistan.”
“Trade Union movement in Kashmir has the potential to garner support for the just cause in India. So we should promote and strengthen the movement,” he added.
Senior journalist Zahir-ud-Din said the Trade Union Movement in Kashmir was the oldest in the World. “On 29th April 1865, Trade Union Movement was launched in Kashmir after 28 shawl weavers were killed at Zaldagaar. 20 years after the incident, the Movement started in Chicago which is celebrated as May Day,” he said.
Prominent filmmaker Sanjay Kak said it is high time for Kashmiris to what he said push the curtains on their victim hood. Pertinently Kak, a Kashmir Pandit shot into prominence for his documentary ‘Jashn-e- Azadi’ in 2007 depicts the ground situation in the Valley during the last two decades.
“The perception of majority of Indians in changing towards Kashmir issue. I was surprised when Jashn-e-Azadi was received well by the Indian audience. At least there is a ten fold change in India’s attitude towards Kashmir due to protests on Kashmir streets,” he said.
“You have to see what you can offer to Indian people. You have to show them the strength of Azadi. We have to understand that the stone pelters on streets of Kashmir are not pleading but demanding the rights of Kashmiris. We want somebody else to fight the battle of Kashmiris. Arundhati and Gautam have earned their right to call spade a spade by struggling for it. So have the Kashmiris to do,” he said.
Kak said the Facebook has emerged as a powerful tool for Kashmiris to give vent to their aspirations.
“The Facebook has a diversity of opinions on Kashmir and nobody can neglect them. I want to maintain that what we see on Indian media regarding Kashmir is not opinion of Indian people. Corporate media outlets are driven by their own compulsions,” he said.
Najeeb Mubarki, the Assistant Editor of the Economic Times said the Kashmiris have achieved a moral victory due to the ongoing movement. He accused the Indian media of delegitimizing the struggle of Kashmiris. “After 9/11, there has been a tendency to link every thing in Islamic context. Indian media sometimes states that there are militants among the protesters and blame Pakistan for fomenting trouble in the Valley. This is done to delegitimize the struggle of Kashmiris,” he said.
Pervez Bukhari, noted journalist said a big part of Kashmiri’s population is silent due to fear and highly militarized presence. “The troopers are making efforts not only to suppress but make Kashmiris their part. The aspirations of Kashmiris surfaced on the streets. Due to crackdown unleashed to crush the protests, the whole generation has gone underground. It is a horrifying thing. People are reluctant to even talk on phones as most of them are tapped. This has made the people vulnerable and silent,” he said.
“Ironically, I see the new generation protesting lonely. It is responsibility of each Kashmiri to share their views and give support to the cause. Ways and means have to be developed for giving space to the silence majority of Kashmir,” he added.
Pervez Imroz the chairman of JKCCS said the civil society has an important role to shape up the opinions in Kashmir. “At a time when seven lakh troopers besides cops are leaving no stone unturned to suppress the movement, it is the responsibility of the civil society to give vent to aspirations of Kashmiris. We have invited those people to speak in the seminar who are considered to be enemies by India for speaking for the Kashmiris,” he said.
Imroz accused the Government of India of holding the media hostage and spreading misinformation about Kashmir. “Many NGOs have been formulated who portray false picture of Kashmir. These NGOs have intruded into our society. If we have to achieve freedom we have to ourselves fight for it. We can wait for others to fight for our cause. We have to shape up our future ourselves,” he said.
The seminar was followed by an interacting session in which the people from different walks of life interacted with the speakers.
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