Kashmir is on fire for the last three months and the poor Kashmiris are daily counting their dead. One fails to understand why in a democratic country like ours young boys and even some young girls are being routinely killed mercilessly. Should stone-pelting youths and teenagers be treated in this callous way? Will it not enhance the resentment of already alienated people there? It ill-behoves a great country like India. It is unfortunate that our country could not win the hearts of common Kashmiris even after 63 years. Can there be any greater failure than this in a democratic setup?
As regards the ruling class people there, they are regarded as mere stooges of Central government and do not command even an iota of respect among the Kashmiris. The situation is utterly hopeless and no light appears at the end of the dark tunnel.
The five-letter word “azadi”, which is esteemed all over the world, but despised by our law enforcers there and taken as a provocative taunt, is on the lips of the young and old there. Kashmiris are dying for this in spite of knowing that they cannot taste this forbidden fruit as the contending power-holders of India and Pakistan are unwilling to allow it. And even if they get it, will they not go the Pakistan way where bloodletting has become the order of the day. They do not seem to be happy with the idea of throwing their lot permanently with democratic India. They are not even ready to think that when 17 crore Muslims, the third largest segment in the world, can go along the Hindu majority India, why the one crore Kashmiris cannot be happy if they are given greater autonomy, respect and dignity.
Concerted efforts, a non-status-quoist approach and unconventional methods should be adopted to bring peace to the burning Valley. The marginalisation and victimisation of the Kashmiris should be brought to an end. Atrocities and brutalities must be stopped forthwith. For winning the battle for hearts and minds the broken hearts, broken souls and broken homes must be rebuilt on the firm ground of respect for human rights and accommodation of Kashmiriyat. Help from across the border, from Pakistan, also is essential to solve this problem which is stoking fires of hatred for the two great neighbours for the last six decades.
Why Kashmir should be a bone of contention for the neighbours? Is it not possible to make it a bridge of cooperation for the two countries? Can’t we think of bringing together the two diverted parts of Kashmir and making it a State whose internal autonomy is guaranteed and whose external affairs are looked after by India and Pakistan jointly?
A critical moment in history is knocking at our doors and we have to seize the moment and do not allow Kashmir to bleed to death as that would be the death of our ethos and ethical principles.