The unstoppable burning of a huge tract of land – Kashmir – for more than half a century soothingly induces unfathomable media material for the global press giants. Whether the herd of world media justified their Kashmir reportage ever since this region turned into a troubled territory is debatable.
Kashmir encounters continuous arsons, tortures and biasness for six decades. It is purportedly reported in the media worldwide. Radiance fearlessly highlighted the core issue from the very first volume in 1964. Since then, this weekly has taken insightful initiatives to present multiple dimensions of Kashmir mess with objective reporting, solicitous opinions, empirical features and interviews to address human rights violations in a troubled region – the bone of contention between India and Pakistan.
“Kashmiris do not want Pakistan, nor any other reactionary government. They want clean administration, and honest leadership. They wish to put an end to what they believe now exists – widespread corruption in high places – in close cooperation with the rest of India,” (Radiance, 26 January 1964).
Mere few issues old in the year of its inception, Radiance kept an eye on the Kashmir problem in consonant to Indian Union and condemned Pakistan’s aggressiveness. It played an observatory role through unbiased reporting instead of turning polemic for being an Indian publication.
With an approach to advocate truthfulness in dealing with the core issues of public interest, this weekly has been publishing impartial opinions and investigative reports unlike geeky roles its counterparts play in the country’s mainstream media to fuel press hooliganism. So-called secular media practises the polarities in Kashmir’s context with twisting facts.
ANXIETIES OF IDENTITY
Kashmir encounters human rights violations and oppressions from militants and security forces alike. It is in catch 22 situation with anxieties of identity that impact the citizens of this troubled region badly. It has factually trifurcated – a portion for India as Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), an area under Pakistan’s control, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and Azad Kashmir, the third portion.
The situation worsened further with neighbouring China snatching some area after 1962 Sino-Indian war. The region once considered heaven on earth became a veiled bride with ugly face whose two inconsistent suitors (India and Pakistan) poke each other uninterruptedly to showcase might. This weekly prioritised Kashmir problem by expressing total resentment on the howling approach of two loafing neighbours, which seek peace at the cost of corrosive raucous.
“Kashmir is burning because of the decades of failed policies and actions of the short-sighted, self-serving politicians in Srinagar, Delhi and Islamabad. This surge of violence and protests, ostensibly in response to police firings and faked encounters, is actually a result of decades of suppression, injustice and deprivation,” (Radiance, 25 July 2010).
Indian media – both electronic and print – raises Kashmir issue almost every day. Only selected ones though have guts to express views as stridently as this otherwise conventional weekly has done since inception. Ideologically leaned towards Islamic values, it has considered global peace core ideas unlike hundreds of thousands of ensuing publications that claim to be liberal but fail to show questioning spirit.
Kashmir has been covered in almost every volume of this weekly; and while doing so this publication also underscored gloomy face of mainstream media in India and Pakistan. They were exposed before global communities for manipulative and controversial portrayal of Kashmir.
Outspoken reporting is the solemnity of this otherwise conventional weekly. This publication, as a small player in the fray, plays a meaningful role to raise Kashmir voice especially plights faced which other publications fail to project. Balanced reporting brings true picture of the troubled territory:
“Repression is not the answer; rather dialogue and genuine understanding of their circumstances is the real need.” (Radiance, 8 July 2007).
EMBERS OF A POLITICAL BLUNDER
“Their future is uncertain and their present in doldrums. They have become one of the most marginalised sections of Indian society. Their once brilliant and vibrant culture is in stagnation. Their economy is at a standstill. In Kashmir you will see unemployment everywhere and educational institutions in a state of slumber (Radiance, 24 August 2008).
This piece from an editorial of this weekly voices Kashmir dilemma. Will there be total peace and harmony in Kashmir for a dream to make India and Pakistan two powerful economies in South Asia. Translating that dream into reality seems impossible in today’s clumsy political scenario. Leaderships in New Delhi and Islamabad have almost failed.
Often assumed offbeat but vociferous publication, Radiance takes continuous initiatives to remind the political leadership not to forget core of political injunction to keep democratic spirits alive.
“A gentleman always says, “Democracy reins in a country as long as its citizens are free to criticise the government’s policy without any fear of discrimination and so.” And it is the government’s duty to protect its citizens including those who have opposed its stand on one point or another” (Radiance, 1-7 March 2013).
There exists hypocrisy in the leaderships in India and Pakistan. People’s interests are kept aside while blame games never end and are flamboyant. For how long Kashmir will burn. Weaker political approach by linking anything and everything with Kashmiri community in “any context of wrongdoings” won’t bring peace. Solution is bleak in the absence of solicitous farsightedness to deal with the issues.
16 October 2011 issue of Radiance published an investigative report whose excerpt says that, “the total of those who simply disappeared in valley is a whopping 8,000 to 10,000 according to the data collected by the organisations like Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) with meagre resources at their disposal. Other estimates are as frightening as 10,000 in one district alone (i.e. Kupwara. Constant discoveries of mass graves throughout the state have proved that these provisional estimates are just the tip of the iceberg).”
Decades of failed political initiatives, chauvinism and unrealistic decrees from New Delhi and Islamabad turned Kashmir issue unsolvable one whose solution seems impossible in the near future.
RISE OF THE REPRESSION
Radiance has been repeatedly bringing unsolvable issue of Kashmir into limelight. In an in-depth investigative report, this weekly clearly indicated why steps fail:
“In Kashmir, child and women labour has increased manifold over the years, crime rate has rocketed, neurological and heart related problems are ever-increasing, and suicide rate is on a high. After untimely death or disappearance of their fathers, economic hardships, psychological setbacks and denial of love has hurt gravely the children psyche,” (Radiance, 16 October 2011).
In a historic edition, this weekly published statements of former Kashmir premiere, Sheikh Abdullah that highlighted Indo-Pak relations in politically dwindling context. Abdullah talked about niche issue of people’s preferences and leanings towards Indian side besides India’s failure by disappointing Kashmiris.
Hostility of security forces and political intolerance delayed Kashmir solution. Abdullah had hope while speaking to this weekly on 14 January 1968 that “if India could have serious approach then Kashmir might have remained an important landmark in the world through showing the way for Indo-Pak unity.”
Mood, anger, failed statesmanship and imprecision of Indian and Pakistani governments towards Kashmir worsens the scenario. Situation damaged drastically instead of improving over the decades. 24 December 1967 issue of Radiance opined that visionary appeal of Sheikh Abdullah was ignored in handling Kashmir issue.
Radiance proved a daredevil watchdog to deal with Kashmir situation. It publishes investigative reports, election scenes and true stories from late sixties chutzpah to present situation in Kashmir.
“Peace process has to be put in top gear and the Centre has to draft a new law, coupled with a political strategy, ensuring security for society that needs to be free from threats of militancy,” (Radiance, 15 August 2010).
Concocted efforts through applying progressive methods to bring peace in burning Kashmir valley hardly worked. This weekly insisted to resolve marginalisation and victimisation of Kashmiris with concrete steps to end the atrocities and brutalities. Effective human rights violation watch and solutions to bring peace across the border could solve this problem. It required active involvement to reach conclusion.
WILL THE RAY OF HOPE WORK?
Radiance editorials add powerful thoughts in the Kashmir context. An editorial printed in 14 July 1968 stressed—“there is no Gandhi in India today who can rush to troubled spots and risk his own life to save the life of Muslims.” In other place the editorial stressed that “if communal tensions in our country are eliminated or at least greatly reduced, the integration of the people of the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India will become very much easier.”
Sheikh Abdullah had expressed his thoughts in Radiance that “no region of Kashmir should go unrepresented; no community in Kashmir should feel ignored. All the Kashmiris scattered over various parts of the State, should feel it is their solution. Even if one Parsi family lives here, it must feel, it is a party to it.” Unfortunately Kashmir situation is still unsettled without an end to the plights.
“Stories of arbitrary arrests, misuse of law, illegal detentions, inhuman tortures, fake encounters and merciless killings are on every tongue. You come across countless widows, half widows, orphans and tortured individuals everywhere with their blood curdling stories. There is a complaint on every lip and a wound in every heart. The Indian civil society, intellectuals, social scientists and well-wishers of the country who want to see a strong and united society must interfere and take urgent and concrete steps to heal the wounded hearts of the Kashmiris otherwise Kashmir would remain a thorn in our flesh and an ever burning hell.” (Radiance, 25 July 2010)
4 April 1965 issue of Radiance published a statement of Sheikh Abdullah that “unanimous vote of the Kashmir Assembly in favour of closer ties with India gives an impression that there was hardly any opposition to Kashmir’s irrevocable accession to India.” It was clear indication and willingness that Kashmir of today is an integral part of India.
Full-length interview of separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, published in 11 March 1990 issue of Radiance shed light on the history of state before pre-British era. It accounts hypocrisies, political game plans and prejudices by the then Kashmir ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, UN Observation team and last British Governor General, Viscount Louis Mountbatten, besides rest political upheavals occurring during 1947 to tarnish the image of this disputed region in South Asia.
The interview highlighted grim situation by recalling Kashmir’s worst condition that, “Kashmir issue, in fact, traces its history on March 16, 1846 when the worst period of slavery for the Kashmiri people started with the British selling this state along with lakhs of its citizens to the late Maharaja Gulab Singh for Rs. 75 lakh—an average of Rs. 7 a person – as if they were goats and sheep!”
By 1931, agitations and movements started in Kashmir against inhuman slaveries. Establishment of Muslim Conference Organisation in 1932 became a turning point for independent movement in Kashmir. Quit Kashmir movement in 1946 demanded annulation of Amritsar deed to end slavery.
The separatist leader emphasised his own experiences of spending more than a decade in various jails in India due to political activism. His interview pointed out the killings of more than 53000 people, crippling rest and cases of other agonies. It explained Shimla accord for Kashmir solution nothing more than another hypocrisy.
“When you violate the fundamental rights of a nation, subject it to coercion, and deprive it of the opportunities to enjoy its birth rights by use of brute force, it is the gravest violation of human rights and the most heinous terrorism,” (Radiance, 7 April 1996).
13 May 1990 issue of Radiance published an Opinion—“an average Kashmiri is almost overwhelmingly sympathetic to the militant groups. There is no denying the fact that an average Kashmiri Muslim is alienated from India and it will require all the efforts, good will and patience to remove the deep mistrust in his mind and make him look with friendly eyes towards India.”
UNENDING ATROCITIES
Atrocities carried out by security forces on innocent Kashmiri women from mass rapes to cases of picking up innocents or disappearances have been reported count by count. 6 April 1991 issue of Radiance explains the gory scene of rape of 23 Kashmiri women in picturesque Kunan Poshpura border village.
This weekly maintained good balance in reporting Kashmir. 1 December 1991 issue reported the initiatives taken to develop amicable relationship which said, “continue the political dialogue in order to restore political activity in the state. It has also called upon the misguided youth of the state to shun the self-defeating path of violence and re-join the political mainstream in nation-building activities.”
This publication has been emphasising for Kashmir solution through assessments. Kashmir issue is not a negotiable matter and mess occurred here is not solely due to India. Pakistan has equal participation in causing that. Role of militants’ need and steps to eliminate fear psychosis from people’s minds and concrete steps to combat terrorism, the weekly advocates many solutions for decades.
Reference of Kashmir in historic Shimla Agreement of 1972, as a disputed issue between India and Pakistan got ample space in the pages of Radiance. This weekly slammed prejudiced role of mainstream media in India and Pakistan over Kashmir, especially menace of militancy which damages this paradise on earth.
“India says talks on the issue have to be conducted between New Delhi and Islamabad under Shimla Agreement. Islamabad says the dispute has international dimensions and should be arbitrated by the United Nations,” (Radiance, 17 October 1993).
The miseries have not ended and there is bleak chance of them getting resolved in near future. 29 December 1993 issue of Radiance emphasised about Kashmir—“a particular people of South Asia, in the neighbourhood of Central Asia, with a unique history as well as geography of its own, has been writhing under untold miseries.”
HEIGHT OF THE PLIGHT
Plights of Kashmir are endless even today. 19 March 1995 issue of Radiance described, “There has been very little change in the style of governance, despite a plethora of reports on human rights violations. Interrogation centres function like torture chambers as before. The list of untraced has only lengthened. And there is no comfort to the increasing number, going from pillar to post, to know the whereabouts of their dear ones or to complain against the excesses committed.”
Gory scenes of human rights violations are plights which most mainstream media ignore to bring into public notice. 24 December 1995 issue of Radiance reported the lawlessness that “at least 50 per cent of those detained report to have received electric shocks during interrogation for extracting confessions. Doctors documenting the torture related cases in the Shere Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) have recorded complaints such as involuntary urination, muscular atrophy, hallucinations, shivering, besides impotency as the common complaints among the torture victims.”
Radiance repeatedly raised the issue of common masses disappearing without any reason. A series of articles have published week by week to highlight the plight of innocent people. They are documentation of grievances which this state has been encountering for more than half a century.
“Women and children have been the worst sufferers of conflict in Kashmir. Thousands of children have been left orphaned, and scores of women raped and widowed and left with no means to fend for themselves.” (Radiance, 9 July 2000).
Kashmir has been witnessing the height of plight since 1947 with its identity of volatile, heavily militarised, socially depressed and divisive South Asian regions. Ironically, none of its state governments have proved any worth as administrators to maintain peace, leave New Delhi’s policies aside.
Both India and Pakistan have to take concrete steps about the region as a whole with giving priority to the masses in the state which is not a problem if taken into account as symptom rather than being assumed a disease for the political solution. Indo-Pak distrust since partition is highly damaging.
Obviously, dialogues would fail to suggest any fruitful result when guns boom in Kashmir. 27 October 2002 issue of Radiance has rightly noted—“violence must stop, not only by terrorists but also by the security forces. Human rights violations, interrogation centres, searches, humiliation of people – all these things have distanced the Kashmiris from the mainstream.”
With 11.6% of sexual abuse, Kashmir has highest percentage of such cases if compared to world’s rest conflicting zones. This weekly has been striving to persuade the authorities to understand the core of Kashmir problem which is never ever based in the context of land but of humanity and human rights.
Efforts could be made to depoliticise the issue to address it with utmost humanity and full value to the humanness of citizens for peace and resolution.
[Asif Anwar Alig was a television journalist in ETV Urdu, editorial coordinator for Vision—The Journal of Business Perspective at Management Development Institute, Gurgaon and Media Specialist at Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University in Saudi Arabia before joining the Ministry of Higher Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as an Assistant Professor.]