WHO IS BEHIND THE RECENT SURGE OF VIOLENCE IN KASHMIR ?
The social media was filled with status updates and pictures of the Indian fast bowler Umran Malik, who has clocked express speeds in domestic level format. The 22-year-old cricketer is compared to be the Shoaib Akhtar of India. Supporters of team “Sun-Risers Hyderabad” from around the country praised Umran to the heavens with their status updates flooding social media platforms. The young pacer hails from the Srinagar town of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Son of a fruit vendor, he was honoured by the Lieutenant Governor himself in a tweet appreciating his hard work and sheer dedication, which has bestowed the player with his new life. The fans are ever hopeful of a future filled with even more success for the rising star. The country is eagerly waiting for this son of the soil to fetch laurels and fame in the South African tour, in which he shall be participating by being part of the 14 member Indian A team. Abida Akhtar is another such example; a divorced woman from a remote village in Kashmir who suffered through depression to become an international medalist bagging fame for the country wearing the tricolour at Malaysia. The Wushu champion has since become an icon for girls from all over the country (especially Kashmir) who aspire to break free from the chains of a suffocating patriarchy to reach for the true potential and success they deserve. Girls from diverse cultures and backgrounds idolize her. The orthodox woman, away from any social media platforms, is probably unaware of the love she holds in people’s hearts. Saqib Khan and Asim Riaz, natives of Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, became adored youth icons after their debut on the famous Indian TV shows MTV Roadies and Big Boss. Bagging about 6 million fan followers from all over the country, the celebrities get flooded with messages filled with appreciation in minutes of going live on their social media accounts. More Kashmiri youth are getting jobs post abrogation of its special status, which is evident by the unemployment rate of J&K for 2020-21. It’s below Haryana(28.1%), Goa(22.15%), Rajasthan(19.7%) and Delhi(9.4%) and is reported at a much lower figure of only 9%. Being a labour has never conventionally been a preferred mode of work by any Kashmiri. The over toiling job reaps less benefits and demands more hard work compared to the rather relaxing pursuits of growing apples/walnuts on a free abundant land. The need to work is barely even felt by most who are content with the subsidised ration allowances living an average life attending their fields which already is aim plus. The influx of migrant labourers hence, has only been a boon, getting the otherwise toiling job done for peanuts. The harmony between them and their local employers is evident by their grasp of Kashmiri language because of their ever harmless and friendly presence since years. Any of the numerous migrants from Kashmir who travel around the country selling shawls in the winter months will vouch for the harmony experienced during their season-long diverse trips. Take the case of any good University in other states, and the beautiful students from Kashmir are always the focal attraction whom every other student wishes to befriend. The brand tag of Kashmir itself is enough to drive others out of business when it comes to selling shawls or fruits in any corner of the country, and yet, their sweet tongue is all it takes for the harshest souls to melt. This spirit of unity in diversity amidst this turbulence of separatism is in itself a testament to the shared sense of nationhood despite the conflicting state of affairs in the turmoiled region. The harmony between various communities is evident in the composition of employees in multiple offices, hierarchies and systems in the Governor administered Union Territory. It’s not a surprising sight to witness Sikhs and Muslims sharing wazwan at the same table, be they from any govt office. It is now very common to see the army offering namaz alongside their innocent villagers wishing for a fair yield of crop or good health of their cattle at a famous ziarat as they repair it together. It’s not a wonder to observe hundreds of cricketers (Gujjars/ Kashmiris/ Sikhs/ Pashtuns) coming together to cook and feast upon the same lamb after the culmination of an intense yet friendly cricket tournament as they party all night long. It’s not an unusual scene to witness parents sending their kids willingly to schools on Independence day, motivating them to participate in quiz/poem/singing competitions and standing alongside them in attention, singing the national anthem as the flag is hoisted. In the JKPF and the Army, brothers of different religious beliefs fight insurgency shoulder to shoulder, risking lives together to kill the common enemy on a routine basis. Why is it then that this harmony is being bushwhacked in some corners at the expense of innocent, harmless lives? Who is the beneficiary of it all? It’s certainly not the youth who is benefitting ten folds from various employment schemes which for once, in ages, find him worthy of something more than just pelting stones for a few hundred bucks. These schemes demand nothing in terms of qualification except a domicile certificate and train them regardless of any binding contract, guaranteeing employment, food, shelter and clothes. It’s certainly not the teenager lacking the resources to get his hands on weapons or the acumen to ambush a harmless civilian despite omnipresent security within 5 minutes of a reaction time at any place. It’s certainly not the adult approaching his forties and higher who has been gainfully employed by now, enough to feed an entire family if the subsidised ration schemes fail to satisfy their hunger, which can barely ever happen. It’s definitely not the women of this society who are far more mature and talented to fall prey to any of such misadventures. Who is it then, benefitting from this false narrative of disharmony, helplessly trying hard to induce a communal riot, as the wick of their ending career and power, gasps for one last hope, in the form of a dying flame?
