Mubarak Baloch
Widow is the one whose spouse has passed away and she normally goes for remarriage to the convenience of her religious, cultural or other traditional ethos. Whereas the word ‘half-widow’ is a strange term but is now commonplace in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). It is used for the woman-folk whose husbands are abducted by Indian security forces and their whereabouts are unheard of. People are forcibly taken into custody and killed/dumped but their wives and family members are not even handed over the dead bodies. Thus abductees’ heirs are left in limbo. Such half-widows are in thousands in IOK. One estimate puts this strength around 8000. Over three hundred such women are living at village Dardpora, the abode of pain, in district Kupwara about 145 Kms away from Srinagar. One such widow named Bano Bibi in her interview to a reporter said, “You journalists interview us and record our dilemma and report it in media so that your news sells and swells the ranking of your newspaper or television channel. Would your this activity help the return of my husband? She dejectedly questioned the journalist”. It is a serious problem for the families surviving without their family head being the sole bread earner. Half-widows are also facing ostracism leading to multiple socio-psychological trauma.
Half-widows cannot even remarry being unsure about the fate of their husbands whether they are alive or dead. Uncertain situation haunts the women and it would be much embarrassing if a lady’s husband returns alive after his better-half got remarried”, said Bano Bibi. Half-widows are seen visiting different jails in IOK and elsewhere to know the whereabouts of their husbands but to no avail. Rather they are often treated harshly by the jail authorities and Indian security agencies. In the face of this the affected families’ anger and rage grows in intensity leaving bad impact on their personality. Besides, wandering hither thither in search of the whereabouts of their spouses is cumbersome for a lady. The given social milieu looks down upon them and they painfully carry along with such a life. Half-widows face severe economic hardships as a lady with no source of livelihood cannot bear the children raising expenditures. Such children have bitter childhood as life without fatherly shadow becomes insipid and cumbersome. Children suffer psychological depression and descend into inferiority complex in peer groups. Their brought up is seriously disturbed. Thus custodial disappearance or abduction of a single individual spoils the entire family. The children grow young harboring sense of vengeance and vindictiveness. Thus from here the rage against security forces intensifies. Such abductions transform young generation into dissidents who swell the ranks of freedom fighters. The predicament of half-widows ultimately works as fuel to intensify the unrest in IOK.
Half-widow phenomenon has become widespread in IOK prompting religious leaders to seek a solution through Ijtihad enabling a lady to remarry. Ehsas, a non-governmental organization, gathered few notable clerics who after due deliberation issued Fatwa allowing a half-widow to remarry after waiting for four years for the return of her husband. Despite this decree most of the half-widows are unwilling to go for remarriage as likelihood of their husbands being alive/ reaching home back remains there. These custodial disappearances are intentional on part of Indian security forces in order to push families into mental agony and trauma. Amnesty International and Human Rights fora should take cognizance of this depressing situation so that the pressure is mounted on Indian government to stop this sort of persecution of people. People are feeling desolate and bereft while facing this ordeal. It generates frustration in populace and gives birth to more rage and anger. The more you press the people in this way, the greater would be the scale of resistance.
The village Dardpora, abode of pains, known for increasing number of half-widows is shrouded in gloom and pain. In fact pangs of such womenfolk is residing here. In view this dilemma Ehsas is seen relatively active to succour the affected family members. However, it is the need of hour that some international pressure is generated pressing Modi led government to stop this barbaric practice of abduction. Adversely affected family subsequently stands dysfunctional and it feels excommunicated in view of the growing sense of alienation and ostracism. A forlorn half-widow with the burden of raising children without required wherewithal feels excruciating pain but there is no escape. Under compulsive circumstances they seem resigned to fate forcibly thurst upon them and silently suffer the humiliation. Despondent half-widow ultimately stands insensitive to such humiliative environment and does menial job so as to eke out living. Would the painful wail of the half-widows jolt the world conscience? Perhaps not; as the modern day world conscience is engrossed in the narrow politics pursuing vested interests oblivious to the harrowing tales of humanity.
