Saman Hamid
The holocaust is one of the most talked about and loathed actions in the history of the world, two thirds of the Jewish population in Europe were killed by Hitler and Nazis. From 1941 to 1945 The Germans killed whomever they thought was Jew. Another event very much similar to this was commemorated on November 6, 1947. Maharaja Hari Singh with the Indian army killed as many as 250,000 Kashmiris trying to migrate to Pakistan. Hari Singh called on all those willing to migrate to Pakistan on November 5, 1947 to police lines for further assistance only to be mercilessly killed the very next day. This was akin to the migration of Muslims from India to Pakistan right after partition, which many estimate to have witnessed 1-1.5 million deaths. The main purpose of this act was to diminish the Muslim majority of the area. The brutalities never stopped there of course, Kashmir is a saga of perpetual valor in the face of heinous oppression.
The day comes after more than 3 months(121) days of curfew since Burhan Wani’s martyrdom at the hand of Indian forces who are confused as to justify the young lad’s alleged Hizbul Mujahedeen as the sole purpose of his extrajudicial killing legitimized by Armed Forces Special Powers Act. The last uprising for independence since 1989 has seen nearly 100,000 people dead. The latest comes after a confident Vajpayee regime thought they had managed to pull Kashmir’s youth towards them with their relatively “peaceful” approach. Wani is more than a martyr; he is a symbol of resurgence, the catalyst, the Franz Ferdinand that has sparked a relentless struggle. Wani growing up in oppression and brutality forced to flee and take refuge in freedom fighting groups signal the tip of the iceberg that sank India’s Titanic underestimations/overconfidence. Kashmir is unstoppable. The pallet guns that attempt to blind the youth cannot affect the foresight or extinguish hope. The killings and thousands of detainees are not lessening the call for freedom.
Pakistan’s flag encasing the martyrs and held by the youth spiting the Indians have resulted in escalation of tensions between the two countries. Pakistan is suffering the wrath of Indians internally and from the Western border just to take the global spotlight from the humanitarian crisis that is unable to get labeled as ethnic cleansing perhaps due to geostrategic and global economic ramifications. From Bramdagh Bugti, to Ashraf Ghani to the threat to Indus Water Treaty no stone is being left unturned to be hurled at Pakistan and Kashmir. Post surgical strike claims and LOC violations things are hinting towards desperation.
India is at an important junction. China is next door and has developed to such an extent that they are investing in China Pakistan Economic Corridor to gain headway in the Indian Ocean, Central Asia. The US is an aging giant in need of human resource, markets, big ego to fight China, and of course battle for energy corridors. Democracy has always managed to support the biggest democracy in the world to turn away the global gaze from brutalities against Muslims, Sikhs and constant meddling in other countries of the world. India is an emerging power with a nefarious ego. Letting go of things is simply not easy especially when the entire world is ready to jump their bandwagon. If that was not the case then Kashmir would have warranted a wakeup call for the global peacemakers. One thing though that Indians have never been able to master is the spirit of freedom in the Kashmiri people. How can one expect people to forgive and forget when there is only oppression and murder? It is easy to put the blame on Pakistan but realistically does a country have such capabilities especially Pakistan? The Indian people need to wake up and force their establishment from causing further the humanitarian calamity as there is not stopping the people where children do not fear bullets and more importantly their parents. It is a right that the people of Kashmir are denied since partition and they are unwilling to give up. India will not be able to attain their dreams in the global market place without addressing the Kahsmir issue especially now after Burhan Wani as after 3 months the nuclear power is unable to silence people without any arms.
