S Hamid
Some of the biggest events in the world have humble beginnings; assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo leading to World War I for example. India very recently stumbled upon their own war when they assassinated Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016. Day 29 of the curfew in the valley since Wani’s death, 54 dead and 6000 injured. It has been nearly a month since Wani, 21 died in what India’s own installed CM Kashmir, Nirmal Singh terms as an accident. The world has for a long time turned a blind eye to the plight of Kashmir. Whether it was 1931 or 2016 it is appalling how “official explanations” by the Indians are readily accepted, with a humanitarian crisis brewing for centuries, arming two neighbors with nuclear weapons the United Nations is incapable of carrying a plebiscite. Very recently though a small movement has grabbed everyone’s attention, it has very intelligently garnered support of the global intellect successfully countering the gag on news coming out of Kashmir.
The letter is titled, “In solidarity with Kashmir and Kashmiris”. Total number of signatories of the letter has reached nearly 1000 and include leading academics, writers, journalist from UK and USA including ; Professor Noam Chomsky, MIT, USA; Professor Barbara Harris-White, Emeritus, Oxford University, UK; Professor Bobby Banerjee, Cass Business School, UK; Professor Pritam Singh, Oxford Brookes University, UK; Professor S Sayyid, University of Leeds, UK; Professor Raza Mir, William Paterson University, USA; Basharat Peer, Writer, Kashmir; Dr Gholam Khiabany, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK; Dr Meena Dhanda, University of Wolverhampton, UK; Dr Ravinder Kaur, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Amrit Wilson, South Asia Solidarity Group, UK; Mudasir Ahmad Yatoo, Doctoral Research, Imperial College London, UK; Fatimah Kanth, SOAS, London, UK; and many others.
The letter discusses the atrocities inflicted on Kashmir since July 8. With more than 700,000 Indian armed forces deployed since then there is deep concern over violence. The mounting death toll (47 at the time) and the inhuman use of pallet guns on the innocent youth has left many blind, a whopping 100 eye surgeries have said to have taken place since then. The killing comes post Burhan Wani’s death at the hands of the Indian forces. Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) is especially highlighted that gives impunity to the forces. Instead of reaching out to the people the Indian authorities are trying to suppress the protests via lockdown of the entire valley and a gag on media and social media. It is asserted that the humanitarian crisis is not a one off event and for the past three decades India has continued to look away. Kashmiris must be given the right to self determination which was promised to them by Indian parliament in 1948.The letter condemns Indians strongly, and it is demanded from global community that Kashmir issue is considered more than a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. The world is called to act upon the current situation and Kashmiris are assured that they are not alone in their struggle.
Indians must realize that their “atoot ang” wants to be independent for the longest time. Suppression through violence and their so called “reforms” since 2008 have only added to their problems and enhanced Kashmiri fervor. The need to become sovereign is in their genes and nothing deters them from the path to freedom. Burhan Wani and ensuing protests and resilience is testament to this fact. One of the main reasons why Wani’s story continues to make rounds is because he was only 15 when he joined Hizbul Majhedin, perhaps his death was the catalyst that has brought the youth to the struggle’s forefront. It is also a testament to the Indian failure at garnering support for their ideology. Pakistan also should not stand back as her own well being rests on the state of Jammu and Kashmir, more so because our brothers and sisters look up to us and expect our support. Peaceful means are the way forward though. The letter brings to light the civility in humans and the triumph of civilization. With the number of signatories mounting, no gag could be put on the voice of Kashmir. After all news is slowly trickling out of the valley and the humanitarian crisis brewed by the Indian forces is only adding to Kashmir’s plight. The letter also demands Indians to negotiate with Kashmiris, something that is significant coming from the global viewpoint.
When the world saw Hiroshima and Nagasaki, World War 2 ended, means to an end that many did not desire ruined generations and to this day the world is haunted by the possibilities of nuclear proliferation. Oppression, violence and war crimes run rampant in our world today. Whether it is Chilcot or ISIS history only teaches us one thing and one thing alone violence leads to more violence. It is high time the Indians realist this and admit their defeat.
