The Conclusion
This development has caused worry to all political parties and the ruling organisation in the country. The growing separation in the Valley is linked with the country's unity, integrity and peace. The Kashmiri separatist and anti-national elements have challenged our invaluable values of nationalism, secularism and unity in diversity. Pakistan's interference has converted the embers of separatism into the flames. India and Indianness are burning in the fire of religious fanaticism. It has become difficult to trace India in Kashmir.
The politics of vote based on appeasement has kept the fate of Kashmir hanging. Even the responsibilities of maintaining national and constitutional integrity have been thrown to winds in the interest of personal friendship, sectarian interest, lust for vote bank, security of power and security of the daughter of a minister. The Congress, Janata Dal, Janata Party and Samajwadi Janata Dal have remained in power in the centre but no party has dared to sacrifice their political interests for finding a solid solution to the Kashmir problem. In front of our eyes the seeds of revolt against the nation were sown, they had been watered and the fertiliser of separatism and communalism was applied. The shadow of the tree of anti- nationalism, that developed over the years, has eclipsed the paradise on earth with its darkness. Our rulers have been committing one blunder after another since 1947. This is the result of directionless politics.
The world must be laughing over the Kashmir policy of the Indian rulers. On one side the rulers are not tired of repeating "strong steps" and "Kashmir is an inseparable part" on the other hand they make security forces an object of ridicule in front of the terrorists. Terrorists, arrested by the Army, are released in exchange for their relations which spoils the entire labour of the Army. Even the Gavernor is recalled if the Army returns the fire of the terrorists in which 10-12 terrorists are killed.
Let there be security zone for Kashmiri Hindus
The biggest success of militants and their patron, Pakistan, is the way Kashmir has become a Hinduless region. These very Hindus were an obstacle in the way of separatism who had held the national flag for 40 years while tolerating all types of atrocities. These Kashmiri Pandits had managed to live in Kashmir by clinging to their several thousand years old Kashmiriyat. They were the last symbol of Indianness in Kashmir. When Jamait-e-Islami and other Muslim fundamentalist organisations, with the help of Pakistan, started Islamisation of Kashmir, these Kashmiri Pandits were their first target. We in India used to call Kashmir our land on the basis of these Pandits. How could the plans of the militants fructify in the presence of these Pandits ? Therefore, the plan of mass killings, loot, arson and rape forced over three lakh Hindus to migrate from the Valley. These migrants are living in refugee camps in many parts of the country and their pitiable condition sends shiver down one's spine.
The Hindu society in Kashmir is that type of a plank of which the people of India and the Government of India can protect Kashmir. Therefore, the first attempt should be made to facilitate the return of these Hindus safely and honourably to their homes in Kashmir. If it is done, India can have its base in Kashmir. These very Kashmiri Hindus are weapons through which we can destroy terrorism and therefore, the protection of their morale and their identity is essential.
If with the passage of time these Hindus get scattered in different parts of India and ultimately settle there, then the very base for fighting for Kashmir gets lost. Once they get scattered in the country it will not only make them lose their identity but also make them lose their desire for going back to Kashmir. Two things are necessary for it:
2. Their desire
to return to their homes should remain strong and intact.
There should be made some constitutional provision under which these Kashmiri Hindus, living in the security zones, are permitted to possess arms and are allowed to run the administration to some extent. Let this work be carried out under the supervision of the Central Government and the Army officers. This way these people can remain linked with the land of Kashmir and can face Islamic fundamentalism. It can prevent them from getting scattered and they can have faith in Kashmir.
Pakistani training camps be destroyed
The proxy war launched by Pakistan needs to be fought in a similar way. Let the Government display courage in crushing militancy through strong Army action. Pakistan needs to be told in clear terms that it should stop the training camps otherwise they would be destroyed through military action. Such an action is permissible under the International law. Keeping the security of the country at the top such steps should be taken on priority basis. Pakistan is not changing its strategy and activities despite our repeated requests. Why then tha delay ? Why the delay in blowing the war bugle when Draupadi had been undressed ? There is domination of militants in the Jammu and Kashmir police and, therefore, there is need for removing them from the border villages and paramilitary forces be deployed there and they should be given protection of the vital Government installations.
Do not release terrorists
The arrested terrorists be tried by the military tribunal instead of civil courts so that they are convicted immediately. Those terrorists who are in jails, their activities should be reviewed. The cowardice of releasing the jailed militants in exchange for kidnapped people be stopped. If we have to surrender before the militants why should the Army be deployed because it affects their morale and is insulting for the forces. There is need for giving a free hand to the Army in dealing strictly with the militants.
Let communal schools be closed
Pro-Pakistan elements in the state administration be weeded out after proper screening. Honest and nationalist officers be provided adequate security and installed on key posts which will holp curbing the revolt. The religious schools run by Jamait-e-Islami be stopped so that patrons of separatism are finished. Attack the mother of sin in order to finish sin.
Abrogate Article 370
The Article 370 is meaningless in the light of Pakistan's haining to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and owing to moral and material support from across the border to militants who have launched a revolt with the help of fundamentalist leaders and organisations. Why should there be reluctance in scrapping Article 370 which has nourished subversion in the state and which has prevented Muslims of the state from joining the national mainstream ? What is the rationale behind giving constitutional legitimacy to the subversive activities of those who while undermining Indian nationalism, secularism and the central authority, insult the national flag and the constitution ant remain in conflict with India by giving them the special status ? As a result of Article 370 the President of India and the Parliament remain inactive in Jammu and Kashmir. For extension of the central laws the approval of the State Assembly is necessary. The national flag has to flutter beside the state flag. Is it not an attack on the basic idea of our united structure ? People of India cannot purchase property in Jammu and Kashmir and they cannot exercise franchise there. What more insulting can be to our democratic setup ?
How far is it just to give special status to a part of the country, where there is majority of one particular community, which boasts of secularism in the world ? The Misuse of Religious Places Act can be applicable to India but not to Jammu and Kashmir where even the national or financial emergency cannot be enforced. Under Article 370 the Indian Army does not get a free hand in dealing with insurgency. Pakistan received strength in launching a propaganda campaign against India because of the policy of confusion whether Kashmir is really a part of India. This Article has given constitutional and moral support to the principle of two-nation theory. This Article has prepared a solid ground for the establishment of Muslim nation in Kashmir. Under the umbrella of this Article, Jamait-e-Islami and other communal organisations have received financial and political support for promoting separatism based on Islam. The Kashmiri Muslim leaders have succeeded in carrying out economic discrimination and exploitation of Jammu and Ladakh regions.
Therefore, the time has come when by abrogating this Article and Jammu and Kashmir state is brought at par with other states in the country. The repeal of this Article will break the back of the militants. The morale of the Indian Army will receive a boost. It will establish the authority of President of India, Parliament and the Constitution in the state. It will shake the base of disinformation campaign of Pakistan and weaken the form of the Kashmir problem assuming religious and international contours. This way separatism in other Indian states can be controlled. People belonging to other states can live in Jammu and Kashmir. They can establish their business, buy property and thereby end the domination of a particular community. It will bury the fraud of double citizenship of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
State be reorganised
There is need for reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir state so that Assembly and Lok Sabha seats are determined on the basis of population thereby ending the political imbalance This way representation of people of Jammu and Ladakh would grow. Hitherto, the system had been based on false figures in order to preserve the supremacy of the Muslim society. It deserves special mention here that hitherto only a Kashmiri Muslim has remained Chief Minister for the last 40 years and most of the posts right from the bottom to the top have been occupied by Muslims which has resulted in corruption. Some political parties are in favour of the trifurcation of the State with separate regional councils for Jammu, Ladakh and Kashmir. This is a good proposition because it will ensure freedom for the people of the three regions to think about their welfare. All the three regions will witness pace in the development works and prevent the flames of terrorism from engulfing Jammu and Ladakh regions.
The reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir state is necessary in the interest of India's integrity and independence. It has been a misfortune for India and the State that Jammu and Kashmir was kept beyond the jurisdiction of the State Reorganisation Commission in 1954. Had the state been reorganised on the basis reorganisation was undertaken for other states in India, the current problem in Kashmir would have been buried there and then. But the pro-Muslim policies of the Government of India resulted in the sacrifice of the interests of the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions. The people of these two regions continue to be victims of the bigotry of the majority community of Kashmir. Jammu and Ladakh regions are bigger than Kashmir in terms of area and population but the policy of appeasement of the Central Government has deprived them of their simple rights.
There is nothing common between the Kashmir Valley and Jammu-Ladakh regions as far as topography, language, style of living and necessities are concerned. Even the mountain ranges cause a natural division in these three regions. The inter-regional movement also gets blocked because of snow in winter and rain during the monsoon. There is nothing common between the three regions. Ladakh region has a special importance so far the question of India's security is concerned. It has not an iota of link with the Kashmir valley. Geographically the shortest route that links Ladakh with India is in Kishtwar-paddar area of Jammu. Territorially and regionally Ladakh is nearer to Lahul, Sipiti and Pong areas of Himachal Pradesh and these areas can be joined together to form a state on the pattern of Arunachal Pradesh. This area can have a regional or hill council. Ladakh is now connected with Lahul and Kulu valley in Himachal Pradesh by a road. The long road link between Leh and Srinagar is also unsystematic and undependable. And administratively linking Ladakh with Kashmir is not feasible. Area wise and on the basis of mineral wealth Ladakh is not backward and through development the area can become self-sufficient.
The reorganisation of the state can prevent people from being deprived of their democratic rights The pace of economic development will increase. While carrying out reorganisation of the state many aspects deserve a careful attention. The Government should keep in mind the security of the country while reorganising the state. It should keep in mind security of the minorities in the three regions, activities of the separatists, Pakistan's proxy war and the honourable rehabilitation of three lakh displaced Kashmiri Hindus. If such matters are not given a serious thought, reorganisation and establishment of regional councils will be not only meaningless but also prove counterproductive. The proxy war launched by Pakistan in Kashmir can get extended to Jammu and Ladakh which is the aim of Pakistan. Already the plan has been set in motion in Doda district of Jammu. It also deserves serious consideration as to how these small areas in the border belt, close to Pakistan, can be reorganised in the light of national security.
If the reorganisation ofthe state is not undertaken strictly in the light of national security, it may promote further the existing attitude. In this context consideration of the future of the three Lakh Kashmiri Hindus is essential for the security of the nation. "Save Kashmir" is necessary for protection of country's integrity. And it is important for the preservation of Kashmir in India to facilitate settlement of Hindus in Kashmir. To think of settlement of the Kashmir problem without Kashmiri Pandits is equal to declaration of Kashmir as a Muslim state. Therefore, in which of the regional councils these Kashmiri Hindus will have a place ? Answer to this question has to be searched.
It is as necessary to make the arrangement for the establishment of three regional councils as it is to rehabilitate Kashmiri Hindus in Kashmir under security. After this regional councils will have the freedom to run the administration freely. The three regions can also be made union territories. But for the proper economic and political development of the three regions, it would be better to have separate councils where the Kashmiri Pandits have secure representation in the Kashmir regional council. For the entire state there should be ane Assembly, one Governor and one High Court. All the border districts in the entire state be have one security belt and for Kashmiri Pandits five to seven Assembly seats be reserved in the State.
Under this provision development of all the three regions will be ensured and there would be no curtailment of rights of the people of one or the other region. It will also ensure secure place for Kashmiri Hindus and security arrangements in the border can be strengthened, Kashmir can be made an inseparable part of India and the Muslim society in Kashmir can be brought to the national mainstream.
Self-introspection by Kashmiri Hindus
While finding a solution to the Kashmir problem, it will be apt to accept the bitter truth in the interest of the nation that the attitude and weakness of the mind of Kashmiri Hindus and their indifference have also been responsible for the current problem. The entire nation was crushed in the mill of religious conversion. In the entire country Muslim Sultans and Kings made an attempt to convert the Hindu society to Islam but except for Kashmir the Hindus maintained their supremacy. Generation after generation the Hindu society in India struggled. For centuries the armed struggle continued. In the shape of Shivaji, Rana Pratap and Guru Gobind Singh the Hindu society succeeded in maintaining its existence. But in Kashmir 95 per cent Hindus adopted Islam and that too within a short period of 400 years. Nowhere there was united armed reaction from the Hindus in Kashmir, sporadic reactions being exceptions.
The bitter fact of history has to be accepted that the Hindu society in Ksshmir remained like a snapped kite in the vacuum in the absence of solid leadership during the last 700 years. Exceptions apart, no brave and courageous leadership has developed in Kashmir. This is the reason for that very basic society to get displaced and move about as mendicants which, on the basis of its strength, enjoyed freedom and would give to the world the light of knowledge for 4,000 years. It can be said here that since Hindus in Kashmir were in minority, they could not revolt but this situation did not develop overnight. The Hindu society was reduced to minority gradually and today Kashmir is a Hinduless area. There has been no such display of weakness in any other part of India and even today Hindus have remained steadfast. In Afghanistan and Sind, the number of these Hindus is much less than the number of Hindus in Kashmir.
Their Selfish and narrow-visioned leadership
It has also remained a matter of misfortune for the Hindu society in Kashmir that its intellectual leadership has sided with those rulers who have been responsible for the destruction of Kashmir. It is worth mentioning here that while the average Hindu has remained a nationalist, brave and courageous, their leaders have been always displaying cowardice. Here the leaders have discouraged bold and courageous youths. Even while occupying top and influential posts in the Congress and the National Conference, these leaders have not done anything in uniting the Hindu society and in carrying out any development work for them. These leaders always thought about the welfare of their families. They would side with the anti-national leader like Sheikh Abdullah and kept on piling up the instrument of destruction for the Hindu society of Kashmir. Some of them even where supporters of Sheikh Abdullah's idea of independent Kashmir. These very Hindu leaders of Kashmir had opposed strongly the national movement of Praja Parishad.
Leaders like D.P. Dhar, R.C. Kak, Sham Lal Saraf, Justice Jia Lal Kilam, Kashyap Bandhu, Prem Nath Bazaz, Dina Nath Nadim, Makhan Lal Fotedar, P.L. Handoo and Shiv Narain Fotedar, who remained in the council of ministers and in important Government seats, have never done anything for allowing the Hindu society in Kashmir to lead an honourable living. They never allowed the nationalist leadership to come forward in Kashmir. They misguided the Hindu youths and made them indifferent. Prof. Balraj Madhok has given an account of the above mentioned problem in his book "Kashmir" because he was the man who had understood the problem right from the beginning. According to him, Kashmiri Pandits could play an important role in finding a solution of the Kashmir problem. They had approach upto Pt. Nehru. They could well understand his Kashmiri psyche. Had the Kashmiri Pandits adopted a nationalist and realist thinking and mounted pressure on the Gcvernment of India, the situation in Kashmir would have been different today and they would not have been forced to flee from their houses in Kashmir. But unfortunately Kashmiri Pandit leaders never saw beyond the immediate. By their actions and role they too have confirmed it that they are Kashmiris first and Indian and Hindus later. They eulogised Sheikh Abdullah without any limit. They even compared the Sheikh to Lord Krishan and pressurised Nehru to accept his (Sheikh's) every demand. They never tried to understand with sympathy the problem of Hindus and Buddhists in Jammu and Ladakh. It is a bitter truth that Kashmiri Pandit leaders like D.P. Dhar played a dirty and self-destructive role in sabotaging the movement of the people of Jammu for their existence.
At the time of the partition there were about seven lakh Hindus in Kashmir and had their leaders done some constructive work for the community, Hindus, even being in the minority, could have emerged as a powerful society. But these Pandit leaders left these Hindus at the mercy of local Muslims and kept on licking the feet of the State the Central Governments and whenever any misfortune affected the community, these leaders adopted an attitude of indifference. It is the same coward leadership of Kashmiri Pandits which is responsible for mass exodus of Hindus from Kashmir. The first to flee Kashmir were these very leaders. Who could sustain the Hindus when Hindu leaders belonging to the Congress and the National Conference took to their heels ? At that time RSS workers came to the front. They remained steadfast till the last moment and kept on boosting the morale of the Hindu society.
Kashmiri youths: awake
Whatever has been written here is not to discourage the Hindu society of Kashmir but to bring them down from the world of unreality to the ground of reality. If the Hindus of Kashmir want to return to their homes safely and honourably, they have to change their community attitude. The youth in particular should learn from the mistakes committed by their ancestors and kick out their cowardice and unite while adopting bravery and martial spirit. The Kashmiri Hindu youths should remember the sword of their glorious ancestor, Lalitaditya, whose strike had reached the distant Central Asia. There is need for picking up the spear of Sangram Raj and Trilochanpal which had forced Mohammad of Gaznavi to lick the dust. There is need for shooting the arrow of Chandrapeed of which the Arab chieftains were scared of and took to their heels. There is need to adopt the Chakra of Vishnu which had beheaded Jalodbhav making an end of demonic elements in Kashmir.
When Kashmiri Pandits, after swearing by the weapon of Parshuram, decide with courage to return to their land, no power on the earth can stop them. The Hindu society of the entire world will stand by them. Even God also help those who help themselves. On seeing Kashmiri Pandits united and in a defiant mood, the pro-Pak and anti-national elements too would be forced to stage a retreat. Fortunately Kashmiri Hindus, especially the youth, are today motivated by nationalism and are eager to measure swords with the separatists. Several Hindu nationalist organisations are active in seeing the displaced families return to Kashmir. The Kashmir problem has awakened the political opinionists. The so called liberal people in the country have started realising that the hidden anti-national bias in the Muslim psyche should have been understood at the time of the partition.
Nation and nationalism
According to political pandits and philosophers all over the world, national unity and separatism are two different and opposing elements. Paucity in the outlook of nationalism breeds regionalism which gives birth to separatism. Powerful feeling of nationalism is the right weapon for finishing separatism. The poison of separatism spreading in some regions in India is the lack of the feeling of one nation.
In reality when the country achieved independence, the then rulers should have framed the constitution on the basis of nation and its culture. But none had neither the conception nor the worry about national culture. The result was that the national outlook got eclipsed because the educational and economic policies remained divided in many social and political groups. Blind copying of the western pattern remained the base of our policies. Everything of the forces of the British imperialism was considered supreme and even we visualised and understood nation and nationalism through the western spectacles. Deliberately the British historians presented, in a twisted form, our national history, national culture and national outlook for their selfish political interest and while becoming victim of their conspiracy we relinquished our ancient glory. The result was that community, region, sect, language etc. pushed back nationalism and the problems of Kashmir, Punjab and Assam are its product.
The feeling of nationalism cannot be born without understanding national culture. Right from the beginning India has remained as one nation, one people, one country and one culture. According to the Indian philosophy, nation is a cultural unit which can be developed not constructed. In the west nation has been merged with the Government which has been considered a political unit. Culture unites people and politics disintegrates them. Therefore, so long the nation remained linked with culture, this country remained united but when the western political influence became dominant, it gave birth to the country's disintegration. This is the misfortune for Kashmir. So long the high ideals of nation and national culture remained dominant, the religious activities remained linked with the Indian nation. But when religion was brought into politics and the conception of creation of an ethnic state developed, it paved the way for separatism in Kashmir.
The modes of worship, born and developed in Kashmir, which included snake worship, Shaivism, Buddhism, Vaishnavism never came into conflict with one another because they remained linked with the Indian nationalism. Even the foreign rulers like Kanishka and Mihir, who belonged to Kushan and Hun sects respectively, had accepted Buddhism and Shaivism and while indianising their sect had merged with the Indian national mainstream. But the advent of Islam in Kashmir gave birth to inter-sectarian conflict, religious conversion, and separatism. The reason was clear because Islam does not permit its followers to get linked with any country and its national culture. Wherever there is Muslim majority, there should be Islamic state. Pakistan too is the result of this opinion. The forcible religious conversion of Hindus in Kashmir and now their mass exodus are the offshoots of this anti- national trend.
Which Kashmiriyat ?
Have Hindus no share of that Kashmiriyat on the basis of which militants want an independent state ? Of which Kashmiriyat the militants are talking about ? Is it 500 or 5,000 year old ? That time everyone in Kaohmir was a Hindu. Today's terrorists are the sons of Hindu ancestors. In Kashmir, like the rest of the country, Hindus and Muslims have same ancestors, same history, same culture and the same land. Therefore, nationalism too is same. Then how can the ancestors change with the change in religion and the mode of worship ? Can it be construed that wherever Muslims are in majority they will have their separate nationalism and get delinked from India ? This bitter truth of history has to be accepted. It also means thnt for the protection of India, its culture and its geography the Hindus have to be protected. By uniting and protecting Hindus, nationalism, secularism and culture can be protected. The history of the world is replete with events indicating that wherever Muslims are in majority fundamentalism would raise its head to give birth to separatism.
It is necessary to link all communities and sects of the Indian society with national culture in order to stop disintegration permanently. This work cannot be executed on the political level. There is need for inculcating the spirit of national culture in the new generation. The generation should have to be told that our country, our ancestors, our history, our holy places are same and equal. The change in the ways of worship does not change nationalism. There are thousands of modes of worship, sects, communities, faiths in India but nationalism is one.
Right from Kashmir to Kanyakumari India is one. An account of this one nationality is given in 2000-year old Vishnu Puran.
Its meaning is: There in the north of the sea and in the south of the Himalayan range is a country called "Bharat" (India) whose sons are called Indians.
Suggestion to Kashmiri Muslims
Muslims in Kashmir should realise it that by joing Pakistan or by remaining independent they will neither remain safe nor can they protect their Kashmiriyat. Their Islamic principles too will remain safe in the Kashmiriyat based on the culture of their ancestors. The amount of religious freedom that exists in Indian culture is found nowhere. This Indian culture has been watered with blood by Rishis and saints of Kashmir. Those Rishis and saints are the ancestors of both Hindus and Muslims. They should protect and feel proud of the Kashmiriyat and culture of their ancestors. It is against the tenets of the holy Quran and Islamic values to destroy this culture, finish Kashmiri Pandits who have preserved this Kashmiriyat and to destroy the paradise on the earth as Kashmir is called. If Islam teaches brotherhood, why then this bloodshed ? Kashmiri youths should understand that the way they have adopted will not only insult and negate Islam but they will not achieve anything. They should not stain the verdant Kashmir valley with blood under the influence of Pakistan. The dream of independent Kashmir too is unrealistic and Pakistan will never tolerate independent Kashmir. It will not give any military or economic aid. What has she to give ? Hitherto several thousand crores of rupees have been spent on the development works by India in Kashmir and all this will be stopped with deaccession. Kashmir's tourism industry, economic development and geographical security are secure because of India.
Accept mistakes
Therefore, the one solution to the Kashmir problem is that our Kashmiri Muslim brothers should link themselves, like other Indians, with the national mainstream and the Government of India need to adopt solid steps for resolving the problem after accepting it as a national problem and following its acceptance of its earlier mistakes.
But the misfortune is that the politics of vote comes in the way of acceptance of the mistakes. It is because of this that the history of mistakes and foolishness keeps on repeating itself. There is need for national consensus on protection of Kashmir which is possible if all political parties give up their selfish political ends. But national consensus is not possible because of paucity of national outlook. When in place of the nation the eyes are fixed on power and vote bank, how can the national outlook grow ?
How can this materialise, the 84 crore people of the country have to answer it. The sole solution to all problems in the country lies in the baptism of the people of national culture.
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