Rumours in Kashmir
It takes just a rumour for the entire Kashmir to turn mad
Javaid Malik
Rumours, rumours, and rumours; that’s what Kashmir is for the past many years, especially during the past 25-years of turmoil.
When the armed rebellion broke out in Kashmir in late eighties, rumours used to spread like wildfire even in the absence of mobile phones and technology. When turmoil was its peak rumours about what is going to happen next used to be the favourite pastime for the people as they had no other option, other than to believe in these rumours as times were uncertain.
More than 25-years have passed when the first rumour about situation in Kashmir spread across the length and breadth of the Valley. Initially people didn’t believe it but along with the passage of time word of mouth spreading across Kashmir became the main source of information. One rumour used to bring entire Kashmir out on streets and history stands testimony to it.
Since 1990 Kashmiris have witnessed many ups and downs and rumours have been the part of their lives. Earlier this week a rumour that a few children have died after Polio drops were administered to them stopped the heartbeat of one and all. People in hordes rushed towards the hospitals and medical centres to ensure that Kashmir’s generation next is safe.
The rumour mongers didn’t wait for the word of mouth to spread, they used technology to spread the wrong information about Polio drops being unsafe and “Do Boond Zindagi Kay” having snatched the lives of little ones. These rumours didn’t leave any part of Kashmir untouched. People from Karnah to Kokernag were worried about the fate of their children.
Interestingly, rumours about Polio drops being unsafe spread simultaneously in Kashmir and Jammu regions but the reaction in Kashmir was more spontaneous than Jammu. Kashmiris were out on streets and even some health centres were vandalized. At one place in south Kashmir an employee of Health department administered Polio drops twice to his son to pacify the agitated people and to make them believe that Polio drops have not taken any lives. On the other hand reaction in Jammu region was not that intense as people refused to believe that Polio drops were unsafe.
Police during the past few days have arrested some people who are believed to have spread these rumours but still many questions have not been answered. One fails to understand, what a few trouble mongers gain by orchestrating such “misadventures” with so much of precision and accuracy. Whomsoever they are, one thing is for sure that they are well aware about the psychology of Kashmiris. They know it very well where to hit the people of Kashmir if you want them out on streets.
No one can deny that rumours have been an integral part of Kashmir turmoil and these have taken toll on people quite often. Irony is that these rumours don’t travel across the Banihal tunnel and remain confined within the Valley itself.
During the past 25-years Kashmiri have witnessed so much of uncertainty that even a small spark makes them feel unsafe. Fact is that sense of insecurity has crept deep into our lives and we don’t want to take any chances. People who spread the rumours are very much aware about our nature and our possible reaction. Bloodshed and killings have made us believe that we cannot take anything lightly even if it’s not true. Sometimes rumours are spread just to test the waters and to take a note of how Kashmiris react to a particular situation.
