World acknowledges Palestine’s struggle while Kashmir has failed even to convince people beyond Banihal
Safeer Bhat
Leadership has always played a significant role in the political, socio-economic and cultural history of south Asia. Leadership moulds the opinion of people and imbibes in them the spirit of the age. There is no denying the fact that different personalities have played their role in the history of Kashmir as well but Kashmir has not had the privilege of a leader with a vision. They seem to have been unable to understand the spirit of the age and the vicissitudes and vagaries of life, thereby their decisions proved to be a burden on the poor masses. When the Muslim masses of Valley were toiling under the despotic rule of the Dogra’s in the 1890s, the traditional leaders of the Kashmiri Muslims, the “Mirwaizs” were busy fighting over the sermon and preaching rights in the mosques and shrines of the Srinagar city.
The 30s and 40s of 20th century were crucial decades in the history of Kashmir, bubbling with opportunities to free the masses from centuries of slavery and despotism. However, the leaders utterly again failed to understand the sentiments of the ‘docile’ masses and the opportunity was again lost. They lost their independent character, changed their colors now and then and became tools in the hands of the miscreant persons who used them for their nefarious designs, thereby plunging the country into a deep crisis. With the leadership vacuum, the remaining part was filled by hooligans and opportunists who robbed the country and played with the emotions of the people. They had not learnt to accommodate the dissent and continued muzzling the voice of the people.
The present mainstream leadership who claim to represent the people has no concern for the collective good and sentiments of the people. The leaders cannot allow the resolution demanding the return of mortal remains of Afzal Guru to be introduced in the legislature as it would be ‘unconstitutional’ while the Tamil Nadu Assembly can seek the acquittal of the assassin of the prime minister of the country. They cannot seek return of power projects, repeal of Disturbed Areas Act, AFSPA as by demanding so they don’t want to annoy New Delhi. It is an irony that while in power they never pass resolutions seeking the redressal, but once outside they stage walkouts demanding the same. Why have the leaders got double standards? It is disheartening that the Ordinance which was used to punish the Kashmiri people for listening to the Radio Pakistan and Azad Kashmir in 1948 is still applicable. Probably the leaders believe in consistency.
The separatist leadership too has done no good to the people and has increased the sufferings. They have no strategy and vision except being the ‘Shahs of hartal’, though in this case too, they depend on the governments, central or state. They would otherwise find themselves meaningless in the discourse. When it was the time for decisions they relegated to the background. Palestine has the same history of struggle as Kashmir but today the world acknowledges their struggle while Kashmir has failed even to convince people beyond Banihal. The separatists are victims of identity crisis. They know the importance and significance of unity but cannot formulate a Common Minimum Programme as was done by those ‘poles apart’ because they don’t want to lose their separate identity and the claim that they represent the genuine aspirations of the people. As long as ego is elevated above empathy, Kashmiris are bound to suffer. History is repeating itself and once again Kashmir is at the crossroads.
Across the Valley today if anything is self evident it is that the people are badly in need of a sound and altruistic leadership. Would a Messiah come and be a leader of the people in the strict sense of the term?
Author is a Research Scholar at Aligarh Muslim University. He can be mailed at safeer.hist@gmail.com
