After a six years pause the elections were declared a few months back , conducted and results made public. in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This time the elections proved more intense than all the previous post 1947 ones.
Besides a sham of election in the moth-eaten State of Jammu, Kashmir Ladhakh hai Tibet. Another humiliating truth about these elections was one from statehood to Union Territory, now a mere speck of erstwhile State that was touching five countries and has been even bigger than Great Britain.
In the bygone days we used to have Praja Shaba elections during Dogra rule covering the whole of its kingdom . Which neither Instrument of Accession, United Nations intervention , half a dozen wars , lot more covered and uncovered, one could not restore it Post 1947 post alliance , first election on this side was in about 60 % of the erstwhile state, that was further chopped in with creating instead of unifying it created into two Union Territories how many more shall come up ,, keeping in view the demands of the parochial forces is anybody guess.
We may have Kargil, Chenab valley, Pir Panjal, which Centre government has given enough feelers by clubbing it with Kashmir as a Parlimentry constituencies Anantnag .Jammu as Union territories above it Vishal Himachal adding Jammu with it. A demand decades back was given vent by Heir Apparent which and is said to have appeared in Time magazine. One thing is sure, the Valley which is called Kashmir as known worldwide shall never be torn apart by any force even by nature , it may go if so but as one unit.
The highly speculation charged elections atmosphere took everyone by surprise, disbelieving as speculation went quite wary from their experience and calculations. Election hurricanes swept far and wide with horrifying intensity, hard to believe the impact it left behind to assess. .. The Kashmiri word “trrath” is an appropriate word for this tsunami in kashmir, no other name can convey its meaning to the Kashmiris more appropriately who form the majority chunk which exercised its adult franchise rights . This time its intensity drew attention around the globe beyond belief. . Hurricane of resentment with strong determination , not only blew over the laudable players but swept everything that came its way. Majority franchise in the valley and across the Pir Panjal towards south were clear and determined what to do and how to do, the element of secrecy and silence carried the day. It was not unpredictable for a commoner who knows well the psyche of the majority franchisee, only even those who were in fray on behest of others to play game spoilers but as expected lost miserably in the game of aspiration and Kashmiriyat..
As flash floods it swept whatever came its way but had people’s movement like a definite pattern, where anger, resentment and warning of days to come has been conveyed. One may like it, read it be wiser and orient its drifing boat to moor on right course along the wind is a different story.
This time tornado did not confine to valley but rose too high to cross Panjal barrier to sweep far and wide in southern side , adding more facts to analyse about the Kashmir valley .
After the results, those who romped home were jubilant , alliance formed the government, BJP who were aspiring more than 40 seats were licking their wounds as voters mauled it badly even as its President lost .
But were does the commoner stand as election was contested wearing bi-focals of Faith chanting believing chanting shall carry the day which in many cases proved helpful. Majority community is always gainer by its Faith unity, what Dogras lost by throwing away Artcile 35, only cost the Dogras .
This writer at its wits end however is compelled to analyse where a miniscule community fragmented in pieces stands in present scenario. Those who could not move out in mass exodus, are not treated as sufferers, and Migrants which form Muslim, Sikh Hindus alike, but government project them as Kashmiri Pandits even missing to mention there are Khatris too.
Among these, it is the Kashmiri Pandits who got cocooned and how they can come out is hard to guess.
Nonetheless, one thing is sure that they got cocooned of its own doing disassociating from the Kashmiris Muslim who claim are from same ancestors while Kashmiri Pandits have changed religion thrice , from Nag-Paisachi sect to Buddhism and then Shaivisn and now they hold Lotus. Who will make them come out from this fatal grip.
Firstly, they have burnt the bridge by making utterences and blaming every muslim an enemy forgetting to acknowledge those who helped them in distress under threats of gun. Recent developments senda a different and difficult warnings. Recently, the TV channels the otherday carried a news in which Umar Abdullah has said no Kashmiri Pandit Mahajir shall be taken back, Majhir we use for those went to Pakistan. Much can be read from it. Besides demolition of shops of Kashmiri Migrants camp at Purkhoo in the BJP dominated and represented area conveys another facet they face.
Majority community , don’t put eggs in one basket. Every care is taken as undeclared commandment, nominal votes have to be casted in other parties to help each other. There are countless numbers where a family may express faith in a political ideology but a few among them favour nominally with Jamatis, Awami National Conference pro Pak and even BJP.
The Kashmiris are best political spinners. It is very hard to read their political moves. It reminds me of Haji Mastan. Popularly known as Sultan Mirza, was an organised crime gang leader, during 70s He would offer counter criticism that those who criticise me in day time come with a begging bowl during night.r He was said to have donated funds for the construction of Sher Kashmir Institution Soura Srinagar.
A fued engineered by late Raja Hari Krishan Kaul refered as king maker, on a mission from British to unite all anti Maharaja elements against Maharaja Hari Singh on the request of mother of Maharaja, instead created a wedge known as Sher and Bakra still fresh over near a hundred years. . It started between Mirwaiz Muhammad Yusuf Shah Imam of the Jama Masjid in Srinagar, and Sheikh Mohammadh Abdullah prompoted by Ashai a plot woven by who later was referred as a Sher – Kashmir. While Imam wanted his grip over the majority , Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in his early days in siocial activites was impressed by the communist idealogy, welfare for all, to releases masses from the bondage of hewers of wood, drawers of water and tillers of land. Though Beggar, bonded labour was offcialy aboshlished during Maharaja Partap Singh’ rule , yet politicians woke up for the political gains.
All the players of politics in Kshmir and adjoining area of souther Panjal in day time they behave as worst enemy to each other but as Hanji tradition of quarrel give a call for lul on sun set and then exchage the invective next day morning by lifting the symbolic basket- fot!
So winner and looser confront each other to mend fences. However, whosoever may have won or lost, it is the Kashmiri majority that has once again stood the test with same faith and commitment.
Perhaps the cocooned Kashmiri Pandits of the Valley ,if they do not wake up to the realities of time, then have their future fated for the famous local Silk Factory. The choice they make will determine the community’s future in the Valley.
( the writer is a Jammu based environmentalist…)
(The writer is a Jammu based environmentalist and a regular contributor to this Website.)
(Feedback at: blparimoo@gmail.com)
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