Year of Disappointment Gone
B L Saraf
bushanlalsaraf@gmail.com
Year, 2025 is on the way out : 2026 A D is knocking at the door . It is appropriate to have a relook at the events that marked the outgoing year and express a hope that the coming year will bring something better for us .
Coming close on the heels of an elected government having taken place in Jammu and Kashmir, the outgoing year 2025 had brought hope to many that there will be a closure of sorts to the myriad woes they have been suffering since the onset of armed terrorism ,in1989 . It wasn’t so! On the contrary in many respects, it proved to be a disappointment. To be fair to the outgoing year, disappointment has been the defining mark of every year that has gone by since 1989.
The year started on a heart wrenching note : as many as thirty innocent tourists were martyred by the armed terrorist in the Baisarn Valley of Phalagam , Kashmir and ended with the massacre of dozens of innocents in Lal Quilla area of Delhi . In-between we had the misfortune of witnessing dozens of helpless persons falling to the terrorist related activity in Nowgam , Chadora (Budgam ). As if it wasn’t enough nature let lose a flood furry of humongous scale , across J &K , which spelt a catastrophe . Many people lost lives and property worth millions turned into rubble.
On the political front the situation was no better. Inter- and intra bickering among various political parties on non-issues was loud and clear. The ruling NC had to face internal dissension with one of its leading stars – the Srinagar MP – crossing sword with his parent organization- number of times and in full public glare .The party had the ignominy of losing the Budgam Assembly seat held earlier by Omar Abdullah and which observers have been describing as the best bet for the NC . Absence of the Srinagar MP from the poll campaign ,who hails from the area and holds a spiritual position among significant sections of the majority community forming the electorate , weighed heavy against the party and threw up many political possibilities – surely not to the liking of NC leadership .Some of the unfulfilled poll promises too haunted the ruling party .Though it will be too harsh on the C M to be judged by less than an year’s stay in the Chair .
The situation on the administrative side too didn’t look rosy .The diarchy in exercising powers – with LG and the CM looking on different pages many a time the cause of good governance suffered a hit. The inbuilt flaw in the undefined and multiplicity of powers of governance between the two high Constitutional functionaries came out in full view, on many an occasion. What aggravated the position was the apparent absence of mutual trust : so much necessary for the governance of Jammu and Kashmir.
The situation, however, doesn’t seem beyond redemption. Something can be retrieved in the coming year. A couple of positive signals emanating from the persons concerned do provide an indication.
In a politically loaded article Ram Madav , a very prominent BJ P leader and a person well versed with the contemporary Kashmir politics has , in his article published in the Indian Express edition of 21st December 2025 , argued for “deepening political engagement in Kashmir “. Referring, apparently with an approval , to the recently submitted Memorandum by the three NC RS Members to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah Ram Madav describes it as “an indication of new priorities and aspirations .” He emphasized what the Memorandum mentioned and how it ” urged Shah to initiate clear ,concrete and time bound steps for early restoration of the full statehood ,in keeping with the constitutional principles ,judicial observations and the assurances already given at the highest level.”
Madav further wrote ” Delhi must seize the opportunity and enhance direct engagement with the various stakeholders in the state for a political dialogue .In Kashmir besides prominent parties like NC , Congress ,PDP and BJP there are several important players ,political and non political who wield considerable influence over different sections of society who are willing to engage with Delhi . Such an engagement will surely yield dividends…..” Ram Madav’s anguish is palpable when he writes “Unfortunately , besides visits by the Prime Minister , the Home Minister and couple of cabinet ministers in the first half of the year , there has not been much political engagement with Kashmir in the last several month .”
If one is to connect dots outlined by the CM Omar Abdullah and Ram Madav we could hope that the incoming year may have something good in store for the people living in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir . Generally , Omar Abdullah has been sounding a conciliatory note towards the Centre , though occasionally he has been tempering it with the dose of ‘ expected disappointment.’ Recently he told media persons ” he has no complaints with the Modi led Central Government at New Delhi , except on the restoration of full statehood . The dominant refrain of Ram Madav’s column is for initiation of dialogue and engagement with the people of Kashmir for settlement of the issues .In the given political and administrative scenario , as Omar Abdulla has rightly gathered it , the settlement could only be around the restoration of full Statehood for J & K . Nothing more can be expected at the moment .
Ram Madav has described Mirwaiz Ummar Farooq as an influential person to mould public opinion in Kashmir and spoken admiringly about his role in bringing normalcy to Kashmir .In a perceptible vein he has found Mirwiaz sharing the need of abridging ” dil aur dilli ki doori .” It means that despite August 5th 2019 constitutional changes much distance is yet to be covered between Srinagar and Delhi.
The Chief Minister often says that in absence of clear Rules of Business, demarcating his powers, the decisions taken by his government are not translated into an action. If that is the case then till statehood is fully restored these rules must be adopted to clear the confusion.
It may indeed be a big task for the year 2026 to bring all round cheer for the inhabitants of J &K . Nonetheless, there is no harm in entertaining hope that this year won’t make poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz lament again :
Tue naya hai tou dikha nayee subha nayee shaam
Varna inn ankhoon ney dekhay hain kayee saal naye
” You are a new year usher in new dawn and new dusk : or else we have seen so many new years .”
(The author is Former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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