B L Saraf
In common parlance we understand slogan as a mixture of crisp words used by an entrepreneur to promote his business. Also, it is a catch phrase employed by a politician to garner political support and ensure that his bread is always buttered. In both the cases it is an inseparable part of the ‘business’. Slogans are generally devised to suit convenience of a promoter.
Coinage of different slogans at different times will make an interesting story. For the moment we restrict our study of slogan crafting to the contemporary times, in Jammu & Kashmir. When we search for the most exploited, over utilized and much maligned slogans two of them strike our mind instantaneously. They are :
Kashmir Bharat Kaa Atoot Ang Hai “ used to be a reigning slogan in Kashmir from 1953 till middle of 1980s. It was raised , ritualistically, by the ‘mainstream ‘politicians, of any merit, at any occasion. Failure to recite the Mantra would entail huge political and economic loss. For a better part of the Kashmir history the slogan proved an insurance cover for the political turn coats to get and sustain their official patronage, awarding of forest and construction contracts, route permits and entrance to the professional institutions of their undeserving wards.
Advancement of political and economic fortune of a political upstart directly depended on the pitch of the slogan. Overemphasis on the catch word matched only with the lack of conviction in it. Sometimes it was used to settle personal scores. In those ‘golden days’ one would achieve anything in our state just on the chant of the ‘Atoot Ang’ mantra. Underneath , however, a different story would unfold : everything was done quite opposite to the spirit of the slogan. Events, latter on , proved that it was raised only as veneer to do everything to undermine India in the Valley. Instead of strengthening the cause of India these slogan mongers did all what was required to weaken India and the Indian thought in the Valley.
The duplicitous practice remained in vogue till the middle of 1980s when most of the lovers of Atoot Ang felt no qualms to ditch it and join the “Azadi” cacophony. True, some in the Valley withstood the tide and remained loyal to the slogan.
Come 1996, a new slogan got crafted. Catch word was “ Kashmir Is Incomplete Without Kashmiri Pandits; Return of Pandits is Highest on our Agenda.” Religiously, all speeches are prefaced with these words. Well, some would say without Pandits Kashmir is no Kashmir. We leave that matter to the other times. The slogan is raised ad – nauseum by all the political players and chanted as a mantra , with zero faith in its contents. Kashmiriat is invoked.
Gandhiji’s failed “Roshni key kiran” is dangled before the exile in synthetic sympathy. Like the first one, this slogan too is being exploited by some politicians to meet their personal ends.
Look to the sincerity of the catch phrase? Physically Pandits stand thrown out, denuded of the possessions. No serious effort has been made for their return.
By design or otherwise , their sense of home is being eroded. Names of the places, once, inhabited by the displaced community in the Valley and their religious places have been so changed as to negate the very right of the Pandits to live in Kashmir. Religious places stand vandalized. In proof thereof, just have a look at the Aims and Objects of Bill No 2/2009, meant to enact a law for protection and preservation of Temples and Shrines of Hindus in KASHMIR: which, though , was aborted by the very slogan shouting brigade.
True, lack of job opportunities and economic constraints will not attract the displaced youth to the Valley. PM package regarding employment to them has been callously disregarded. For the young and old, a spiritual bond still holds on, though tenuously. That is incentive for them to revive and retain connection with the Valley. Once that bond goes, so goes the feeling that Kashmir really belongs to them. It will, indeed, be catastrophe if sense of belonging vanishes.
We hope that the “ Return” slogan raisers really mean what they say and not let it go the “ Atoot Ang” way. In proof of their good intentions leaders must take necessary measures to build confidence in the displaced community. Implementation of employment component of the PM’s package and the enactment of law to protect their Temples and Shrines in the Valley could be such measures.
(The author is former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel