Jaibans Singh
Three innocent and vivacious teenager girls belonging to the valley of Kashmir would never in their dreams have thought that their interest in music would land them into a traumatic situation of the kind that is presently being witnessed. Their amateur rock band has elicited a Fatwa by a person no less than the Grand Mufti of Kashmir and their families have been subject to open threats of social boycott from right wing organisations like Dukhtaran-e-Millat headed by Asiya Andrabi. As was expected, the girls hastily disbanded their band and publicly apologised for hurting the sentiments of the Kashmiri people. The unfortunate episode has been kept in the forefront by the national media especially the electronic segment. The main thrust has been to give an image of a radicalised Kashmir being controlled by fundamentalist forces. There are, however, many other dimensions that have not been considered in this debate.
This incident is different in the context that it has heralded to the forefront an issue involving culture and civil society in a region which has, for long, witnessed nothing more than talk of terrorism, gun culture, violence and the like. The very fact that a programme was held where three girls could get on stage to perform is, for Kashmir, a very significant step in its tryst towards normalcy.
Apart from a few radical voices most of the Kashmiri polity, including some members of the Hurriyat Conference, have come out in support of the girls. The support may be grudging and veiled in political rhetoric but it is there for all to see. This is yet another first in the fractured politics of the region. It indicates that there are certain issues, at least in the social domain, where a political consensus is now possible in Kashmir. It also indicates that despite rigid postures the Kashmiri people are not ready to shed their secular character and the concept of Kashmiriyat. They may not have come out in open support against fundamentalist thought but the simmers are very much visible.
One cannot refrain from expressing appreciation for the principled stand taken on the subject by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Certain electronic media segments have thought it fit to downplay the same with a contention that the Chief Minister is ready to speak but not act. Those who are following this line are not very conversant with the situation in the Kashmir valley. One move out of turn is what disruptive elements are looking for to create mayhem; the Chief Minister would be doing great harm by getting sucked into a situation of this nature due to some overpowering emotions. He has expressed his support for the girls and their liberty but beyond that he has to handle the situation with kid gloves. Take an instance where he orders the detention of the Grand Mufti or Asiya Andrabi for intimidation as is being suggested by some television anchors. This is exactly what some elements want to bring their troublemakers out on the streets and this is exactly what should not be allowed to happen.
Bullets may have stopped flying around in Kashmir but normalcy cannot be embedded with the wave of a wand. To measure Jammu and Kashmir on the same scale as other states and to expect the same kind of reaction from the government would not only be a fallacy but also counterproductive, To this extent, the nation especially so the national media and in particular the electronic segment needs to elicit a certain degree of sensitivity while covering events and incidents in the valley. Kashmir is not Delhi and as such the same template cannot be applied to both regions.
The episode also brings into focus the impact that rigid Wahabi and Salafi tenets of Islam as being propagated by countries like Saudi Arabia has had in the Kashmiri religious domain. This is against the very spirit of Sufism, secularism and tolerance which this civilisation has been practising for thousands of years. It is now up to the civil society of Kashmir to recognise the danger and respond in an appropriate manner. To negate the Fatwas and the threats with a civil movement may be a good first step in this direction. Debates more than demonstrations would be a right approach; Kashmiri intelligentsia and political leadership should take the initiative in exposing the radical thought process as against Kashmiri culture and thought. The objective should be to suppress this movement by ideas rather than a show of force. It would be very sad if, in times to come, one sees Kashmir emerging out of the shadow of the gun but with severe dents to its renowned civilisation.
The intention, by no means, is to support the wrongs that are being perpetrated upon the young girls due to fundamentalism and radicalism. One would fervently hope that a situation comes by, sooner than later, when these girls can, once again, pursue their interest and this time without any fear or intimidation. The intention is to give a different thought and perspective to the entire debate and, by so doing, suggest a way by which the higher aim of resurrecting Kashmiri civilisation and its enlightened norms of Kashmiriyat can be achieved. While the government goes about fulfilling its mandate of development and the forces provide the necessary security umbrella for trade and other civil activity to flourish it is the people who now need to take their control over their lives. They should throw out all such evil designs and practices that have gained a foothold during the period of turmoil. In this endeavour the unstinted and sensitive support of the nation would pay handsome dividends. It is a joint effort of this nature that will bring about in Kashmir the next stage of change.
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