I want Kashmir

Vijay Hashia
Think about Kashmir, you get a headache.  An old aphorism goes like, “Your problem is a Kashmir problem or it is an unending Kashmir problem.” The analogy of Kashmir problem is equated with all major problems mankind is beset with because  Kashmir is so complicated a problem that it has remained a burning core issue for more than seventy years.  Scholars, politicians, bureaucrats, interlocutors and legal luminaries have failed to solve Kashmir conundrum.
Imagine, had Kashmir not been a part of India, with which sides would have it been, an independent state headed by a PM or under the Pak or Chinese aegis?  There are some more teasers than this not to answer but with my own authority I put it, Kashmir would have never been an independent state. Now think of a Kashmiri separatist who has not been happy with India as he perceives independence and democracy differently despite having enjoyed its fruits throughout the years since independence and having drained India of all the resources.  Also, think of an Indian Muslim who is happy with India because he perceives freedom by virtue of democracy.  Comparatively, Muslims in India other than Kashmir have reached  top positions; they have been scientists, educationists, business magnates, top defence brasses, vice presidents and even presidents. Contrary to a hardcore Kashmiri separatist who perceives Kashmir not a part of India as he dwells closer to the Pak border and is religiously attached to it, often gets  incited from across the border to wage war against India and suffers from the fruits of terror, while as the Muslims living in India live quite a peaceful life.  A section of populace on the other hand, is of the view that why India cannot do away with Kashmir, in other words nip the evil in the bud or extract the ached tooth as it troubles the whole jaw; then should India shun it away is one of the biggest questions?  Another section is of the view that India should grant greater autonomy to Kashmiris and restore pre -independence 1953 position.  Yet another view holds, the article 370 should be abrogated to pave way for absolute merger with the Indian union as they think merger is ‘incomplete.’  Numerous debates in this melee have erupted and the nationalist view is to act tough against pseudo nationalist who quite unfairly differ.
If you stroke the past, Shyama Prashad Mukerji, said, “If my bald is without hair, should it be cut.” Mukherjee was strongly opposed to Art -370 seeing it a threat to unity of the country who fought against it inside and outside the parliament with the goal being abrogation of the article. He termed the arrangements under the article as balkanization of India. The state was granted its own flag along with Prime Minister whose permission was required for anyone to enter the state.  Mukherjee to this said “Ek desh mein dou vidhan, do pradhan aur dou nishan nahi challenge.” (A single country can’t have two constitutions, two PMs and  two National Emblems).
When Hari Singh signed the ‘Instrument of Accession,’ a historic meeting was being held in Delhi with the Governor General Mountbatten as chairperson. A young army officer, the then Colonel (Sam Manekshaw), who attended the meeting, recalled later,  ‘As usual Nehru talked about the United Nations, Russia, Africa, God Almighty, everybody until Sardar Patel lost his temper. He said, ‘Jawaharlal, do you want Kashmir, or do you want to give it away?’ He (Nehru) said, ‘Of course, I want Kashmir.’ Then Patel said: ‘Please give your orders.’  Everyone was horrified. Sardar Patel not only took note of it but also communicated to Nehru without mincing his words. Patel also advised Abdullah not to indulge in such gimmickry and must desist from speaking to the press, in the interest of Kashmir and the country. Later, Nehru wrote to Patel:
“I entirely agree with you that some of the statements that Sheikh     Abdullah made regarding Maharaja were very indiscreet and should not have been made. He is not a very clear thinker, and he  goes astray in his speeches as many of our politicians do.”
Nobody wants to give away Kashmir.  All the PMs, our army and the Indians have shown their enough will, determination and courage for ‘I want Kashmir,’ but the problem persists.  Pseudo politicians, pseudo intellectuals and pseudo nationalists keep raising their barks.  The recent surgical strike is crises of their faith, but for Indians, ‘I want Kashmir,’ has become an acronym of national symbol.       More than 70 years have elapsed, four bloody wars, incessant human bloodshed, how could an Indian forget this? There is no letting the facts die, there is no letting the history die, there  is no letting the sacrifices’ of our great valiant soldiers could be forgotten and there is no PM to erase it from Indian memories.  Howsoever, high sacrifice Indians have to make,  Kashmir will remain an  integral part of India.
(The writer is a management consultant)
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