Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo
My visit to Kashmir on 11-12 November 2017 in connection with the commemoration of the “Decade Event” of the Kashmir Sankalp Yatra inspires me to share the following with you. Sans the serious and sensitive strategic aspects, I bring before you the following aspects of the situation.
I was on a visit of Kashmir valley on 11-12 November 2017. It was a two day programme and our delegation of two members drove straight from Srinagar Airport to Veth Vatur (Verinag) in Anantnag district. Then from extreme south, we went to the north and visited Shailputri Asthapan in Baramulla (Varmull) town. There from, we went to the Central Kashmir and stayed at Zeethyar in the Zabarwan hills in Srinagar district. We covered more than 300 kms in a single day while touring the valley.
Next day, we went to the Mata Kheerbhawani shrine at Tullamulla in Ganderbal district and after paying our obeisance there, we straightway drove to Ganpatyar in Habbakadal (Srinagar city) via Hazratbal, Nigeen. Then we also visited Sheetalnath, Nai Sarak under Kralakhud Police Station and ultimately we took some rest at Durganag temple complex and had an interactive session with the Media there. In order to catch the flight, we reached the Srinagar Airport on time and flew back to Jammu.
It was my visit to the valley after a gap of ten years. When I visited the valley in 2007, it was altogether a different scenario in the valley at that time though I did not visit various districts at that time and primarily moved in and around Srinagar district. This time, I saw a visible positive change. The best thing that impressed me was that I saw officers and Jawans of Jammu and Kashmir Police well in command almost everywhere. The way I saw them guiding and controlling people, managing traffic, using positive and good language while dealing with the commoners and then keeping a vigil simultaneously taking security aspects into view, their liason with the other security forces particularly the CRPF was commendable. I had been a fan of JKP always but its morale and name had been tarnished in between. They have retrieved greatly…..kudos to them all.
I would like to give its credit to all the jawans of the force but the leaders of the force need special appreciation for their policy, planning and leadership. In this context, I think the bosses like S. P. Vaid, DGP and Muneer Khan, IGP deserve special mention for their upright and innovative approach. They have really changed the game…….I call them game-changers. I salute to the martyrs of the force who laid their lives while performing their duties. I appeal to the government and the department to take ultimate care of their families…..we are indebted to their families as a society.
Some officers and jawans need special mention by me but that merits mention later on, and privately and directly to the higher ups.
I would at this stage also refer to the CRPF which has been protecting the shrines and the places of worship, taking absolute care to coordinate with the JKP so far as the security scenario in the valley is concerned. They are making great sacrifices….my salutes to them as well.
In case the JKP walks the path they have chosen, I am sure it to earn a big name in the days to come and place itself among the front-runner forces of the nation. Their maintaining the high level of professionalism has the potential to become an example for others.
The socio-political scenario in Kashmir has both visible and invisible signs available for anyone concerned. One would find the Kashmir society divided into two major parts economically, one has grown affluent beyond imagination while the other has remained the same as it was earlier. The flow of money has changed Kashmir landscape to a large extent. It is entirely a new geography that one would witness in the Kashmir valley. Though the changes have come swiftly yet the economics has played a “very biased role” as a key factor to bring changes in the daily life of the people.
The markets are full of meat shops and the beef is available almost everywhere openly and without any inhibitions. The school uniform of the children and particularly of the girls has taken a complete communal colour. It is not a secular uniform for all now. The local children (girls in particular) in the schools can be seen wearing Hijaab, Abhai and long black robes. The schools are having lesser assemblies in the morning and prayers are also not the secular and uniform ones. Yes….the non-Muslims, if any, are exempted to participate in the prayers in the Assemblies.
The affluent section of the society can be seen going to the markets often, taking morning walks on the Boulevard, Nigeen circle, University pathways and even in and around Polo Ground. Surprisingly, ladies are also taking part in these walks in the morning and ‘restrictions’ seem to play a part on a different section of the society.
Kashmiri Sikhs can be seen almost everywhere in the valley but their economics has not improved comparatively. That can be observed visibly.
The Kashmiri Pandits are not a forgotten lot. Different generations view them differently…….On the face of any situation it is reiterated that “KPs are part and parcel of the Kashmir society”. The Kashmiri Pandit community is considered a Politically Volatile group that has the potential to damage the cause of ‘self-determination’ ultimately.
Kashmiri Muslims today seem to have, psychologically, taken a retreat……..may be a temporary phase. It is disgusted with the statement of the Pakistan Prime Minister that “azadi” is no option. On the contrary, it is surprised with the bonhomie of Modi with the Islamic countries…that has perhaps put them in a new phase of thinking. Any talk of Art370 and Art35A visibly irritates them. The NIA and the other investigations of the people are not being discussed; rather a low profile is being maintained on this issue. MODI is indeed a visible and invisible phenomenon in Kashmir valley.
The demand of Homeland is not taken non-seriously by the people…….Panun Kashmir is known to everyone concerned……some take it as an arm of the government of India, some believe it as an RSS offshoot while some express it as a genuine outcry of the pent-up feelings of the Pandits, while some take it as an affront to Hurriyat.
The media has slightly changed its policy towards public discourse……the media men seem generally friendly. But the media is conscious of its role as an important component of the Kashmir society. The ETV 7.00 PM news in Urdu is a household issue and the Greater Kashmir is a must. Surprisingly, some people in the media fraternity keep inquiring about the Kashmiri Pandits and their concerns.
Kashmir valley is entirely a new and changed scenario for the Kashmiri Pandits now. Frankly speaking, radicalization is almost complete and visible too. But Kashmiri Pandits remain important so far as Kashmir issue remains important…….that is what people of consequence in Kashmir believe.
For some, Kashmiri Pandits may not be important……but Kashmiri Pandit issue remains important for everyone, whether in Kashmir or outside Kashmir. That is the reality that Kashmiri Pandits also need to understand and accept.
(The author is the President of Panun Kashmir)
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