Some introspection, mostly denial

The results for the state assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are but a few hours away. While some people must be eagerly awaiting the outcome of this incredibly long (and surprising) election season, others have got to be wondering about what this election really means to Kashmiri politics.

As we have now gathered from newspaper and eyewitness accounts, people participated in large numbers in these elections. This in spite of the boycott call by the myriad separatist groups that operate in Kashmir. Many separatists and their sympathizers have argued that these elections are a sham perpetrated by the Indian government. The presence of a large number of Indian troops facilitated the conduct of this election and people were really not voting for India or its democracy but for every day governance issues. Besides, the separatists argue, they weren't allowed to actively spread their message of poll boycott, their leaders were imprisoned etc. Therefore, it should come as no surprise to the separatists that more people voted in Srinagar district this time than have done in the past twenty or so years. There are some separatists who are initiating some "introspection" on why people voted at a time when the "nation" was engaged in a "struggle" for self determination. This latter group is still in a minority. Those in denial continue to dominate separatist groups. They must have shut their eyes and ears as reports kept pouring in of people waiting in long lines in cold temperatures to cast their ballot. Barring minor incidents, most observers and newspapers reported that people came out to vote without facing any coercion from the military forces or officialdom. Arguments to the contrary are ludicrous.

While I don't believe that Kashmiris have suddenly turned into India lovers, their participation in elections suggests to me that they are being pragmatic. It has been clear for almost two decades that Kashmiri separatists are for the most part an unimaginative bunch of self serving politicians who have failed completely in put forward a coherent framework for Kashmir's future. We should also not lose sight of the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is a very diverse region, with Kashmiris the largest ethnic group but even among them there are divisions about what direction to adopt. So, it seems that the separatists have been squeezed into a corner because they could never put forward a strategy for broadening their base. Their vision was so small that they are now grateful that Srinagar and its surroundings saw "only" about a 20 percent voting rate. It is my opinion that in this election, Kashmiri Muslims (forget for the moment people from Jammu or Ladakh or Kashmiri Hindus) have rejected the current crop of separatists, each and every one of the 30 or 40 or however many groups parade around as leaders of the "nation".

Indian democracy has many failings and perhaps it cannot assure the kind of future that Kashmiris (or others) may want. However, for the moment, Kashmiris and the rest of the people in the state deserve good governance, a war on corruption, and accountability at the highest levels. Jammu and Kashmir also needs a vision for the next 25 years to see how it can develop into a progressive region that can contribute in a positive way to helping resolve the more thorny, long-term political issues that have confounded the subcontinent for almost 6 decades.

Until next time...

Bombay, Mumbai...

Call it by whatever name you like, this great Indian city has taken the brunt of terrorist attacks over the last few years. I do not have the words to fully express the outrage I feel, this sense of helplessness, yet a sense of determination to counter ideologies that promote the kind of hatred and violence Bombay has witnessed in the last 3 days. I truly hope that the masterminds behind this latest terrorist outrage are brought to justice without delay.

And, let these terrorists not use the name of Kashmir to justify their cowardly acts; nothing can justify the calamity that befell Bombay...nothing.

Kashmiris Spring a Surprise

Maintaining a blog is difficult it seems. Writing regularly requires far greater discipline than I possess but perhaps that is because my mind works in fits and starts. In any event, after the crazy times of the Amarnath Yatra controversy the ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir provide another opportunity to write. So, that is what I am going to do.

Basically, this post is about the ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Against expectations Kashmiris have voted in fairly large numbers and that is going to raise many questions for all the players, most of all for separatists who are becoming increasingly marginalized in the state’s politics. In my view they deserve it.

The ongoing election process is long but early returns have thrown up an interesting scenario—Kashmiris are voting in large numbers ignoring pleas of separatists to boycott the polls. In its wisdom, the Election Commission of India (ECI) decided to hold the state assembly election over 7 phases—yes, 7! But my early misgivings about the length of the exercise, especially given the dire predictions of poll boycotts and low voter turnout in the aftermath of the Amarnath controversy, have given way to a degree of anticipation in the wake of relatively high voter turnout in the first two phases of the election.

Unlike past elections, voters seem to have largely voted of their free will. Local newspapers appear to confirm that voter turnout has been much higher than anticipated. What is more, it seems that voters are turning out without many serious allegations about involuntary voting as was alleged in past elections. Of course, there have been some allegations about fraud and clashes between political groups but the overall message appears to be that people in Kashmir (not to mention Jammu and Ladakh) are voting in respectable numbers. All this is happening in spite of a poll boycott call sponsored by various separatist groups. Anti-election protestors have been curbed to some extent by the government but even this hasn’t had much impact on voter turnout. It also appears that the poll boycott is being heeded (to some extent) in urban areas but largely ignored in rural settings. This is creating quite a stir in Kashmir and perhaps also among observers in New Delhi and Islamabad.

What does the higher than anticipated voter turnout suggest about Kashmir’s political situation? Does this mean people in Kashmir have reconciled to being Indians? Is the Kashmir problem solved? Are separatists losing their hold over Kashmiris? Are people simply voting for good governance, keeping in abeyance their aspirations for a long-term solution to the Kashmir problem? All these are good questions that have no immediate good answers. Overall, it does seem that people want some peace and stability even if they may still want a long-term solution to the Kashmir problem. I wouldn’t say that the pro-India politicians should be jumping up and down with joy and take credit for getting people to vote. Kashmiri politicians have largely disgraced themselves over the years. The Indian government should also not feel to comfortable with this situation even though it might certainly heave a sigh of relief that things are moving in a direction that is certainly not a negative one for India.

Kashmiri separatists are at a crossroads. The one group that really needs to start worrying is the separatist camp. In fact, I have for a long time felt that Kashmiri separatists were a bunch that did not deserve the loyalty of Kashmiri people. Ever since the “movement” started in Kashmir, the separatists have shown themselves to be corrupt opportunists who lacked cohesiveness and a vision and a plan. They simply lucked out that Kashmiris were so resentful of Indian rule. Time and again as the separatists faltered, Indian (and Pakistani) interventions propped them up either by design or by folly. However, the separatists have never really acknowledged that they have a limited following in the state. Of course, they never had any following in much of the Jammu and Ladakh provinces. In Kashmir, they did have support but it was never clear how much since there was no feasible way to find that out. But, my suspicions have proved correct. The separatists really don’t have much support in Kashmir—possibly in the towns and in some rural areas but I would bet that if an internationally supervised election were to be held in just Kashmir (forget Jammu and Ladakh), the Hurriyats led by Mr. Geelani and Mr. Farooq would not get more votes than mainstream politicians. They claim to represent the state. They don’t even represent Kashmir, much less Jammu and Ladakh. I really believe that to be the case. And, the reason for that is that they really haven’t done anything to earn the respect and trust of Kashmiris.

This is my assessment and I am willing to be persuaded that I am wrong. But, if the early trends in voting patterns continue, Kashmiri separatists will have to think hard about their future direction. But wait, the separatists haven’t thought about the future for almost twenty years since the “movement” began. There really isn’t much chance that they are going to begin now. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

India continues failed policies in Kashmir

As the situation in Jammu and Kashmir continues to worsen, I am beginning to wonder about the maturity of India's political leadership.  The government has rolled out its tough security apparatus to smother dissent and the right of Kashmiri people to protest peacefully.  Curfew has been imposed in Kashmir and people are prisoners in their own homes.  Such tactics are nothing new.  These are the same failed policies that for almost twenty years have been unable to deal with Kashmiri alienation.  I am afraid more of the same is just not going to cut it.  New ideas should be put on the table to start a process for a sustainable resolution of the "Kashmir issue".  In the meantime, Indian democracy is in an untenable position with millions of voices silenced by the government's guns.  If India is to reach its goal of being one of the leading  nations of the twenty-first century, democracy cannot be turned on or off according to the convenience of those in power.  Attached below are some interesting articles that explore next steps in Kashmir.

Pankaj Mishra

Prem Shankar Jha

Vir Sanghvi

Harish Khare

Arundhati Roy

Until next time...

Lateef Ahmed Wani and his killers

Lateef was only 34 years old. I didn't know him personally but he is the latest victim of the senselessness that now prevails as a result of the Amarnath Yatra controversy as well as the rising discontent against Indian rule in the Vale of Kashmir.

Lateef and other truck drivers were attacked by a mob of fanatics in Lakhanpur (Jammu) on August 5. The truckers were carrying goods from Kashmir and they were attacked as part of what is described as an "economic blockade" imposed on Kashmiris by intolerant elements in Jammu. Lateef leaves behind a devastated family including his wife Hameeda, and three small children--Shazia, Saima and Aqib. Lateef had committed no mistake. He was just doing his job. He was basically lynched, fell into a coma, and then died. Can you imagine the heart-rending scenes at his home when his lifeless body was brought home? Can you imagine the broken lives left behind? Can you imagine what Hameeda must be thinking? What about Shazia, Saima, and Aqib? Do you think they understand? Who should they turn to? For what? What comfort can anyone provide?

What about the killers? What are they thinking? Are they sipping tea, talking about how they got rid of one of "those Kashmiris"? Are they happy? Did they achieve what they wanted? Is that the goal, to kill and terrorize those who must work in order to feed their families? Is their thirst quenched or do they want more? What do they want?

Apparently, the policemen who were escorting the truckers but fled when they saw the killers arrive with knives, trishuls (trident), and other choice weapons. Are they sleeping better now that Lateef has been put to sleep for ever? Is anyone concerned that law enforcement officers left innocents to die? Is there going to be an investigation? Will they tell us what happened? Will anyone be held to account?

The Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti and the state government and institutions such as the army keep insisting that there is no economic blockade of Kashmir. However, the fact of the matter is that there have been calls for disruptions of traffic to and from Kashmir. Even if such interruptions are intermittent, they leave a perception of a blockade. Lateef's killing by fanactics makes perception a reality. I challenge the government and its institutions to enforce the rule of law, bring Lateef's killers to justice, and truly work to ensure normal flow of goods and people to and from Kashmir. Otherwise, it is best not to suggest things are fine and expose more innocent lives to the brutes of Lakhanpur and elsewhere.

A bit more about Amarnath

It has been a while since my last post. Travel plus other events have made it difficult for me to write. I had ended my last post by promising to write about those who are fanning the flames of the Amarnath controversy. So, here it is...

In all of this time that the Amarnath controversy has been raging in Jammu and Kashmir, I couldn't understand one thing: if the yatra has been conducted in Kashmir valley for more than a century without any issue of land ownership coming up, then why suddenly did the Amarnath Shrine Board find it necessary to own some land for creating temporary shelters? Furthermore, why did some people in Jammu take such umbrage to the idea that title to some forest land would not be transferred to the Shrine Board for conduct of the yatra and instead its conduct would be facilitated by the government? After all, the yatra is not attended by people from Jammu alone. I suspect most pilgrims are from other parts of India and there has been a constant effort to improve facilities for pilgrims. Pretty soon, the controversy became Jammu versus Kashmir and Hindu versus Muslim. Quite frankly, I am amazed that Jammu's citizenry is allowing itself to be held hostage by extremisty elements who have helped turn this controversy into a major crisis for Inda's secularism. But, as we all now, some individuals and organizations fan the flames more than others. I will leave you with a couple of examples...

Exhibit 1: Rajiv Sikri (former senior officer of Indian Ministry of External Affairs) writing in Rediff.com says, "To my mind, whether or not the land in question should be transferred to the SASB is only a technical question, not the heart of the issue. The more important thing is whether the state government feels that it has an obligation to improve the facilities that would make the pilgrimage of thousands of Hindu devotees more secure and more comfortable." He goes on to give the example of the Haj subsidy to Indian Muslim pilgrims as a reason to improve facilities for Amarnath pilgrims and adds that "Perhaps our self-righteous and petty Kashmiri politicians in India's only Muslim-majority state should reflect over these facts and tell us whether they think it is at least their moral if not political obligation to be more caring and sensitive to Hindu pilgrims visiting Amarnath."

My take: I am not sure about Kashmiri politicians but I for one do not believe it is the government's responsibility to make religious pilgrimages more comfortable. Governments have a different role and Mr. Sikri should know that. This applies to Amarnath and Vaishno Devi pilgrimages just as much as it does to the Haj. So, please, Mr. Sikri, before you ask others to ponder over things, you should at least review the tenets of good governance given that you probably spent a lifetime in the Indian civil service.

Exhibit 2: S.K. Sinha (Former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir) spoke at a seminar "How to combat Religious Fundamentalism" at New Delhi's India International Center and said the following: "There is nothing unusual in the land transfer. Thousands of hectares of forest land have been given to Reliance to put up towers, to the public works department for road construction, and to the power department for erecting poles. But the land transfer to SASB (Shri Amarnath Shrine Board) was given a communal colour." He added "Even in Jammu, forest land was given to the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. For the Mughal Road, which is necessary for the development of the region, about 10,000 trees have been cut and it is ecologically harmful. But for SASB, not a single tree has been cut."

My take: Will someone please explain to the discredited Mr. Sinha that there is a fundamental difference between public works such as construction of the Mughal Road or setting up of communication towers as opposed to government involvement in religious activity such as the Amarnath Yatra? If this is the thinking of top officials of the Indian government, one can hardly blame the poor folks who go out to die for their gods and godesses. Mr. Sinha has displayed a clear lack of understanding of the job of a governor in India's secular democracy. I wonder how these people make it to such positions! At least they should be given some basic training in good governance before being sent to sensitive spots such as Jammu and Kashmir.

Exhibit 3: Leela Karan Sharma (Convenor, Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti) on the occasion of India's independence day, made a speech to hundreds of activists and declared that "This is a historical place where Dogra rulers waged war against Britishers and we pledge today a war against Kashmir-centric leaders till victory. The issue today is also a war between nationalists and separatists."

My take: Mr. Sharma is doing his country no favours. People like him are the divisive characters that we need to tackle head-on. There is no war between nationalists and separatists in Jammu and Kashmir. My sense is that Mr. Sharma and his ilk have done nothing for the Yatra that comes even close to what Kashmiri Muslims have done for that pilgrimage. The people of Jammu need not fret over the Yatra. It will go on (hopefully in a manner that takes everyone's interests into account). But, the question for Jammuites, as it is for Kashmiris, is what is important for their future--a hyped up, totally retrograde controversy that will lead to divisions or a shared future that easily transcends the dirty politics of communal forces?

Until next time...

Towards a resolution of the Amarnath controversy

The ongoing Amarnath Yatra controversy continues to threaten the peace of the collective minds of the residents of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.  We are now witnessing unprecedented brinkmanship that threatens to pit Kashmiris against Jammuites, Muslims against Hindus...friends against friends.  What can be done to stop this controversy from becoming a nightmare situation that might make Narendra Modi's Gujarat look like a walk in the park?  

Let me suggest a few things that could be done to lower the temperature.  In a separate post, I will address those people who are simply not interested in a resolution of this escalating problem but are unabashedly fanning the flames of religious intolerance, hoping for a cataclysm that will rock the foundations of India's enfeebled secular identity.  They are the ones that we eventually need to tackle head on.

To the people of Jammu and Kashmir:

1. We need to instill a sense of calm and confidence and security for all.  For that, the authorities must not tolerate violence but should not use lethal measures to control unruly mobs.  Of course, it would help if people (the majority that is an unwilling accomplice in all of this) cooperate.
2. The authorities should make clear and emphasize one point: Those who want to perform the Amarnath Yatra can do so and their pilgrimage will be facilitated with provision of  shelters and other facilities.  (Note: I personally am opposed to the government's involvement in the Yatra (and other religious pilgrimages), except to provide basic services such as security. But, we are in an exceptionally turbulent time and civic leadership is in the hands of bigots everywhere).  The Yatris want to visit Amarnath and do so as comfortably as possible.  They should have that opportunity.  That is the crux of what is needed.  The Yatris have no other agenda but that.
3. The Yatra should not, as far as reasonably possible, inconvenience the local poplulation along the route to Amarnath.  The government should help ensure that right now.  One key thing for the pilgrims to realize is that they are guests in Kashmir and that the local population isn't against them (in fact, they benefit as well). However, the pilgrims have certain responsibilities too such as respect for their hosts and help with keeping the environment as pollution-free as possible.  After all, a clean environment benefits everyone.
4. The state government should set up an independent commission comprised of eminent citizens to review not only the recent controversy but the conduct of all religious pilgrimages in the state.  The commission should tender its report within 6 months and recommend ways of minimizing government interference in the conduct of all religious pilgrimages and suggest a way forward on how to make religious institutions less dependent on the government.  It will be important for such a commission to also present all the facts about government financial support to religious institutions and their activities so that we can begin to disentangle religion and government from their unhealthy embrace.
5. The bottom line is: religion is a private matter and the more the state gets involved, the more the danger to democracy and to the secular credentials of India.

Jammu goes crazy over Amarnath

It is really sad to see that the Amarnath yatra (pilgrimage) controversy refuses to die down.  Two young men have lost their lives in the latest protests against a decision by the state government to revoke an order transferring land to an organization (SASB) that runs the yatra.  Meanwhile, in Kashmir, one person was killed during protests undertaken in solidarity with the Muslim population of Jammu.

One thing is quite clear: the weakest sections of society will suffer the most during this turmoil which has now become a full blown communal disgrace.  In this whole affair, no one really looks good (see a nice editorial by Kashmir Times on August 5, 2008).  Kashmiri Muslim leaders who opposed the land move, did so in such a jingoistic way that I can't in good faith believe them when they claim to be supportive of an annual Hindu ritual that has become a source of angst for some people in Kashmir.  On the other hand, Jammuites (as people of Jammu are called) have given in to the intensely parochial BJP-type communalists who cannot explain how this whole controversy has become a Jammu versus Kashmir issue.  The one group that really benefits from all of this the Hindutva crowd.  They are exploiting this situation and can only hope to score big in the Indian parliamentary elections.

In India, religion is so pervasive in all the wrong ways that I sometimes wonder if religion does any good at all (but it does).  Everything about faith seems untouchable (no puns intended).  If I were to say that it is completely ridiculous to have almost half a million people attend a religious pilgrimage each year in an ecologically pristine area, people might call me anti-Hindu (I am not).   It is even more preposterous that the state government thought the best way out of this mess was to offer pilgrims complete facilitation of the pilgrimage in the hopes that they wouldn't worry about the revocation of the land deal.  Now, one might ask, and quite reasonably so, why taxpayer money should finance private religious activity?  There, I made my point.  The government should get out of the business of religion, be it Hinduism, Islam or any other faith.  

Extremists in both Kashmir and Jammu are licking their chops.  This is a great opportunity for them to ply their trade of dividing society to garner support for their causes.  The common man (and woman and child) suffers.  This cannot go on.  This madness must stop before innocent families become victims of bigots, as is already happening in some places.

Let this also serve as a warning to the rest of India.  Faith is all well and good but, in India, it keeps exacting a severe toll when mixed in with politics.  Someone must stand up and shout that we will no longer accept the tyranny of hate mongers.  

And, yes, let's please make a start by agreeing to use taxpayer money for a limited number of activities.  It is most certainly not for facilitating a Hindu's visit to Amarnath or a Muslim's pilgrimage to Mecca.

Until next time...

It is hard to keep up with death sometimes

I just wrote about the suicide of 38-year old Kuldeep Kumar in Jammu (see post Kuldeep Dies... Amarnath Controversy Lives) and now it seems life is having a hard time going on.  A day after Kuldeep died and reignited Jammu, a grenade blast killed 5 members of a family in Batamaloo (Kashmir) and serial bomb blasts have hit the cities of Bangalore and Ahmedabad, claiming numerous innocent lives.  

Thirty-two year old Rubina and her four children--12-year old Khushboo and her three brothers Ajoob (8), Qayoom (5), and Adil (4)--died in Batamaloo.  Mohammad Afroze, the husband and father is now left behind to bear the anguish of his calamitous loss.  The news cycle is fast and it is relentless.  Mohammad Afroze and his devastation will soon be forgotten and those who perished in Bangalore and Ahmedabad will become statistics.  Politicians are already blaming each other--Syed Ali Shah Geelani of the Huriyat Conference has blamed the Batamaloo blast on "Indian agencies" trying to bring disrepute to the "movement" in Kashmir, referring to the separatist movement that, as we know, has had a violent history.  On the other hand, the BJP has criticized the Indian government for essentially not dealing effectively with terrorists.  With news that a little known organization called Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the serial blasts that have now claimed almost 40 lives, there is bound to be increased tension between the Hindu and Muslim communities.  As usual, cynical politics will find a way to sustain itself with terror acting as a feeding tube.

In all of this what I wonder about is the character of the person who actually ended up lobbing a grenade or detonating explosives.  Who is this person who leaves shattered lives in his wake?  What is he made of?  What does he want?  What ideology does he serve?  Who does he serve?  Can he hear Mohammed Afroze wailing or is he numb to the daze that Afroze is in?  What about those who were obliterated by the white light and the deafening roar of the bombs of Bangalore or Ahmedabad or Jaipur or Delhi?  Does the bomber feel any of it?  Is there a life behind the mask of death?

More innocent lives will be lost.  More statistics will pile up.  Death will flow.  It is just life that seems to be in short supply.

Until next time...

Kuldeep Dies...Amarnath Controversy Lives

The Amarnath Yatra has claimed another victim.  That is the news coming out of Jammu where protests continue against the revocation of a land deal transferring forest land to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board or SASB (see earlier post Amarnath Yatra Controversy).

Kuldeep Kumar, a young man in his thirties passed away, apparently committing "suicide" over the Amarnath controversy.  Kuldeep was a husband, a father, a son.  He is dead, some say because he was upset by Omar Abdullah's speech (see excerpt) during the parliamentary debate on India's nuclear deal with the United States (see earlier post Indian Muslims in the Nuclear Crossfire).  I can't find anything in the speech that would make me kill myself.   But, Kuldeep did find something objectionable or that's the story we are being told by the organizers of Jammu's protests.  It is such a tragedy.  

I have no doubt that some people in Jammu have decided that the Amarnath Yatra is a powerful issue that can be used to settle scores with Muslims or with those who don't believe in the Hindutva causes that the BJP and its ilk espouse.  I say to them that Kuldeep's death is an opportunity to help stop the insanity in Jammu.  There has been enough loss of blood and treasure in both Kashmir and Jammu.  Fanning the flames of hatred will probably take an even higher toll and we will be further away from mutual understanding.  But perhaps that is not the goal of the protest leaders--it rarely is in Jammu and Kashmir.

For anyone wishing to follow in Kuldeep's footsteps, please don't do it.  It helps no one and makes life much more difficult for those you leave behind.  The yatra will happen, the yatris will be taken care of.  But we need to do this sustainably, without harming the environment and without hurting the sentiments of those who have facilitated the yatra for over a century. We can do all this but it needs an open mind and a will to engage in civil discourse.  Please, we don't need anyone else dying over this issue.  Life is plenty difficult as it is.

Until next time...

Indian Muslims in the Nuclear Crossfire

Hours away from a parliamentary showdown in India, I am dismayed by an abject lack of principles Indian politicians have displayed over the last few weeks as India's ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government fights for its survival.  I am dismayed but not surprised.  Politicians are selling themselves for whatever they can, some to the ruling combine or to the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) or with the communist parties.  All this is an unfortunate part of India's polity and it will take more time to eradicate such a culture of brazen corruption.  

However, what troubles me more in the immediate timeframe is that the debate over India's nuclear deal with the US has already been used to create divisions among India's people.  It is not sufficient for Indian politicians to make personal gains; they must gain from others' problems.  In this case, I speak of how some politicians have ridiculously claimed that the India's nuclear deal with the United States is anti-Muslim.  Why?  Why is it anti-Muslim?  Is it because the US is "anti Muslim" and partnering with such a country is "anti Muslim" (by that logic, much of the Muslim world is against itself)? or is it because this deal may hinder a potential Iran-Pakistan-India energy pipeline deal?  If these are reasons for Indian Muslims to take offense, then I think their priorities are misplaced.  But, I am positive that Indian Muslims don't view this deal from the US versus Islam perspective.  Most Indian Muslims, like most other Indians, probably want a good and decent life.  They don't have ambitions or pretensions to worry about some high flying nuclear cooperation deal that does little for their children's education or health or nutrition.

If Mayawati, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, or other such politicians who claim that the Indo-US nuclear deal is anti-Muslim, care so much about Indian Muslims, then perhaps they could explain why they don't spend as much energy on some key issues affecting India's Muslim community.  A report commissioned at the request of the Indian government lays out a pretty sorry state of affairs as far as socio-economic conditions of Indian Muslims are concerned.  Indian Muslims need better health and education and support to benefit from India's growing economy.  They need reforms to help their children compete in this modern world and become more productive members of society.  In many ways, Indian Muslims need what Indian Hindus need and what Indian Christians need--what all Indians need.  They need a fair shot and that's all.  What Indian Muslims definitely do not need is the help of unscrupulous politicians who will pay lip service to their concerns, make their concerns look special when they are not, and then then, at the first available opportunity, use them as leverage for petty personal gains.

Until next time...

P.S. Learning from Bihar?

This may be too much for Kashmiris to swallow but apparently things are beginning to improve in Bihar and we may have something to learn from that state's progress.  At least that is what a new NDTV.com story suggests.  Click here for the story.  Basically, the story suggests that good governance is helping Bihar change in a positive direction.  It is still too early to declare victory but at least there are some hopeful signs.  Now, if only we in Jammu and Kashmir could learn a little bit from the Bihari example.  Sacrilege!

Until next time...

Amarnath Yatra Controversy

Let us talk today about a semi-contemporary story: the recent trouble over the Amarnath Yatra (click here for background) in Kashmir.  For those who are less familiar with the story, the overall picture is one where religion and politics mix and a less than pleasant concoction emerges.  Here's an executive summary of the events so far:

1. Hindu pilgrims visit revered site of Shiva in Kashmir every year.
2. They have been doing it for 150+ years.
3. It is a month-long affair.  Attracts hundreds of thousands from all over.
4. To facilitate the pilgrimage, state (Jammu and Kashmir) government sets up an organization (Sri Amarnath Shrine Board or SASB) under the chairmanship of the state Governor to facilitate the Yatra (or pilgrimage).  
5. Fast forward to 2008, news breaks out that SASB managed to acquire a big chunk of land to build temporary shelters and other conveniences for yatris (or pilgrims).
   
6. That is a big no-no in Indian Kashmir because Kashmiris are sensitive about land acquisition (fears of cultural onslaught from India etc.).
7. Kashmiris are up in arms (both separatist parties and mainstream-or non separatist political parties), government ministers from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) who signed some of the land transfer orders as well as coalition partner Congress party not sure how all this went wrong.  
8. Five Kashmiris die during the protests.  I want to scream at these 5 for getting killed and leaving a void for their families to ponder.  But, they are dead, so screaming at others will have to suffice.
9. The former state governor is accused of playing a part because he is "communal" or anti-secular or whatever.  From all accounts, let's just say that he was behaving more like a yatri than the head of state (who needs to be impartial).
10. The new governor requests that the land order be revoked; government is only too keen to oblige (it is all cooked this way). PDP withdraws from the coalition government (possibly to curry favour with the Kashmiris and to control the political fallout) while the Congress Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad can't figure out what he did wrong.
11. Once the order is revoked, people in Jammu (who are mostly Hindus) get annoyed, to put it mildly.  They want the land to be transferred to the SASB to facilitate a Hindu yatra.  So, anyway, the government is in a no-win situation.  It falls.  Muslims in Kashmir are quiet and happy about "people power"--even as they keep repeating they are not against the yatra (after all, Kashmiri Muslims have been supportive of this event for the longest of times).  Of course, not all Kashmiri politicians are supportive because it is a Hindu event but they don't mention this openly.  It doesn't look nice.
12. The government takes over all arrangements for the yatra--that seems to be fine with pretty much everyone, although some hardliners in Jammu are not pleases with that.  They want the government to withdraw subsidies for Indian Mulsims who perform the Haj every year (sounds reasonable--but may need some research to see what type of subsidy it is).  Also, why should Kashmiris have a Haj House to facilitate their travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj while Hindus can't have some land that no one lives on for building temporary shelters for yatris, many of whom cannot afford the basic necessities of life?  Sounds like a reasonable question.

Anyway, what you have from this summary that turned into a longer piece than intended is that it does get a trifle murky when religion and politics mix.  I think here is some food for thought:

1. Who will foot the bill for the yatra?  I am assuming it will be Indian taxpayers since they fund much of the state government's budget?  Is this good value for tax rupees or should the government stay out of the business of conducting religious events?
2. I am not sure about the ecology of the area but I understand it is a nice place with potential for environmental damage?  What plan exists to make the yatra as green as possible or is that too sensitive a topic to be raised?
3. Shouldn't we have a clear sense of the government's involvement with at least the major religious institutions of the state (Muslim Auqaf Trust, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, SASB etc?)

Until next time...

Starting out

Welcome to KashmirGlobal.  This is one more blog among perhaps millions out there.  The goal here is to express thoughts and ideas about Kashmir, Jammu, India, Pakistan, the world, whatever.  Yes, as the name suggests, this blog is inspired by Kashmir--more by Kashmiri society and ways in which that society can be better integrated with what is going on in the rest of the world.  That's where the global part comes in.  But, our (there are a few of us writing here and we will invite others to post here as well once we figure this out a bit better) thoughts will wander from politics to sports to music to humour to anything else that catches our fancy.  And, it won't be all about Kashmir.  There is a lot going on all over the planet.  

It is hard to start out but others have done it and we hope to contribute as well.   So, do join us from time to time to participate and share your thoughts.  We hope the debates and discussions will be fun and, of course, we hope you will come back.  But, this is not about having an audience as much as it is about seeking an outlet for expressing ourselves.  So, if there's no one on the other side, that's just as well.  In the meantime, if you are concerned about the recent Amarnath Yatra flap in Kashmir or the controversy over India's nuclear deal with the US or the impact of recent food and energy price increase on Africa's poor, then stay tuned.  There will be stuff on all those things out here.  

Until next time...