Only a separate homeland can fulfil our aspirations guarantee our rights

Dear community members, 

Namaskar

Twenty-eight years is a long time, a lifetime almost. The 1990 exodus is vivid in our long memories: so is our longing for home. Our lives were disrupted and dreams shattered. We ran away to save our lives. A genocide, that present scenario. remains unrecognised, was inflicted on us. Those wounds won't heal up anytime soon. The emotions of being homeless are simply refusing to go away even years pass by. We have lost a generation of people, our elders, who brought us by selling us the niceties of Kashmir and showering love on the land that was inhabited by our ancestors from thousands of years. They had left Kashmir with the notion that in a few months, we'll be returning to home. Those months never ended for them as these have now turned almost 29 years. Going by the Kashmir policies of all these years, not much hope is left for us either.

The situation in the Kashmir valley has progressively deteriorated in recent times and some people are already turning the clock back and comparing it with the lawlessness and terror of 1990. In reality, it may be even worse given the kind of radicalization seen today didn't exist to such alarming levels then. The majoritarian Islam is today a fact of life for the people of Kashmir and it hasn't left any space for plurality.

Radical religious organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamaat Ahl-e-Hadis besides half a dozen terror groups and separatists are working in tandem and if sources are to be believed, their thoughts and indoctrination have penetrated into organs of government and mainstream political parties. Part of it may have been fuelled by the influence of international extremist Islamic ideology and online radicalization, but the real work is the result of a systematic approach to this whole narrative by support and involvement of people from various walks of life. This way, radical Islam is now not only deep rooted in Kashmir but widespread

And the core tenet of this Taken radical Islam is hatred towards others. And when the whole atmosphere and environment is increasingly getting subverted, it is but natural that the larger society in Kashmir is becoming unwelcoming of us if we decide to return to our homes in the present scenario.

So, what is the way forward? In our view it is high time to recognize the state to strengthen national forces and also address our longtime issue of return and rehabilitation. Our demand is of returning with honour and dignity in a full proof secure environment which is free from fear and discrimination. It wouldn't be fulfilled under the present circumstances. And time has come for the Government of India to take a few bold decisions with regard to this long-pending problem by reorganising the state where our demand for a separate homeland with UT status is accommodated.

As a run up to this decision, genocide against Kashmir Pandits should be recognized and perpetuators must be found, booked and brought to justice. It was demeaning to see the recent UN report on human rights oblivious to our plight and instead giving credence to the malicious Islamic narrative of the radical Islamic network in Kashmir. Nobody from the office of UN Commissioner on Human Rights ever approached us to take our view. We would let them know how our rights, including that of life and equality, which have been almost taken away from us permanently by their good terrorists Our status as internally displaced must be recognized and accorded to us.

On our part, we must not forget our roots, our culture and political fight even if it is indeed a long one. Kashmir is not a piece of land, it is the soul of India and together we'll defend and nurture our motherland. We believe our country has a very able and decisive leadership with a political will to settle the Kashmir issue and we are here to work together with the government to address our own issues

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Courtesy:-  Vijay Raina   and Koshur Samachar 2018, July