Unity argument is more of an excuse for inaction on KP issues

 

The adage United we stand, divided we fall ‘has a better kashmiri version saverey samahan yoyth razi lamahan ada kyaazi raavihe kaahan gaav (Had all come together and pulled the rope. Why should the eleven have lost the cow?) Even though Lal Ded, a Kashmir saint-poet of mediaeval era, had uttered this saying in a spiritual sense, yet since then it has been used commonly in Kashmiri linguistic milieu for describing disunity and is befitting to the state of affairs and opinions within the Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community A larger perception being made out is that KPS don't speak in one voice. 

The unity or rather disunity argument has been repeated so many times that most KPs have started believing in it as a reality of the community's inherent nature. And as an extension, this argument has been publicly used by government ministers to pick holes in the return and rehabilitation demand of the KP community as per their convenience. Instead of confronting the government on its lackadaisical record and approach towards the issues of KPs, a lot of KPs just tend to agree with the argument and put the blame on the disunity paradigm.

One may ask a fundamental question. Is the unity of KPs necessary precondition for setting KPs? Definitely not will be the answer. It would be rather more appropriate to create conditions for unity by way of empowerment of KPs through the safeguarding of their rights, land, constitutional, human and cultural. And that could have been done quite easily by the union government through some sort of central legislation and/ or in partnership with the state government of Jammu & Kashmir.

Today, an 'extended KP is a typical migrant, his sense of displacement and loss of home has been erased partly by time but mostly by an insensitive establishment. As he or she has been let to fend for himself or herself, the common cause has been dealt with a serious blow. It is the love of ancestral land, heritage and childhood memories of sweet home that have somehow kept the spark of home return alive. Else, there is nothing motivating from the state that would help the cause of home return for a hapless seven lakh people, who for thousands of years inhabited Kashmir as their own motherland.

The KP community has suffered for 100 long due to electoral democracy in Kashmir; they were scattere everywhere in the valley in small blocks and because of the small number of collective votes, KPs were not considered electorally significant as a group. So, the absence of collective bargain was a disadvantage, politically. This means they always played a second fiddle. And yes, it has created a mindset of dependency as a cultural trait.

Unfortunately, after exodus in 1990s, this mindset didn't go away and from one kind of dependency the KP community moved to another kind of dependency on political forces in India that showed support and solidarity but also extracted a price. KPs have become passive victims of narratives orchestrated by others. Their basic position of refugees, in their own country, has only got validated with time.

The kind of crime perpetrated against the community and which led to mass displacement isn't being acknowledged. The mass migration of the community qualifies to be declared as internally-displaced population but within establishment the pathetic ignorance (if it is shamefully there) is such that it treats a common displaced KP nothing short of a pilferer.

In Delhi and NCR towns, where a considerable population of displaced KPS lives, there is a long history of official apathy, harassment and denial of entitlements and it is still a dark tunnel without any hope of a ray of light. On a day-to-day basis, activists, organisations and other groups in their own way try to address this challenge but their efforts. in the absence of a framework or policy, come to naught And yes, it has given them an occupation of receiving abuses to remain contended with?

If one magnifies the big picture, the situation is almost similar at every level of government vis-à-vis KPs. The Delhi government's decision to take the issue of regularisation of migrant teachers to the Supreme Court is yet another confirmation of how the powers to be are insensitive towards KPs living in exile. Back in Kashmir, hundreds of court cases have been filed by hapless KP land owners because of the illegal encroachments or outright grabbing. And this is only a minuscule number who have dared to visit. find out and then litigate. Think of the majority who haven't yet the chance to see what is the fate of their properties and land? Who will fight for this injustice? Shouldn't the government have suitably intervened and not allowed the situation to come.thus far?

And still the ministers will tell you that the government is waiting for the unity issue in KPs to settle, and then only your problems will be looked into!

So, what really is this unity argument about? From the point of view of a sociologist, diversity of views is rather healthy for any society as it allows it to grow more intellectually Politically also diversity of opinions makes you more aware and mature as a society The undercurrent of noises within the world of KP activism are also a manifestation of the frozen political beliefs associated with the community. They are after all human beings with aspirations of a human being They want to assert, be heard and contribute.

Because of the assaults of time environment and lack of any forward movement on political rights of KPs, various activist groups or formations try to innovate, experiment or the most import KP issue of survival as a community which diversify within the realm of the this KP activism: Naturally, the element of rivalry, claims, counter claims, accusations etc will be there And this is not a big deal. 

Those people who sell the unity argument as the impediment towards the settlement of KP issues are doing nothing except misleading. The top parameters of KP unity are very much intact-all KPs love their home, everyone misses it and everyone would like to keep a home there no matter wherever he works. Two, all KPs are proud of their unique culture, cuisine and customs and won't relinquish these very easily Three, all KPs still seek genealogy rooted in Kashmir for marriages Four, all KPs seek a KP as neighbour Above these, all KPs remain fervently patriotic and will do anything for India.

Now the question also arises, if all KPs come to a common view on their settlement (rehabilitation), will it serve a purpose? A broad agreement does exist that living together will be ideal if that is the framework, it needs to be worked on as a movement. And a movement has several chapters, which may work differently with different people and may have different sets of strategy, but the mission remains the same.

Instead of finding faults among themselves, KPs need to be constructive critics of each other And better work on strategies that will lead to rejuvenation of-nearly dead- can best be assured if it gets a collective home.

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Courtesy:-  Avtar Nehru  and Koshur Samachar 2018, October