Irtif Lone
For some time it was still and peaceful. The lights had started to twinkle on the heights of Zabarvan. Traffic on the roads was just becoming bearable and the honking noise had just stopped. It was getting pleasant. It would have been best had the serenity remained. But he had just started to fiddle with the idea of politics in Kashmir. I kept quiet and did not wish to get engaged into the political discussion on Kashmir. I was relishing my surroundings. But, this silence was probably the one that comes before the storm.
“You have been responsible for what has happened here”, with these words he broke the silence. I was stunned, but wished to listen. So he started again, “See, first you seek the help of our military, which we give readily. And then you decide to accede to the Indian union through the democratic process, which India has played a major role to set up. And then eventually you decide to pick up arms and fight for a separate land and more than that to accede to Pakistan.” I am still silent, I don’t want to talk. He seems to have summed up the story in couple of lines and it didn’t matter to him if he had missed the tragedies Kashmir suffered. I so want to tell him about the false promises of plebiscite made to the people of Kashmir by some stalwart leaders of Indian Democracy. But, wouldn’t it be better to listen to him.
“In early nineties you forced the Kashmiri Pandits to leave their homeland and even killed many,” he added. For once I wished to tell him, it was not me but then I realise by referring to me he has generalised all of Kashmir’s Muslim population. I also want to tell him, how bad many felt about the Kashmiri Pandits leaving their homeland. And also wanted to tell him how thousands of Kashmir’s Muslim population was killed. To narrate to him the atrocities Kashmir has faced. But, I still prefer to remain quiet.
“And also, do you realise how much money India is investing here to improve your life. Look at the developmental work taking place. Highway, airports and the rail road which is now making way to the valley.” Now, I want to tell him about how the local Kashmiri thinks that all this is being done to strengthen occupation. No denying the fact that people would benefit from it but the idea that it is being done to make travel easier for the armed forces to move in and out of the valley easily cannot be taken out of the equation.
I also wished to ask him, with all this being done why does a Kashmiri feel alienated, as the intellectuals of Indian democracy often refer to Kashmir problem as. I wish to narrate the story of half widows, orphans and other disappearances which have taken place in Kashmir, and the story of recently found unmarked graves having more than six thousand (6000) people in its womb. Of the interrogation centres which have often been reported in the international media. But, who would listen.
To narrate to him the history would take enough time. But it’s already getting late and he has to return to the family who are awaiting him in the hotel. So, I walk him to his hotel and then leave for my destination. And, while making my way back I become conscious of what the media has been feeding their brains. How an opinion has been built against the people in general and Muslim population of Kashmir in particular.
