Is the regional divide between Jammu and Kashmir really regional?

Author: Aishvarya Sharma; Edited by: Tufail Farooq

The class started with an introduction session, at my turn I stood up, proudly introduced myself and my hometown, Jammu, and to that professor interrupted, “oh we have students from Kashmir then” Pointing towards the other, he said, ” This is Heena from Kashmir”  I was puzzled so I felt the urge to clarify my position there saying, “No I am from Jammu not Kashmir, there's a difference.

Surely the ignorance of the Professor and my regional inclination was quite visible to everyone then and now as it is an open secret around the globe. Youth of both the regions don't tend to get along. Why? What's the reason?

The root cause is the same 70 years old Pakistan backed rhetoric which is still continuing to influence those living in some areas of Kashmir Division of the newly formed Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir, and the awakening of the Jammu young populace to the concept of civil and political rights.

Pertinently the reason for the comatose that hit Jammu Province were mainly the political bankruptcy of the leaders of Jammu Province and the misplaced priorities of Jammu's society which had been causing brain drain of Jammu's youth.

So how harmful is it anyway?

Causally speaking, No. since we have been raised in a not so conducive environment but been fused with anthropology of this place.

But technically in the longer run YES.

Out to the world, we share the same identity and to some extent, genetically the same origin too, which is an argumentative observation.

The narrative has been set and by the world which only encourages the idea of Kashmir to the disadvantage of the whole region of Jammu Kashmir. The individual identity of the regions has been compromised especially Jammu.

Multiple views regarding Jammu Kashmir are delusional with the stereotype that Jammuites are blinded with the superiority of religion and there being grave human rights violations in Kashmir.

Getting on the round table with all these raw disputes and fallacies, it is time to mend the distorted communication and broken bond, not just for the practical reasons of development and sustainability, but also for the universal deed of good, peace and humanity.

Let's filter the myths and disputes first. In a neutral viewpoint, policy of generalisation can't be applied everywhere.

So lamenting the youth for the sake of media coverage, can be considered as the vested interest of the bigger propagandists. Reading through such agenda requires political maturity which should be nurtured in the youth of J&K.

Then comes the radicalization which generally follows indoctrination.

It is high time now that our societal setup should and must draw a line between the religious theories which are contradicted to the legal cannons of law for mutual and peaceful co-existence of everybody.

But radicalisation has come to the point where such views can almost easily fuel the riots and our bloody history is the example for that. And the credit without any doubt goes to the vitriolic speeches on both the sides, be it the issue of fundamentalist hardlining proponents of separatism or the issue of giving religious connotations to the incident like rapes, thus shamelessly and unrepentantly supporting unethical.

In Kashmir, people should not be blamed for they are following the mob mentality, remember mob doesn't have mind, it is just a force, and the mind is of the leader and right now the leaders are the extremists out there. Our wrong governmental policies and appeasement since 1947 have seized the idea of the right leadership in Kashmir.

Also, killing terrorists and imposing curfews is like fighting with the symptoms not the disease. Why the youth sees terrorists as their ideal instead of army personal Aurangzeb is a matter which needs a attention.

The extent of radicalization is such that a 10 year old kid is pelting stones and hurling anti national slogans. This is what extremists are doing, playing with the immature minds, how could a 10 year old have such hatred at this tender age, which is antithetic to the child behaviour.

And for political manoeuvres and deceptions, army can't be blamed, and I think it is apt to say that we have always lost our soldiers due to the political failures of the government. It is a shame that our own soil is being used to turn our own against us to spread terror catalysed by those who have no stakes in Jammu Kashmir and this is what Jammu is finally waking up to.

Herein Jammu, situation is quite normal, but the mindset has been similarly damaged by the rancour instilled in the young minds due to the political abuse and ignorance of Jammu by various Governments at the centre.

An ancient sanskrit verse summarises the Hindu attitude-

“As the different streams having their sources in different places, all mingle their water in the sea, so, oh lord, the different parts which men take through different tendencies, various through they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to thee.”

So the above is what needs to be followed, not the incendiaries of the religions.

Keeping in mind the situation, I don't think that any official interference would be helpful in bringing us out of this of 70 years mire.

Young leaders have to come in forefront and should

provide “ No Man's Land” the political space which has been marked so by the current “Political Deadwood” to the people of both regions who are more humans than religious, so that they can put their viewpoint without any hindrance like if you're against the army then why is it 50?; If you're against the other religions then why?,' if you're against the government then what's the reason ? Not just sharing the viewpoint but proposing the solutions also.

We can arrange workshops, group discussion events where the other people would get enlightened by the various ideologies and the counter debates, but the whole movement should be driven by only one motive that is peace and harmonious relationship between the two linguistic and regional communities.

The driving force would be the adrenaline rush and determination of the young blood to bring change in the society.

The aim should seek to revive the multi culture ethos of both the regions sufi and dogra enwrapped with the “pashmina” of humanity. The attacks on various religious places and shrines are proof that the troublemakers can indoctrinate religion to propagate their agenda and then contradict it by their inhuman acts of killings and violence just according to their own sweet will.

If this continues to flourish any longer, then its highly likely that certain chunk of the society would become dependent on this hazardous atmosphere directly which would be really hard to come out of, thus its high time to provide the healing touch, the best of which could be only by the natives of Jammu Kashmir.