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| Which Kashmiri culture and identity Mirwaiz talks about? | | Misinformation Campaign | | Rustam
Jammu, Oct 17: APHC (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq gives interviews almost daily. He says the same thing in each and every interview that he gives. There is nothing new in what he says on a daily basis. He only reiterates what he has been saying since years now. Of course, he talks about the lack of unity among separatists, as also about the ongoing conflict within his own outfit, which consists of several organizations, big and small. And as expected, he also overrules the possibility of his outfit taking part in the election process and seeks to make people believe that he is their genuine representative. He also seeks to create an impression that he not only speaks on behalf of the people of Kashmir, but also on behalf of the people of entire State of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Nothing unusual.
Mirwaiz also talks about India-Pakistan relations and defends the Pakistani policy towards Kashmir. Besides, he talks about the State Government and what it does. To be more precise, he is highly critical of the State Government. Again, it is not something unusual. It is clear that he has very soft attitude towards Pakistan. It is also more than clear that he believes in the pernicious two-nation theory and that he wants another communal partition of India.
However, what is noteworthy is the Mirwaiz's suggestion that the culture and identity of the people of Kashmir are under grave threat and that it is time to neutralize the baneful influence of forces which are all out to destroy the culture and identity of the Valley. "We don't know how long will it take to resolve the Kashmir issue but till then we have to protect Kashmiri culture and identity. We are seeing aggression at different levels be it political, economic, social or cultural. Even our education is depicting foreign aggression we need to counter that. Education system is being thrust on our children. How many of our Kashmir children know about Sheikh Noorudin Wali (RA) and Yosuf Shah Chak! Our children are unaware about the Kashmir history but they seem to be fully aware about Indian history. We have to leave politics aside and safeguard our social fabric and our culture. We cannot remain silent over these issues. The time has come to raise the issues which concern the common Kashmiri. It doesn't mean that we are diverting from our path," he tells his interviewer again and again in response to his question: "Can you explain the other aggressions you have been talking about?"
His suggestion that the culture and identity of Kashmir and its people are under threat is highly flawed. Indeed, his suggestion is religiously and politically motivated. He suppresses many facts than he reveals. He doesn't point towards those who, according to him, have been posing a threat to the Kashmir's culture and identity, but his message is loud and clear. It is obvious that he refers to the non-Muslims. The non-Muslims are conspicuous by their absence in Kashmir. The religio-political atmosphere in Kashmir valley is such that no non-Muslim can ever think in terms of settling in Kashmir. The religio-political atmosphere in the Valley is such that even the original inhabitants of Kashmir (Kashmiri Hindus) had to quit their land of Vitasta (Jhelum) in early 1990. Many of them have been leading a wretched life in the refugee camps in Jammu since then. Many Sikhs had also vacated the Valley. As for the Jammu Dogras, they quit Kashmir immediately after the State's accession with India. They quit Kashmir because the ruling elite of the time created an environment that left the Dogras and most of the Punjabis with no other option but to quit Kashmir.
The truth is that Kashmir after 1989 became the sole preserve of the followers of a particular religious sect to which Mirwaiz, Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik, Abdul Gani Bhat, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Sajad Lone, Bilal Lone, Nayeem Khan, Abdullahs, Tarigamis, Abdul Qayooms, to mention only a few, belong. I am referring to the Kashmiri-speaking Sunnis who are ethnically one and not to the Gujjar and Bakarwal Muslims (all Sunnis) and Shiite Muslims who also live in Kashmir and constitute no less than 30 per cent of the Valley's total population.
It is the followers of a particular religious sect who have been ruling the roost since October 1947. They control political institutions. They control financial institutions. They control recruitment agencies. They control land, trade, transport, tourism and industry. They control universities, colleges, schools and even technical and professional institutions like medical, engineering and agriculture colleges. They make and enforce laws. They also dominate Jammu Pradesh. So, who is endangering the culture and identity of Kashmir and its people? The answer is not far to seek. The answer lies in the answer of Mirwaiz itself. It is not the identity and culture of Kashmir which are under threat. The fact is that it is the identity and culture of Jammu Pradesh and Ladakh which are under threat because they are being ruled by a class that is patently sectarian and narrow-minded. |
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