news details |
|
|
| 'The Ugly Kashmiri--cameos in exile' | | A Kashmiri Pandit's literary bombshell | | B L KAK
NEW DELHI, JULY 22: First of its kind--indeed, unparalleled in the annals of Indian publishing industry--is the artistic presentation of the cameos about the principal characters--Kashmiri Muslims, Kashmiri Pandits, security forces, militants, politicians, intellectuals, comon people and women.
And one cameo is printed on one page. In all, 180 cameos form the literary bombshell of Arvind Gigoo, a Kashmiri Pandit forced, like vast crowds of his co-religionists, to seek shelter in the Jammu region after his homeland was lashed by politcal turmoil and terrorism in the beginning of 1990. Gigoo's bombshell is in the shape of a book titled 'THE UGLY KASHMIRI--cameos in exile'.
An Italian saying: "An ugly face is better than an ugly mind". It is not without meaning: Gigoo's book is for "Ahmad the blacksmith whom nobody knows because he is beautiful". The underlying theme of a need for change from ugliness to beauty runs throughout the book, which is printed and published by Allied Publishers Private Limited.
Indian and world leaders and commentators will have no reason to go against Arvind Gigoo's short summary of the Kashmir situation: "Kashmir is a complex dispute between India and Pakistan. Wars and talks have led us nowhere. 'Meaningul dialogues' have resultged in a fruitless wait. Nobody can say what will happen in Kashmir". The Kashmir of 1989 saw the beginnings of political activity in the shape of militancy and terrorism.
Sense of humour has always saved the Kashmiris from despair. But in 1990 the magnitude of terror and suspicion "silenced all", says Gigoo, adding: The Kashmiri Muslims were caught between the security forces and militants. Hundreds got killed. The militants killed many Kashmiri Pandits. Out of terror the Pandits left Kashmir for Jammu".
The cameos are terse, meaty and aphoristic. And each cameo is a bleeding piece of truth. In an obvious reference to the members of the much-talked-about Kashmiri Pandit community, page two of the book has one-line finding: "Divided we stand; united we fall". On the Islamist rebel's stand against Kashmiri Hindu, page four has also one-line finding: "He gave me freedom for thirty-six hours; I gave him freedom for ever".
Readers of the works by Shakespeare have been told that a soothsayer communicated to Julius Caesar: Remember the Ides (15th) of March. In February 1990, Pandits in the Valley of Kashmir spread the word 'leave by 5th of March". No wonder, Gigoo's book has this to say: "Remember the 5th of March". Sub-titled 'Conversion-I' a mind-boggling cameo runs thus: "I was a Kashmiri, I have become an Indian". "Converts are fanatics". And another cameo, which obviously is meant to describe a Kashmiri Muslim rebel: "I was for Pakistan, I have become a Kashmiri" "Converts are liberal".
Conversion-III runs thus: " I was an Indian, I have become a Kashmiri". "Conversion is the mother of repentence". Yet anohter cameo vis-a-vis Kashmiri Pandits: "We must preserve our culture". "How?" "By reviving dead rituals". India, obviously, asks an Islamist rebel in Kashmir" What are your demands?" The answer: "Only money and independence from you".
Arvind Gigoo may not have cried for a homeland for Kashmiri Pandits. Yet page 20 of his book does make a pointed reference to it: "What did you do to regain your homeland?" "Tonsure....dear....tonsure". And this cameo is a bleeding piece of truth: "I sold off my house and land and everything in Kashmir because Kashmir is my motherland".
In an obvious reference to the J&K former Governor, Jagmohan, Gigoo has incorporated Muslim point of view: "The Town Planner with the Broom: He came here to create a new force by sweeping off the ancient force". On the contradictory role of Islamist rebel in Kashmir, this description reveals volumes: "Summer of 1982: Dear soldier, have this Kashmiri tea for you are a guest". "Winter of 1990: You bloody soldier, take this bullet for you are a dog".
Quite a revealing aspect of the thinking of the beneficiaries of militancy and terrorism in Kashmir: "This shouldn't end. I have become rich". Rapists among the militants in Kashmir have, on more than one occasion, hit the headlines. On how a young militant rapes an elderly woman, page 46 of the book has this to offer: "Hey, what are you doing? I have always treated you as my son.... hey....look.....stop.....you are as....good.....as...my...s..o..n.
"Freedom!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
