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| Gulmarg woman conference Only an event of outing organized by “ Kashmir Affairs” departments of India and Pakistan | | | SHAFIQ MIR | 10/3/2011 10:32:10 PM |
| Nearly four dozen women belonging to traditional rival countries of India and Pakistan mostly from two parts of divided Kashmir met at world’s famous tourist resort called “GULMARG” in Indian side of Kashmir in the last week of September 2011. The so called “ Intra Kashmir woman conference” was organized any a Delhi based NGO namely Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation( CDR) headed by Sushuba Barve in collaboration with a Srinagar based NGO –Women For Peace ( WFP) under title –Women’s role in society and issues of mutual concern . With total 45 participants including 16 from Pakistani side of Kashmir, The so called women conference began at famous tourist resort Gulmarg on 27th of September and concluded on 30thSeptember with a joint press conference addressed by the organizers . No body knows what was debated by these women at Gulmarag during their three days stay .
The seriousness and the concern of the women NGOs towards the women of Kashmir can be gauged with the fact that there was no word about the alleged mass rape victims of Kunan Poshpura ( 1991) or about the shopian incident in which two woman of a single family had died in mysterious circumstances in 2009. Instead , the leaders of women pressed for opening of more routes and building up of more people to people contact , removing of laws like AFSPA and PSA . This formality was fulfilled just to show that they were discussing some serious issues at Gulmarag for three days . Had they been serious and concerned about the plight of women in Kashmir , they would have called all the recorded and unrecorded rape victims of Kashmir at an isolated place and prepared a complete document of their plight . Had they been serious in their apparent step, they would have called all the widows and half widows of Kashmir and recorded their plight and made some concrete demand from the government for their possible rehabilitation . Had they been serious in their effort , the would have met with those mothers whose sons are missing , they would have met with the sisters whose brothers are missing they would have met to those women who haven searching their husbands for years together . But no , they were here only for “ outing” organized by the Kashmir departments of both the countries . Making their documentaries is a big issue , the so-called champions of women cause even didn’t bother to mention the plight of women of Kashmir in their joint statement .
In fact , such events are organized by both the countries for of the people they like in the name of Kashmir and the practice has been going for the past one decade . Otherwise , the people having an independent vision are never allowed to gather at any side of Kashmir by any of the government . In other word , the Kashmir has become an industry for many on both the sides of LOC . In the past 63 years , many people in Jammu Kashmir , India and Pakistan made their fortunes in Kashmir issue industry . Not only political parties , the people belonging to different professions also tried their luck in this industry . From academicians to cultural professionals and poets to singers and some so called NGOs working on behest of their respective governments , all tried their luck in different shades and garbs with the promise that their profession can only resolve the Kashmir issue . In fact , the home ministries and other intelligent agencies of both the countries have engaged some selected people on special financial packages and they are used as voice of civil society when ever they need it . The trend got momentum or the industry of selected civil groups flourished in the past one decade after both the countries were forced by silent hands of US administration to build good relations. These civil groups are in the good books of the establishments of both the countries . And when ever any such meet or conference is organized, with in minutes, the members of these groups get clearance of travelling papers from their respective governments . What they do in these conferences ? just to have an outing , get together , wine and dine and finally a group photograph before press and an announcement of the next meeting .
In the past one decade , different groups belonging to both the sides of LOC have enjoyed lot in the name of Kashmir issue . From singers to poets and academicians to traders and some professional dancers have also offered their services to resolve the vexed Kashmir problem . And these groups have always been posing like the brains and architects of their respective countries but that fact remains that no free thinker of any side was ever allowed to participate in any such conference .
( The author is a working journalist and can be reached at
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