Monday, April 17, 2006 What a Great news from Greater Kashmir! And no body opposes itLeadership frail, says Aasiya
Srinagar: The Dukhatarn-e-Millat chief Aasiya Andrabi Sunday said Kashmiris were engaged in jihad and the leadership differing from the idea were doing harm to the cause.
“Let me clear one thing. This is a jihad; we’re fighting against India and nobody should describe it as guerilla warfare or terrorism,” Aasiya said at a seminar titled “Sunnah—The Source of Islamic Shariah” organised by her organisation here.
Aasiya lambasted at the Kashmiri leadership for seeking US help for the resolution of Kashmir issue. “Why do they ask for help from the United States which has waged a war against Muslim Ummah and is involved in killing of thousands of Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan?” she asked, adding the disputes in all the Muslim regions “should be resolved in the light of Islamic tenets.”
The DeM described the Kashmiri leadership as frail and weakened. “They are afraid of speaking their heart out,” she said, adding “Azad, Abdullahs and Muftis aren’t the true representatives of Kashmiris.”
Commenting on recent statement of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti describing slain militants as martyrs, Aasiya said: “It’s a political gimmick, Mehbooba is trying to befool the people of Valley.”
She also launched a scathing attack on Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar.
Aasiya said the West and Europe has “launched a war against our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and our religion by publishing blasphemous articles and cartoons.”
“The West and Europe is not against us. They are against out Prophet Muhammad (SAW),” she said.
This is what hurts me and confuses me. Where does Kashmir ends and Islam starts. Why these Kashmirs keep on lying that it is all about Kashmir and not about Islam. Let somebody rise and speak up for it. Otherwise nobody should blame us for speaking the truth.
Hi Shaima!
I must say..
You are clever, indeed very clever. You want to state your point without having to directly saying what i was suggesting. You ineffect when you talked about Ummah, you directly say what i was suggesting, that it is an issue where religious overtones are strongly used.
You have picked up my sentences, made up your point. Another person i have seen is Narendra Modi who happens to be so clever with words. However the difference is that you are not using violence to enforce your point.
This is an art perfected by civil society/media around the world. For an example, look at GK yesterday. It actualy did not publish not a single report for or against Jama Masjid in thier online edition. Infact they blanked it out completely apart from a one line condemnation by Hijbul Mujahideen. Also six people were killed due to the blasts on friday. But, the only family of victims who got the cover page who was killed supposedly by CRPF crossfire. So this was a classic case of twisting stories by GK. They do not want the world to know about five families who lost thier near and dear ones because of militant strike, but want them to know about still not confirmed CRPF fire victim. Now to say even in Kashmir, thier are two kinds of victims. Ones killed by army/crpf are victims/Shaheed and ones killed by militants are collateral damages.
So spending ones emotion about Kashmir is not the most wisest thing. It is more about politics, one has to think more strongly and dispassionately. However what saddens me is when people like you start defending the indefensible! We must defend truth, not ideologies; ideologies only spread hatred!
I want to make one thing clear, I do not want to be identified as Hindu, I am an Indian who happens to be an Hindu. Religion is entirely a personal matter for me. It is true for majority of Indians. Therefore, it is untrue that Hindus reacted in some or other way when Akshardham was attacked, because most of the Indians take an attack whether on anything dispassionately. Look the kind of maturity they show despite provocation. Even after Raghunath temple attack in Jammu, not a single soul attacked Hazratbal! Not even after Jama Masjid! We indians have come a long way after Babari. I sincerely hope Kashmirs come out of this Muslim-Hindu stupidity as fast as possible. I am proud to say that we are the only country in the world where we have Muslim president, Sikh prime minister and army chief, christian head of a political party in power in a country dominated upto 84% by Hindus.
Well, you seem to be more of Mirwaiz(a person i like) mould then of Geelani(a person i hate) mould.
As i said in the first mail, I support Kashmir if they act like Kashmiris of 1947 time ( who were liked by Gandhi ji), i won't if they act like Muslims from Kashmir. Anyways i believe the solution would be maximum of a self governing dominion like Andorra without Defence, Foreign Policy or Communication. More pre - 1953 situation. I would like to work for a software company situated on the banks of Dal lake, taking my night tea at a dhaba near Boulevard/Dal Gate or Nishat.
Alok Shukla
Shaima - a software engineer responds! cleverly!
THanks for your reply! I agree with you that this time it was more logical ,just like a software professional, and incidentally I am one too!
You know that Kashmir is a Muslim majority ( 95% ). And the fact that Danish cartoons were a part of the paper regularly, is justified because it was something that offended Muslims all over the world, including Kashimri Muslims. Also, Islam believes in the concept of Ummah, the muslim community and it is not restricted by boundaries and citizenship to a particular country.
And as such, any problems with Muslim community anywhere in the world is something that grabs attention in Kashmir. And anything that is talked about has to be printed in the local papers. I am sure Hindus in the US or anywhere in the world were effected when Akshadharam ( I am not sure about the spelling ) Mandir was attacked. I would not be surprised if GK publishes about Jama Masjid blasts. And I said, the concentration of GK is the state, and there are occasional national and international events published as well.
And regarding Kashmir being independent under the Dogra ruler. It was in "effect" independent, a state in itself. Regarding the commotion against the Dogra ruler, it was a commotion within the state, which was independent from India and Pakistan.
I have had debates/conversations with a lot of people in the past. But most of the people debate with a closed frame of mind, not understanding the Kashmiri point of view. That is what I do not like and I have stopped discussing it with people.
Kashmir is a very senstive issue for me and it troubles me a lot when Indian people just overlook what India is doing in Kashmir and blame everything on Pakistan. I am in the states right now, and believe me I have hot discussions with Pakistanis as well. They are as ignorant as most of the Indian souls.There are hardly any people who know the truth, and they argue without any background.
I believe both India and Pakistan have a hand in converting Kashmir to the hell it is now. And that gives me reason enough to dislike both.
Anyways, Kashmir is a complicated issue, because India and Pakistan have complicated it over the last 50 years. I just hope that the violence ends there and the future generations of Kashmir don't have to live under fear and bloodshed. ( Ameen )
I am happy to know that you support an Independent State. We need more people like you!
Good Luck!
Shaima
---------------------------------------------
Friday, April 14, 2006
Rejoider to Shaima Qureshi.
Hello Mr. Alok,
I really appreciate your interest in Kashmir and the fact that you have been following Kashmir issues and events in the past few years. We need more people like you, but unfortunately there are a very few people in India who actually know the whole story behind the Kashmir dispute, in fact many don’t even acknowledge Kashmir as a disputed territory. I have stayed in India for around six years, and believe me I haven’t met a single Indian who had knowledge about Kashmir history, and the current events.
[Alok Shukla] Not meeting a Single Indian is taking too far. Although i agree it in a vice versa mode that in general Indians are not much aware about Kashmir and also Kashmiris in general are not aware about India.
You claim to be following the Kashmir issue since the past few years, but from your mail I get a feeling that you haven’t delved into the history before 1990’s. That makes your whole analysis and inference painted with religious bias.
[Alok Shukla] No madam, when i say that India has not been fair, that is because i agree with some of the people who lifeted the gun in 1988 and said "Agar kar khuda ka khauff to utha le kalashnikov" . There is long history i can narrate to support my argument, but for space constraint i would say that i have tried to read about Kashmir since thier golden age in 14-15th century. To just give you an idea that i have read the book of Joseph Korbel (Father of Madeline Albright - former US seceratery of state) about Kashmir.
You compared Kashmir with Bihar, probably considering both in the view of the current events and not on the basis of historic events and happenings. That’s what prompted me to reply. Kashmir and Bihar have to be seen in different lights, because the root cause of the trouble is different. Your letter gave me a feeling that you are comparing Kashmir issue with Bihar problems, totally ignoring the history of Kashmir.
[Alok Shukla] Thanks for conceding the point. I appreciate the essence of a good debater in you.
Now coming to the point of Kashmiris hating India/Indians on the basis of religion. If I had to define Indians based on my experience, I would say that they are totally ignorant and apathetic towards the Kashmir issue. However, I always know that there are people who support us. People like Arundati Roy on the national scene and others who do it behind the stage. So I do not generalize, and I cannot generalize like you have done. There is nothing like religion hatred, and that is not what Islam teaches us. You need to look into the policies of the Indian government closely and without bias, or probably go through the essays of Arundati Roy and you would know what terror India has unleashed in Kashmir through their armed forces. I suggest you to read her essays, because keeping your mail in view, I don’t think you would trust me if I provide you with the same information.
[Alok Shukla] I think you have read only the excerpts in GK of those articles. I suggest you read fully, you might find a repeat of my arguments in her own words. That is for selective coverage of GK.
Coming back to your claim of Kashmiris hating India on the basis of religion, I must say you are totally wrong and going by how India has projected Kashmir in front of the entire nation, and to some level to the entire world.
[Alok Shukla] Although India does project it like that..I agree! but then I am not a follower of mob mentality. I have made my own judgements by being in Kashmir, talking to them. Infact in 1999 when i was living on New Sumbal houseboat in Dal Lake, I made of lot of friends from the ground who perfectly claimed the opposite of what you said. There is no black and white, please see there is always a shade of grey. I remember My friend Ali Mohammad saying "Aap Indians to hindu ho, hum aapke saath kaise reh sakte hain". You go meet him and he would vouch for me. Period.
“Kashmir was never an independent state”? Can you support your statement? Apart from being independent in earlier times, Kashmir was in effect an independent state from 14th August 1947 to 27th October. Aggression came from two sides: India and Pakistan. Kashmir was trying to survive, when all of a sudden claims started being made. India and Pakistan, just around a month old nations displayed a behavior which would be their hallmark for decades to come.
[Alok Shukla] Great! For the first time i am listening to some kashmiri who says that living under Dogra Hari singh was independence. I thought Muslim Conference/National conference was fighting for independence against the same man. And there were people like Shiekh Abdullah who is hated by most kashmiris was then known as Freedom fighter! I remember a certain Kashmir Pandir freedom fighter "Premnath bajaj" too.
Pakistan sends in Tribals, India sends in Troops. Both claiming that they had come to liberate Kashmir, when in relaity they were occupying what was never theirs, but would be for decades to come.
Army is not meant to kill people, I agree with you on that. But if you see the behavior of the Indian army over the past decade and a half, it does not seem to support your claim. Why is India scared to let Amnesty International an HR Asia into Kashmir? That is because all the ill deeds of the Indian armed forces will get exposed. Where are the thousands of people who were arrested and have disappeared mysteriously, what about the draconian rights which the Indian army posses, why aren’t they accountable for murders, why do they use people in Kashmir as human shields and laborers? And after they do all this, how many of them are punished?
[Alok Shukla] Agree completely! This is something which i have found disgusting about India. Again this in my contention India must be more forthcoming. A great democracy should have the space to show the world what they behave like. And yes i have said in print that i felt completely disgusted about Indian Army actions. However no word about Militants torture. How about commenting on massacre of 23 Kashmir Pandits in wandhawa or murder of a certain Tikloo before Kashmir pandit en masse flight partly engineered by Jagmohan. In fairness of argument there are always two sides of story. If militnant violence was so good then why JKLF said farewell to arms and why did Yasin malik say what he said in "Azad kashmir" assembly just recently.
You say “. We agree that India was not fair, but we have always felt that you hate us because of our religion and not because of our policies.” This is what you “feel”, but everything you feel is not true. Please look into facts and figure and authentic history of Kashmir and keep your feelings aside for a while. When you feel like that, you come in the circle of many other Indians who just go by what their government and the supposedly free media informs them about, the biased version of the Kashmir Story.
[Alok Shukla] No madam, when there is only one class of people fight about Kashmir and hardly Ladakhis/Dogras/Pandits/Bakarwals in support, There is a distinct disconnect from what you say, however your attempts to wish it off. Logics needed not summary statements! Arguments please?
On GK : I do not think that GK portrays other religions in bad light. Kashmir is hit by a lot of social problems in the present times, and being a Muslim majority ( at present) , having a religious focus on such societal issues is nothing bad. Religion often hits people more hard than any usual lecture on morality and all such stuff and always inspires people to change for good. No one points fingers in the spirituality columns in the national newspapers. People have a general tendency to pay heed to moral lessons from their religion, rather than the same lessons from others. And this is true for any religion, Islam, Hinduism or Christianity.
[Alok Shukla] Who said not to publish about thier religion! I had said in my mail it is fine. I objected when you run down other religions. There are many articles published where there is an attempt to focus on the comparision between Hindu/Christians and Islam. Read what aasiya andarabi writes, you may know what I mean.
And thank you for advising me to read the Holy Quran, as a Muslim I have been doing that since my childhood, and I fully understand the meaning of Jehad. People are misusing it and the misused version is what the whole world knows now. You are trying to push me towards reading and reflecting on my religion and when GK does the same, by publishing Friday Focus, it is bad and biased! Had you known what Islam is all about, you would not talk about Muslims hating Hindus.
[Alok Shukla] Madam, please do not play with words. I said muslim kashmir vs hindu India. Not Muslim hating hindus. Also religion is a personal matter, If you do it personaly fine, however when you make a political statement out of it, i feel discomfort. And come on we indians have taught BJP a lesson for thier Gujrat riots by toppling their government.
And Greater Kashmir is meant to bring out the truth from the valley, that is why it is “Greater Kashmir”. It is not a national paper, its scope is limited to the state. That is why there is no news from other regions, unless it is national news or some news on the international scene. And with respect to reporting from the state, it is doing a wonderful job. And it has shown tremendous courage in bringing out truth from each and every corner of the state.
[Alok Shukla] Is that so. when there is news about Muslims in any part of the world it publishes. Whether Danish controversy, whether muslims in lucknow protesting about some religions issues, whether talking about palestine. Are they kashmir issues or muslim issues. You yourself have said its scope is limited to state then for what reasons it published oped pages for atleast half a month about something happening in as far flung as Denmark. I have no issues with publishing about justified danish issues. But the scope cannot be stretched and compressed based on where muslim sentiments start and where kashmir ends.
This is what unfortunately most of the media of democratic India is not able to bring out to the public. You have been following greater Kashmir for the last so many years now. Have you always found the true version of the Kashmir incidents in the national papers?. Have they ever reported the Indian army atrocities, I guess not more than 5 out of 100. That is what GK is for, it is for highlighting the problems of Kashmir . If that sounds like blowing our own trumpet, then why not?? We need to blow our own trumpet because none of your high esteemed national newspapers publish the truth from Kashmir. Had GK now blown its own trumpet, probably you wouldn’t even know as much about Kashmir as you claim to know now.
[Alok Shukla] I give credit to GK for letting me know a lot of things. But GK is an after part of my life. There is a thing called perspective. I may agree to disagree but then that is the first part of what is called the greatest gift of democracy "consensus". You need to have both points of view to ultimately lead to a solution. If you just want to make me see how you see it, no i do not agree with it. And i completely agree with you apart from a certain Barkha dutt who I think has done more service to Kashmir issues than many kashmirs themselves, there are hardly in indian media (frontline excluded) who write with objectivity. You may not agree to her viewpoints but then she makes sure that there is always a debate over Kashmir. Then i must also include Muzammil jamil from Indian Express too in the list.
And one last thing about your assumption of “ kashmiris hating India on the basis of religion”. I have more “’Hindu” friends ,than I have “Muslim” friends, and this is for the first time I am classifying my friends into these two categories, courtesy your reasoning and understanding logic. I understand Kashmir issue from the historic point of view, not from the point of view Indians have been forced to view it as by the Indian government in the last 15 years, the religious one.
[Alok Shukla] I still do not classify it! See the benefit of living in democratic India. Religion is not on top of my mind when performing my daily works It is just so personal. You would be surprised to know that most of the Indian do not still know that Kashmir is a muslim majority state! Common Indians generaly do not know anything about it. Far from thinking in that perspective, they just think Kashmiris are victims of Pakistan. Do not colour your perspective prematuraly on the basis of a North Indian upper class crowd
I would like to close with one of the comments which a researcher made after her research on Kashmir. Suzanne Olsson says “ Slowly the world’s attention is being drawn more and more to Kashmir….not for its suffering but for its extraordinary past, a past that has absolutely nothing to do with being a Hindu or Muslim…and yet a past that has been greatly influenced Hindus, Muslims, and even Buddhists! I believe as its true history is understood, Kashmir will be at least as important in world history as Palestine or Jerusalem….as important as the Ark of the Covenant, Ethiopia, Shangrila, Mount Meru, and the great Pyramids of Egypt…what ties them all together are the secrets of Kashmir….I believe this interest is the basis for an extraordinary tourist industry that will bring great wealth to all Kashmiris, her treasures are not in gold or oil, but in her important links to te past( and possible future) world.”
[Alok Shukla] Insha Allah! I would rejoice in it. I want Kashmir to be independent because they want it as a Nation State. Unfortunately of all parts of state (Northern Areas, AJK, Kashmir Valley, Jammu, Ladakh and paharis/Bakarwal) do not seem to share the same concerns. I think the baby who cries the most gets the most attention. Kashmir here is the crying baby. What about those living in Northern Areas. I do not think APHC even has a chapter there. They just made thier first trip to Jammu, about ladakh only they know.
And after writing all this, I do not want you to get a feeling that I am trying to prove you wrong, Unfortunately this approach to the Kashmir issue is what is seen from most of the Indians, who care a bit about Kashmir. For others Kashmir is just one of those issues that regularly fills the paper columns. And after you read this mail, instead of writing back to me, I would suggest you spend some more time on the actual history of Kashmir. And check on the policies of the Indian government.
[Alok Shukla] Madam, people like you who are vocal are needed to start a dialogue between we people of Indian subcontinent (politicaly correct statement). And if i do not change my perspective it is not a reason to stop talking. As i said before "Agreeing to Disagree is the first part of building the consensus" - I just borrowed from my Prime minister statement in the function for Ramnath Goenka Award for excellence in Journalism. Also two journalist have been awarded there for reporting truly on Kashmir. For your information, both stories were Anti India in nature. And just imagine it is only India where an Indian Primeminister would award people who write to support separatists against Indian Army.
[Alok Shukla] Being in software makes me think logicaly. It taught me to cut down on emotion and built on passion! May be this was a more passionate piece rather than the last time when i was reacted with some bit of more emotions.
Have a great life. And if you agree let us start communication.
I have already posted your and mine reply on http://Kashmirtalk.rediffblogs.com without any editing.
Have a wonderful life ahead.
Bye from my side!
Shaima Qureshi ( And trust me you got me crazy as well – and I replied this time, did my best to convey the best I could, and if it hasn’t changed you a bit, then hopefully this would be the last conversation between you and me)
Good Luck! I see you are into software as well :)
Shaima Qureshi says - She also got crazy!
Hello Mr. Alok,
I really appreciate your interest in Kashmir and the fact that you have been following Kashmir issues and events in the past few years. We need more people like you, but unfortunately there are a very few people in India who actually know the whole story behind the Kashmir dispute, in fact many don’t even acknowledge Kashmir as a disputed territory. I have stayed in India for around six years, and believe me I haven’t met a single Indian who had knowledge about Kashmir history, and the current events.
You claim to be following the Kashmir issue since the past few years, but from your mail I get a feeling that you haven’t delved into the history before 1990’s. That makes your whole analysis and inference painted with religious bias.
You compared Kashmir with Bihar, probably considering both in the view of the current events and not on the basis of historic events and happenings. That’s what prompted me to reply. Kashmir and Bihar have to be seen in different lights, because the root cause of the trouble is different. Your letter gave me a feeling that you are comparing Kashmir issue with Bihar problems, totally ignoring the history of Kashmir.
Now coming to the point of Kashmiris hating India/Indians on the basis of religion. If I had to define Indians based on my experience, I would say that they are totally ignorant and apathetic towards the Kashmir issue. However, I always know that there are people who support us. People like Arundati Roy on the national scene and others who do it behind the stage. So I do not generalize, and I cannot generalize like you have done. There is nothing like religion hatred, and that is not what Islam teaches us. You need to look into the policies of the Indian government closely and without bias, or probably go through the essays of Arundati Roy and you would know what terror India has unleashed in Kashmir through their armed forces. I suggest you to read her essays, because keeping your mail in view, I don’t think you would trust me if I provide you with the same information.
Coming back to your claim of Kashmiris hating India on the basis of religion, I must say you are totally wrong and going by how India has projected Kashmir in front of the entire nation, and to some level to the entire world.
“Kashmir was never an independent state”? Can you support your statement? Apart from being independent in earlier times, Kashmir was in effect an independent state from 14th August 1947 to 27th October. Aggression came from two sides: India and Pakistan. Kashmir was trying to survive, when all of a sudden claims started being made. India and Pakistan, just around a month old nations displayed a behavior which would be their hallmark for decades to come.
Pakistan sends in Tribals, India sends in Troops. Both claiming that they had come to liberate Kashmir, when in relaity they were occupying what was never theirs, but would be for decades to come.
Army is not meant to kill people, I agree with you on that. But if you see the behavior of the Indian army over the past decade and a half, it does not seem to support your claim. Why is India scared to let Amnesty International an HR Asia into Kashmir? That is because all the ill deeds of the Indian armed forces will get exposed. Where are the thousands of people who were arrested and have disappeared mysteriously, what about the draconian rights which the Indian army posses, why aren’t they accountable for murders, why do they use people in Kashmir as human shields and laborers? And after they do all this, how many of them are punished?
You say “. We agree that India was not fair, but we have always felt that you hate us because of our religion and not because of our policies.” This is what you “feel”, but everything you feel is not true. Please look into facts and figure and authentic history of Kashmir and keep your feelings aside for a while. When you feel like that, you come in the circle of many other Indians who just go by what their government and the supposedly free media informs them about, the biased version of the Kashmir Story.
On GK : I do not think that GK portrays other religions in bad light. Kashmir is hit by a lot of social problems in the present times, and being a Muslim majority ( at present) , having a religious focus on such societal issues is nothing bad. Religion often hits people more hard than any usual lecture on morality and all such stuff and always inspires people to change for good. No one points fingers in the spirituality columns in the national newspapers. People have a general tendency to pay heed to moral lessons from their religion, rather than the same lessons from others. And this is true for any religion, Islam, Hinduism or Christianity.
And thank you for advising me to read the Holy Quran, as a Muslim I have been doing that since my childhood, and I fully understand the meaning of Jehad. People are misusing it and the misused version is what the whole world knows now. You are trying to push me towards reading and reflecting on my religion and when GK does the same, by publishing Friday Focus, it is bad and biased! Had you known what Islam is all about, you would not talk about Muslims hating Hindus.
And Greater Kashmir is meant to bring out the truth from the valley, that is why it is “Greater Kashmir”. It is not a national paper, its scope is limited to the state. That is why there is no news from other regions, unless it is national news or some news on the international scene. And with respect to reporting from the state, it is doing a wonderful job. And it has shown tremendous courage in bringing out truth from each and every corner of the state.
This is what unfortunately most of the media of democratic India is not able to bring out to the public. You have been following greater Kashmir for the last so many years now. Have you always found the true version of the Kashmir incidents in the national papers?. Have they ever reported the Indian army atrocities, I guess not more than 5 out of 100. That is what GK is for, it is for highlighting the problems of Kashmir . If that sounds like blowing our own trumpet, then why not?? We need to blow our own trumpet because none of your high esteemed national newspapers publish the truth from Kashmir. Had GK now blown its own trumpet, probably you wouldn’t even know as much about Kashmir as you claim to know now.
And one last thing about your assumption of “ kashmiris hating India on the basis of religion”. I have more “’Hindu” friends ,than I have “Muslim” friends, and this is for the first time I am classifying my friends into these two categories, courtesy your reasoning and understanding logic. I understand Kashmir issue from the historic point of view, not from the point of view Indians have been forced to view it as by the Indian government in the last 15 years, the religious one.
I would like to close with one of the comments which a researcher made after her research on Kashmir. Suzanne Olsson says “ Slowly the world’s attention is being drawn more and more to Kashmir….not for its suffering but for its extraordinary past, a past that has absolutely nothing to do with being a Hindu or Muslim…and yet a past that has been greatly influenced Hindus, Muslims, and even Buddhists! I believe as its true history is understood, Kashmir will be at least as important in world history as Palestine or Jerusalem….as important as the Ark of the Covenant, Ethiopia, Shangrila, Mount Meru, and the great Pyramids of Egypt…what ties them all together are the secrets of Kashmir….I believe this interest is the basis for an extraordinary tourist industry that will bring great wealth to all Kashmiris, her treasures are not in gold or oil, but in her important links to te past( and possible future) world.”
And after writing all this, I do not want you to get a feeling that I am trying to prove you wrong, Unfortunately this approach to the Kashmir issue is what is seen from most of the Indians, who care a bit about Kashmir. For others Kashmir is just one of those issues that regularly fills the paper columns. And after you read this mail, instead of writing back to me, I would suggest you spend some more time on the actual history of Kashmir. And check on the policies of the Indian government.
Have a wonderful life ahead.
Bye from my side!
Shaima Qureshi ( And trust me you got me crazy as well – and I replied this time, did my best to convey the best I could, and if it hasn’t changed you a bit, then hopefully this would be the last conversation between you and me)
Good Luck! I see you are into software as well :)
---------------------------------------------
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Shaima Qureshi, You just got me crazy!
Hi Shaima,
Have a good day! This is apropos your mail on my blog! As you said:
"The pain of loss of human life is same everywhere, be it Bihar or be it Kashmir. But the pain in our case is aggravated when the people responsible for such killings and torture move around freely under the tag of "security forces" . Adding salt to our wounds is the fact that such things are never highlighted by the national media. Unlike the national media, GK does not play a blind eye to thousands of human right violations in Kashmir. GK deserves credit for bringing out truth from every nook and corner of the valley. It does not deserve to be blamed for partiality! If you do that, then what would you have to say about the entire Indian media? If this link works, I would like you to see it : http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-116617 2407554220338&q=killing+in+kashmir "
"Mr.Alok you wrongly interpreted the meaning of Kashmir problem being more worrisome. The reasons for youth in Bihar taking up arms are different from that of Kashmir. There is a deep history to the unfolding of events in Kashmir, which has to be traced back to decades. Violence in both states has completely different origins. We need to keep this perspective in mind when we talk about the two states. It is worrisome when such deep rooted facts are ignored and covered up by titling them as "backwardness"."
I think I need to give a rejoinder for the same. I think there is ghetto mentality in kashmir that we indians in totatility do not understand the situation of Kashmir. I never said that violence in kashmir is because of backwardness. This is plainly your assumption! Infact it has been since 1996 that I have been following Kashmir with some thing of scholarliness. I was there in 1999. Infact I was one of those group people who resisted ABVP guys in Delhi University when Yasin Malik was invited in our college. We understand the situation and we agree that as a country India has never been fair with Kashmir. But we as readers of history have a tendency to see the situation dispassionately. Army in Kashmir is not just for killing people. Their were some people who lifted Kalashnikov for reasons good or bad. Although India's case is slightly weak in Kashmir. But kashmiri's tendancy to overplay the situation is something which over the years I have just not been comfortable with. The idea of kashmir is now majorly a Muslim Kashmir Vs Hindu India thing. I would like to ask you - Are any other religion people supporting your issue whether they be Ladakhi Buddhists or Hindu Dogras/Jammuites. The problem with you people is that you think you would get salvation in becoming free from Hindu India. Like what Pakistan always thought and now actualy is the most developed country in the world(sic), Hating people based on their religion does not help. Kashmir was never an independent nation in history. It was always a part of some other state. You were happy living under Muslim Jahangir but India is considered to be Hindu enough to be get rid of that.
Even Mahatma gandhi fought for freedom. But he made sure that we indians hate britishers for their policies not for their religion, caste, creed or race. This is what, which is severely lacking in Kashmir.
Look at GK. It does not even pretend that it abides by something called Kashmiriyat. It publishes article where it is told that how Islam is perfect path to salvation (fine) but makes sure that other religions are portrayed in bad light( Reading daily since last seven years). Do you call that courage. I do not think courage comes in the fact that you celeberate your religion and hate others on account of their religion. Always remember that an Independent Kashmir if created would not be based in switzerland. It would ALWAYS be a neighbour of a Secular India, Religionless (Officialy) China. You are not get away from us anyways! . Do not think like Bangladeshis and Pakistanis who thought that they would be something like Alice in Wonderland by hating hindus and getting their country. We Indians, whom these people divided for getting their religious country are far worse off in any kind of development. And also remember Mughal India was also ruled from Delhi and not from Lahore or Dhaka or for that matter Srinagar.
This is why I hated your description of kashmir deaths more historical than bihar deaths. I am sorry but most of us do not like your pretensions. We agree that India was not fair, but we have always felt that you hate us because of our religion and not because of our policies. We Indians are ready to do anything if the problem is our policies, but sorry we are not going to tolerate another partition if the problem is religion.
PS: How many letters GK prints when people are killed in Varanasi, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore etc. Had it printed, I would have saluted for its courage. Courage comes from reading situation dispassionately. It does not comes from blowing your own trumpet. Revolting against Gun is small courage. Winning against your own prejudices is what counts! Remember the difference between Small Jehad and Big Jehad from the Holy Quran. I would suggest to you to read it. It is not a big thing to fight against Indian Army, The big Jehad has to be done to stop hating we Indian on account of our majority religion.
Thanks and Regards,
Alok Shukla
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Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Published version of my letter to Greater Kashmir
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=8_3_2006&ItemID=13&cat=14
GK readers
DEAR EDITOR,
It has been almost six years I have been following your online version of Greater Kashmir. From the part of India, I reside, it is disconcerting that how your newspaper makes its viewpoint. I and many of my friends have tried to follow Kashmir issue with a certain sense of objectivity. We try to propagate the real picture of Kashmir in front of people whom we know and try to make them understand that how India went wrong in its pursuit of Kashmir.
However, sometimes reading your newspaper makes a difference of understanding of Kashmir issue between how we see it and how your newspaper makes us understand. From your viewpoint it seems that the problem is between Muslim Kashmir and Hindu India. Your newspaper articles in general and your Friday editorial in particular present the problem from a Muslim perspective. The feeling for an outsider is that you face the problem because of being a Muslim majority state, as if Kashmir has its share of problems because of being dominated by Muslims. Now this is something which distances a lot of people sympathetic to Kashmir issue from expressing their support for the same. While we understand as human beings, Kashmir is a problem state and we want to express our support in various forms, but making it look like a Muslim Kashmir issue forces us to go on the back foot. We people of other religions are shown as some sort of anti-Kashmir on account of religion of our birth.
I do not know, how much I have been able to convey my feelings to you, but in short how much we like minded Indians would like to support your struggle, you also need to make us a part of the process rather not distancing us away from it.
Alok Shukla
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Monday, February 27, 2006
My letter to Greater Kashmir
Dear Editor,
It has been almost six years I have been following your online version of Greater Kashmir. From the part of India, where I reside, it is disconcerting that how your newspaper makes its viewpoint. I and many of my friends have tried to follow Kashmir issue with a certain sense of objectivity. We try to propagate the real picture of Kashmir in front of people whom we know and try to make them understand that how India went wrong in its pursuit of Kashmir.
However, sometimes reading your newspaper, a distinct difference of understanding of Kashmir issue between how we see it and how your newspaper makes us understand. From your viewpoint it seems that the problem is between Muslim Kashmir and Hindu India. Your newspaper articles tries to inform us using Islamic viewpoint about everything that happens in Kashmir .In fact your Friday editorials are the ones that makes it more obvious. The feeling that goes to an outsider is that you are only trying to propagate a feeling that because Kashmir is a Muslim majority state, it has its share of problems. Now this is something which distances a lot of people sympathetic to Kashmir issue from expressing their support for the same. While we understand as human beings, Kashmir is a problem state and we want to express our support in various forms, making it look like a Muslim Kashmir issue forces us on back foot. It creates a huge trust deficit as in the implication, we people of other religion are shown as some sort of anti-Kashmir on account of religion of our birth.
I do not know, how much I have been able to convey my feelings to you, but in short how much we like minded Indians would like to support your struggle, you also need to make us a part of the process rather not distance us away from it.
Alok Shukla
Well separatists seem lost!
Well,
PM roundtable has just ended a few days before. Most of the separatists refused to participate. And what is thier logic, no preparation was done before this roundtable.
Laughable, it seems that Hurriyat repeats twice what mushaaraf speaks once. They would run to catch the train to Musharraf's table but would shy away from meeting Indian Prime Minister. If this is what they think solves problems of Kashmir, it is eminentaly laughable. They also show some kind of ego through that. We, a section of Indian public who think that there has been injustice to Kashmiri sentiment, have always tried to create pressure of Indian Government to talk to kashmiris and assuage thier feelings. And then, how do these people respond, by making egos as paramount to jurisdiction. I am let down by people like Mirwaiz who are not willing to rise to the occassion. Had they shown same kind of attitude towards thier pakistani masters, it would have shown them in good light.
Life is like that. The child who cries the most gets the most attention, and who behave the best are not even given a good dose of care.
Alok Shukla
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Friday, February 24, 2006 My letter published in Greater Kashmir (edited one)http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=20_2_2006&ItemID=12&cat=14
You do maintain standard, but you need not be sensational
I am a keen reader of online version of your newspaper for the last so many years. I feel your newspaper does provide a separatist viewpoint which I think I need to read to balance out the rather soothing news options given by other media sources about Kashmir. Though by and large I would give you high marks for the high standards of professionalism in your newspaper coverage, I have certain issues which I as an outsider can easily point towards.
I think you people like most of the media do fall in the trap of sensationalizing the news to make it more catchy. Like just for example your coverage of DM activists and Shiv Sena with regards to their show of strength about Valentine’s Day. It is no body’s point that there are certain things which do not go hand in hand with our culture of subcontinent, but then these organization are not the mainstream organizations of our country or for that matter Kashmir. The way they protest smacks of arrogance in their belief that they are the only ones who provide the correct path to salvation. They do not realize that it is easy to raise temperatures to protest the issue but when the issue subsides it always leaves a residual bitterness which always gives birth to acrimony on all sides. Here my issue with you is that you do not counterbalance this point of view by letting the reader know the view expressed by the silent majority.
I take objection to the letter of Shaima Qureshi published in your paper. It is right to highlight the sufferings faced by Kashmiris in their day to day life, but her portrayal of Bihar concerns as less worrisome than Kashmir is not acceptable. For her kind information more people fall prey to the gun in Bihar then Kashmir and also the pain faced by a Bihari parent when their son is abducted/killed is no less than the pain felt by a Kashmiri parent when their child is abducted/killed by any group - army or militants.
Alok Shukla
