The grand plans and actions of the veteran politician are no doubt in-tended to achieve for Kashmir what the “heroes” of yester years have failed to accomplish in their life time”. But there is ample scope for him to widen the range of his politics and improve the tactics of resistance. What he needs is to be proactive rather than reactive. He should do away with conventional fixations and agree to adapt himself to a strategy that:
1) takes sufficient care of day to day requirements of those he wants to set free;
2) accommodates conflicting aspirations of the people;
3) strikes a chord of unity among discordant voices raised from time to time from the resistance pulpits of Kashmir and,
4) doesn’t lose the sight of Kashmir’s history, geography, water bodies,mineral resources, economics and social ecology. It implies that he has to overhaul and reinvent the movement to make it compatible with the changed times and collective demands that can’t be ignored any more.
Next in the category of Kashmir’s notable oldies is Muhammad Yousuf Butch’, a Kashmiri of outstanding merit and huge eminence who, even though being physically away in US is never wanting in sharing the agonies and adversities heaped upon the people of Kashmir on daily basis by the forces inimical to their aspirations. Staunchly linked to e, he is always there to uphold the Kashmiri craving for political, cultural deliverance and economic emancipation. He continues adding up unrelentingly to our awareness through his pen and through his, lectures he is comfortable to give at international Forums every now and then. His systematic writings are unquestionably forums every indispensible for an objective understanding of our journey up the disputed and acrimonious relationship with the usurpers of the territories of erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir.” Based on knowledge and the practicalities of the Kashmir situation and life they can deeply enrich the resistance narrative and greatly help the leadership in countering the dominant narrative fabricated by the anti people elements.
Equally notable senior most Kashmiri is Dr. Aga Ashraf Ali, the most revered educationist who is credited with having elaborately planned operation of a literacy programme to unshackle the Kashmiri mind from mental backwardness at a time when it wasn’t prepared to settle in a new environment of intellectual inquiry and innovation. By strengthening the tradition of learning on scientific lines he was able, during his youthful days, to accelerate the Kashmiri enthusiasm for a socio-cultural ambience that was decidedly better than that of our ancestors. Despite his old age he is never wanting in raising hue and cry against the atrocities the Kashmiris are frequently subjected to by powers that be. He seems always eager to educate and enlighten people with his illuminating lectures on complex subjects and burning issues. He is habitual of delivering speeches extempore especially on events organized by supporters of every political hue. Sharing his varied experiences with the inquisitive visitors over a cup of tea which he is so fond of preparing himself with his own hands —is his natural tendency. He is, however, yet to choose to climb on the author’s band-wagon and be part of the best-known writer’s directory of Kashmir by putting his pen to paper to give shape to his ideas which are really mind blowing’. He is awake to the fact that his son, late Aga Shahid, is globally acclaimed and widely read and remembered because of his written words which were born out of his wedlock with poetry’s. He is equally conscious of the universal truth that word written remains and word spoken vanish.
Prof. Rehman Rahi is another soaring senior figure of Kashmir whose thought-provoking and enchantingly sweet lyrics and verses have won him an unshakable place in the hearts of Kashmiri speaking people. Rahi has been dominating the literary scenario of the Valley for the last so many decades and will continue to do so till he is alive. His poetry is as lucid as that of Mahjoor as splendid as that of Abdul Ahad Azad ; as powerful and priceless as that of Rasool Mir. Undoubtedly , it is an antidote to unpleasantness that a social being is often exposed to in a relationship. Hardly there is anyone who is unfamiliar with this pretty sensible poet of great standing and high calibre; he has, of course, become a household name. If he agrees to flex his muscles further and extend his affectionate hands to wipe the tears of the victims of the tragedy that has befallen Kashmir and, thereby, mirrors the feelings of commoners he will definitely justify his existence not only as a worthy son of the soil but also as an unquestionable Literary Monarch of the land. In this noble endeavour he will have to carry those senior writers and poets along with whose mood changes like seasons and who are in the habit of reversing in the evenings what they do in the mornings.
Prof. Hamidi Kashmiri, Muhmmad Yousuf Teng and Prof. Fida Hussnain the senior most writers of huge eminence and wonderful achievements too can do a lot to redeem the sheer awfulness that our culture has become so entangled in due to an insatiable greed of some self-proclaimed experts and so-called writers for personal comforts, awards and power. Intellectually they are competent to find ways to assuage our angst and relieve us of our miseries. But are they really prepared to jump into hellhole and annoy their benefactors. Perhaps the rectification of injustice is too hazardous a course to take on; it is like choosing between devil and deep sea. Can these doyens afford to walk on the thorny path that leads to liberation?
The senior most estimable Kashmiris like Prof. Sheikh Muhammad Iqbal , S.A.S Qadiri (noted administrator); Amin Kamil, Prof Firaq and Prof.M. Fazili, Prof. Margoob Banihali, Gulab Nabi Gowhar, Prof.T.N.Ganjoo (who despite his abduction didn’t leave Kashmir) and Pran Kishore (of Gul Gulshan Gulfam fame) are equally known for their contributions. Though outnumbered by those who resemble deciduous tree that loses its sheen as soon as autumn sets in, these men are assiduously engaged in boosting our language, literature, knowledge and research despite the constraints of their age.
…..concluded
Dr. Abdul Ahad is a well-known historian of Kashmir. He presents a perspective on the Kashmir issue and talks about Kashmir’s history and individuality and personality.
