Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute sharing concerns of three Asian giants China , Pakistan and India. This territorial dispute is most reflected in Indian occupied Kashmir. The instrument of accession and the events followed thereafter eroded the initial agreement of Plebiscite. Although UNSC resolved the dispute in accordance with UN supervised Plebiscite but the non seriousness of Indian establishment in Delhi has subverted whole story to another extreme end. The initial war in 1947 paved way to separation of POK from Indian control and the capturing of Aksai Chin reduced the territory under Indian hands to mere 45% of required area. What lies at the core of matter is the Breach of trust and promise at the hands of Indian establishment. P M Nehru offered Plebiscite internally in Lal Chowk and externally on UNSC platform which is yet to materialize. The armed struggle waged later in 90’s is the manifestation of this arrogance by subsequent central governments to not accord due respect to UNSC’s back to back resolutions. This struggle intensified in 90’s decade and took thousands of innocent civilians. And the spree of killings is gaining momentum with growing indigenous support for militants in numbers. The reign of terror after the Burhan episode has shaken the peace and stability of valley. The horrific trend that led to increase in the ranks of militancy is the participation of highly qualified quota of intelligent caliber. Last year Mohd Rafi who was a Kashmir university professor left for heavenly abode in the encounter where infamous commander Sadam Padder was involved. However the recent episode of Dr Manan Wani in shatgund Handwara is a story of ifs and buts. The student with a prospective and promising career studying in one of top most ranked university choose militancy. The operation All Out has been promoted as successful to eliminate top leadership but the growing number with hoi pollio support in and outside for militancy dismisses those claims. The Regional divide of North and South Kashmir is more extreme in this dimension. South Kashmir is harbouring a magnetic resonance for militancy driven conflict resolution. The Religious flavour added through fierce speeches and mobilization of social media has inseminated amplified rapport in the masses. The Manan Wani killing has attracted the story of Washington post as well seeing the gravity of situation. The question is why does it happen? Whether the cause behind such decisions is known or unknown?
The prospective career of Manan Wani spanning over 20 years of study is correlated with central institutions to state colleges. He left for AMU to pursue M.Phil. and later joined the same university for Doctor of Philosophy journey. The talent he has shown in the university and earlier is known for everyone. Recently he has been bestowed with award in conference where participants of at least 22 countries were present for “ Best presentation of paper”. This Geology student is believed to have penchant for wisdom and learning rather than piling of facts. Whatever the contents of his journey are , the way he adopted militancy is the puzzle. The spree of highly qualified professionals entering into militancy is worrisome. There are numerous factors behind such decisions. Apart from this Manan Wani himself wrote in the Social Media platform in the article Voice from Hills “ that the cause is known the methods have to be adopted for fulfillment of cause” . The message is clear that the historical mistake prevailing in the territorial division of then princely state is backbone of all what’s happening around us. The historical factor remained to be the core motivator for armed struggle waged to get the cause through fight. In aftermath of instrument of accession the decisions like Delhi Agreement, Indira-Sheikh accord, Farooq-Rajiv accord et al eroded the sensitive relationship further. The original provisions which provided autonomy to erstwhile princely state were either amended or done away with, which further intensified the prevailing discontent. Then the across border planning of proxy technique played its role to prepare the material for armed struggle which led to episodes like 1990 where thousands were killed and maimed. Initially this struggle took the lives of foreigners who were pushed inside the valley to keep the issue intact. However the Burhan miracle clearly turned the tide of tsunami into domestic flavour side. The Srinagar based Army commander in aftermath of Burhan killing quoted in The Hindu “ the challenge isn’t the numbers of militants but the indigenous recruitment and support for militancy”. After this the Hoi polio risked their lives to adopt the norm of reaching near encounter site to help the trapped militants which at times proves successful as in Qoimoh Kulgam. This trend is continued unabated. As quoted by senior police officer the massive congregation at last prayers of militants acts as suction pump for rising flavour. Is it really so?
The cause of social exclusionary process at the hands of security forces is 2nd biggest motivation factor after history which guides them to militant hideouts. The history of his life story as traced by one of his friends quotes the journey of Manan Wani to Srinagar and return to home town “ Manan was having the habit of keeping beard and long curly hair. And he was habitual of long shoes which are unusual of any highly qualified citizen. When he visited Srinagar he was frisked 5 times by security forces and was asked to show identity card no of times. And he was forced to provide complete identification of locality, education and other details. The friend further goes on that while returning from Srinagar he completely changed his makeup and cut short the hair and beard etc. When he reached home his only reply was “Security forces compelled me to do so”. It was one among the past stories which showed him the face of suppression of individual liberty. This episode sown the seeds of discontent which were further intensified by subsequent events to end up at social media storm. The encounter in April clearly showed the social exclusionary factor as reason behind recruitment when Bilal Moulvi from Heff was killed with Sadam Padder. When traced the relatives quoted that he was having PSA behind his name which mandates him to visit lawyer after lawyer and official after official. They held that the harassment at hands of security forces day in and day out compelled him to left the teenage daughter and young wife for God’s sake. These and other such incidents have proved In majority of the cases that the joined men have any connection with security forces in the past. Leaving this aside, Infamous Commander Burhan Wani’s correlation with his past episode of Brother’s killing at hands of security forces compelled him to leave the comfort zone of his family to hideouts and emerge as magnet for the new home grown militancy. Therefore social exclusionary tactic like raids, frisking , harassment etc of some young people who have correlation of unique life style is unworthy of and complete violation of Indian Constitution. Whatever the causes may be the above process adds fuel to fire and pushes the victim for militancy. The society whose every individual is held dubious in eyes of security forces shouldn’t be desirous of winning their heart and soul. The great philosophers of all the time have held social exclusion main cause for anti government struggle. The need therefore is to dovetail and integrate aspirations of youth into society and provide them environment where they live with dignity.
Thirdly the armed struggle waged way back in 90’s is again dealt with iron hand policy of one and one fight. The ancient dictum of Mahatma Gandhi that “Eye for an eye will make whole world blind” is contrasted. The muscular policy as quoted by Former CM Mehbooba Mufti leads to further antagonism which in turn leads to rise in sympathy and further recruitment. The cycle ends with recruitment of more and more citizens into ranks. This process was intensified with initiation of operation all out. The operation was successful in eyes of army establishment but not in eyes of consciousness . There’s continuous rise which now crossed three hundred for ist time in known records. Every encounter is followed by recruitment poster of new youth into militancy. The reason behind this is the killing of Kashmiri youth whether right or wrong. The Manan Wani was deemed as big success but what about the yesterday’s joining of three more youth? Isn’t it failure? Why aren’t statements issued to deem it as failure? If bullet is the solution why there is rising passion among youth? Aren’t kashmiri’s aware about their future? The statement of Former CM through Twitter goes “ Today a PhD scholar choose death over life. His death is entirely our loss”. If all are agreed be it mainstream or what is termed as separatist about erosion of highly qualified crux from society then why the lapse prevails on ground! The reason is that mainstream is not willing to provide the separatists a space as one of stakeholders. If they’re not stakeholders why are they issuing hartal calendar ? Aren’t their call supported by people? Aren’t they supported by those who pelt stones on security forces? Aren’t those who attended the funeral prayer of Manan wani supporting his cause? The three word dictum of Insaniyat, Kashmiryat and Jamuuriyat is in crisis at ground. PM Modi’s speech of Goli Say Ni Galay Say Lgayay Gay (we will embrace kashmiris to solve their problems not through bullets). Governor himself reiterated his stand through same Commitment. But the ground is perversion of all these narratives. The community feels that Kashmiryat is not respected but endangered through extremist response of New Delhi which adds fuel to fire. The unemployment saga , the poverty saga , the illiteracy saga etc as magnet for militancy is thing of past. Burhan wani and Manan Wani’s killing have buried these notions in infancy. The decision of Manan Wani who possessed a cumulative experience of 27 years in top educational institutions can’t be cited as temporary emotional hype but one of serious thinking and serious failure of mainstream.
As is said “ ink of pen is mightier than sword” what happens when both of them mingle at same point. The explanation of Manan Wani through articles shudders one’s self at the way he proceeds to prove his decision right. The son’s hindsight is father’s far sight is universally accepted dictum. The three main causes cited above need to be resolved for complete solution. The habit of social media trial and attraction, funeral prayer as attractions etc isn’t going to bear fruits. The gravity lies in history, social exclusion and iron hand policy. The fact of accepting international award winning scholar’s militancy path through social media attraction is to live in fool’s paradise. He spelt in clear words like “occupations are born to kill, the Option is to die as fighters or ducks we choose to be fighters”. This message is repeating the stand of Hurriyat which lies in history, ducks ( social exclusionary tactic acceptance) and when he said fighter he rejected the iron hand policy like ( operation All Out). The establishment in New Delhi has to seriously ponder upon this danger in making if the Commitment of Insaniyat lies with them after death of Shri Atal Bihari vajpayee. The need is to reproduce new Vajpayee with new vigor and vitality for resolution of Long standing dispute which is so burdensome for country. The country whose borders are watched with hawk eye from nuclear armed but hostile neighbours’ can’t risk by establishing one third of security forces to engage just over three hundred militants in the valley. The drain of resources of country which can be utilized for betterment of regionally diversified people where majority are hunger striven and poverty ridden. To sum it up if New Delhi is really committed to embark the train of big power status it needs sustainable peace and stability which is unheard off when Kashmir remains boiling spot. The Political engagement can solve the dispute without a drop of blood being shed. It just needs the desire and commitment to “Take some and Give some” . But the same question comes to mind “can it happen? Can Modi traverse the train of J.L.Nehru. Can he represent the past great with new vigour and universally accepted goals. The acceptance of J L Nehru in the world barring the weak economic status of that time wasn’t lying in fierce speeches and slogans but the personality he possessed. He showed world the path of non violence through non alignment when will was in making. He played his role as main proponent to save the humanity from scourge of yet another war. PM Modi has to repeat with new and innovative strategy to correct the Political lapse of J L Nehru. Let’s hope to get some bolt from blue through “embrace” steps of prime minister.
Shahid Majeed Mir can be reached at mirshahid363@gmail.com
