BY DR.ABDUL AHAD
The smooth progression of this heritage of inanities is facilitated by the leadership that is bent upon conserving it in the political conser¬vatory of contemporary Kashmir. The absurd rhetoric and hollow eloquence they often resort to give an apologetic image of their conspectus and foresight. The tears they weep on heinous crimes committed against Kashmiris day in and day out are mere crocodile tears. The rest¬less souls of about one lack martyrs lying in the graveyards dotting the dales and vales of Kash¬mir and nonstop spilling of young blood on its streets are yet to weigh on their conscience. They are not at all inclined to straighten their bendy disposition by learning lessons which history is so fervently all set to teach them to rectify their perspectives. But do they have time, patience and competence to learn these lessons. Are they interested in improving their knowledge, if they have any? No, not at all; they are raw and ex¬tremely repugnant to history.
As long as Kashmiris continue to be misguided by political Nautankier ,Seyasi Enchantresses and Duchesses, Almatlabis, Fasid Vejbiharis, Chogli-begs, Hakeemi-Kasafat, Self-rule Sodagars, Autonomy Kothdars, Pakistani Farhads and Hindustani Majnoons the resolution of the dispute is unlikely. These leaders represent conflicting ideologies and ill-assorted aspirations hardly relevant from Khanyar to Khadenyar. Their contradicting aspirations have fragmented the Valley into small holdings each representing what the other opposes tooth and nail.
Then there are naughty regional, ethnic, linguistic, communal and parochial voices which have further messed up Kashmir situation by rupturing the cord that tied them together in yore. The Pandits, Dogras, Ladakhis, Gujars,Bakrawals, Paharis, Gurazis, Punchis, etc; have their own agenda. ST, SC status plus other concessions are at the top of it. The resolution of Kashmir bothers them the least; they have no stakes in it.
Let us suppose for a moment that Obama administration ropes in lndia and Pakistan to resolve the Dispute as per Kashmiri aspirations. Who will represent our aspirations in such dialogue? Obviously, the lucky incumbents of political Mansabdari System of Kashmir will form a bee line around Dialogue Box with their conflicting ideologies and bewildering aspirations. How wil1 Americans reconcile the contradictory demands of these irreconcilable diehard votaries of Kashmir cause? Do they have a magic wand, which some believe Obama has acquired soon after landing in the lush green lawns of White House, to bring together these warring local chiefs to resolve their differences ?
There is sheer confusion all around. It is abundantly mirrored by the nearest and dearest survivors of martyrs often seen ensconcing in long tows waiting their turn to cast vote in favour of candidates who have collaborated with the assassins of heinous crime against these departed souls and, thereby, undo what they stood for. There is no sister, no brother, no Azadi, no autonomy, no self-rule, no State and no sovereignty when it comes to money. These are some harsh realities too bitter to be swallowed by our “intellectuals”, rip-roaring political Dukes, commercial Ducks and power hungry Sheer Khars of Shahr-e-Napursan.
Even more shocking is the disillusionment caused by the relentless chase of Flag-waving Mansab by Gadagaran-i-Nationbood. They performed to the utmost satisfaction of their masters and even proved their credentials by abandoning their Father’s Day. But eventually they were made to bite the dust by none other than their sponsors who greeted them with the approbation of a”Nationalist” and threw them out in lurch to earn my opprobrium of Jalabpoot and Czer, a rare bug contagious enough to infect the budding youth. This episode has caused a ripple in Mansabdari ranks to the discomfiture of many new aspirants, but to no avail.
Mansabdari system, patronized by invisible hands to push people into the quagmire of dilemma, is really difficult to blow off its existence in face of its popularity among the gullible and plebeians.
Enough is enough. Let us not waste more centuries in political squabbling and intellectual wilderness. lt is better to set our house in order first before we make a clatter to remind our tormenters about their broken pledges and forgotten promises.
Abandonment of usual rhetoric is equally needed to boost up the proposed political consolidation of our small holdings. A durable solution to the Dispute has to factor in history. But history doesn’t operate mechanistically in vacuum. It has its own laws to set in motion its onward march to impact the society. A critical introspection of rise and fall of identities and an objective appreciation of history’s beauties and stinging ugly realities will lead us to a better and safe future. And any lapse in this regard is fraught with the dreadful consequences of pushing us towards a precipice where the concluding annihilation is awating, down the cliff, to greet us with its wide arms.
…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.
