It was an eventful year. Some fell, some rose and some stayed there where they had earlier been. We experienced everything from echoes of recession in economy to some upside downs in politics. Anger, protest, murder, rape and cover-up – it all happened in the year we are seeing the last of, M Hyderi sums up.

2009 started amid recession of sorts. The Bear was on global run from Wall Street in US to our Hurriyat Gali, Raj Bagh. But while somehow the West claims to be fast coming out of the recession, Kashmir couldn’t get the Bull on any of the tracks as one could find recessionists everywhere from mainstreamists to separatists.
 But then, this year, we the Kashmiris fast went optimistic in our faith on Amreeka for a solution to Kashmir.  And we have reasons to this Amreeki belief. From customary statements on Kashmir by US President to its Army Chief, to some café butler, many of the Amreekans have said Kashmir be resolved. So, as has to be, Amreekan hope prevails on solution: A solution to the vexed issue.
 But interestingly, amid this Amreeka Wala solution discourse, we somehow forgot our basic demand of Azadi. Anyway, Azadi can anytime resurface in our minds. Aamir Khan’s Ghajini success this year proved that 10 minute short lived memory could be overcome for a box office hit. For that matter Azadi is still holds Tu Meri Adhuri Pyaas Pyaas.
 But then let’s not sing or speak. There’s a diplomatic ban on both. Silence is gold. Tchapu Tchai Ruph Tsunz. The Indian Home Minister, P Chidambaram is well versed with this Kashmiri maxim. So better Keep Quite.
 2009 muted many vocals with PC’s “Quite Diplomacy” gesture. It has left many in the pro-freedom camp speechless. Mei Matt Wantass Kehin…
 So, where to start from amid so much of meltdown and PC’s Keep Quite strictures? Well playing safe let’s start from the state government.

Start of 3G era
 Well, this not about the much awaited 3G mobile services which couldn’t come to Kashmir. For that matter there’s even a ban on prepaid mobile connections –a seemingly techno Avatar of PC’s Quite Diplomacy.
 This 3G is something about the 3rd Generation of the Abdullah dynasty. Omar Abdullah, the grandson of then Prime Minister of Kashmir, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, assumed the office of Chief Minister, with Congress support, proving that recession in getting majority could be overcome through power sharing.
 But the Bear haunted Omar many a time. The first time it happened was at his first Assembly secession at the allegedly haunted Assembly complex in Srinagar.
 The Opposition’s old man, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, leveled some fleshy allegations against the CM. Young Omar added an angry man tag to his personality as he spontaneously announced to resign. But perhaps given the global meltdown, Omar while on way to Raj Bhawan got a glimpse of the Bear and he converted his plans to Conditional Resignation. As about Baig, his allegations seemed nothing more than his latest stunt after sinking the previous coalition regime on Amar Nath Shrine Board land controversy, which had started with Baig’s consent and collapsed with his stand.
 Though Omar continued, his chair remained uneasy. From Bomai trouble in Sopur where locals compelled army to withdraw from the locality following killing of two youth, to many other crisis, Omar’s era remained troubled most of the times. 
 Omar, sworn in on January 5, like previous regimes had lot many promises to fulfill. But the Bear presumably came in the way even at the time of announcing much awaited employment policy on December 5, his grandfather’s birth anniversary.
 On this issue, apart from coalition partners, the Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather, like his predecessor Muzaffar Hussain Baig had lot of confusions to throw light on for a total mess up. Many say 2009 proved that what Baig is to PDP, Rather is to NC. And there’s also a statistical similitude between the two. When entangled in mesh of figures, both claim for be nothing less than Baba-e-Finance having hypothetical solution to every real-time problem.
 Well, sorry for half-a-para deviation from the CM’s chair. There was a bullion drive if not a run for the CM when Omar achieved milestone near Shopian. Well, know guesses please. Me is talking about the Mughal Road. Omar tread on Akbar’s track. Some 40 kilometers on the `jeepable’ under construction highway, the work on which Omar wants to be completed fast. Even though, in-between Akbar and Omar, the then Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayed too had some role to play, it got downplayed perhaps due to 10-minute memory backup crisis, an Aamir Khan expose.
 Anyways, the Omar led government has five more years (coalitionly hopefully) to  deliver. And frankly speaking everyone should give relaxation to Omar’s government because he is the youngest of the state Chief Ministers. And he has been trying his best. Wish his too many advisors stop advising him on every move.

Na Khuda He Mila, Na…
 Well, Me can’t resist anymore to mention one of the most dynamic leaders, the Concept-e-Azadi, has ever given to Kashmir. Meet Sajjad Gani Lone, one of my favorite politicians.
 This visionary was so optimistic of not getting Demandable Azadi that two years ago, he set his vision right by focusing on Achievable Azadi. The first ever vision document by a Hurriyat leader.
 But then Sajjad’s roadmap proved like a R&B plan, which ended up aiming at Parliament Street. Link his fall with that of a Shah Sawaar or a SUV driver, Sajjad lost the Parliamentary Elections in 2009.
 Many are annoyed with the young leader on his change in stand. But then Sajjad has pledged to make a firm comeback in their good books if not the hearts. He has a hope. Even King Khan did have it. Holay Holay Hoja e ga… Shhh! Sorry! Sorry! Please don’t sing or speak for Quite a Diplomatic Reason.

Baat Karni Mughay Mushkil…
 For the past few months, the Hurriyat (M), particularly Mirwaiz Umar Farooq prefers silence unless he is compelled otherwise. This has been particularly since their Talks Talkative face, Prof Abdul Bhat resurfaced only to reiterate his evergreen demand for talks with New Delhi. 
 May. May. May. Like a goat which knows what comes after April and before June, he has a five point solution all problems: Talks. Talks. Talks. Talks. Talks.
 But ever since a controversy erupted on his talks statement followed by a Quite response from PC, Hurriyat prefers silence.
 Prior to this, during recession wave, earlier this year, the Hurriyat had sacked many of its office bearers and reduced salaries of others.
 Well there’s still a hope for Hurriyat. The Mirwaiz, since October, plans to set the Hurriyat House to order.

Read to feel 
 Due to recession of sorts, there remained some shortage of extra sub heads for this yearender which Me has been writing for the past seven years. So, most of the twigs have been brushed together.

Crowning Glory award:
Recession witnessed some signs of recovery when the then Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir who gave Drowning Theory on Shopian episode was given a Crowning Glory by the Hukumat. His fiction fetched him a real post retirement job in the government. And this job, unlike a year of extension, stretches for four.

More Loyal Than the King:
As if the Union Home Ministry which imposed ban on prepaid mobiles in October leaving 40 lakh subscribers helpless and 20 thousand associated with the trade jobless, was ignorant of the “security concerns” that the J&K Hukumat, as usual went more loyal than the Indian King.
 A team of senior officials from the state on December 28 asked the Home Ministry to make the verification process tougher for mobile subscribers.

The GPS gesture:
Global Positioning System is going vogue in the world (except forbidden Kashmir). And GPS somehow reminds me of the killing of a carpenter at Chahar-e-Sharief allegedly by CRPF in April. On the day when massive protests were held against his killing in the Central Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq rushed straight to north Kashmir and addressed a rally at Bandipora.

Nayeems in news:
Two Nayeems witnessed a rising this year. Prominent pro-freedom leader Nayeem Khan emerged as a man calling a Spade-a-Spade so far as Kashmir conflict is concerned.  The other one is prominent former Bureaucrat Nayeem Akhter who clarified his PDP links by formally joining the party after a Goodbye to his high profile job.

VC No 1 = Accused No 2:
The Hindutva ideologue couldn’t resist anymore from spewing fire on Professor Reyaz Punjabi, a Kashmiri Muslim, who is leaving no stone unturned to elevate Kashmiris on the academic front. And due to this “crime” of his, the BJP’s Jammu Parivaar demanded his ouster. The BJP argued why wasn’t the VC wearing Khaki and standing on the KU main gate to stop pro-freedom leader Syed Ali Geelani from entering into the varsity. The BJP ranked him as accused NO 2 after Accused No 1, the aged and ailing Syed Ali Geelani who visited the KU campus this year.

…And Khazir left the Wular banks:
The man who braved to address the then HAJY group of ace militants by openly writing Tum Ko Hamari Omar Lagh Jaaye, the Doyen of Kashmir journalism, Khwaja Sona Ullah, breathed his last in November, leaving the Wular banks void of Khazir, the man who thought on the lake banks just to prepare some food for thought. A few days before his death, his colleague and senior journalist Sofi Ghulam Muhammad, breathed his last.

Short lived Umar-e-Daraaz Maangkay:
Power starved City Mayor, Salman Ali Sagar who had been crying SMC empowerment during the previous regime doesn’t cry for it anymore. With mere two more months left to his term end, Sagar Junior is hopeful that what successive regimes couldn’t do in four years, his party led government will do in two months. Sagar is the Mayor of City with less number of humans but alarmingly big number of 1 lakh and growing dogs.

Subha Ka Bhoola:
Young and dynamic pro-freedom leader, advocate Shahid-ul-Islam rejoined Hurriyat after some months of political Sanyaas.

Bottomline Shopian tragedy:
Till now, the oppressed Kashmiris had been victims of murders and rapes. But in May this year the crime was doubled. Kashmir witnessed a double rape and murder when two of our family members were brutally raped and murdered on May 29.
 Asiya and Neelofer weren’t the family members of a Shopian family alone, but were daughters of a nation. Even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while candidly endorsing the fact, in June, called them his sisters.
 But for now the CBI fiction on their death drew a slogan this month: Behno Hum Sharminda Hein, Tumharay Qatil Zinda Hein.
 The CBI drama wasn’t shocking for any reasons. The High Court Bar Association had logically predicted the results when the investigating agency started inquiry.
 The report came as a shock for some only because of 10 minute memory backup syndrome. Otherwise, nothing genuine was reportedly expected from the CBI inquiry.
 In fact, nothing genuine could be expected for us. We opposed the strike call by veteran pro-freedom leader  Syed Ali Geelani when it was needed most. Even the High Court has hailed the public movement in highlighting the double rape and murder. But much before that we had localized the strike to Shopian. Strikes and public movement may not mean sense. But what else could be done?
 It was the public movement that last year helped we Kashmiris to get back the 800 kanal forestland. The forestland couldn’t ever be driven out of the Valley even if it was given to the Shrine Board.  But then we remained firm on our real estate stand of getting the land back to its position (from where it was never moved).
 But in June this year unlike the June of past year, on the double and murder issue, we debated the Hartals. Many of the so called intellectuals and writers suggested that we should go for pen or a tie down token strike when our sisters are raped and murdered. No such writers had emerged during the Amarnath land controversy.
 Anyways let’s not talk much for Quite a Diplomatic Reason. But then Ghazal Maestro Jagjit Singh and Youtube sensation Terra Naomi went singing for Kashmir in Kashmir, this winter.
 Me fears someday Terra too, like China, may emerge as another party to Kashmir dispute. So from Geelani, Malik or Mirwaiz Wali Azadi slogans, we may have entrants like Terra’s Teri Wali Azadi, somebody’s  Iski Wali Azadi, others’ Uski Wali Azadi… Kisski Wali Azadi?
 Convincing but confusing. Nothing certain except uncertainty. But as tomorrow never dies let’s hope for the best of a better tomorrow. But unlike past six annual write-ups, there’s no need to conclude this paragraph with: And a Happy New Year to those who believe in it!
 Let’s all dare to confess Behno Hum Sharminda Hein, Tumharay Qatil Zinda Hein.

(Feedback at m4mee@indiatimes.com)

Lastupdate on : Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 30 Dec 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 IST