Kashmir has been in trouble since 1947. Passing through different regimes of foreign rule during the past five centuries it got an opportunity to decide its future in 1947 with the carving out of two independent dominions out of the then existing United India. At that time the then prevailing political, geographical and religious factors made things easy to decide the future of the princely state of J&K. But unfortunately the leadership of Kashmir that time was fragile and politically immature to look through the lenses of circumstances.

It wavered right and left and got drowned into the sea of confusion. Personal interest too worsened the situation. Political immaturity of some leaders who flew from the valley to what is now known as Azad Jammu & Kashmir complicated the situation. The result was the bifurcation of the State followed by a massacre of Muslims in Jammu.

With this background I proceed to undertake the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities &Threats) analysis of the Kashmir problem. We Muslims, the majority of this State have seen cruelties and brutalities at the hands of the non-Muslim rulers. We have been kept backward, on educational economic front. Literature abounds with gruesome stories of exploitation of Kashmiri Muslims over the centuries. Then, came 1947 and we had to decide our fated ourselves but we were told that Maharaja had signed an instrument of accession to India. This document was contrary to the then British Parliament acts governing the accession of princely States. The historical evidences are there to believe that it is a fake document which has never been shown to anyone. Then, India promised us a plebiscite and avowed to implement it even at the platform of UN. Again there are UN resolutions that promised us a plebiscite to decide our fate. Even today there is a photograph of a typical Kashmiri hanging on the walls of a hall at the entrance to UN HQ in New York.

Next figure our weaknesses that have always proved harmful. I attribute these weaknesses to our backwardness, illiteracy and lack of exposure to broad political environment . We did not understand the sinister designs of our so called leader at that time. We even called the Indian Army the ‘Ababeel’ and went around shouting ‘Hamla awar khabardar, hum kashmiri hain tayar’.  I may be wrong but I believe Shiekh Abdullah and his aides did harm our cause beyond expression. He had no political vision. Our ignorance and lack of political awareness added fuel to the fire. I remember when Bulganan came to Kashmir people crowded the banks of river Jehlum to see the man. This gave him impression that Kashmiris had reconciled to be with the Indian union. This absence or poverty of leadership continues to be the weakness in our struggle. Again, the slavery of 500 years has beyond doubt deprived us of a sound conscience and character. There are glaring and numerous examples to demonstrate this fact. For petty concessions, achievements and benefits we change sides. Fighting for plebiscite we do participate in so-called elections; we send our children with army to visit places in India; and, we sell our conscience cheap for personal gains. Above all, we lack solid leadership.

Coming to opportunities there can be no two opinions that these were around but there were no takers. Reasons are simple. Our ignorance and lack of leadership. In 1947 an opportunity was knocking at our doors but we were misled. Another opportunity was the theft of the Holy Relic from Hazratbal shrine and we lost it. Yet another was there in 1965 and we missed it. Then came 1990 when our youth took to arms. More than hundred thousand laid their lives for the nation. But alas we the elders of the time gave an ugly turn to this great movement.

Coming to threats there are several. Lack of united leadership is the biggest threat. There are now Huriyats, Libration Fronts and what not. One wonders if the goal is the same why so many parties.

At present we are caught in a quagmire. We don't see any light at the end of the channel.

We need to learn lessons from our past. We need to realize we are not in the situation of 1947. We are in the twenty first century. We have to think about our present and future generations.

(Feedback at abdullah_drmohsin@rediffmail.com)

Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
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