Consensus is building. More and more people within the resistance camp now view stone-pelting as part of resistance. Stemming any lurking doubts in this regard, Bar Association and both factions of Hurriyat Conference have passed a resolution ---“It is derogatory to call them as stone-pelters or sang baaz. They should be called as resistance forces as they have put in new vigour to the resistance movement in the valley”. Besides, it is also a considered opinion in the valley; resistance had entered a new phase. Whether fresh leadership has emerged or not, new generation has plunged itself to serve the cause of resistance?

Ordinarily and more so within intellectual circles, stone-pelters are seen as, ‘thickheaded’---‘they are unable to fully grasp the niceties as well as nuance of the resistance’. Ironically, boys-in action on the street scornfully dismiss intellectual as sluggish and far removed from the ground realities. Nothing new, it only underscores the perennial tussle between intellect and real action. An intellectual may pull his hair in despair for not been able to make sense of happenings around him. And a doer cares less for the intellectual anxiety; he believes it is not possible for every action to be logically explicable. As, water finds its way; action defines its own logic.

However, few write-ups appearing in the local Daily’s have dispelled the notion that stone-pelters are dimwitted. Particularly the article “I am a stone pelter” by Imran Muhammad Gazi, if written by a pelter himself and not a ghostwriter, is a well-articulated defense of the stone-pelters. Whatever the truth, a simple fact cannot be denied; many educated youth, out of infatuation or love for the resistance, on occasions hit the streets and indulge in stonepelting. It is also true that growing trend of stone pelting in downtown localities is manifestation of extreme feelings.

Boys might be a frustrated lot, reactionary even reckless at times, but they are not mercenaries, as authorities try to depict them.  Conditioned by the ongoing conflict and choked by prevailing socio-political situation, boys have resorted to means of tribal warfare? Having little regard for any cost analysis, what boys do, they deem it as part of the movement. Conversely, what is believed as part of resistance may in the end turnout to be anarchy? When intentions are bona fide it becomes difficult to make an argument-- the actions being pursued in good faith may prove to be more disastrous in the ultimate analysis?  In charged atmosphere it is always difficult to make a case in favour of sanity.  Yet it is difficult to close one’s eyes. Let us be fair, who among us will allow his son, younger brother or for that matter friend to tread on the path of destruction albeit unwittingly? Boys are not ill intentioned, yet it is responsibility of the first generation to put the things in proper perspective and share their experience with them. Why construe difference of opinion as blasphemy?

Amarnath shrine row, which in local parlance is referred to Ragada 2008,will be remembered in the annals of Kashmir freedom struggle as an important milestone. As noted earlier also, most of self- gratifying pseudo intellectuals had written off resistance in Kashmir, completely. Spontaneity of the agitation took armchair intellectuals by surprise; they were caught unaware, busy in writing the obituaries of the freedom movement. Besides proving that it is almost impossible to destroy the longings of a people, 2008 peaceful agitation also baptized the new generation.  Fast moving events of nine or ten days not only taught boys the history of resistance, but also defiance, moreover art of resistance, itself.  It was great moment of hope, resistance had come alive; youth had dedicated themselves to the cause of resistance. Ironically it was also a time of despair, moreover of serious introspection. Yet again a generation was about to be consumed by the bloody conflict. Till when, Kashmir will continue to bleed in search of its cherished destiny? Will this endless cycle of generation after getting sucked in the dispute come to an end and will Kashmir ever attain Azadi—freedom?

Kite flyers--- adventurists within the freedom camp derive pleasure from the fact that Kashmir has resisted and pelted stones on, Mughals, Afghans, Sikhs, Dogras and presently forces belonging to Delhi Darbar. This is gratifying that resistance to foreign yoke has never died down. It should also be a matter of great shame; we continue to be in shackles for more than five hundreds now. Glorification of resistance is wonderful but what about other reality the dark side, we have time and again failed to achieve independence. Why we happen to overlook this important dimension?

When we were young, organizational and ideological compartmentalization was not so sharp, as it is today. Founders of militancy: among the martyrs, Ishfaque, Ashraf, Maqbool, Abdullah and living Yasin, Nayem and Mushtaq-ul-Islam despite having different ideological outlook, were all friends among themselves. While as Azam Inqallabi and Shabir Shah, were the leaders, Maqbool Butt was the ideal. I was closely associated with Shabir Shah, but also regarded Azam Inqallabi my teacher. Probably in 1988 or 87 Azam Inqalabi visited Katmandu. It is my hunch; he might have gone to foreign land in connection with the armed struggle. On his return he stayed with us for few days in Jammu. One afternoon Azam Inqallabi and we paid a to visit, Bahu fort.  Though we were already committed, he preached us the virtues of the armed resistance. His main point of reference was Maqbool Butt and his great sacrifice; he had climbed the gallows and kissed the noose smilingly.

Azam Inqallabi is man of letter books excite him. On our way back, just outside the Fort there was a makeshift bookstall selling Hindu scriptures, (there is a Kali temple inside the fort). Azam Inqallabi purchased Geeta, he also believes in good omens. While in the mini bus, (yes in public transport, freedom fighters then had not bought ambassadors yet) he opened the Geeta; astonishingly we were looking at the exhortation, “Perform your obligatory duty because action is indeed better than inaction”. Perhaps it was the passage wherein lord Krishna would have been encouraging hesitant Arjun to fight.   Being senior Azam Inqallabi taught us the defiance, but he was also part of the struggle. As a matter of fact senior generation was preparing the new generation for the resistance-- to say no to the injustice.

Even though our generation was aspiring for the armed resistance since 1985-86, militant uprising of 1990 caught us napping. In January 1990 we decided to launch militant organization, our aim was to train ideologically as well as technically only 250 boys from different parts of J&K. Fast moving events proved us wrong, it was too late in the day to think of ideology, organization, strategies and tactics. It proved impossible to erect intellectual and physical structures while war was going on.  Planning to have only 250 boys from entire Jammu and Kashmir, we were overwhelmed by thousands of ill trained and ideologically naive. Thousands of ill-prepared who joined the ranks proved to be cannon fodder; they also caused great chaos and confusion. Without strictures, the militancy proved to be complete anarchy. The battle was not lost in 92 or 96; we were defeated, in 1990 only. The coming events only confirmed what we had lost in the beginning itself.

Again the new generation is on the forefront, leading the resistance. It seems we have not learned the lessons from the past, where are the structures? We are not discussing here abstract ideological constructs. But practical aspects: unity of purpose, strategy of protest, tactic of the intended targets.  It is not a debate for and against Kani-Jung. If it is a structured movement, it is resistance; otherwise it is an anarchy, sheer destruction.

It is not enough to say no to injustice, it ought to be yes to justice also. Defiance alone is not sufficient; it has to be enjoined with submission. It is to say, La and Illah---no and yes at the same time--there is no Allah but Allah.  No connotes struggle against injustice, yes means, submission to right--- self- awakening and to follow the path of truth. Reaction and hatred should not define us. Compassion, fraternity, justice and equality should the guiding principle; it is a path and also the goal to be achieved. Are we for destruction alone, or creativity and rejuvenation also excite us. Defiance without submission is the missing dimension of our quest for Azadi, and also reason for continuous bondage.

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Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST