Today is July 13; this is one of the many dates that have got woven in our national memoirs.  The contemporary Kashmir history is marked with many important dates, when people have offered sacrifices in support of their cherished causes but this date continues to be most significant for having made us relearn the lesson of living as a dignified nation.   Commemorating this day  for the last past seventy nine years has rejuvenated patriotism in people of the state for working for the national cause.  The day is not commemorated only to remember the twenty nine Muslims who were fired upon by soldiers outside the Srinagar jail but a whole galaxy of our heroes who stood for the cause of the liberty. These men of conviction and courage sacrificed their ‘today’ for securing tomorrow of the generations after generations.   This day of sacrifices is observed on both the sides of the LoC and people of the state all over the world with all earnestness and solemnity.   Since 1947 the day is   being observed as a state holiday.

  People for people, the day is also being commemorated by men in power. It is marked with gun salutes, parades and grand pageants but what has been most unfortunate the men in authority have totally forgotten the ideals for which these sacrifices were made. The story of Jammu and Kashmir after feudal rule has been no different; people have suffered far more exploitation, intimidation and terror. It would not be an exaggeration to say that people have been perennially denied right to live  a life of dignity and honor. The right of dissent has been a permanent causality- the dissenting voices have not only been muzzled but caged and caged under the most draconian laws without trials. This has no parallel even in the feudal rule.  The struggle of people of Jammu and Kashmir that dates back to nineteenth century was not only against exploitation, brutal tax system, intimidation and terror but also against the denial of space to the voices of dissent. It  is unfortunate that rulers of the state have failed to learn the lessons of the history written in bold letters that it is denial of space to the voices of dissent that not only breeds word of attrition but also violence. The government in office in the state is no exception. It has been not only pursuing the policy of persecution against political dissent but also brutally denying the freedom of expression to the people in the state.

It is ironical that the state has one set of rules for the people in electoral politics and another for those outside it. Unlike the   chief ministers in the past who cried from rooftops about the finality of the accession of the state, Omar Abdullah has been pronouncedly stating that Kashmir was not an economic issue but a political problem that needs to be resolved permanently through a peaceful dialogue between India and Pakistan. So has been the stand of some leaders in the main opposition parties in the state Assembly. The dissenting voices outside the state legislature have also been articulating the demand for resolution of the Kashmir problem on the basis of justice and fair play. It is not only illogical but also unethical. Scores of dissenting voices have been arrested during the past fortnight. It is ridiculous that even net savvy children are not spared and they are being asked to report to the police station for writing on social network sites like Face Book, Orkut and Twitter. 

The authorities need to understand that persecution always results in bigger crisis. The chief minister instead of getting worked up over the political dissent needs to reevaluate his policy of dealing with the political dissent and instead of persecuting the dissenting leadership and youth, he must provide them political space. 

He who writes his story
Inherits the land of that Story
         (Mehmood Darwish)

Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST