Kashmiris have always been under submission. History has it that they have been  loyal to their leaders. In many regimes Kashmiris have suffered at the hands of their masters. Now today in democratic and scientific age it is very unfortunate that Kashmiris are not being treated like human beings. Much has changed for the world outside, but the fate of a common Kashmiri remains same. They are not being heard, they cry for justice. It is an admitted fact that Kashmir is now a conflict zone, for the last sixty years the problem of Kashmir is unsolved between two countries India and Pakistan as well as between Kashmiris. Both the countries admit this dispute and promise to get it solved but on the ground there seems to be no progress. India has treated the Kashmir problem its internal problem and they have taken it as law and order problem always. They never realised the magnitude of the matter. The role of Delhi has always remained negative, they tried to divide the Kashmiris and rule. Unfortunately Kashmiris were always misled and they got divided for small personal ends by ignoring the national interests. India is always talking of democracy and tried to present before world that in J&K State the people are electing their representatives. All the Kashmiris know how India has managed the elections in Kashmir. When Delhi is interested to have Shiekh Muhammad Abdullah as Prime Minister or Chief Minister they do so and when they wanted to install Bakhshi Gulam Muhammad or Sadiq Sahib they did. In the year 1987 Delhi decided to have Farooq Abdullah as Chief Minister, they extended the support of Congress for coalition and rigged the election defeating the MUF candidates who were having the mass support of people and the result is before us. Kashmiri people especially youth lost their faith in Indian democracy and they disbelieve Indian leadership. It was always with Indian leadership that they tried to demoralize the local leadership in Kashmir and they never respected the aspirations and sentiments of people, the Kashmiris were made politically poor viz-a-viz on economic front the cogent and solid steps have been initiated by Indian leadership. India used and utilized the water resources, forest resources and other potential resources of Kashmir for their own ends but never tried to give in return the dividends to the Kashmiris people, this way the people of State lost the trust and confidence, they feel alienation with the deeds of political leadership and defective system.

Over the last twenty years or so, Kashmir has suffered the worst. With a tremendous loss of  life and property where does Kashmir stand. Many dialogues and round table conferences were organized but what is the outcome? Nil, the common Kashmiri is not feeling any relaxation, he is feeling as if he is in cave or in prison, he is not in a position to think and regain his shattered economy.

To resolve this conflict there should be firm will and ways are open then “where there is a will there is a way”. To resolve Kashmir problem it needs political intervention and some bold political decisions are to be taken by the Indian political leaders. The Indian leaders have some problem in order to have dialogue with Kashmiri leadership who represent the sentiments of Kashmiris. Simultaneously the Kashmiri leadership have certain problems for having open dialogue with India, the Pakistan-India dialogue is long term process and it has consumed years together and will take more years to yield results if any but the common Kashmiri is suffering. The future of youth is at stake, he is uncertain, for how long the instability will exist. To bring peace and have conflict transformation into prosperity everyone is concerned but no one is serious, everyone has a role to play but no one is playing it with zeal and dedication. In such circumstances the civil society has a role to play in Kashmir. Sometimes the actors of Indian civil society raise their voices against Kashmiri repression and injustice but that is for the time being it is only the Kashmiri civil society which can play a sustainable vital role for resolving the Kashmir conflict. Unfortunately not emerging as strong as it when paramilitary forces have misused their powers and many young men got killed. As a result of all this, we lost innumerable human lives.

It is the civil society which has the power to speak truth and make the Government accountable and transparent regarding abuses and violations. The civil society actors have no political agenda. The separatists may have their reservations and accordingly the mainstream parties and ruling parties due to their political ends may have their reservations and may not come up with truth but the civil society has no such inhibitions, they can use the system available. They can use the law of the land. They can knock the doors of law to make justice a possiblity.

Peace is only possible on the ground when there is justice. Once the culprits are punished and brought to book, the people can repose their trust in the system and definitely the wrong doers could restrain themselves from abuses and violations. The civil society could have established pressure group and this way the State Government could be made transparent and accountable, accordingly the Government of India and Government of Pakistan as well as Kashmiri leadership will come under pressure and will be forced to get the problem solved. The civil society actors can approach the State Government, the Government of India, the Government of Pakistan, the local leadership and world leaders and international organizations concerned in the matter in order to have their influence for permanent settlement of Kashmir dispute. The aim of civil society is always public good and the interests of human beings. The civil society is able to bring the changes in the mindsets of concerned people and can bring the changes in the society itself by presenting viable, productive and sustainable policies. The civil society all over world has got the common agenda i.e. human welfare, peace, prosperity and dignity. Thousands and thousands of people are in need of relief and sustainable rehabilitation in Kashmir. Leaders have failed to bring smiles on the faces of affected persons, it is again the voluntary sector of civil society which can do it. It is able to mobilize the local resources, the trust which the civil society is enjoying of people can be utilized for this task. Civil society actors can enjoy an entry everywhere as they are impartial having no specific association with any agenda.

The actors of civil society have to think and sit together for having common platform and agenda in order to bring peace and prosperity in the region. This could possibly lead to the solution of Kashmir problem.

(Abdur Rashid Hanjura is a Social Activist)

Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST