The Road Ahead
Know the difference between chaos and struggle
WORDS WITHIN BY FIRDOUS SYED
Education kills ignorance, but no education is capable of educating the educated- ignorant? Lost way in the dark, light a candle and find the way. However it is very difficult for a person to find a [right] path, if he loses the way under the sun. Nothing is left for the imagination, looking at the situation evolving on the ground; pro- movement leadership including so called hardliners stands totally marginalized. While pro-dialogue groups have lost credibility and have been rendered redundant, hardliners have completely surrendered initiative to the street sentiment. Although street sentiment reflects general mood of the public, but as far as in-depth understanding of the issues is concerned, it is not necessary for it to be sublime also. Pedestrian view generates mundane understanding.
People are expected to be emotional. They cannot be blamed for lacking holistic appreciation that too when situation having many turns and twists, changes rapidly. In-depth comprehension is only possible with dispassionate analysis. It is thought to be forte of capable leadership. The so called resolute leadership has proved to be chicken hearted. They have completely failed to provide a strong sense of direction to the building chaos. Riding a tiger is easy; the art of leadership is not to sail with the wind. It has to bite the bullet and direct the movement even contrary to the prevailing popular sentiment. At this crunch hour leadership has utterly failed to discharge its responsibilities. They are not leading but are being led by the street sentiment, a recipe for disaster.
Indeed it is groundswell of emotions. People have once again begun to believe that Azadi is round the corner. This is not for the first time that people on streets particularly the youth to dream,Azadi is matter of few days. In 1990 February, during the period of Charar Chaloo it was widely expected that India will ‘Quit Kashmir’ within six months. Like intestine of the devil, campaign has proved to be so long, alas Hanouz Delli Door Ast.
No body can deny the significance of sacrifices in a struggle. If the protagonists of present ‘Quit Kashmir’ really believe, moreover has a pragmatic plan of action to force India leave in months. Any amount of sacrifice be of lives, economy or for that matter education is justified. But sponsors of present campaign needs to be circumspect, in their zest to outmaneuver others they should not build unrealistic expectations. It will be most unfortunate if it turns out to be a power struggle within pro-movement camp? Playing with people’s emotions is not fair, besides it can also have a disastrous effect. Surcharged emotions are exploited to build unreal hopes, subsequently disappointments (if any) are quiet capable of triggering a crash, hurrying downfall of the movement? Does any body still possesses the driving wheel to steer the movement towards its goal or struggle has already lost its sense of direction?
Boys’ have revolted against all sorts of leadership control. They are busy charting their own course, rather enforcing their will on Hurriyat. Boys are leading instead of being led; it is both bad and good news. Bad news is quiet apparent, something good emerging out of this chaos is still merely a probability. Rightly, boys do not trust any pro-movement leader; every leader has proved to be untrustworthy or incapable. However, movement losing its point of gravity is not a good omen. It is not possible to have a productive struggle without any effective control. There cannot be a greater catastrophe; people are sacrificing with a hope that eventually they will be able to realize their dream, yet struggle in the end despite enormous hardships endured by people, yielding nothing in real terms? Yet, hopes are not to be lost forever, this also can be our defining moment in the history. Sincere, committed moreover farsighted fresh leadership may emerge out of this cauldron. What could not be accomplished until now present generation has the potential to achieve, provided it steers away from the disastrous path traversed by the previous generations. It can make the real difference if boys are able to understand difference between movement and anarchy--organization and chaos; justice and revenge; passion and anger---Junoon and hate; bravery and hara-kiri; creativity and destruction; excellence and mediocrity; honour and disgrace; ideology, strategy and tactics, last but not the least self reliance and dependency.
What do we expect from the present phase of the resistance, revival of movement or conflict resolution? A very difficult question to answer? How long should we wait more for our dream to realize, and how many more (thousands) lives we should offer to reach our cherished goal? Is eighty year long wait not longer and sixty seventy thousand lives sacrificed already, not enough? Emotionally surcharged mind may claim this is the time of reckoning? Leaders also add to the confusion, this is the “decisive moment”? Looking at our horrible plight and worst collective subjugation we are going through, it is our innate shared (deep) desire, this bondage should come to an end even much before the sunset. With all the respect for emotions and burning desires, we need to read the situation, dispassionately, emotions should not lead us to a make believe world. Off course it is a critical juncture, yet it is not a decisive moment---Chaley Chalo Key Abhi Manzil NahiAaey.
Present phase of resistance has once again forced an impasse. People of Kashmir have conveyed in no uncertain terms to New Delhi. It may control the territory but not the hearts and minds; Azadi is the soul cry. This is beginning of a new struggle, in a way revival of the movement. Situation should be defined positively; glass is not half empty it is half full. Revival of movement itself is a big achievement; gains should not be squandered by going for overkill. It is not a 20-20 cricket match, in the age of fast food culture; we have become impatient and want result in three hours. We are not afraid of tyranny but afraid of inadequate commitment and fickle mind of ours--- once the fizz dies down, we may move away and forget the movement? We want to attain freedom in the heat of situation, in the spur of the moment.
“We will not have to move back this time” is the most fashionable talk making the rounds these days. Very true, let us take a firm resolve--- unless we attain Azadi, we will not budge, even if it takes decades more, we need to be resilient but patient also. Let us move ahead of superficial emotive commitment and internalize the passion for Azadi deep down within ourselves. “Only from the heart can you touch the sky” teaches great mystic poet, Rumi. Stone throwing and hartal is not the only way of defiance, movement needs to be institutionalized. Let us build the institution of solidarity, cooperation, resilience, self-reliance, respect, excellence and collectively share the pain and grief, Azadi for sure will follow. While consolidating the gains, let this movement gradually move towards complete non-cooperation with the system. Let no body in future taunt us that as a society we are ideologically inconsistent. Let no body dare to mock us that we sail in two boats-- we want Azadi and serve the system also. Let there be only one colur, what could be the best colour than the clour of creator--- Sibghatullah--- “(Our religion) takes its hue from Allah and who can give a better hue than Allah. It is the he. Whom we worship”, 2:138.
“We will not forget and we will not forgive” basically negates the teaching of Islam. Certainly we should not forget, inhuman treatment meted to us should inform our course of action, yet it should not hold us captive and make us revenge seekers. Our struggle is for justice--- for Azadi, we are not seeking revenge, surely not destruction of India. Quran very clearly emphasizes-- “Nor can Goodness and Evil Be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he between whom and thee was hatred Become as it were thy friend and intimate, 41:34. Holy Quran further commands; “O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do,” 5:8. Furthermore, according to a holy saying, which clearly defines the conduct of a Muslim, “Do not say, that if the people do good to us, we will do good to them; and if the people oppress us, we will oppress them; but determine that if people do you good, you will do good to them; and if they oppress you, you will not oppress them.”
(Feedback at firdoussyed@yahoo.com)
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 31 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST
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