I have thoroughly enjoyed the in depth review of the book Omar Abdullah – the burdens of inheritance by Muhammad Shafi Pandit. Especially I liked reviewer's linking it to the issues faced by the population of the valley directly or indirectly at the hands of successive rulers.
The challenge faced by Kashmir and the Kashmiri people in general is that of mixed and divided loyalties. The people of Kashmir need to break the shackles and aspire to beat the system (ala East Germany, Japan).We have blamed every one external and internal for the failures including the society or taken the easy way out on religious or regional discrimination.
Mixed loyalties or as quoted in the above review “the Myths of Discrimination” are the direct result of the suffering endured by people at the hands of rulers who were invited by the local population on the premise of brighter future. They turned on the population after swindling the wealth of the nation i.e. end of Moghul Empire, Durrani empire followed by Dogra and finally the so called democratically elected rulers. My only hope is to have one day a democratically elected leader.

Wahid Banihali  FAICD, CMA, PNA
Director of Finance
One Southgate Avenue,
Southbank  Vic 3006  Australia

Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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