In the last five months certain things have happened in Kashmir that made everyone talk about the problem. From international commentators to Indian writers and opinion makers much has been said about the problem of Kashmir. Though we have been hearing about Kashmir in different measure and kind all along these decades but the way it has given birth to a political debate is certainly remarkable. It is not only the volume of talk or the length of time for which people have now been following the subject, but also the kind of things that are now being discussed. Although it would be undesirable to construe from all this talk that some type of ‘final solution’ is just round the corner, but it nevertheless is an encouraging sign for any conflict ridden people if they become a part of consistent talk. In the initial days of the present unrest when media attention turned towards the gory incidents happening with an ugly regularity, it simultaneously gave birth to opinions duly informed on the history and the current make up of the problem.  Afterwards   it was followed by some hard hitting columns which forcefully brought to surface the magnitude of the problem and a matching apathy towards its resolution. It was only then that the political voices started getting louder. By the time interlocutors were in Kashmir much had already been discussed in the public spaces, and even the ideological contestations had become the part of this extended talk. One immediate outcome of this was the spreading out of the talk over Kashmir. There is always a time in the progression of a conflict when even talking about it becomes a problem. That is the stage when violence has maximum chances to take it all over. If the closed minds are not allowed to open up by way of talk there is every likelihood that they express themselves by way of violence. That way if the current debate on Kashmir is allowed to progress in an unhindered way it can serve the larger purpose of expanding the democratic spaces. It will automatically push the debate to higher levels and also dig deeper into the problem. From all this, if sincerely and consistently followed, can emerge a structure that can facilitate a public level engagement between various opinions. This of course will have its political dividends. If Union Home Minister feels that there is a change in the discourse over Kashmir, he might have his own apparatus to evaluate things, but he cannot be seen as far off the mark in any way. Cynicism apart, it is a fact that this time around many things were said that were absent previously. This also is true that Kashmir has knocked at the temples of Indian political mind more forcefully than before. What is now to be seen is that would this change lay the foundation of a process that can account for the wrongs committed in and about Kashmir, or will it only prove a bubble waiting for a slight prick to flatten and disappear. This would largely depend on how the political mind of India remains in touch with the ground situation and the abiding realities of Kashmir. If the changed discourse is allowed to disappear in the rhetoric of development, tourism, economy and other such stock themes, then it will add to the cynicism and despair that is already very deep in Kashmir. If it really disallows such an ugly diffusion it has every potential to press the power centers for putting in place an efficient structure that can address the immediate and   distant of this dispute. One can only wish that it ends up with a step forward towards optimism and hope. But at the same time it must be accepted that it is too premature to conclude that hope will carry the day. The journey has just begun, if it has really begun, and there is a long way to go.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 3 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST