Mystique of an ideology, an idea or a struggle produces a simplistic understanding of the events. A childish simplicity that categorises things as Day, and Night. An Up, and then a Down. It works to the disadvantage of the masses and till they receive the shock they lose a universe.
The recent book on Kashmir - the meadows- seems to reinforce the thought that whatever happened in Kashmir wasn’t as simple as understood once. There are layers and layers of information that surround the events.
It reminds of the times of Orwell. In Orwell’s Catalonia the war against fascism was driven by the force of a mystique, the mystique of socialism; an intense longing to breathe in a just society, where proles are no more looked down upon but are actually the owners of power. In Kashmir the ‘war’ was driven by the equally intense desire to see an end to ugliest of injustices and create a blissful kingdom of justice. Orwell witnessed the death of that mystique in the streets of Catalonia. And in Kashmir events that happened during last two decades now cast a long shadow of suspicion over the characters that associated with those events.
Who killed whom, how and why is a pack of surprise stories for those interested in Kashmir. Who knows what hides in the official files and unofficial records.
Fall of Malaga woke up the mind of Orwell. It shook him. It devastated his fairy land of dreams. When the fury of Italian Fascism was allowed to be let loose on the absolutely defenceless population of Malaga, Orwell couldn’t help but question his naive revolutionary self. Who is who in this war of socialism against fascism? What socialism? What revolution? The simple world of Right and Wrong suddenly started appearing disturbingly complex. Complex, not because of the variety of things that happen in it, but because of the cruelty of treachery that it can inflict on you.
“It was the first talk I had heard of treachery or divided aims. It set up in my mind the first vague doubts about this war in which, hitherto, the rights and wrongs had seemed so beautifully simple.”
For the purpose of understanding the last two decades the disclosures would definitely help, but finally it depends on how the details are used to promote a fresh understanding. The kidnapping of foreigners and assassination of prominent personalities is something that makes a significant memory, but putting that memory into developing an understanding is what matters in the end.
There is every likelihood that Kashmir as a society applies this detail to exonerate itself from all kinds of wrongs. There is also a likelihood that the fresh detail compounds the already prevalent confusion. Revelations can go anyway and create new shapes. However, there are certain things that can be helpful in benefitting from his detail. First, one must understand who narrates the detail and how it fits into his perspective on Kashmir. Second, does it anyway clinch the topic or is there a possibility of more detail skipping us for the time being.  Third, even when we are convinced that the detail is irrefutable, how do we finally interpret it. And lastly, do we really require this detail for anything worthwhile. After all it is not always compulsory to talk about everything in the public domain. So Kashmir as a society is put to a test every time new detail slips out of the dark crevice.
They say tomorrow never dies, but yesterday also never dies. What happened in all the yesterdays of the two decades is worth exploring, but to what end is the question that begs answer. Everyone has a purpose to dig into this detail. For someone who wishes Kashmir well it should be guided by the better tomorrow of Kashmir. 
Sensation has a market value. This recent book is all set to sell in Kashmir. People would grab onto the detail in this book. But what would the contents of the book finally do. How would it shape up the minds. How would it enhance some already settled suspicions and generate fresh doubts; that would become known in the days ahead.
To all the journalistic writings elements of suspense and sensation lend strength. If a book provokes us to think afresh an event long concluded that is the sign of its success. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that our search for truth ends with that.
Kashmir has a lot to speak, but how does it do that matters.
Tailpiece: Like in the days of Orwell, English used to call the war against fascism as a bloody pantomime, shall we also search a name for the past two decades. Bloody Pantomime! It fits well.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 2 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 2 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 3 May 2012 00:00:00 IST