Muttahida Majlise Ulema, a Kashmir based body of religiousscholars and leaders, convened an “extra ordinary” meeting where Mirwaiz Umarspoke on some burning issues facing our society. Top on the list was the fastspreading drug abuse. News andstatistics, the threat is palpably present in our society. We have woken up toit very late. But the point is this: drug addiction is a symptom of a largerproblem. The big picture is that we are, as a collective, from last 30 years, deeplydrugged. We have destroyed our institutions, from politics to economy toeducation to family. Mirwaiz has a bigger task at hand, and I strike thisconversation with him with the hope that he takes a lead in wideningdiscussions on this.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is uniquely placed in the political andsocial landscape of Kashmir. When I say uniquely, it’s not a profusion ofpraise. Contrarily, it’s to remind Umar Sahab of the responsibilities, and thepossibilities, anchored to his position. Beyond praise and censure, there is aworld of plain talk. In him many things merge into one, so we take it one byone.
First, Umar Sahab stands in the line of the larger Muslimpolitics of the sub-continent. It is a tradition that shaped up the politics ofthe sub-continent, and manifests time and again in different forms. He isconnected to a deep reservoir of Muslim thinking, of a great line ofsocio-political leadership of the Muslims in the sub-continent, from Sir Syedto Jinnah. It means he shouldn’t be carried away by ordinary ways of thinkingand action.
Second, he heads a party, Awami Action Committee, that wasdelivered from the womb of Kashmir crisis many decades back. So he carries theburden of legacy. This phase of politics went through many highs and lows, andwitnessed a consistent destruction of Kashmir’s internal politics at the handsof New Delhi. Remember, it was late Congress – secular, liberal, democratic,forward looking, and what not! The later day division of Kashmir’s politicsinto Resistance and Mainstream, that weekend us in every sense, was establishedin that period. This phase also witnessed a division of Kashmir’s Muslimsociety into ‘subhuman’ categories – Sher and Bakra. The stories our elderstell us about that infighting confirm thatit was all about disgrace and loss of civility. Thank God the gap was closed,and credit must be given to those who initiated a process of reconciliation. Inhis own solitude the Mirwaiz can reflect on this phase, and then compare itwith the current destruction of Kashmir’s politics. It was never so stark as itis now. Umar Sahab needs a cutting clarity on this, before he summons upcourage to make some radical departures.
Third, he is the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M), aconglomerate that represents the civil face of the Freedom politics in Kashmir.So he moves along with the burden. After the tragic assassination of late MolviFarooq Sahab, a young boy was, literally, tossed up into a leadership role. Weall know what we all know, and yet we don’t speak up. This phase of Kashmir’spolitics was, and is, riddled with fatal contradictions. Umar Sahab was amongthe first victims of the violent contradictions. Probably it’s time we focus onthat, and initiate a process of healing. Forgiveness, not fear, is what canmake us meet this challenge. This phase also witnessed a deadly contest on whoshould finally call the shots. Underground armed groups or the above groundcivil formations. Here we need to make a confession that almost all our civilformations – that later comprised the Hurriyat umbrella – tired to have theirown armed wings. That was an unforgiving misdeed, and we all paid for that. Itis time for the Mrwaiz to prepare the Kashmir’s Muslim society for an opendiscussion on this, and make ways for civil formations to take the reins ofleadership, and engage in constructive politics.
Fourth, Umar Farooq is part of the triumvirate called JRL – Joint Resistance Leadership. Post2016 agitation it tried to pilot the protest politics. Tragically, this phasesaw a relapse of Kashmir’s Muslim society into violence. Taking no lessons, andexhibiting no courage, JRL rode on the waves of public hysteria. Stone pelting,closure of schools, and an endless strike, these forms of protest were openly,and not so openly, encouraged. We are now facing its ill effects. The menace ofdrug addiction has much to do with how we destroyed our society, our economy,and our politics through these runaway protests. When the Mirwaiz speaks at themeeting conducted by Muttahida Majlise Ulema, I wish he takes it forward, andstares into the face of the big picture.
Fifth, he is the central figure in Kashmir’s age oldreligio-social institution of preaching and prayers – Mirwaiz. The centralityof Jamia Masjid Srinagar in the Muslim ethos of Kashmir goes without saying,and it gives Umar Farooq a concrete handle to effect any changes in theKashmir’s Muslim society. I believe he has a crucial role, in this capacity, tosave us from the violent ideas that are presented as sacred to our youth. Thisis the most challenging task before the Mirwaiz. And here, he being young andexposed to the modern world, can better understand the need to look beyond ourtraditional religious narrative. I am sure, he must have come across this name –Ghamidi. He is the lone man carrying alamp in this layered and crusted darkness. We cannot afford to ignore him.
Tailpiece: Another great man of our times Ahmed Javed says:
Riyasat mazboot na ho to mua’shira aik bohat bada yateemkhana ban jaata hai
When the state weakens, society turns into one hugeorphanage.
We need to discover new forms of functional politicalorganisation. The local government is one such form, and there is nothing Haramabout it. Can Umar Sahab speak up.