I sympathize with the mainstream parties of Kashmir for the dilemma they face in coming elections.They have to approach elections with a great deal of nervousness. They are not in synch with the conditions outside. Parties and candidates have made a choice to offer allegiance to politics based on their interests. As a reflection of the past years reveals, the mainstreamers did not even get a chance to make a difference the last time they were in office. They want another chance to take their program forward while as the new entrants have ideas that will work as ground breaking for them.
As a reflection of the past years reveals, the mainstreamers did not even get a chance to make a difference the last time they were in office. They want another chance to take their program forward while as the new entrants have ideas that will work as ground breaking for them.
In all the rallies held now they expressed their vision that looks at peace and prosperity. Peace may be a distant prospect and not within their reach but they can make efforts to approach higher authorities who can make a difference in that area. The may have done so in the past but they can try again.
The noble mission of saving lives and commission to their mandate that revolves round enhancing better living conditions for ordinary people is received well. Local thematic issues turn out to be very well received by people who want a bridge, a road, a reliable supply of electricity, water, health service or education. It is a striking observation how needs for employment; a number one demand in outside countries does not feature. That offer is made direct to people by police and security establishments.
Young political entrepreneurs jumped in the fray because they emphasize with confidence the concerns they will address are overlooked by the old guard. They understand the travails of masses better because victim at the receiving end of suffering are in their age group.
It is like a college debate for them. They portend corruption enters the veterans hardened by failures and successes with intoxicating power and image boosting life style they adopt. A world without those perquisites is alien to them. The youngsters are still with feet on ground and concern with issues of livelihood that pre-occupy them.
Rallies and conventions are carnivals where color pageantry dominates with abundance of garlands of flowers that decorate the speakers. The visual media are making a meal out of the event of elections. Some channels train their boys in anchoring and reporting.
There is a run for remote places that are voters dens of cultivated groups situated in hamlets in rural areas, in hill tops, in settlements of minority communities and Gujjars. People there are receptive to any activity in their town that will cheer them on the day and give them incentives in future.
All said, there is a perceptible hubris that may cast a shadow when they enjoy their rallies and they return home to their family casting woeful anticipation of the stature of responsibilities and the taste of the challenges ahead. The family has to be a part of his process because they share all in store for future.
A lifetime sojourn, a vision that they dream in broad daylight for the new entrepreneurs, a pilgrimage for the old veterans who enjoy a re-run of the past years. In Kashmir the old candidates chose a new and exciting slogan that will bring a ray of hope for better days to come and assuage their pain for political assault they feel has gripped them. They also pray and show obeisance to whichever religion they address and declare their own faith in the help they will get from providence to serve the nation.
Kashmir has experienced elections in between governor rule periods. The environment of politics has never left the scene. Young people have no industry or work place for a living but education came to their rescue.
This produced a population of people with awareness about adult suffrage. They understood the first past- the- post , election process delivered through mechanism design of the game theory that is a mathematical model It is an amazing experience to witness the courage they gather for a new venture.
On the other hand it maybe they surmise intuitively that my country needs my service or they get initiated by a senior member of the family who has returned from that journey and is happy.
People in Kashmir are dreamers, kind hearted, intelligent befrienders, driven by emotions and speculation. Fighting with guns is completely a new phenomenon.
We only ever treated a knife stabbing. A Kashmiri ‘would raise his fist in anger for the first blow but it never falls’ wrote Dr. Birdwood 1832-1917 who practiced here.
Education has encouraged awareness to failings in fair treatment and justice.
Washington Post featured a column on 29th March 2019 that there was ‘deepening crisis of democracy and transition from academia to insurgency was in evidence in Kashmir and overlooked are strategies to restore internal stability and sober governance’
Elections are the oxygen of democracy and democracy is foundational in governance but look at the mechanics of holding these elections. In J&K what is in evidence is mud-slinging and shouting in TV debates and a rarity on crucial intelligent debates.
The public that gets involved in roadside shows display emotion for hyper-nationalism or populist beliefs and end by shouting slogans. There are crucial issues that get buried in the loud skirmishes. Election process obligates that all people in the resident population exercise the right to vote.
A significant section of population in Kashmir is ostracized, incarcerated or suffering bereavement and incapacitated to be able to join the queues at polling booths.
There are also others who have migrated or left home as fugitives. It may not be considered an injudicious imperative to ban political parties or charitable educational organizations on the eve of preceding election to parliaments.
These conditions will leave a deficiency of voters to get credible and honest majority result.
An election to seekconcurrence from the governed is road to prosperity and peace. This is also a new beginning to redress darkshadows that society cannot come out of and answers are still awaited to longstanding sensitive episodes.
One is still wondering if there is going to be an electionto assembly at all or soon? Is the administrative central elite in a rush tohold elections when all they want and how they want is well in place and indirect compliance mode.