This was The Beginning…
….and the world remained silent….
For those of you who are not old enough to remember how it all started, here is a brief excerpt from The bushfire of Hindu rage (emphasis mine):
…For the benefit of those who have come of age in the last two decades, among them many of the 24×7 news channel anchors who talk utter gibberish while donning an air of supreme confidence to camouflage their limitless ignorance, let me recount the events of January 1990, which mark the beginning of the latest crusade against the Hindus of Jammu & Kashmir. Since ’secularists’ are allergic to events of the distant past, we need not go into the details of how Hindus were decapitated by the Sword of Islam wielded by the original Islamists. The present will suffice to highlight the duplicity of those whose hearts beat for the hate-India hordes in Kashmir.
Srinagar, January 4, 1990. Aftab, a local Urdu newspaper, publishes a Press release issued by Hizb-ul Mujahideen, set up by the Jamaat-e-Islami in 1989 to wage jihad for Jammu & Kashmir’s secession from India and accession to Pakistan, asking all Hindus to pack up and leave. Another local paper, Al Safa, repeats this expulsion order. In the following days, there is near chaos in the Kashmir Valley with then Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and his National Conference Government abdicating all responsibilities. Masked men run amok, waving Kalashnikovs, shooting to kill and shouting anti-India slogans. Reports of killing of Hindus, invariably Kashmiri Pandits, begin to trickle in; there are explosions; inflammatory speeches are made from the pulpits of mosques, using public address systems meant for calling the faithful to prayers. A terrifying fear psychosis begins to take grip of Kashmiri Pandits.
Srinagar, January 19, 1990. Mr Jagmohan arrives to take charge as Governor. Mr Farooq Abdullah, whose pathetic, whimpering, snivelling Government has all but ceased to exist, resigns and goes into a sulk. Curfew is imposed as a first measure to restore some semblance of law and order. But it fails to have a deterrent effect. Throughout the day, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and Hizb-ul Mujahideen terrorists use public address systems at mosques to exhort people to defy curfew and take to the streets. Masked men, firing from their Kalashnikovs, march up and down, terrorising Pandits. As evening falls, the exhortations become louder and shriller. Three taped slogans are repeatedly played the whole night from mosques: “Kashmir mei agar rehna hai, Allah-hu-Akbar kehna hai” (If you want to stay in Kashmir, you have to say Allah-hu-Akbar); “Yahan kya chalega, Nizam-e-Mustafa” (What do we want here? Rule of shari’ah); “Asi gachchi Pakistan, batao roas te batanev san” (We want Pakistan along with Hindu women but without their men). As the night of January 19, 1990, wears itself out, despondency gives way to desperation. And tens of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits across the Valley take a painful decision: To flee their homeland to save their lives. Thus takes place a 20th century Exodus.
Their wounds, as also the wounds of Hindu India, have been festering for 18 years. The simmering anger of Hindus has now burst into a raging bush fire that threatens to burn to ashes media’s perverse notions of ’secularism’ and destroy the politics of Muslim appeasement.
Related Posts:
Cry of the Valley - *must read*
No land for the Yatris - Government capitulates
How many “Hindus” would it take to change the demography of Kashmir?
and my inferences are based on...
very true. if we have to survive then we have to fight. i some time feel we hindus r the most weak ppl we r without any dignity or moral. we call our country hindustan but this place is worst for hindus. in hindustan we care more for muslim then we hindus. but who is to blame for all this
?who is the main cluprit? we we and we(we means hindus) cos we always take things lightly. today there is massive fight going in kashmir but in other part of country no one is bother wht is happing cos we don’t have time or who cares but those damn hindus or i m not into politice or many other excuess we will give. if a muslim board issue one fatwa that islam khatrey main hai(islam is in danger)all the muslim will unite immediately. and wht we hindus do we feel that all this hype crated by RSS orVHP is not for us. i agree there is some policital points too but major point is they r fighting for us and we shd strongly support them with every possible manner. shantanu i fully agree with u that we need a new polital party and we the youth of this india have to take the responsibility.
Comment by tarun garg | August 13, 2008
*** COMMENT COMBINED ***
I fully agree with Tarun.
I have felt the same way on many occasion and mishaps. I have observed (hindus)people of India act as outsider in India itself, which keeps them away from uniting. I dont know why?
We rarely care about other part in India. That is what I was thinking all these days. Media is also responsible for it. The People of India and Indian media acts as if they are giving and receiving the news of neighbouring country.
For that we all have to change. If I go back India in furture, I am not going to sit back. At last if nothing, I may become spy to help public to fight terrorism.
Nothing is political about RSS or VHP. They are fearless and couragous. They are not meek like congress, who will let any one walk over Hindus. We must help them else we are deniying security of Hindus.
As we have seen in the above video about Kasmiri Pandits. We were silent! Now, when we are protesting for Amamrnath land, did any one read the statement from Pakistan govt.? They said Indian govt is doing nothing for the security. Where were they till now, when Hindus have been displaced and killed by Islamic forces.
We have reason to fight, so we must be united.
***
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/aug/14amar2.htm
Where were you Mussy when Hindus were suffering in Kashmir?
Please people read the above link. we must learn from them how to speak aggresively and strong. Did any our leader taken this kind of action for kashmiri Pandits? Are they taking lightly? Nop!
Comment by Indian | August 14, 2008
Dear Shantanu
I don’t know if you have any blog which has spent the time and effort to analyse the detailed history of the Kashmir issue, but I’d suggest you start one – for this is a really important issue to get a handle on.
The Kashmir ‘problem’ definitely did not start in 1990. It seems on the surface to have started in 1947, but its roots go back much earlier. The impasse which has led to extremist elements being given wide credence by Kashmiri Muslims - who otherwise lived in peace with their neighbours for hundreds of years - has deeper roots. I have some ideas on Kashmir but would like to put them only in a forum where the Kashmir problem is to be discussed totally dispassionately and objectively, with the aim of finding a solution. There will be unpleasant truths to be stomached on ‘both sides’, unfortunately, in such a discussion.
First, in 1946-52 the leadership both in India and Pakistan behaved quite improperly - the analysis of that itself is a major task. But these incidents have two prior root events: a) the origin of the 2 nation theory (K in Pakistan stands for Kashmir); and b) the 2 nation theory is closely linked with the behaviour both of the Muslim League and Hindu Mahasabha - as well as the Congress. The analysis of these root events is even more challenging. The actions of people in India in 1910s and 1920s have therefore largely determined what is happening in Kashmir today. Unless those actions are understood and action taken to undo them to the extent possible, the Kashmir problem won’t go away. Not with the terrible misgovernance of post-Independence India (not just in Kashmir but across India).
The problem is that false theories gives rise to false actions (the two-nation theory is total rubbish), just like the false theory of socialism has damaged India very badly for 60 years. Once a false theory gets into our heads, we tend to stop listening and contemplating the truth. That is what has happened with Kashmir - and indeed, elsewhere in India. In many communal riots in India, Hindu fundamentalists go around asking the Muslims to leave India (same 2-nation theory) – the actions of Kashmir Muslims are not particularly startling given Hindus do the same to Muslims in most communal riots [details in "Communalism and Communal Violence in India" by Zoya Khaliq Hasan of JNU, in ‘Social Scientist’, Vol. 10, No. 2, (Feb., 1982), pp. 25-39]. Therefore so long as Hindu fanatics still hold on to the 2 nation theory (which they were fervent supporters of in pre-partition days), India will never see peace. So the 2-nation theory has to be challenged as a totally false portrayal of ancient India.
It is worth noting that the 2-nation theory which underpins the Kashmir problem cost the lives of at least 500,000 people (some say more) in India in 1947. The loss of life in Kashmir is still no where in that ‘league’. (That by no means implies that what is happening today is not an issue!). My family were booted out of our place of residence in what is now called Pakistan because of this idiotic 2-nation theory. Thus when idiots rule the world who have no strategic intelligence in their head (like raiding Iraq without a post-war plan), no one is safe - anywhere. How on earth could the 2-nation theory have been operationalised? By killing millions of people? Or pushing them here and there? What utter monumental stupidity! The most strategic solution was to find a way to live in harmony. That solution still remains the only viable, long term one.
Of course, there are many other factors which come into play now in relation to Kashmir, related to strategic geopolitics. But that does not mean accepting the 2-nation theory. It means challenging it and proving that Hindus and Muslims can live together happily in a secular country with equal enforcement of law and order and justice. My doubt remains: Do we have leaders who can talk sense today and lead India (and Pakistan) to a better future for everyone or are these two nations destined to live in a total quagmire of constant killings? I think we make our own destiny, so we can change this situation.
I’d like you to begin by presenting a considered policy position on this issue after taking into account all relevant history and all relevant failures of socialist governance which mean that law and order is no longer available in most parts of India. Let us focus on: What can be done now? Without understanding any problem there can be no solution.
Regards
Sanjeev
Comment by Sanjeev Sabhlok | August 14, 2008
Tarun, Indian: Thanks for your comments.
Sanjeev: I cant think of a dedicated Kashmir blog off-hand, but let me give some thought to your suggestion…
I have no doubt that this is going to be (or perhaps already is) one of most fundamental challenges to the concept, territorial integrity and polity of India…
There is no denying the fact.
More on this later.
P.S. The “Beginning” in the title of the post alluded to the start of the suffering of Kashmiri Hindus and their exodus from the Valley.
Comment by B Shantanu | August 14, 2008
I cant differ with Tarun and Indian. We Hindus should start posturing agressively. It is not enough to just keep writing and talking. I have already started acting on Xtian conversion. I am mobilizing people by speaking to them personally on this as well as other issues affecting Hindus and our country. I am also seeking to contact Tamil Nadu BJP.
Comment by Shanth | August 14, 2008
*** COMMENT COMBINED ***
I know of a Kashmir specific website, which can answer all questions about the issue ( I sould say issue created by the Muslims)
Here read on:
CONVERTED KASHMIR
http://www.kashmir-information.com/ConvertedKashmir/index.html
You guys can also surf the other sections in this site, I feel it is the truth.
***
It is our largesse and our democratic nature which has given not only the Muslims, xtians but the entire world that we are gutless.
If you see the world reaction to Gujrat, you will realize that it seemed to struck them out of the blue.
WE are to dammned democratic by nature and this is sending wrong signals.
Why the Psecs are all riled up in J & K, coz they cant fathom this Hindu rising, never have the Hindus united like this before ( barring Gujarat) and they the psecs cant tolerate this. They just aim to be in power sans the wishes of the Hindus ,one way or the other.
Just hear them Psec offlate and they have already started saying ” IT WILL BE A HUNG PARLIAMENT” - CPIM ; ” BJP IS COMMUNALIZING THE PEOPLE - RENUKA CHOWDHARY / CONGRESS”.
As if we dont have any brains and we will follow anybody and everybody.
Comment by Jiggs | August 16, 2008
@ Jiggs: Thanks for the link. I will have a look at it over the weekend..
***
@ Sanjeev: Re. Kashmir, tons of stuff has been written - as I am sure you know…But I read something in the Times of India this morning which suggested that the problem is now seriously out of control.
This was the news report re. the Indian tricolour being taken off from Lal Chowk in Srinagar by 4pm and replaced by flags of Jamaat-e-Islami and the Hurriyat. There was also mention of the Indian tricolour being burnt in the streets..
If this would have happended in another state, in another time, the state government would have been dismissed by now for failing to maintain law and order and protect national symbols.
What will happen in Kashmir is anybody’s guess but I think we are close to the edge on this….and there is now a fair chance that we may really have to give up sovereignty over that piece of land…
What do other readers think?
Comment by B Shantanu | August 16, 2008
Here is a better articulated version of the solution - “No talks with the Hurriyat and No Aid to Kashmir”: Kashmir in game theory
And here is Khushwant Singh’s solution:
Comment by B Shantanu | August 16, 2008
Dear Shantanu
There is no question that the law and order machinery must enforce the law. Without law and order there can be no civilised society.
It is also critical to get moderates Kashmiris, who want to live in peace, on board and strengthen them significantly. There can’t be discussions with terrorist elements (with no terrorist should any discussion take place - unless they commit to handing over all arms first; and even then, the due punishments to these people must be meted first. No killer can be released).
Sometime between 2003 to 2005 I had started, sporadically, some research on this issue. In transferring my websites over various web hosting companies, this particular bit was lost. I’ve finally found it in my archives and put it up.
I’ve also prepared a page which links to my previous research.
http://www.sanjeev.sabhlokcity.com/kashmir.html
I’d like to put out a very strong disclaimer! I may or may not agree to my findings of a few years ago now - all that was work-in-progress. All I recall today is that the Kashmir issue is now very convoluted.
As suggested, it will be very useful if you can start a public discussion on a separate post, called “Facts on Kashmir - an independent research project” purely focused on determining the agreed facts of the case. We can go through the facts publicly - to ensure we haven’t missed out anything significant. Once the facts are in we can start another one called, “Options for Kashmir based on the facts” That work (over the course of a year or so) will help us produce two documents: (a) facts re: Kashmir and (b) options for next steps. This project should be a purely academic one, with proper citations and referencing. All emotions mus be kept aside.
My view is that such thinking is not typical of either the Indian or Pakistan governments - or, indeed, of people more generally. But such thinking must precede all attempts to find a solution. The solutions we may arrive at, as a result, could end up making a difference to the lives of millions of people.
Regards
Sanjeev
Comment by Sanjeev Sabhlok | August 17, 2008
I think that Hindus who think that long term peace with Islam is possible without a major reformation happening within Islam , are sadly delusional and refusing to face facts.
The fact is that Islam has always been a violent religion from the time of its inception and muslims continue to pursue violence as a legitimate method of forcing their beliefs on those who do not believe their world view.
It was truly enlightening to hear what Omar Abdullah said–he talks of being an Indian, yet refers to Kashmir as Kashmiri (not Indian ) land for which they will fight for. And Omar Abdullah is considered the moderate muslim!
A truly informative documentary to watch is “Islam: What the west needs to know” available on Youtube. (Thank God for Youtube).
On a side note. On a recent trip to chennai, I was amazed at the dominance of the muslim community in the public sphere. There is not a single neighborhood without a mosque with its loudspeakers. Every locality is forced to endure the blaring sound from these speakers several times a day.
Thus the majority of whom are hindus have to endure prayers which they don’t subscribe to.
What is even more amazing is that every Hindu I met, instead of being disturbed by this , mouths the common self delusion statement that all religions are the same. How sad. It shows that the average Hindu doesn’t know what Islam is about and more importantly , doesn’t know anything about Hinduism.
I think the day when we will declare ourselves as the Islamic republic of India to satisfy the sentiments of an aggressive and violent minority is not far of.
Comment by KHarapriya | August 17, 2008
I am worrying about chennai and Hyderabad.
Once Islam is in majority they dont remain secular, havoc will take over the country. Just pray “Lord Shiva” on this “Shravan Month” and ask him to guide us in establish him on the land of bharat. What all priest are doing in the temple? Dont they have any responsibility to organise some kind of yagna or something which can bring our land back.
Comment by Indian | August 17, 2008
@ Sanjeev: I am very happy to start a separate post for a public discussion around “Facts on Kashmir”.
I need someone to plant the seed…since I am overwhelmed under work and other things at present…
A good point to start may be this:
http://www.kashmir-information.com/ConvertedKashmir/Chapter17.html
Jiggs: Thanks for the link.
***
Kharapriya and Indian: Thanks for your comments.
Comment by B Shantanu | August 18, 2008