Monday, August 25, 2008

'Azaadi' for Kashmir

Arundhathi Roy has created a stir by supporting Azaadi for Kashmir. Some columnists have done likewise. This seems a cute, liberal thing to do. Without pretending to be an expert on Kashmir, let me highlight a few issues:
  • Would a move to allow Kashmir to secede be without implications for the rest of India? What would it mean for the principle of secularism and for the fate of Muslims spread over India?Partition was followed by a holocaust. Will this not be seen as a partition-like move?
  • Can an independent Kashmir maintain its independence for long given the interest of every single power in the area? Pakistan would fish in troubled wars; so would Iran, Afghanistan, China, Russia. India and the US would not be able to hold aloof. Kashmiris, who detest India's presence, will find themselves sitting on a veritable tinder-box.
  • What would be the basis for the economic viability of a an independent, landlocked Kashmir?
  • <>I doubt that western opinion favours the creation of another Muslim state in a highly combustible zone of the world. Because of its location,because of the interest of every power in the area in the state, western opinion would view Kashmir as having the potentialf for becoming another Iraq or Afghanistan- perpetually on the boil thanks to warring factions serving as proxies for various competing powers.

    Autonomy and self-rule must seem preferable options once you consider the implications of 'azaadi'.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

the only logical argument in favor of so called freedom kashmir would be that the people of the state favor a different country....but then why not for Punjab..majority sikhs would favor it...why not nexalite state..they would favor it..why not a separate tamil nation...they would favor it...

surprise is not over such a statement but the source from which it is coming.....

Apurv said...

a seperate state will never be an option.....it can't be.....it surely will not be
I am an optimist

Deepthi C said...

Separate state might seem to be a better option , compared to the politically unstable Pakistan.But may be the separate state would also become an example of unstable democracy!

Anonymous said...

Kashmir does not have the resources to become a separate state. Though Kashmiri proudly talk about Azad Kashmir, it will be gobbled up by Pakistan. (or maybe even China)
Surely India needs to take a stronger stand here.

Venu said...

I think we must end the charade of talking about Azaadi for Kashmir. It is only the Muslims in Kashmir who want Azaadi or to become a part of Pakistan. Since they are not the sole residents or inheritors of Kashmir, let us call it what it is - a Muslim secessionist movement. Only then would we be able to see clearly the consequence of such a movement upon the integrity of India.

Anonymous said...

The demand for Azadi in Kashmir vindicates the stance of Jinnah, that Hindus and Muslims cannot live together while retaining their religious identities. The demand for azadi or accession to Pakistan is purely borne out of religious affiliations, because no rational thinking person would want to accede to Pakistan at present. The root cause of the Kashmir problem is surprisingly simple, it is the mass delusion that Indians have regarding the definition of the word 'secularism'. Secularism is the separation of governance from religion and not 'equal respect for all religions' as Indians believe. The balancing act required for the latter is impossible to achieve because it's only a matter of time before each group starts complaining of injustice - whether real or imagined. No nation with two comparable religious / ethnic groups has been able to avoid clashes. Nations that are thriving are those that are homogeneous in population. The cases of nations like Lebanon (Muslim - Christian), Iraq (Sunni - Shia), Sri Lanka (Tamil - Sinhala) are a dangerous precedent. In this light, Indians must revise their view of Jinnah as pragmatic.

Rahul said...

Very good analysis.

I strongly believe that even an inch of soil that is on the Indian map, won't be given out in any charity, or under any threat.

History was made in August 1947, and can't be altered.

Think how we won over the seperatists in Punjab. We can do it in J&K too, if only our govt had enough political will. If they can't hang the terrorist who masterminded the atack on Indian Parliament, then what can be expected from this political leadership?

We can still solve this J&K issue. With a strong willpower and determination, and of course patriotism.

(I don't read much into Arundhati's comment. She is an author, so she is a pen-pusher too. Future of India is in the hands of the Youth.)

Rahul said...

Very good analysis.

I strongly believe that even an inch of soil that is on the Indian map, won't be given out in any charity, or under any threat.

History was made in August 1947, and can't be altered.

Think how we won over the seperatists in Punjab. We can do it in J&K too, if only our govt had enough political will. If they can't hang the terrorist who masterminded the atack on Indian Parliament, then what can be expected from this political leadership?

We can still solve this J&K issue. With a strong willpower and determination, and of course patriotism.

(I don't read much into Arundhati's comment. She is an author, so she is a pen-pusher too. Future of India is in the hands of the Youth.)

sonurehal said...

Hi All,

Thanks for all of your diverse view.


I just want to add further that "does we ever thought why they people are behaving like this?"

The govt may not have touched their heart.
As TT have raises a point regaRDING eCONOMY, does we have taken sm step to raise j&k's ?

this is right time to do smthing inovative to win thier hearts and giv them oppurtunity to feel like INDIAN.

We shud stop to treat them as sepratist, we shud try to make sm serious project over there like sm IT HUB, sm big indurial Plants etc. So, that we cud be a part of them to win them.....

Anonymous said...

hi
i think kashmiris are fighting for a goog cause.they fight for there rights.they fight for the future of there generations to come.let us take an example of economic blockade by jammu hindus(Sangarsh Samiti),every thing was blocked for kashmiris,muslims were killed there.India should adopt the policy of"GIVE FREEDOM AND GET FREEDOM" or be ready for..........

Anonymous said...

I think kashmiri people have rifht to decide.

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