Arun Joshi
Delhi riots made ugly headlines. Still uglier were the hate-filled twists and turns given by the TV anchors to legitimise hate. J&K’s quest and work for stability drowned in this noise and chaos. And, Kashmir refused to break its silence that it could have by raising its own set of demands for partnership in the newer initiatives that seek to change its profile from a terror-hit place to setting up welcome archways to tourists and investors.
The Kashmir Valley remained cool and calm as if nothing had happened in the union Capital. No words were spoken or written. The reason was simple and clear. The Valley that stayed silent after the abrogation of Article 370 and when the state was split into two Union Territories (UTs), found no use for exercising its vocal chords for Delhi.
Those expecting a voice of protest in Kashmir in the wake of the Delhi violence have become more apprehensive. Is Kashmir staying calm because no one stood out for them when they were in need of support, or, were they simply busy with themselves, watching the things with indifference. They did not want to be part of any of the two narratives – pro-CAA or anti-CAA that caused the violence in Delhi. They have recused themselves from all conflicting narratives. They refused to break their silence even when the US President Donald Trump uttered “K” word during his press conference in Delhi, something that was unimaginable in the past. Reams of commentary would have been written by political, legal, social sections. There would have been an endless chain of seminars, hailing or criticising the US. It didn’t happen.
The impenetrable silence of Kashmiris is assuming many dimensions, which may be known only months or years down the line. They have increased the depth and capacity of absorbing everything, and they have given no deadline for speaking their mind out. They are mulling their existence without Article 370, and also from those who favoured or opposed it. That is a good thing that August 5 – the big bang day when the special status of J&K was done away with and the state split into two UTs – has done to them. More promising is that they have stopped looking toward Pakistan for anything. At the time when they were riveting toward Delhi, the opportunity to break their silence was taken away by the Delhi riots.
Jammu is too gullible; its people are simpletons. They never realised that their anti-Kashmir narrative of discrimination and injustice would be used against them. They are squeezed by their own contradictions from hyper-nationalism and anti-Kashmirism. Over the decades, they, and their sacrifices for the nation in wars and counter-terrorism operations, were taken for granted. Others have appropriated their narrative and sacrifices. They too are disturbed by the Delhi riots and are unable to speak against the peddlers of hate, for their assertion for regional identity is twisted as something undesirable by others who have taken hold of the narrative of nationalism across the country.
The revocation of Article 370 was a historic decision. Its benefits had started flowing into J&K, but those got overshadowed by what happened in Delhi and the urgency to deal with the situation there. Kashmir is silent, Jammu is unable to find its voice. The narration of welcoming the initiatives is looking for a channel.
Lt-Governor GC Murmu has taken stock of things. He is leading from the front in seeking investment for J&K, and working out new models of people-friendly development. He is reaching out directly to the people in districts. But these initiatives are struggling to get into headlines because there are negative headlines dotting the newscape, and that, too, from Delhi.
Valley remains calm
- The Kashmir Valley remained cool and calm as if nothing had happened in the union Capital. No words were spoken or written. The reason was simple and clear. The Valley that stayed silent after the abrogation of Article 370 and when the state was split into two Union Territories (UTs), found no use for exercising its vocal chords for Delhi.
- Those expecting a voice of protest in Kashmir in the wake of the Delhi violence have become more apprehensive. Is Kashmir staying calm because no one stood out for them when they were in need of support, or, were they simply busy with themselves, watching the things with indifference.(TNS)
