Paradise Lost

"The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a heav’n of hell, a hell of heav’n"

It has been almost 64 days of siege in Kashmir valley. Ladakh has been hit by a severe catastrophe. It seems destiny of this state has been plagued by misfortune from the last 800 years. King VikramAditya and Sultan Zain-ul-abdin rule were the only golden eras in past milleniums. Post that it has been just misfortune. Be it anyone, Afghan raiders, Mughals, Sikh rulers.. Always one portion of the population was subject to prosecution.

One of the turning point in history has been the events of 1947-49 for this part of the world. People divided amongst three countries India, Pakistan and China. Strangely it is a bilateral dispute, no one counts China. They are a party too with Aksai Chin completely in their control and with territory gifted by Pakistan during 1960's.

It has become a point of ego between the nations with majority of population whether it is Muslims in the valley, Buddhists in Ladakh, Dogras in Jammu, Kashmiri migrants across the state asking for their rights and dignity. There is another aspect with the Pakistani administered Kashmir being divided into Northern Areas with ethnic groups like Hunzas being sidelined in their representation or areas in Mirpur where there is Punjabi domination.

UN resolutions have become obselete in today's context. There have been agreements like Shimla and Agra agreements whose promises were tossed out of the windows years ago and much water has flown down the Jhelum in these years. Can an independent nation exist? Does not seem feasible.

I dont think political packages like autonomy will change the situation on the ground. The seperatists are running the govt virtually with their calendars being followed. You cannot solve this complex problem with sending more forces.

the civil society has to rise to the occasion. Give an opportunity to the voices from Ladakh, Kashmir, Jammu everywhere. Make them feel part of the mainstream. Understand their perspective. Develop Ladakh into a tourist hub, develop industries in Jammu, reduce military presence in Kashmir, let J&K Police take care of law and order. Army is not trained for law and order, it is meant for combat.

Open schools, hospitals, make infrastructure like SEZ's. Make people like President Kalam as custodian of these funds so that they are embezzled.

Change will work. Respect, dignity, opportunities to prosper, remove barriers, abolish article 370. Let the population mingle with rest of India, make them part of mainstream. It should not be an exercise to change demographics, but to assimilate.

Concept of India is unity in diversity. We have diversity, now we need unity.

Peace!

Source: http://nitintbhat.blogspot.com/2010/08/paradise-lost.html