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Journalist and Political Commentator Basharat Peer on How THE SUNDAY READ www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sunday-read SundayMumbaiMirror I SUNDAY, JULY 24, 2016 10 ‘‘INDIA HAS A MASSACRE is 2010 memoir Curfewed in a speech after his release from Night: A Frontline Memoir of prison, “Hum Ko Bharat Se Life, Love and War in Nahin, Bharat Main Azadi Kashmir won the ON ITS HANDS’’ Chahiye” (“We don’t want free- Crossword Prize for non- dom from India, but freedom in Hfiction and was listed among the India).” Because of Kashmir’s “Books of the Year” by The Economist long brutal history with India, and The New Yorker. As Kashmir faces Journalist and political commentator Basharat Peer on how Kashmiris have no [more] hope its worst violence in years after the of a just order within India and death of a young, “social-media- “Kashmir can free us all”, and why the status quo is worse than they are saying, “Hum Ko Bharat savvy” separatist named Burhan Se Azadi Chahiye (We want Wani, with the toll reaching 47 and the state turning into a “jihadi hotspot” freedom from India).” scores wounded and blinded by pel- lets, Basharat Peer talks to Mumbai Even if independence does Mirror about the hopes and impedi- Vishwas [email protected] TWEETS @MumbaiMirror come to Kashmir, what will ments of the “Kashmir issue”. stop it from becoming a Excerpts: jihadist hotspot, or from balkanising into smaller What is your take on the per- units based on their ception of Kashmir’s necessity allegiances to varying to India’s security, that we versions of “Islamism”? need it to protect ourselves The status quo in Kashmir is from two belligerent neigh- more dangerous and horrifying bours — China and Pakistan? than any fears of it turning into India’s main border with China is a “jihadist hotspot”. And the in the North-East and has nothing greatest, most effective advertise- to do with Kashmir. India and ment for recruitment for militant Pakistan have some of the biggest groups is the killing, blindings, militaries and massive arsenals of the humiliation of young people nuclear weapons. Even that does in Kashmir. I feel the fears cited not make anyone fully secure. Real are highly exaggerated and used security can only exist when eve- as a dubious argument to look ryone in South Asia lives without away from the harsh reality of fear and lives full, dignified lives. Kashmir today. What This will truly be possible only Kashmir has been living when India and Pakistan with is worse than any listen to Kashmiris and nightmarish scenario peo- find a just, equitable res- ple outside Kashmir can olution to the dispute come up with. over Kashmir — that will free Kashmiris of the Are maps by themselves oppression, indignity misleading? When you and horrors our mul- think Kashmir, you tiple generations think Kashmiris. have now lived with. However J&K That will also free Kashmir? Are Is the national media’s but it will sus- itself consists of India and Pakistan we now on coverage of the Kashmir tain. Nepal gets Jammu (largely from their militaristic the same issue reflective of the by. Bhutan gets Hindu); it also obsessions. It would level ground situation? by. Maldives gets consists of Leh be wise to see the as Israel? There are a few honourable by. The thing and Ladakh, money being spent Diplomatic exceptions, but overall, the with independ- which are on buying more battles are overwhelming majority of the ence is dignity, culturally weapons in the name cynical by national media is a big sham. not soldiers closer to of security and nature. They are hiding from the people from distant Tibet. controlling Countries of India what is being done in lands who shoot Where do Kashmir being don’t your name. It is rather shameful. your children, these play out in the used to build bet- behave like humiliate you. It political stalemate of ter hospitals and human If there is a plebiscite, what is not just about the “Kashmir issue”? schools in every beings. Nation would Kashmiri’s vote for — economics, Maps are constructs and artifi- corner of India and states have interests; they India, Pakistan or but the absence cial. But in the name of the maps, Pakistan. Kashmir don’t have feelings of Independence? of humiliation. flags and borders, humanity has can free us all. shame. So that doesn’t Most Kashmiris will vote for perpetrated its worst crimes. No matter. Every time a soldier independence. I will vote for What do people in cultural, ethnic or religious group After the recent kills and blinds a young independence. Kashmir think should be disregarded in finding protests and the Kashmiri protester whose about people in a just future for Kashmir. The arc government’s only weapon might be If it is indeed declared an India? of the moral universe is a long reaction to it, is a stone, India faces a independent nation, can They have our solidarity one, Martin Luther King Jr told us. India losing the moral defeat. India Kashmir sustain itself? and good wishes. JNU And someday, some blessed day, it international battle has a massacre on Yes. It won't be a powerful or rich student leader Kanhaiya will have to bend towards justice diplomatically for its hands. country. It will be a small country Kumar famously said in Kashmir..
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