Enough has been said, written and tweeted about Arundhati Roy’s brain-dead comments on Kashmir, twisting of history of Kashmir and her right to free speech. I respect her right to free speech – after all right to stay stupid should be a right too. Though I strongly detest her attempt to dismiss the trauma of Kashmiri Pandit’s in exile by denying the ethnic cleansing and exodus
ever happened, she has a right to stay in darkness. She is afterall a friend and comrade of people like Gautam Navlakha. She can go about repeating whatever she has been tutored on freely; hope it helps her sell one more novel and get more paid trips on lecture tours. Freedom of speech is paramount – so what those exercising their freedom of speech to question and critique her logic and opinion are being shouted down.
But this post isn’t about Arun-dirty… she would have probably moved on to another headline issue by now already… or some Page3 parties around her luxurious South Delhi home.
In Delhi and then in Srinagar, Arundhati was espousing the cause of one Syed Ali Shah Geelani – the grand old hawk of Kashmir… and pouting prose in support of his ideals and ideology that he espouses. Supporting the Azadi bridgade… on the notion of a separate identity and want of freedom from a colonizer.
Geelani on the contrary is some what more forthright and honest about the truth behind the trouble in Kashmir. One must atleast give some respect to this old man – for being the only man who dares put it the way it is – unlike all others in Kashmir, who go about speaking from many sides of their mouth about Kashmiriyat, identity, accession, plebiscite, promises of jobs etc…
Geelani says what we Kashmiri Pandits have been saying for decades already… we of course, said this earlier because we have lived in the midst and known the psyche that led to it.
Kashmir – is not a political problem. Kashmir problem is not about ethnic identity, not about right of self-determination, promises of plebiscite, not about rigged elections of 1987, not about failed accords or lack of those, not about article 370 or autonomy.
Kashmir is a religious problem. The issue is simple and straight – its religion. It’s about Islam and the urge to join the larger Ummah’… the greater Islamic brotherhood.
And Geelani minces no words when he says clearly that. And I respect him for being forth-right – compared to all others in the valley and Hurriyat, who continue to dodge around the truth.
Geelani wants Kashmir to become a true Islamic state. A model Islamic state. Minorities and so-called Kashmiriyat be damned. But don’t worry, he too would surely add a customary footnote of “we want our Pandit bretheren back” etc. No wonder – how can you apply Islamic laws like these, if there are no minorities to butcher.
Geelani abhors the concept of “Secularism” – and decries its imposition in Kashmir. No wonder Arundhati upholds his ideals.
“India has a secular system, which we can under no condition accept.”
He wants Kashmir to be run as per tenets of “the real Islam of the Quran and the Practice (Sunnah) of the Prophet.”
Wonder why Arundhati – the citizen of mobile republic – doesn’t take citizenship of Islamic State of Pakistan or the middle eastern world. She can enjoy real freedom right away.
Kashmir has been invaded by Wahabi Sunnism – Kashmir problem will remain till there is a pan-Islamic trauma world over. There can never be a solution to Kashmir till there is a failed Islamic state next door or rogue petro-funded jihad mongers in the region.
Kashmiri Pandits have known this for decades. Told you so – when we kept saying that “Kashmiriyat is a hoax”. It was only reiterated to us - when we were hounded out to religious frenzy in 1990. It was evident when hell broke loose in Kashmir over mere use of transit facilities for a Hindu Pilgrimage . Its been evident in the rapid Talibanisation of Kashmir over last few decades… And that’s one reason why its only the Kashmiri Sunni Muslims’ who believe in this Jihad in Kashmir. All others know what fate lies ahead for them in an Islamic state of Kashmir… if the state of minorities, Shia’s, Ahmadiyyas etc in Pakistan is taken as an example.
But of course, Arundhati is a writer/speaker. Which means she only writes and speaks. Never reads or listens – what her co-speakers like Geelani really think and say.
I still uphold her right of not reading the truth. Her right of staying stupid.
(photo source: mid-day.com)
