It is interesting to see how we all get tied up with our current situation. For a common man, freedom is limited to his current needs. But for a visionary it would be a free society with no boundaries. In 50 to 100 years, we all will be in a free society with common currencies. Free society doesnt mean that you wont be part of a country or an area. A free society is where people has the freedom to do what they want and has guarantied protection to life and property and has the power to change and improve the society for its betterment. This can only happen if the government is setup to listen to it peoples need. In a democratic society like India, there is no option other than to listen to the people or less the rules of the government will be thrown. If the government is run by a dictator, there is no incentive for the dictator to listen to the people. It will take a lot more time to change a dictator or a conservative faith based leader. For the betterment of the people of Kashmir, it would be strategic to join a union India and elect a strong and able visionary that will work with the federal government and get what is needed for that union. We as a society have to make right
Further to my previous coment, with this positive approach on both sides, settlement of Indo-Pak disputes on all front is a distinct possibility. Imagine billions saved as deployment troops and arming yourselves to teeth will no longer be necessary. Only people of India and Pakistan will benefit. Presently fat cats of western countries are benefitting, and that too at what cost. Money saved lift lives of a billion plus people from the present abject poverty. LET THEREFORE WISER COUNSEL PREVAIL. THE TIME IS RIPE FOR THIS !
RE:changing times in Kashmir
by Hilal Ahmad on Nov 07, 2005 01:31 PM Permalink
Dear Mr Columinist, I really appreciate your comments but tell you what, the fear isn't just Kashmir centered rather it is there for us all over India. Everytime something bad happens in Delhi, Kashmiri students are the first ones to be asked questions and interrogated by Delhi Police. I have had first hand experience of it during the Parliament House attack aftermath. And everywhere in India I had always a tough time finding a place to stay just because I was a Kashmiri. Anyway I really hope something positive comes out after the recent tragedy before all hope fades.. Thanks again dude for being positive.. At least there is some one who has hope YET !!
Now that India and Pakistan have started dealing with their relationship a little more positively, Kashmir included; I would like to suggest that we should stop dwelling on past, seize opportunities present developments present and make determined efforts to solve all disputes, including Kashmir. In International arena, it has always to be a give-and-take scenario. Let us not overlook this reality. India should convey to Pakistan that she is ready for this and in return make sure that Pakistan responds in the similar manner. Both parties suffer from conflict-fatigue. Hence chances are settlement of most disputes can be reached. While we should facilitate this in all possible manner, our pre-condition should be settlement of Kashmir dispute. All other settlements must necessarily be predicated up on this.
There is a chance that bilateral negotiations cannot always achieve desired results. We should quietly but firmly and in a guarded way strive to involv a third party as a catalytic agent to speed up the process. I know this approach is fraught with dangers, but then I would suggest Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained. So involve it in guarded manner only, as suggested.
Dear Mr Columinist, I wonder were you got your information from.Probably those who sit outside the houseboats or may be you met the odd taxi driver. Anyway whatever means it is ..I am really shocked. Well yes to a certain limit I am because I am a Kashmiri and I still live in fear in Kashmir. Here is an example. On September 21 2005 My elder cousin was getting married. On the eve of the marriage my father had to rush to the nearby Army camp to submit an application to get their approval for the marriage. Well this was achieved after my Father was made to wait for 5 hours in the camp. Anyway this was a small matter. On the morning of 21 Spetember I was rudely awaken by my sister to tell me that Army had cordoned off my Uncles house. And they were searching the place. After hearing screams of pain from my Uncles house I could not bear it and got inside his house just to ask the army captain wht was going on. The captain didn't listen to me at all and instead started to abuse me too. Everybody pleaded but to no avial. All this torture and trauma continued till around 3 pm. Only after a local MLA interviened, they released my Uncle. So tell me where is the change ???
RE:Are you real or just Sarcastic !!!
by Madrasa on Nov 29, 2005 03:45 AM Permalink
Dear Mr. Ahmed, We were a group of people who were planning to sends relief supplies to Kashmir, during to the earth quake. In the mean time we had attacks in Delhi, where in 60 innocent people were killed. We immedeately dropped the plan. Sorry about your wait during the marraige, but I do think Kashmiris are responsible for what the Army has to be nervous about.
RE:Are you real or just Sarcastic !!!
by Varun Shekhar on Nov 08, 2005 06:43 PM Permalink
In the last few weeks, and while the earthquake relief operations were on, there were at least two major terrorist attacks: 10 people had their throats slit in Rajouri, and a democratically elected leader, Lone, was assassinated. Where is the change indeed!
I don't know much about what happened during the partition but Gandhi and the Congress monumental blunder was to cave in to Jinnah's demands too early. The colonial military/police forces of the day should have stepped in to stop the violence at the time at any cost. Their agreement to the partition didn't end the violence but instead it only got worse. A Gandhi who led his people defiantly against the British should have more fervently battled the violent campaigns which were specifically to make partition work. If he could have got the British on his side to end the violence and force free elections to chose the party and its chosen independance plan, Congress would have won and a united India would have been more likely.(An example is Malaysia which had nationwide elections in 1955 and a multi party winning coalition led it to independance in 1957). The ordinary man in the street wanted freedom...a few bad hats fuelled communal hatred in these naive, illiterate and desperately poor individuals. The country would have avoided half of the problems it has today without Pakistan and given Pakistanis a decent democratic society to live in, free from military and religious anarchy.
Hi dear editor, seeing the earlier events taken place in Kashmir, I do not think the hard core militants pertaining to Islam community will change their minds. Kashmir was given special status that was the greatest blunder committed by then Late Pandit Jawarlal Nehru. The Kashmiries have been eating our revenue but no respect towards other Indian citizens. It is better to give out the Kashmir to them except Jammu and Ladakah. It is total liability for India to retain Kashmir state and its people. Mentally the people of Kashmir never showed any readiness to accept the present status or want to go with India. How many sacrificed their lives? for what purpose?. The Muslims from other parts of India keep quite and the leaders from other parts do not raise any voice against this continued militancy and killing poor people. I pray that the Almighty God save this country.
Hi dear editor, seeing the earlier events taken place in Kashmir, I do not think the hard core militants pertaining to Islam community will change their minds. Kashmir was given special status that was the greatest blunder committed by then Late Pandit Jawarlal Nehru. The Kashmiries have been eating our revenue but no respect towards other Indian citizens. It is better to give out the Kashmir to them except Jammu and Ladakah. It is total liability for India to retain Kashmir state and its people. Mentally the people of Kashmir never showed any readiness to accept the present status or want to go with India. How many sacrificed their lives? for what purpose?. The Muslims from other parts of India keep quite and the leaders from other parts do not raise any voice against this continued militancy and killing poor people. I pray that the Almighty God save this country.
Mr. Sahay, The indian rulers have been also clinging on the pipe dream that you see... love for peace and serenity does not mean love for India.. Kashmir was never indias part and never will be... i agree that you have made some success .... but Sir their is no shame in defeat.. the shame is in surrender... we never surrendered.. and never will... your men in Khaki know Kashmiris better.. they are in a death trap.. i wish you a healthy ..long and peacful life .. for you have to bear witness to the change in history... ... you may laugh .. laugh like the people of yesteryears... you might count on your numeric superiority... but then remember we have taterred the numeric superiority many times before
RE:Living in a fools paradise
by Madrasa on Nov 29, 2005 03:51 AM Permalink
Dear Sir, At the moment Kashmir is enjoying twenty times more financial discounts than any other state in the country. The internet facility which you comfortably enjoy is provided by the Government of India. Kashmir was, is and will always be a part of India. Wether you like it or not. Just by pushing away the pundits out of Kashmir, you cannot own it. It is the land were great ones of the yester years like Shankara walked, it is the land of Sufis whose tradition belongs to India than the desert bandits whom you so lovingly embrace. STOP DREAMING AND BE OF SOME USE TO THE LAND WHICH PROVIDES YOU SO MUCH.
RE:Living in a fools paradise
by Rahul on Jan 17, 2006 09:19 PM Permalink
hello mr. are u from pakistan or kashmir. well i dont care. but it is really a shameless fact that u have already ignored the details. you know why we have not got kashmir till now, even we have the numerical superiority or modern weopens. i will tell u. because our leaders in delhi have always thought that u people would really understand one day and they would not have to resort to any assault. dont misinterpret our army. when at a moment our army is given free hand in kashmir every militant will be ripped apart, mind u he will not be caught alive but ripped apart in 1 month. i gurantee u for that this deadline will be overcome even. and ha ha ha, see u people need to get out of ur state and see the other india. never believe that kashmir will be independent. or got o pakistan. the moment a tough leader comes at delhi u will have full inidian citizenship(no article 370). and if u become independent , i think half of the kashmir population will die of famine or drought. then u have to go back to nomadic age when the world reaches the moon. if this looks nice then say what u want to say or keep ur mouth shut!
