Nowadays young boys from the valley are taken to out of state trips by the Indian Army, Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police (CRPF). These trips are organized in pursuance of Operation Goodwill. The operation is aimed at changing the mind-set of Kashmiris and trying to impart them a positive outlook towards India. It is believed that young minds once exposed to various parts of India will get integrated into the “National Mainstream” of this country. This operation is part of a multi pronged strategy, which includes establishing schools, organization of medical camps and giving some doles to needy people. As a whole these programmes are identified as mass contact campaign of the security agencies. In 1936 a similar campaign was organized by the Indian National Congress to win over Muslim masses. This campaign was initiated after failure of Muslim league and Congress accord of sharing power in UP. Congress wanted Muslim League to join its ministry only after giving an undertaking that it will no more contest election as an independent party. Muslim League was not ready to accept this condition thus the two parties opted different paths and started to mobilize Muslims in their support. The Congress claimed that it represented every Indian including Muslims and there was no need of any separate political party for them. Congress in this campaign had support of some great Muslims and institutions. These included Moulana Azad and Darul Uloom Deoband headed by Moulana Hussain Ahmad Madani ( 1879-1957). The mass contact campaign failed bitterly and Muslim masses instead of joining the Congress flocked towards the Muslims League. Muslim Mass Contact of the Congress proved to be counter productive. Muslim League and Congress parted ways as a result of it for all times to come. Muslim League became sole representative of Muslims and passed the famous Pakistan resolution in its Lahore session in 1940. This session was held at the same place where Minar-e-Pakistan has been erected.
One should not get surprised if a similar situation arises out of the on going mass contact campaign as well. Destinations beyond Banihal aren’t too rosy to motivate Kashmir’s towards greater integration with India. Nor can these trips detach them from the ongoing movement for freedom. On the contrary it has a potential of further alienation from India. Muslim situation in India is an indicator of future position of Kashmiri’s in India if they go for complete integration. Once Kashmiri boys go to Delhi they find Muslims confined to filthy ghettos of old Delhi and some similar localities elsewhere. They are seldom seen in posh colonies of New Delhi. They are a rare species in the offices of the central government. The logic that Muslims do not perform well in the field of education is absurd in view of the fact that they do not find proper representation in the category of class fourth employees as well. This category does not need people with outstanding merit and qualification for appointment. Kashmiri boys get stunned when they find all traces of Urdu removed from public places of Delhi and Lucknow. Urdu does not exist now even on sign boards of the Mughal monuments, Devani Aam and Devani Khas of Red Fort wherefrom it developed and achieved its glory. Agra, Bombay, Muradabad, Aligarh, Godhra and scores of other cities stand witness to the horrifying communal riots that have taken place over there for past fifty years. When Kashmiri boys visit these cities locals narrate their woeful experiences to them. They instead of developing any attraction for India get repelled from it.
Utterances of Ball Thakray and leaders of Vish-ia-Hindu Parishud wash away whatever is achieved by these “goodwill” gestures of various security agencies. Vulgur statements like branding of Dilip Kumar as a Pakistani erase whatever positive opinion Kashmiri boys develop. If Dilip Kumar could not secure credibility of becoming a true Indian in spite of migrating from Peshawar, contribution to Bollywood and opting a Hindu name how can Kashmiris expect to achieve it. They are simply waiting for the turn of President Abdul Kalam, the father of Indian missile technology to achieve distinction of being branded as Pakistani for his services. The events that lead to demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 and threats of communal forces to repeat these happenings at other places of Muslim worship also contribute to alienation of Kashmiris from India. Atrocities against Christians remind Kashmiri youth that they may have to face similar situations in future.
Those involved in the futile exercise of creating goodwill among Kashmir’s should reconsider utility of this campaign. They instead of spoiling their resources in Kashmir should divert their attention towards mainland India. Unless and until the minority situation over there does not improve no such exercise is going to yield any positive results. The narrow mindset of those who matter in India needs to be changed. Petty minds and big empires can’t coexist. Resources should be utilized to broaden the horizons of those who harbour a parochial vision of India. It is inconceivable to think that Kashmiri psychology can be changed by trips and doles while the writ of parochialism prevails over India. Security agencies if sincere about keeping India intact should launch a mass contact campaign in the mainland India in order to broaden the mental horizons of Indian ruling elite. Unless this class of Indian society reconciles with the reality of heterogeneity and pluralism no artificial devices are going to check the centrifugal tendencies of the marginalized identities whether they are in Kashmir or in the North East.
One should not get surprised if a similar situation arises out of the on going mass contact campaign as well. Destinations beyond Banihal aren’t too rosy to motivate Kashmir’s towards greater integration with India. Nor can these trips detach them from the ongoing movement for freedom. On the contrary it has a potential of further alienation from India. Muslim situation in India is an indicator of future position of Kashmiri’s in India if they go for complete integration. Once Kashmiri boys go to Delhi they find Muslims confined to filthy ghettos of old Delhi and some similar localities elsewhere. They are seldom seen in posh colonies of New Delhi. They are a rare species in the offices of the central government. The logic that Muslims do not perform well in the field of education is absurd in view of the fact that they do not find proper representation in the category of class fourth employees as well. This category does not need people with outstanding merit and qualification for appointment. Kashmiri boys get stunned when they find all traces of Urdu removed from public places of Delhi and Lucknow. Urdu does not exist now even on sign boards of the Mughal monuments, Devani Aam and Devani Khas of Red Fort wherefrom it developed and achieved its glory. Agra, Bombay, Muradabad, Aligarh, Godhra and scores of other cities stand witness to the horrifying communal riots that have taken place over there for past fifty years. When Kashmiri boys visit these cities locals narrate their woeful experiences to them. They instead of developing any attraction for India get repelled from it.
Utterances of Ball Thakray and leaders of Vish-ia-Hindu Parishud wash away whatever is achieved by these “goodwill” gestures of various security agencies. Vulgur statements like branding of Dilip Kumar as a Pakistani erase whatever positive opinion Kashmiri boys develop. If Dilip Kumar could not secure credibility of becoming a true Indian in spite of migrating from Peshawar, contribution to Bollywood and opting a Hindu name how can Kashmiris expect to achieve it. They are simply waiting for the turn of President Abdul Kalam, the father of Indian missile technology to achieve distinction of being branded as Pakistani for his services. The events that lead to demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 and threats of communal forces to repeat these happenings at other places of Muslim worship also contribute to alienation of Kashmiris from India. Atrocities against Christians remind Kashmiri youth that they may have to face similar situations in future.
Those involved in the futile exercise of creating goodwill among Kashmir’s should reconsider utility of this campaign. They instead of spoiling their resources in Kashmir should divert their attention towards mainland India. Unless and until the minority situation over there does not improve no such exercise is going to yield any positive results. The narrow mindset of those who matter in India needs to be changed. Petty minds and big empires can’t coexist. Resources should be utilized to broaden the horizons of those who harbour a parochial vision of India. It is inconceivable to think that Kashmiri psychology can be changed by trips and doles while the writ of parochialism prevails over India. Security agencies if sincere about keeping India intact should launch a mass contact campaign in the mainland India in order to broaden the mental horizons of Indian ruling elite. Unless this class of Indian society reconciles with the reality of heterogeneity and pluralism no artificial devices are going to check the centrifugal tendencies of the marginalized identities whether they are in Kashmir or in the North East.
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