After completion of his studies, Mahatma Gandhi came to South Africa. Here he found racial discrimination was rampant in every sphere of life. He was pained to see that Africans have submitted to it. He organised them to fight it. This action of Gandhi is appreciated by everyone. Indians feel inflated that their father of nation was the one who initiated Satyagrah against apartheid in South Africa. He not only fought for independence of his own country but also against the injustice prevalent in other parts of the world as well. They also appreciate the foreigners who contributed to the Indian freedom struggle. It was A.O Hume, a British Civil Servant who laid down the foundation of Indian National Congress. Mrs. Anne-Besant took a leading role in the Indian freedom struggle. In recognition of her services, she was appointed President of the Indian National Congress. Role of these foreigners in the liberation movement of India was never questioned. In fact their legacy of participating in the freedom struggle of others was continued by the Indian State. Once India achieved its independence in 1947, it vehemently supported the freedom movements across the globe. India mobolised its army in support of Bangladeshi movement for secession. Had there been no intervention from the Indian side, Bangladesh would have never come into existence. Indian army also intervened in Sri Lanka for supporting Tamils in their struggle against Sri Lankan Army. There was misunderstanding between LTTE and the Indian army which led them to fight each other. India might have facilitated creation of Sri Lankan version of Bangladesh, had there been no conflict between its forces and LTTE.
In none of the above mentioned instances, the role of foreigners for liberation of a country was condemned. The role of Gandhi, Anne Besant, A.O. Hume, Indian army in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is highly appreciated. Most of the Indians narrate stories about this role with pride.
Our attitude however changes altogether when we talk about the role of foreigners in Kashmir. We call them intruders even if they come from Pak Administrated Kashmir and fight for emancipation of their motherland. Kashmiris on the other hand believe that the contribution of foreigners in their struggle is similar to the role of Indian Army in Bangladesh or that of Gandhi in South Africa. If the support of Mr. Hume and Mrs. Anne Besant is praiseworthy, why should not Kashmiris praise those who come to rescue them, they argue? For Kashmiris the role of foreigners in their march towards emancipation is not a new phenomenon. Non Kashmiri’s have been associated with Kashmir politics right from its inception. It was Mr. Abdul Qadeer, a non-Kashmiri Pathan who motivated people of Kashmir for resistance against dynastic rule in 1931. Once he was arrested, people flocked to the Central jail Srinagar. State army did not tolerate it. They fired upon the mobs gathered around the Central Jail. Scores were hit by their bullets. More than a dozen got killed. July 13 is celebrated every year to commemorate martyrdom of these people. The martyrs of July 13 are the ones who sacrificed their lives while supporting an alien who motivated them to rise in revolt against a despotic dynasty.
The news of killings in Kashmir generated a lot of resentment beyond the borders of Kashmir. Ahrar a religio-political organisation of Punjab launched famous Kashmir Chalo Movement in 30’s of previous century. Thousands of their volunteers tried to come to Kashmir but were repulsed by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh. The creation of Glancy Commission to look into the grievances of Kashmiri Muslims was result of Ahrar agitation in Punjab. Sheikh Abdullah launched Quit Kashmir movement in 1945. Pandit Nehru courted arrest in Kohala in support of this agitation.
Existence of Kashmir as disputed territory owes a lot to Pathan tribesmen who invaded it in 1947. They were supporting Muslims of Poonch in their rebellion against the Dogra rule. They wrested one third of the state from the Dogra army. India rushed to UNO and Kashmir issue for the first time got Internationalised. United Nations started treating Kashmir as a disputed territory and resolved that the dispute should be settled through an internationally supervised plebiscite. Had there been no invasion of the tribesmen in 1947, Kashmir would have assimilated within India beyond recognition.
In 1965 armed militants came from Pak Administered Kashmir. They initiated the insurgency, climax of which was a full fledged Indo-Pak war. Eruption of militancy in 1989 was exclusively an indigenous phenomenon. Disproportionate use of force by the Indian State to suppress it resulted in large scale killings. Property worth billions was destroyed. Human Rights violations on large scale provoked a large number of Muslim youth to come for rescue of Kashmiris. Most of the incoming youth are from Pakistan administered Kashmir who have kith and kin on this side of L.O.C. There are few who come from Pakistan, Afghanistan and others Muslim Countries. They share bonds of religious brotherhood with Kashmiris. This precisely is their only motivating factor for getting involved in Kashmir. For Indian State, these foreigners are intruders. For Kashmiris, however, their involvement is the continuation of the pre-partition legacy of Pandit Nehru, Ahrar, and Abdul Qadeer. It is the support of locals which sustains them in an alien land. Kashmiris justify their receptiveness to foreign involvement by giving instances of Subash Chander Bose. Bose was a celebrated Indian freedom fighter who invoked the support of fascist regimes of Japan and Germany for organising Indian National Army. This army fought for liberation of India. The foreigners fighting in Kashmir have distinction of being intruders and emancipators at the same time. They are intruders for the Indian establishment and emancipators for the masses of Kashmir.
In fact, role of foreigners in freedom movements of other nations has been appreciated everywhere. Those in France who supported the independence of Algeria were praised. Same was the case with the Americans who condemned USA for its Vietnam policy. How can Kashmir be an exception to this worldwide phenomenon?
In none of the above mentioned instances, the role of foreigners for liberation of a country was condemned. The role of Gandhi, Anne Besant, A.O. Hume, Indian army in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is highly appreciated. Most of the Indians narrate stories about this role with pride.
Our attitude however changes altogether when we talk about the role of foreigners in Kashmir. We call them intruders even if they come from Pak Administrated Kashmir and fight for emancipation of their motherland. Kashmiris on the other hand believe that the contribution of foreigners in their struggle is similar to the role of Indian Army in Bangladesh or that of Gandhi in South Africa. If the support of Mr. Hume and Mrs. Anne Besant is praiseworthy, why should not Kashmiris praise those who come to rescue them, they argue? For Kashmiris the role of foreigners in their march towards emancipation is not a new phenomenon. Non Kashmiri’s have been associated with Kashmir politics right from its inception. It was Mr. Abdul Qadeer, a non-Kashmiri Pathan who motivated people of Kashmir for resistance against dynastic rule in 1931. Once he was arrested, people flocked to the Central jail Srinagar. State army did not tolerate it. They fired upon the mobs gathered around the Central Jail. Scores were hit by their bullets. More than a dozen got killed. July 13 is celebrated every year to commemorate martyrdom of these people. The martyrs of July 13 are the ones who sacrificed their lives while supporting an alien who motivated them to rise in revolt against a despotic dynasty.
The news of killings in Kashmir generated a lot of resentment beyond the borders of Kashmir. Ahrar a religio-political organisation of Punjab launched famous Kashmir Chalo Movement in 30’s of previous century. Thousands of their volunteers tried to come to Kashmir but were repulsed by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh. The creation of Glancy Commission to look into the grievances of Kashmiri Muslims was result of Ahrar agitation in Punjab. Sheikh Abdullah launched Quit Kashmir movement in 1945. Pandit Nehru courted arrest in Kohala in support of this agitation.
Existence of Kashmir as disputed territory owes a lot to Pathan tribesmen who invaded it in 1947. They were supporting Muslims of Poonch in their rebellion against the Dogra rule. They wrested one third of the state from the Dogra army. India rushed to UNO and Kashmir issue for the first time got Internationalised. United Nations started treating Kashmir as a disputed territory and resolved that the dispute should be settled through an internationally supervised plebiscite. Had there been no invasion of the tribesmen in 1947, Kashmir would have assimilated within India beyond recognition.
In 1965 armed militants came from Pak Administered Kashmir. They initiated the insurgency, climax of which was a full fledged Indo-Pak war. Eruption of militancy in 1989 was exclusively an indigenous phenomenon. Disproportionate use of force by the Indian State to suppress it resulted in large scale killings. Property worth billions was destroyed. Human Rights violations on large scale provoked a large number of Muslim youth to come for rescue of Kashmiris. Most of the incoming youth are from Pakistan administered Kashmir who have kith and kin on this side of L.O.C. There are few who come from Pakistan, Afghanistan and others Muslim Countries. They share bonds of religious brotherhood with Kashmiris. This precisely is their only motivating factor for getting involved in Kashmir. For Indian State, these foreigners are intruders. For Kashmiris, however, their involvement is the continuation of the pre-partition legacy of Pandit Nehru, Ahrar, and Abdul Qadeer. It is the support of locals which sustains them in an alien land. Kashmiris justify their receptiveness to foreign involvement by giving instances of Subash Chander Bose. Bose was a celebrated Indian freedom fighter who invoked the support of fascist regimes of Japan and Germany for organising Indian National Army. This army fought for liberation of India. The foreigners fighting in Kashmir have distinction of being intruders and emancipators at the same time. They are intruders for the Indian establishment and emancipators for the masses of Kashmir.
In fact, role of foreigners in freedom movements of other nations has been appreciated everywhere. Those in France who supported the independence of Algeria were praised. Same was the case with the Americans who condemned USA for its Vietnam policy. How can Kashmir be an exception to this worldwide phenomenon?
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