Chechnya is a small republic. It is inhabited by ten lakh Muslims and its area is 15000 square kilometers. It was occupied by Russians in 1859. Chechnya declared independence in 1917, soon after communist revolution in Russia. Soviet Union occupied it in 1923. Chechens kept on resisting and sustaining their aspirations. In 1944, Stalin retaliated by dispersing the Chechen population through out Siberia and Kazakhstan. The pretext used for this dispersal was that Chechens supported Germans during World War Second. In 1957 the situation improved and they were slowly rehabilitated within their homeland. Russians tried to change their psychology and culture in all possible ways. It was not easy to survive within the iron curtains of Soviet communism. In spite of all these measures, Russians failed to kill aspirations of Chechens. In 1991, Soviet Union disintegrated. Soon after disintegration of Soviet Union Chechens re-emerged as resistant as they were prior to Soviet occupation. During the seventy years of Communist rule world had changed. Ottoman Empire disintegrated in twenties. British Empire vanished after the World War Second. Soviet Union disintegrated towards the end of the twentieth century. These changes with global ramifications did not change the aspirations of Chechens. Simple reason for this phenomenal resistance is immortality of aspirations. Russians tried all the weapons but none of their weapons succeeded. Cause of this failure is the fact that the world has yet to invent the weapons which can kill the aspirations.
Realties are relative, aspirations are permanent and perpetual. Realities of today do not remain realities of tomorrow. Few years back, US President Bush used to say “be with us or with our adversaries.” This was the dictate of the sole super power to small and big nations of the world. Today we see the world has changed. There is no support for Bush anywhere in the world. One after another, US allies are withdrawing from Iraq. American public is demanding early withdrawal from Iraq. Bush has to beg support from his own public. Reality of yesteryears is no more a reality today. Few months back Musharraf behaved as master of the whole sub-continent. He pronounced quick-fix solutions to every problem including ours. He was ready compromise the aspirations of Kashmiris and Moderate Hurriyat leaders took pride in dancing to his tones. Today Musharraf is fighting for his own survival. Realities changed within few months. Aspirations survive the worst form of oppression.
Today we are being told to be realistic, compromise with realities. Decline in the levels of militancy is given as a reason for compromising aspirations. Militancy, no doubt, is receding in Kashmir but it’s not only we who are experiencing reversals in course of our resistance. Indians too lost their first War of independence in 1857. It was this defeat that brought India within direct control of Britishers. Prior to this they were ruled by East India Company under symbolic monarchy of Mughals. They did not abandon their quest for freedom. Their freedom movement re-emerged from the ashes of 1857 war. Freedom movement of Kashmir preceded militancy and it will proceed beyond it. For years prior to militancy, Kashmiris struggled for freedom. Militancy was not beginning of the freedom movement, nor will freedom struggle end with the end of militancy. We are being told that Pakistan is ready for compromise on Kashmir. Kashmiris are not the only ones who are facing such a type of situation. Palestinians too were betrayed by Egypt when it recognized Israel. How did Palestinians respond? They launched Intifada which proved more costly for Israel then its wars with Arab countries. Today even U.S. and Britain have reconciled to existence of an independent Palestinian State.
Strength of our struggle lies in our conviction and association with our cause. If we have a conviction, there is no option but to continue the resistance. Masses do have conviction; they are determinant to continue irrespective of what their leaders do. They have depicted this conviction by continuing their struggle after 70’s when Sheik Abdullah compromised with realities of his times and termed the Freedom struggle of Kashmir as awaragardi. He made a compromise; new generations of Kashmiris tore 1975 Accord into pieces. They demonstrated to the world that Kashmir continues to be a disputed territory through their courage and conviction. If leaders of our times enter into a compromise it is not necessary that our future generations will accept it. They can behave in the same way as Kashmiris behaved during nineties despite the realistic approach and compromise of Sheikh Abdullah. It happens everywhere that generations in twenties and thirties play a leading role in a struggle. This generation gets exhausted and a fatigue syndrome overtakes them. Small children imbibe the spirit of their struggle and play their innings once they reach twenties. The process goes on. In Kashmir of twenty first century, masses are not ready to concede and compromise their aspirations. The leadership seems to be more tired rather than representing aspirations of masses. Leaders seem to be vomiting what they are made to vomit by those who hold their remote control. From the level of leaders and custodians of an aspiration, they seem to have relegated themselves to the level of remote controlled toys. They have a grudge against the local media for not reflecting their achievements. The achievements speak for themselves. Without achieving anything if one trumpets about his performance no one is going to believe it, because as they correctly say in Persian:
Etir Boyad Na Ki Attar Begoyad.
In law we say justice should not only be done but it should be seen to have been done. If I rephrase it in context of our struggle it means that aspirations should not only be represented they should be seen to be represented. If you use the same terminology which is used by the instruments and agents of status quo, this leads to confusion. People are unable to differentiate between truth and falsehood. The terms like self rule, autonomy confuse masses and layman like me has no option but to give vent to our feelings through the words of Skeikh-ul-Aalam (RA):
Aamin Panan Partevi Haq Paum
Huwuy Dhutum Gatae ti Gash
Akuy Harf Tae Kunuy Sabaq Goum
Waneha Noun Tae Kat gase fash.
Our adversaries too get a wrong signal from passive posture of leaders. They perceive that the ones who reached to self rule from self determination can surely reconcile with status quo. In the name of realism, leaders are not supposed to stoop too low to make mockery of an aspiration and allow our adversaries to pity on us. It already happened when even Atal Behari Vajpayee conveyed in a public meeting at Srinagar that why resistance leaders are degrading themselves to the level of Nagas (Aap apny ko nagas ke asthar par kyu girate ho). He made this remark in response to demand of some leaders to negotiate with Kashmiris the way India has negotiated with Nagas. In spite of these remarks, the leaders continue to repeat the same language.
Realties are relative, aspirations are permanent and perpetual. Realities of today do not remain realities of tomorrow. Few years back, US President Bush used to say “be with us or with our adversaries.” This was the dictate of the sole super power to small and big nations of the world. Today we see the world has changed. There is no support for Bush anywhere in the world. One after another, US allies are withdrawing from Iraq. American public is demanding early withdrawal from Iraq. Bush has to beg support from his own public. Reality of yesteryears is no more a reality today. Few months back Musharraf behaved as master of the whole sub-continent. He pronounced quick-fix solutions to every problem including ours. He was ready compromise the aspirations of Kashmiris and Moderate Hurriyat leaders took pride in dancing to his tones. Today Musharraf is fighting for his own survival. Realities changed within few months. Aspirations survive the worst form of oppression.
Today we are being told to be realistic, compromise with realities. Decline in the levels of militancy is given as a reason for compromising aspirations. Militancy, no doubt, is receding in Kashmir but it’s not only we who are experiencing reversals in course of our resistance. Indians too lost their first War of independence in 1857. It was this defeat that brought India within direct control of Britishers. Prior to this they were ruled by East India Company under symbolic monarchy of Mughals. They did not abandon their quest for freedom. Their freedom movement re-emerged from the ashes of 1857 war. Freedom movement of Kashmir preceded militancy and it will proceed beyond it. For years prior to militancy, Kashmiris struggled for freedom. Militancy was not beginning of the freedom movement, nor will freedom struggle end with the end of militancy. We are being told that Pakistan is ready for compromise on Kashmir. Kashmiris are not the only ones who are facing such a type of situation. Palestinians too were betrayed by Egypt when it recognized Israel. How did Palestinians respond? They launched Intifada which proved more costly for Israel then its wars with Arab countries. Today even U.S. and Britain have reconciled to existence of an independent Palestinian State.
Strength of our struggle lies in our conviction and association with our cause. If we have a conviction, there is no option but to continue the resistance. Masses do have conviction; they are determinant to continue irrespective of what their leaders do. They have depicted this conviction by continuing their struggle after 70’s when Sheik Abdullah compromised with realities of his times and termed the Freedom struggle of Kashmir as awaragardi. He made a compromise; new generations of Kashmiris tore 1975 Accord into pieces. They demonstrated to the world that Kashmir continues to be a disputed territory through their courage and conviction. If leaders of our times enter into a compromise it is not necessary that our future generations will accept it. They can behave in the same way as Kashmiris behaved during nineties despite the realistic approach and compromise of Sheikh Abdullah. It happens everywhere that generations in twenties and thirties play a leading role in a struggle. This generation gets exhausted and a fatigue syndrome overtakes them. Small children imbibe the spirit of their struggle and play their innings once they reach twenties. The process goes on. In Kashmir of twenty first century, masses are not ready to concede and compromise their aspirations. The leadership seems to be more tired rather than representing aspirations of masses. Leaders seem to be vomiting what they are made to vomit by those who hold their remote control. From the level of leaders and custodians of an aspiration, they seem to have relegated themselves to the level of remote controlled toys. They have a grudge against the local media for not reflecting their achievements. The achievements speak for themselves. Without achieving anything if one trumpets about his performance no one is going to believe it, because as they correctly say in Persian:
Etir Boyad Na Ki Attar Begoyad.
In law we say justice should not only be done but it should be seen to have been done. If I rephrase it in context of our struggle it means that aspirations should not only be represented they should be seen to be represented. If you use the same terminology which is used by the instruments and agents of status quo, this leads to confusion. People are unable to differentiate between truth and falsehood. The terms like self rule, autonomy confuse masses and layman like me has no option but to give vent to our feelings through the words of Skeikh-ul-Aalam (RA):
Aamin Panan Partevi Haq Paum
Huwuy Dhutum Gatae ti Gash
Akuy Harf Tae Kunuy Sabaq Goum
Waneha Noun Tae Kat gase fash.
Our adversaries too get a wrong signal from passive posture of leaders. They perceive that the ones who reached to self rule from self determination can surely reconcile with status quo. In the name of realism, leaders are not supposed to stoop too low to make mockery of an aspiration and allow our adversaries to pity on us. It already happened when even Atal Behari Vajpayee conveyed in a public meeting at Srinagar that why resistance leaders are degrading themselves to the level of Nagas (Aap apny ko nagas ke asthar par kyu girate ho). He made this remark in response to demand of some leaders to negotiate with Kashmiris the way India has negotiated with Nagas. In spite of these remarks, the leaders continue to repeat the same language.
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