THE WIDESPREAD condemnation and protests by Kashmiris following the Pahalgam massacre of April 22, marks a significant shift in the thought processes in Kashmir.
The way the people of Kashmir have reacted and responded to the events following the massacre is exemplary and unprecedented. I have been arguing for the last many years that Kashmiris are withdrawing from the support to violence and extremism. It is unprecedented to see Kashmiris from every nook and corner of the Valley, from all walks of life, publicly and courageously denouncing the brutal and cowardice act of terrorism unleashed in Pahalgam despite provocations from the fringe across the country.
An impression is given that the widespread condemnation by Kashmir against the Pahalgam massacre is because of the fear of losing livelihood. Contextualising such an unprecedented and widespread condemnation for the first time since the inception of terrorism in 1989 and attributing it to the loss of revenue – the natural fall-out of the attack on tourists – is contemptuous. There had been disturbances and distractions in the past 35 years resulting in huge economic losses; still there was popular support to the violent agitations. Let it be clear – the condemnation, the protests, the candle marches and above all, the condemnation sermons that resonated during Friday prayers on April 25 in almost all the mosques of the Kashmir Valley, reflect on the changing dynamics of Kashmir.
Some commentators and watchers attributing this to the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, are again wrong. Consistently and constantly, I have been arguing with full confidence at my command that the transition we are witnessing in the Kashmir society is not even remotely related to the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution by virtue of which the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir enjoyed a unique position within the Union of India. The transition is because of the disillusionment and disenchantment with the separatism and separatist ideology which could be clearly traced post Hizbul poster boy Burhan Wani’s killing in 2016. The transition is real and genuine and it is beyond the scope of the fall-out of the Pahalgam massacre.
It has to be appreciated that Kashmir yearns for peaceful coexistence. Kashmiris want to see an end to violence and that is essentially why there has been unequivocal condemnation of the Pahalgam massacre during Friday prayers all across the Kashmir Valley. The signal has been given to Pakistan and the writing is on the wall. The storm is brewing against Pakistan and that is something huge. If there is any one irritant or roadblock which slows the pace of emotional integration of Kashmir with the mainland India – that is the political polarisation and the ‘othering’ of Kashmiris by the political class simmering right under the nose of the political bosses in New Delhi.
