Kashmiris forget aazadi, settle for autonomy

Kashmiris forget aazadi, settle for autonomy
MUZAMIL JALEEL

SRINAGAR, JUNE 30: Autonomy to Kashmir. It does not matter whether the resolution demanding autonomy to the State adopted by the J&K Legislative Assembly is accepted by the Centre or not, the debate itself has changed the Valley's lexicon of issues. For the first time in a decade of militancy, the topic is autonomy not aazadi.

A majority in Kashmir is sceptical of any positive outcome, but the autonomy debate has generated hope and excitement in the violence-ravaged Kashmir. One can distinctive hear the sound of breaking the ice, and the dominant feeling is that at least things have started moving after years of frustration and stagnation.

"It has come as a little hope in a complete state of desperation. Even a small chance here creates hope," said Professor Noor Ahmad Baba, head of the Political Science Department in Kashmir University. "After all, autonomy is the minimum on which the Kashmir problem can be solved. It is the only possible solution short of aazadi

," Prof Baba said. He, however, believes that the people are excited merely because Farooq Abdullah was taking a position. "If he is doing it just for his own survival, then things will not remain as such for long," he said and added that if Delhi responds favourably, it will definitely "provide certain amount of legitimacy to both Centre and Abdullah in Kashmir".

The common people too know the autonomy resolution means nothing on ground but they feel excited at the prospect of change. "I know it does not mean much without the Centre's blessings," said Nazir Ahmad Wani, a grocery merchant in downtown city. "But at least a process has been initiated and things have started moving," he adds. A school teacher, Shabir Hussain, sitting next to him too substantiates his views. "Stagnation and status quo have proven dangerous. There is a need for a change. Otherwise everything will continue like this. Today, security forces have an upper hand, tomorrow militants rule the roost," he said. "How long will this carry on?"

Though the people don't admit openly, they do crave for peace to return and many see autonomy as a dignified way out. Many others take it as a step closer to independence. Reasons are clear: People have lost hope in everything else. The 10-year-long militancy has left thousands dead, orphaned and widowed but nothing changed on the ground. Even the war in Kargil failed to fetch any results and a permanent solution to Kashmir problem still remains a distant dream.

However, the excitement is mixed with scepticism as well and genuinely so. First, there are apprehensions that the resolution for restoration of autonomy passed by the State Legislative Assembly will meet the fate of the re-settlement bill, which was sent to Delhi in similar circumstances never to return back. Another reason is that the process does not include the separatist groups, who continue pressing for the grant of right of self-determination rather than accept any settlement within the Indian Union.

"I personally believe that Kashmiris do want a hiatus from death and destruction. They desperately want some break in the cycle of violence that has turned their lives hell. This is exactly why they are happy. For the first time, somehow things seem to be moving," said a political science lecturer, who sought anonymity. "Majority of them want change. They are fed up with fixed minds and rigid stands at the cost of their lives."

Interestingly, the six-day-long debate and the adoption of a resolution by the State Legislative Assembly has been topic of discussions everywhere. From a barber's shop to a jampacked Matador city bus, from a Government office to a yaribal (dock) on the river Jhelum, where housewives gather to wash clothes or fetch water. "I don't know what exactly autonomy will fetch Kashmir but I feel it is something better than what we have today," said Mehmooda, a housewife in uptown Srinagar.

In fact, Abdullah and his party colleagues seem to had tailored their assembly speeches keeping in view the local sentiment. The Doordarshan and Radio Kashmir gave extensive coverage to the Assembly proceedings where the ruling NC leaders spit fire against the Centre and even vowed to take the "fight for restoration of autonomy to its logical conclusion at any cost" only helped to generate this excitement among aggrieved Kashmiris. It was literally music to their ears and Abdullah's popularity graph went up overnight.

Kashmiri columnist Tahir Mohideen too believes the debate did generate interest among the locals. "Everybody is looking at the next step now which will make or mar this entire process. Everybody is waiting for how Delhi reacts," he said. He said the autonomy issue taken up by the NC makes it clear that no Kashmiri political group is for prevailing status quo.

For the separatists, autonomy is a step closer to their goal. "The NC invited India here. They are responsible for the so-called accession. If they demand autonomy, it proves things are going in our favour," a Hurriyat leader said.

The JKLF (Amanullah) called the autonomy resolution adopted by the Assembly as a "pleasant surprise" and claimed that "if implemented it will pave way for the liberation". A statement, circulated here, revealed that "the ball was in India's court and she was morally, politically and democratically bound to accept the demand made by over two-third majority of the Assembly, which India herself had been presenting to the world as the true representative body of Kashmiris".