Kashmir is a tolerant and fairly liberal society which is built on a glorious ancient heritage. This is why the Valley is likely to be pleased that one of its girls took the third place — just behind two girls from Africa, famous for producing world-beating long-distance runners — in the women’s section of the half-marathon last Sunday.
Women refused to succumb to sexist bullying and did take part in the international event although a bunch of politically-motivated rowdies sought to disrupt the race, targeting the female participants in particular.
The “news”-hungry media, especially television, chose to project the troublemaking, not the brave spirit of the local people. This is what it has done best over the years, and unwittingly distorted a society’s image.
But for all the political complexities and the separatist aspirations of some, success has been celebrated — when Kashmiris have come out tops in musical talent hunts, have led the civil services selection list, made the Indian cricket team, or won the Jnanpith, the country’s most celebrated literature award.
In recent months, there has been some buzz about a new type of young men — educated and from well-to-do families — joining militant ranks and posting promotional videos on social networking sites. Naturally, a new phenomenon must be understood and appropriate action taken. But there is no getting away from the fact that in a long time New Delhi has done all too little to talk politics with Kashmir. So, there can be no surprises with an unwholesome development of this nature.
Granted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is no Atal Behari Vajpayee, in whom a wide section of the Kashmir political class had invested some faith, but the Modi regime has proved utterly disappointing and the Valley has begun saying this openly.
It has been a year since the terrible flood which crippled the Valley, economically and on any human index, but there has not even been a trickle of Central assistance. This has left a sense of betrayal. This is being sought to be built on by pro-Pakistan elements, and the ISI — which guides and supports them in every way — at a time when Pakistan’s policy towards this country is turning truculent based on a host of regional geopolitical factors turning in its favour.
It was in the expectation of substantial financial relief and bold political moves by a new national leader, presented in the media as a doer, that a compact with the BJP, although seen with great suspicion on account of its negative reputation in relation to Muslims, was struck by PDP and the saffron party was enabled to acquire governmental authority in J&K for the first time. Today the PDP is being asked questions in its bastions. Politically the situation has turned more complicated and calls for astute handling.
