Usman Haidry
Life has no Meaning in Kashmir… On August 5, 2019. India made an announcement that sent shockwaves all around the globe. Indian Government moved stripped away special Autonomy of Indian Occupied Kashmir. At the stake was the future of one of the world’s most disputed regions of the world. It’s a huge surprise. A significant move to take direct control of the state of Kashmir. If I were to sum up August 5th in one line: I would say that it has laid the foundation for another decade of conflict.So how is the decision on Article 370 reshaping the region? let us unpack that for you .Kashmir has been a major International story for Decades. Article 370 of Indian Constitution was a special Semi Autonomous Status. Indian Occupied Kashmir had its own flag, Legislative Assembly and Chief Minister. Related articles forbade outsider to settle in buy land hold local Government Jobs or win Scholarships in Indian Occupied Kashmir. It meant that Kashmir is for Kashmir’s. Under British rule, the entire region known as the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir. It had a Muslim majority population and a Hindu Ruler. In 1947 the colonial rule ended but before the British left they partitioned India into two countries. Normally pretending to be a secular but Hindu majority India and Muslim majority in Pakistan were born. All the Princely States were given the authority to join either country. The ruler of Jammu and Kashmir at that time a man by the name of Hari Singh handed over to India without the wishes of Kashmir People. The people of Kashmir wanted to join Pakistan and in this area of the world there appeared threat to International peace. And soon the newly formed state of Pakistan and India went for war. What we now often refer to simply as the Kashmir conflict had begun. The United Nations intervened one year later. It’s resolution also calls for the referendum. That referendum never happened. The Occupied region of Jammu and Kashmir which had the special privileges offered under Article 370. So taking it away was a shock. Nobody from the Kashmir and Jammu was consulted before this decision. Kashmiri Muslims fear that this could spell the end of their Muslim majority in the region. If we were the kind of the list three different fears that Kashmir’s have I Will say Demographic change, Demographic change, Demographic change because that leads to everything. Meanwhile Ending Article 370 has brought with it a serious clampdown on residents in Indian Occupied Kashmir. There was a region wide internet blackout it is still partially in place. Indian Occupied Kashmir meanwhile remains in lockdown. All communication lines now suspended no internet day and night curfew. During the lockdown the United Nations special reporters’ expressed ” grave concern over alleged excessive use of force ill treatment during arrest and detentions” Several local Politician were arrested and some are seeing change in attitude on the ground Young Political Activists who showed a lot of hope and progressive who wants peace today they are totally alienated and they have switched to a discourse which is totally separatist. Revoking Articles 370 was motivated by Prime Minister Narendara Modi’s own Political Ambitions of a Hindu Nationalist State. In fact it was one of the main campaign promises of his party. The Hindu Nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party in 2019 . As we all know about prevailing condition of COVID 19. Destruction all around the globe but Narendara Modi government still retains the lock down in Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir has ONE ventilator for every 71000 people, One doctor for every 3900 people and ONE Armed Soldier for every 9 people. I don’t really see a Positive future because after August 5th the Government really had a very small window of aggressively deploying its resources when it comes to development, infrastructure you know winning heart’s and minds. That has not been happening but what has really happened after August 5th the humiliation continues. Life has no meaning in Kashmir says the man who collected the pieces of Nephew brain killed in shelling. “We don’t know what will happen to us. We don’t know when shelling might start again. Whether we live or not who cares says Abdul Majeed who lost his nephew in shelling”.
