Omar Abdullah has risen from the ashes like the proverbial phoenix. For those who came in late, Omar is the scion of Kashmir’s first family of mainstream politics: the Abdullah’s. His party the national conference [NC] is currently in favour at New Delhi [Flavour of the month, as the corporate-ad media would have it. As if parties were ice-cream cones]. India’s very own GoP Congress party has decided to truck with NC. This would be the third marriage between the two parties [Indira-Sheikh accord, Rajiv-Farooq accord]. The last two matches didn’t last. Everyone hopes this one does.
Omar has promise. He has everything it takes – He is young [At 38 he will be JK’s youngest ever CM]. He has potential, is known to speak his mind and is eloquent. Both his father and grandfather have been key to the somewhat absurd political theatre of Kashmir. Sadly, outside the hustings, the Sheikhs proved utterly disappointing. While grandpa Sheikh had his moments, Farooq was a flop, whose only vocation in life is his fondness for dance and golf. You don’t do ‘disco’ and attempt ‘fat shots’ while your backyard burns.
I don’t want to dig history up. It has been murky in the hills. Kashmir’s past has been witness to court intrigues and family duels. New Delhi has forever played Brutus in the vale, while general after ambitious general in Pakistan has attempted to be an Edmund, straight out of King Lear. Amidst such high drama — where promises were made to be broken, where the tallest leader was promptly cut to size for even daring to stand up, where allegiances change overnight — the Abdullah’s have kept the flag [of secularism, of family rule, of India] fluttering in Kashmir. And it has never been a cake walk.
A very intelligent newspaper editor once cheekily told me that for the Kashmir imbroglio to be resolved in our lifetimes, we need to wait till the current crop of politicians die. I reckon we don’t need to wait for that. Although I don’t think much of this sub-continent practice of passing the baton within the family [like an heirloom because it makes such mockery of democracy] I’m willing to make concessions for anyone who is bright in Kashmir. We have had enough of the vintage variety who sadly represent our very corrupt polity. They mostly wear huge Kara Kul caps on petty skulls. Kashmir needs a huge dose of educated and promising minds. In that case, Omar is a welcome relief.
They say uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Omar is going to lord over a state where his bete noire [PDP of the Mufti’s] and ex-bed fellows [a rejuvenated BJP] are going to lunge at him at every possible opportunity. Add to that the separatist camp, which is still smarting over its apparent loss of face after a complete disregard to their poll boycott call. They can be upto mischief anytime. I don’t know if Omar has read Hegel. There was never a greater need for dialectics.
Abdullah III has got to deliver on myriad fronts. His turbulent state deserves better than pock marked roads and light less nights. He must see to it that his ministers don’t get fat — as they are often wont to — and make hay while the sun shines. He has to seriously sit down to try and make genuine attempts to reach out to the youth and not let them go waste. He has to unsure that the troopers don’t attempt their bravery on a poor peasant in their dreaded camps or his task force doesn’t torture a school kid to death in custody. He has to ensure that civil liberties are not trampled in the countryside where no TV cameras go.
Even if he attempts to achieve one of the above mentioned, Kashmiris will be forever grateful to 40 Gupkar, Kashmir’s 10 Janpath.
It is never going to be easy. I just hope he proves to be the exorcist we badly need to stave off our past ghosts, who still haunt us, from time to time.
Picture: The Tribune
When Omar Abdullah talks, you can make out that he is sincere. Moreover, as he is young, the chances that he will be more energetic and driven than most, are high.
Mehbooba Mufti is a wily exponent of doublespeak, and he will have to watch out for her. And the separatists will be also after him, for sure. The BJP should not oppose him if they are true nationalists.
Milind,
You don’t sense any doublespeak when the man who backed POTA and openly aligned himself with the BJP (a party that has, since it’s inception, opposed even basic autonomy in J&K) is now running around declaring himself a supporter of Kashmiri autonomy?
Shahnaz,
It is not Omar Abdullah who has strengthened the BJP. Moreover, if he was at one time associated with them, he has now distanced himself from them. Would you grudge him a wise decision using the benefit of hindsight?
Coming to the subject of who has strengthened the BJP. It is the separatists who have through their strident anti India rhetoric, handed Jammu on a plate to the BJP. Everybody knows that the BJP is a fanatical party that capitalizes on such issues.
Even the separatists do not appear very clear on what they want. Do they want to secede from the Indian Union or do they want autonomy?
Shahnaz, please see my comments on your article about the election. Politicians will be politicians. Double speak is what politics all about. The whole gamut of politicians of Kashmir starting from Omar Abdulla’s grand father, have been changing their stands, partners and allies from 1947. The intelligent Kashmiri has shown what he wants and I salute him/her for it. Economics will make everything else irrelevant.
History teaches us that the ‘Abdullahs’ have been a viceroy or agents of Indian not because somebody doubts the accession of the state of Kashmeer to India but because the Indian dispensation since 1947 treated the state that way. We are not more than an occupying power with ‘undeclared’ curfew so openly and blatantly reported by the ‘free’ media. May be the people have voted there just as Palestinians did in West Bank and Ghaza, but we know what was the plan there. Why not we take a lession from the Indian Freedom struggle from the Brit. That is exactly why the Jamate Islami Kashmeer endorsed the election. The state government is not more than a ‘Municipal Dispensation’ in Kashmeer as has been proved in the land struggle. Now, it all depends how ‘India’ treats the state and ‘integrate’ it into the ‘mainstream. The quotations are a slur on India but are facts. Hope, India becomes a State and does not remain a geographycal entity.
Milind,
You misunderstood my post entirely. I’m not claiming he “handed” Jammu to the BJP today. I’m pointing out that he openly aligned the NC with the BJP till 2003, and even served as a junior minister under the BJP/NDA government. The man has clearly demonstrated that he is willing to sell his alleged “principals” for power in the past…which is why I have a hard time seeing him as the pillar of integrity and hope that you and other Indians are trying to pass him off as.
Shahnaz,
You would know far more about Omar Abdullah than me. I can talk about what is apparent to me.
When you say “you and other Indians”, you clearly do not identify with India. It is sad that a wonderfully romantic place like Kashmir, with its shikaras, pashmina shawls, wazwan cuisine and so many other delights has a population that feels so disenfranchised and disenchanted.
Shed the bitterness and be friends with India. We do not want to dominate you or manipulate you.
As Salamu Aliekum(peace be upon all of you)….
Yes, Omar is a sunrise in the dark clouds mounted over Kashmir and not SONRISE…..
Dear Milind and Shahnaz, I’m sorry to intervene in your discussion, but actually you both are wasting your time in past shit history…. I totally Believe that, we should take lessons from past and not only blame past for what is in the present, however work in our present for our bright future……
As far as politicians are concerned, even the BJP and all are always involved in Doublespeak, Politicians Will Be Politicians…..
Today what Kashmir needs is economy. Three Basic Needs should be fulfill such as Roti, Kapra aur Makan(Food, Clothing and Shelter), proper Roads, Electricity, Transport and so on…..
Yes, they need Independence but not Independence from India, however from there own separatist Mindset. I can’t imagine there pain and their anger but i do understand one thing, Allah(swt) says in the Holy Quran that, “Truth In Front Of Falsehood, Falsehood Always Go Down”…
In my city Pune, the culture capital of Maharashtra, is a place for 100′s of Refugee Kashmirs and in my daily life, I meet them, at college, near home, and else where. I totally realize that they need someone like Omar, who can take them out of there bloodiest past…
Lets Hope He Can Do That….
I hope both of you take my comments in Positive way….
Lets Pray To Allah(swt), That Allah(swt) Will Give Us A Solution To This Social Problem… Aameen…
Jai Hind
Allah Hafiz….
I’m a huge fan of Omar, though I’m not aware of his credentials. saw his fiery speech at the Parliament few months back,he did silenced the critics of Congress. The man has it in him.
Do he has experience?. No. Will he be able to walk the talk?. Only time will tell, but for the moment, he’s the man. Hola Omar.
Wasim,
While you may dismiss all of it as “s**t history,” past decisions and actions are the only basis we have on which we can fairly judge and evaluate the merits of politicians and other public figures. And on that basis, Omar Abdullah’s rather duplicitous history is hardly reassuring.
As for the rest of your post, you yourself admit that you don’t understand our history, and can’t fathom our pain or anger. In that case, spare us the lecture on what we “need.” It’s almost as absurd as hearing Omar Abdullah extolling the virtues of “Kashmiriyat” despite not being able to speak a word of Kashmiri.
Shahnaz,
History cannot be wished away, but we can learn from the painful experiences thereof.
We can identify a lot of things that HAVEN’T worked for us, the most fundamental of which appears to me to be a rigidity of stance, irrespective of which side I talk about.
Omar Abdullah may be all you say, but at least he is a KASHMIRI. Why not use him as an ambassador to deal with the rest of India. Now, he has a REPUTATION to live up to, and may deal differently.
Milind,
“Ambassadors” are chosen from amongst people who have demonstrated that they are capable of appropriately advocating the interests of those they represent. Again, I’m not talking about distant history here. As late as the summer of 2003, Omar Abdullah and the NC were intimately aligned with the BJP…that means that, after paying lip-service to the concept of Kashmir’s autonomy to get elected, they turned around and jumped in bed with a party that has, since its very inception, fought to strip Kashmir of the few remaining token remnants of its “special status.” I sincerely doubt that you yourself would want to trust someone who had betrayed you on such a fundamental level to be your ambassador, so why should we?
Shahnaz,
If we were to look at it purely from the point of view of justice, why does Kashmir want a special status. To use an Orwellian term, are you “more equal” than others?
Why not foster an atmosphere of trust and give peace a chance. At least, you are not dealing with the BJP. Some solution will HAVE to be worked out given the geographical proximity.
Shahnaz
Not sure….but in your opinion are Kashmiris such a distinct part of the human race that they have nothing to do with Indian subcontinent….why are so many migrating to the west seeking citizenship…or is it that they have more to share with Europeans than the South Asians? History is the same but each has ones own viewpoint…..Democracy means that all co-exist.
Every culture has its uniqueness and distinctness….if that alone was a reason for nation states, most of todays nations would have been countless sub nation states.
Who in your opinion are the Ambassadors of Kashmir if not the duly elected persons till now? Omar may have far less to share with rest of India but I’m sure many Indians consider him very high in the list of emerging Indians leadership. We are far from a perfect nation but we want to be better…sometimes we do not have the perfect solution, only a better option….
Based on the fact that in October, 1999,Omar Abdullah took oath as the youngest(29 yearsold)Minister
of State in the Ministry of External Affairs in the NDA govt. led by BJP, Shahnaz Agha has raised questions regarding the credibility of Omar.It may be recalled that he resigned from the post on 23rd December,2002 as a protest against Gujarat carnage!Now,he is 38 and has discovered many facts about politics and people.Strictly speaking, his rise comes after the setting of his father.Hence, it is “moon rise” after the sunset! Let us hope that the promising young man carries J&K to glories hitherto not seen or heard.It is for the people of J&K to offer him bouquets for his achievements and brickbats for failure.
Based on the fact that in October, 1999,Omar Abdullah took oath as the youngest(29 yearsold)Minister
of State in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and later in External Affairs in the NDA govt. led by BJP, Shahnaz Agha has raised questions regarding the credibility of Omar.It may be recalled that he resigned from the post on 23rd December,2002 as a protest against Gujarat carnage!Now,he is 38 and has discovered many facts about politics and people.Strictly speaking, his rise comes after the setting of his father.Hence, it is “moon rise” after the sunset! Let us hope that the promising young man carries J&K to glories hitherto not seen or heard.It is for the people of J&K to offer him bouquets for his achievements and brickbats for failure.
Sameer Bhat writes vey well. His language is very crisp and original.
Way to go!
As Salamu Aliekum(peace be upon all of you)…
Dear Shahnaz….
I never said, i don’t understand your history. I used the word s**t because i have encounter such Kashmirs, who had lost some or the other person in the families, the illegal shooting by Army and Police…. I know from every House there is some one who is in Jail or killed in encounters….
I said i can’t imagine there pain and anger….. I want them to be Independent from there separatist mind set, i want them to think for peace, future, prosperity and Insha Allah they will do it…..
Even the Mir Wiz Omar the head of Hurriyat, agreed they need to introspect what went wrong, why didn’t the people support there boycott call….
I think Mr. Omar, few days back clearly told the house and the Country, that he did a mistake by standing with the NDA(BJP), so lets give him a chance and Milind rightly said lets peace get a chance….
You Said: “As for the rest of your post, you yourself admit that you don’t understand our history, and can’t fathom our pain or anger. In that case, spare us the lecture on what we “need.”
Sorry, I’m not giving you any lecture, i know that you people know better what are your needs….
Take an example “if Palestinians says that we don’t need any one help from the UN and the rest of the world, then Israelis we go on rampage and brutally kill all the Palestine”….
I know we can’t compare both the situation both, but there is one common thing is both of these people, that they are Muslims and been attack by the legal Militants (Israel and Indian Army And Yes The So Call Freedom Fighters From POK, Who Have Killed More Kashmirs Then Any One Else)….
Who are we? aren’t we Indian Muslims, even our hearts cry when we see you, your pain, your anger, your hungry, your helplessness and so on….
Allah(swt) says in The Holy Quran “You Muslims Are The Best Of People Evolved For Mankind” and the Muslims in rest of India are your Brothers and Sisters, don’t feel isolated, yes we are there with you…..
Look at the Muslims in Mumbai and Gujarat, aren’t they even not the same victim of what has happen in Kashmir, but they are out and growing and trying be in mainstream of Indian Economy, Muslims all over our Beloved Country India are fighting and demanding for their right, so i only want you people to come out and be the part of our mainstream….
Even if you people are given Independence from Indian, then where will you go to Pakistan, who themselves are not able to run there lawless country or will be an Independent country, which later will be attacked by Militants from POK or the Pak Army and give The USA chance to enter and Declare you as another Taliban like State and Invade Kashmir same as Afghanistan…..
So, Please stay with India and fight for your rights…
If you take it as a lecture, that’s your choice, i said all this because i want to change the way we Indian Muslims thinks and don’t want to repeat the mistakes done by our forefathers…..
Lets Pray To Allah(swt), That Allah(swt) Will Solve Your Problems…Aameen…
Jai Hind
Allah Hafiz….
What is very apparent is that there are many Kashmiris who have a very deep rooted hatred for India. It is very unfortunate because Indians have always regarded Kashmir as the cynosure of their eyes.
It is about Kashmir that an Indian Emperor said “Agar Firdaus bar rui zamin ast, hamin ast, hamin ast hamin ast.”
Feelings of affection are usually mutual, but it is not the case here. Indians cherish Kashmir, but many Kashmiris hate India.
Milind,
Tell me, do you Indians think that the Kashmiri people are so subhuman that we don’t deserve the right to determine the future of our very own homeland? That foreign armies can come in and occupy our land against our expressed will…install dictators to rule over us through sham elections for decades…and then turn around and lecture us on democracy and equality? Are you not content to rule over your own homelands, so you feel the need to impose your hegemony over our land too? And then, when we ask for the right to self-determination, order us to leave our homes and “go to Pakistan” because by some twisted logic, you believe you have a greater right to our homes than we do?
Sudie,
Plenty of nation-states are based on ethnic and cultural heritage (virtually the entire Western Hemisphere is divided on that basis). Feel free to take pride in your invented, post-colonial nation state…but that hardly gives you the right to forcibly impose your will on others.
As for Omar Abdullah, even if we accept the ECI’s figures as fact, a grand total of 21% of eligible voters in his constituency voted for him. Resounding popular mandate…not quite.
Wasim,
Please refrain from using the Holy Quran to rationalize the Indian occupation of Kashmir. In doing so, you sully the word of God.
As for the rest of your post, from day one, India has repeatedly demonstrated to us that it has no interest in respecting our rights…preferring instead to indulge its land lust through the brutal and violent suppression of Kashmiri society…even before it sent in its army and Ikhwani terrorists to butcher tens of thousands of civilians. At this point, its almost foolish to expect any different from the Indian government.