Disdained beauty, like an island of heaven in an ocean of hell! The chutzpah of Kashmir

Kashmir - the crown that sits atop India, is in a dire state and needs revival from its kind. With so much going on around the world, we seemed to have forgotten that life is still at a standstill in India’s newest Union Territory. Uncertainty is an everyday phenomenon for the locals; events like complete lockdown, internet shutdown, military interference, use of force, religious tensions, and fear of inexistence are part of everyday life.

But wait, isn’t J&K India’s crown jewel and one of the most beautiful places in the world. Then how did this happen? Was it always like this? Why does constant social unrest loom around a place which is paradise on earth? Needless to say, Kashmir has the most picturesque views, scenic splendor, plentiful wildlife, exquisite monuments, and local handicrafts. Kashmir reminds me of a high school sweetheart who drove boys mad around her. India, Pakistan, and China have coveted this beauty ever since 1947. All she ever wanted is to be young-wild and free. Here is a deep dive into the unsettling reality, to settle in the crown jewel of India. The Chutzpah of Kashmir.

History of Kashmir - How it all began

Kashmir used to be one of the 562 princely states of India. State with a special status, local laws, and local ruler. Kashmir always had a dominant Muslim population, yet since 1846 it was ruled by the Hindu family of Dogras. Hari Singh the ruler of Kashmir at the time of partition was against the instrument of accession and wanted the princely state of Kashmir to stay an independent nation. Kashmir in its pursuit of an independent nation and denied both India and Pakistan the right to accession. Unlike Junagarh and Hyderabad, the sister princely states were least threatened by Pakistan and were on the same side as Kashmir, wanting to enjoy their autonomy. Kashmir failed to enjoy the same fate as them. The peace it wanted never came, surrounded by three behemoths India, Pakistan, and China, and all wanting a piece of it; Hari Singh gave in.

With Pakistan poking the borders Hari Singh signed accession with India on one condition, Kashmir maintains its sovereignty. The locals accepted the fate but never married to the name India. Kashmir enjoyed a special status, local laws, local constitution, and its own flag. This is what it took for India to marry Kashmir in 1947, the then leader Vallabbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru accepted the terms of accession with grace. Yet this did not stop Pakistan from advancing in Kashmir’s territory and making it it’s own.

The unrest began when Pakistan did not accept Kashmir accepting accession with India. And that's when Nehru reached out to the UN to step in. UN resolution 47 of 1948 - suggested plebiscite as the most viable solution. Giving the people of Kashmir power to choose their groom and their fate. Both India and Pakistan declined the proposal that could have stopped over 7 decades of unrest and violence. Why? India feared losing Kashmir as the dominant population in the state is Muslim while Pakistan being Pakistan was afraid of losing what it had captured thus far. This led to Article 370 and later Article 35A as a remedy for the people of Kashmir.

Did you know - Article 35A was never part of our constitution, it was rather an appendix added to support Article 370(1).

It would be unjust to say Kashmir enjoyed the autonomy it got with Article 370 and Article 35A. It has seen war, riots, social disbalance, growing militants, and a foggy future for most parts of the 73 years of covet.

The dilemma of existence - To be or not to be

While the rest of India has moved on and grown to become a superpower, Kashmir is still reliving 1947-48 over and over again. It is still in the midst of being independent and total independence. The economy of Kashmir has been a roller coaster ride, with hardly any consistency. Even though Kashmiris enjoyed dual citizenship and autonomous rights for most of their existence, they are yet to enjoy life and freedom as the rest of India. Tourism was supposed to be the backbone of the state. It is now under the turmoil of the safety and security concerns of the state.

The community finds it challenging to enjoy the same freedom as the rest of the nation. I do not find myself educated enough to comment on the civil rights situation of the state. But what little I know, it is not the same as it is in other parts of India. The unrest in the crown jewel draws its powers from the growing militancy and resistance among people. The fear of losing their identity and existence to mobilization and globalization has kept them at bay with development. 17 states in India share their borders with neighboring nations. Yet only Jammu and Kashmir which faces the threat of being invaded.

History has not been kind to the crown jewel and its counterparts. Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and Aksai Chin have had a similar history of unrest. Had the state been united from the very beginning, we might have witnessed a destination like no other. A destination as heavenly as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Alps, and what-not. Locals would have enjoyed owning the most beautiful landscape in the world. Living in peace and harmony with the rest of the world.

Had they known what the future has in store for them, they would have done things differently. Seeing things as they are now, welcoming Kashmir and its people as part of India, giving them the same priveledges and anonymity as others, and showing them our courtship; are going to be key factors in building the sense of nationalism in the locals. The local community has a big role to play here too. We need to work together as one, walk together as one, and build together as one. After 73 years of unrest, we owe it to them. It is time to end - the chutzpah in Kashmir.