By : Abu Moatism
Every now and then, we raise alarm, hue and cry that our demographics are either distorted, or tried to be distorted. Not only separatist camp, but even pro-Indian Kashmiri groups are very much serious about defending article-370 and thus its implications and the purpose. By all means, Kashmir is a Muslim region, its ethos, culture, traditions, values and psyche, whether in the form of echoing prayer calls from the minarets of Masajid, Ramadan festivities, Eid celebrations, Marriage ceremonies, burial processions, slogans or any other thing, Islam, our religion, does have a prominent and observable influence. What then happens to us, when somebody from among us, demands solution to Kashmir dispute on Islamic grounds? Why in this case, do we get confounded? Who, how and why has our psyche been modified to feel restless on this proposition? Why is this genuinely religious struggle, struggling to be acknowledged as a religious struggle.
In this regard, it will be our pleasure to share with you, our answers to a series of questions, asked to us in the capacity of the administrators of a face book forum “Kashmir – Integral Part of Global Islamic Khilafa state”.
Question: Kashmir is a pluralistic society and how can we ignore minority rights by imposing an Islamic solution? Do you, yet again want to kill and drive out minorities?
Admin Answer: Who said that Islam is hell bent to kill or drive out minorities? We Muslims cherish our ideals, which incorporate universal brotherhood, humanity, peace, love and mutual respect. Our religion is not devoid of such things, neither have we resigned to the allegations that pursuing an Islamic cause is preaching terrorism. If there is, or there was any atrocity committed, against Kashmiri pundits, it was not committed, by any religious organization, but by adherents of un-Islamic, secular and nationalistic ideologies. These perpetrators being Muslims do not provide any justification to blame Islam and doubt our sincere intentions to seek Islamic solution to our shared problems.
Question: We have UN resolutions and there is no mention of religion as far as solution to Kashmir dispute is concerned, why then should we seek anything on religious lines.
Admin Answer: UN resolutions came into being in the scenario of partition of Indian sub continent in 1947, which in turn was driven by religion. Then how is our struggle, not linked with the religion? Besides, when UN itself discriminates on the basis of religion, like in the case of Christian East Timor, where they played an active role, to get it liberated from Muslim Indonesia, then why should we abandon Islamic intercession in the matters of dispute and conflict?
Question: We should propagate and give more emphasis on Kashmiriyat than to religion. What is wrong, if we advocate our freedom struggle on the basis of kashmiriyat?
Admin Answer: If we adhere to kashmiriyat in principle, what about Ladakhiyat, Jammuiyat, Anantnagiyat, Soporiyat, Gilatiyat, Baltistaniyat, Srinagriyat and so many other local and regional sentiments. These sentiments are divisive in nature and have intrinsic flaw to bind people. Further loyalty to land is a western concept, and it not being divine, does not endorse any moral, ethical or religious constraints to commit atrocities, by people of one region against the people of other region. Kashmiriyat is Kashmir centric, it cannot be more than that and if it tries to widen its scope internally or externally, it will cease to be called as Kashmiriyat. Religion is universal and its message of love and peace incorporates even a distant non-state subject.
Question: We should be secular as far as seeking solution to Kashmir dispute is concerned, what wrong is there in secular solution, when secularism guaranties respect to all religions?
Admin Answer: This is a misconception that secularism means respecting all religions. Secularism actually disrespects all religions, nevertheless in equal proportion. It negates the concept of Ram Rajya, as well as the concept of Islamic system of governance, along with all the allied rules and regulations. It hates religion all together and advocates replacing divine systems with manmade, tailored doctrines. The fact is that, it is only religion that teaches to respect other religions.
Further, Islam’s dynamics allows for incorporating genuinely good things? We believe in taking care of our faith, which in itself means taking care of everything else, be it a good trait from democracy, socialism or even communism.
Question: Why cannot we seek solution on the basic of other religion than Islam?
Admin Answer: In Kashmir, Muslims are in majority and, is it rational to put into practice minority religion over majority. If it is, then why shouldn’t we attempt to have an Islamic system of governance in the entire India?
Question: What will be your stand, if India implements Hindu system of governance within its domain?
Admin Answer: Muslims never ever demanded that the church and the affairs of state should be segregated. Muslims never ever compelled India to embrace secularism. Muslims never ever compelled US or UK to enforce democratic set up. They either, themselves found discrepancies in their religious doctrines and abandoned them or else they wanted to get rid of moral code of conduct, based on divine principles. Personally, I believe, if Vedic rules and regulations are implemented in true spirit in India, Muslims inhabiting in there will be more safe and sound than now.
Question: Will UN and US acknowledge our religion based struggle? Will India concur to a solution based on Islam?
Admin Answer: India, UN and US already perceive and acknowledge us as Muslims and Muslims only, irrespective of the labels we try to put on. The good thing with them is that, they don’t discriminate among us, on the basis of our divide, be it sectarian, ethnic or jurisprudential. Further, post 9/11, it has become impossible even for secularists to bluff with them, by trying to wrap us in a secular cloak. Besides, disingenuous mudslinging against Muslims, genuine worry of rising extremism and subsequent bad-image has rendered this so called strategy obsolete. In either case, they won’t trust our secular credentials, even if we have some of them. Better present and promulgate our case honestly, openly, boldly and dexterously in the capacity of a Muslim. One must not forget that the hypocritical approach, at the outset is an unfair way of achieving any sacred objective. Besides trying to baffle them has a serious side-effect of baffling our own self, system and society.
Question: Religion will create trouble in seeking solution to Kashmir dispute?
Admin Answer: Can anybody prove it with reason and logic, that seeking freedom from India on secular grounds is easier than on religious grounds. So far, nobody has proved it to me. As a matter of fact, ground reality won’t change for India, for it, Azad-e-Kashmir is one and the same thing; pull-out from the occupied territory. If religious freedom for Kashmir has a potential to create religious hysteria in India, secular freedom too has a potential to incite regional sentiments like that of Tilangana sentiment, Marathi regionalism, sentiment of Dravidastan, Mangalorean regionalism, ULFA etc etc. However, for us, religious struggle, for its intrinsic potential to infuse sense of unity, religious fervor and consciousness among us, will be for sure advantageous and result oriented. Inshallah!
Every now and then, we raise alarm, hue and cry that our demographics are either distorted, or tried to be distorted. Not only separatist camp, but even pro-Indian Kashmiri groups are very much serious about defending article-370 and thus its implications and the purpose. By all means, Kashmir is a Muslim region, its ethos, culture, traditions, values and psyche, whether in the form of echoing prayer calls from the minarets of Masajid, Ramadan festivities, Eid celebrations, Marriage ceremonies, burial processions, slogans or any other thing, Islam, our religion, does have a prominent and observable influence. What then happens to us, when somebody from among us, demands solution to Kashmir dispute on Islamic grounds? Why in this case, do we get confounded? Who, how and why has our psyche been modified to feel restless on this proposition? Why is this genuinely religious struggle, struggling to be acknowledged as a religious struggle.In this regard, it will be our pleasure to share with you, our answers to a series of questions, asked to us in the capacity of the administrators of a face book forum “Kashmir – Integral Part of Global Islamic Khilafa state”.
Question: Kashmir is a pluralistic society and how can we ignore minority rights by imposing an Islamic solution? Do you, yet again want to kill and drive out minorities?
Admin Answer: Who said that Islam is hell bent to kill or drive out minorities? We Muslims cherish our ideals, which incorporate universal brotherhood, humanity, peace, love and mutual respect. Our religion is not devoid of such things, neither have we resigned to the allegations that pursuing an Islamic cause is preaching terrorism. If there is, or there was any atrocity committed, against Kashmiri pundits, it was not committed, by any religious organization, but by adherents of un-Islamic, secular and nationalistic ideologies. These perpetrators being Muslims do not provide any justification to blame Islam and doubt our sincere intentions to seek Islamic solution to our shared problems.
Question: We have UN resolutions and there is no mention of religion as far as solution to Kashmir dispute is concerned, why then should we seek anything on religious lines.
Admin Answer: UN resolutions came into being in the scenario of partition of Indian sub continent in 1947, which in turn was driven by religion. Then how is our struggle, not linked with the religion? Besides, when UN itself discriminates on the basis of religion, like in the case of Christian East Timor, where they played an active role, to get it liberated from Muslim Indonesia, then why should we abandon Islamic intercession in the matters of dispute and conflict?
Question: We should propagate and give more emphasis on Kashmiriyat than to religion. What is wrong, if we advocate our freedom struggle on the basis of kashmiriyat?
Admin Answer: If we adhere to kashmiriyat in principle, what about Ladakhiyat, Jammuiyat, Anantnagiyat, Soporiyat, Gilatiyat, Baltistaniyat, Srinagriyat and so many other local and regional sentiments. These sentiments are divisive in nature and have intrinsic flaw to bind people. Further loyalty to land is a western concept, and it not being divine, does not endorse any moral, ethical or religious constraints to commit atrocities, by people of one region against the people of other region. Kashmiriyat is Kashmir centric, it cannot be more than that and if it tries to widen its scope internally or externally, it will cease to be called as Kashmiriyat. Religion is universal and its message of love and peace incorporates even a distant non-state subject.
Question: We should be secular as far as seeking solution to Kashmir dispute is concerned, what wrong is there in secular solution, when secularism guaranties respect to all religions?
Admin Answer: This is a misconception that secularism means respecting all religions. Secularism actually disrespects all religions, nevertheless in equal proportion. It negates the concept of Ram Rajya, as well as the concept of Islamic system of governance, along with all the allied rules and regulations. It hates religion all together and advocates replacing divine systems with manmade, tailored doctrines. The fact is that, it is only religion that teaches to respect other religions.
Further, Islam’s dynamics allows for incorporating genuinely good things? We believe in taking care of our faith, which in itself means taking care of everything else, be it a good trait from democracy, socialism or even communism.
Question: Why cannot we seek solution on the basic of other religion than Islam?
Admin Answer: In Kashmir, Muslims are in majority and, is it rational to put into practice minority religion over majority. If it is, then why shouldn’t we attempt to have an Islamic system of governance in the entire India?
Question: What will be your stand, if India implements Hindu system of governance within its domain?
Admin Answer: Muslims never ever demanded that the church and the affairs of state should be segregated. Muslims never ever compelled India to embrace secularism. Muslims never ever compelled US or UK to enforce democratic set up. They either, themselves found discrepancies in their religious doctrines and abandoned them or else they wanted to get rid of moral code of conduct, based on divine principles. Personally, I believe, if Vedic rules and regulations are implemented in true spirit in India, Muslims inhabiting in there will be more safe and sound than now.
Question: Will UN and US acknowledge our religion based struggle? Will India concur to a solution based on Islam?
Admin Answer: India, UN and US already perceive and acknowledge us as Muslims and Muslims only, irrespective of the labels we try to put on. The good thing with them is that, they don’t discriminate among us, on the basis of our divide, be it sectarian, ethnic or jurisprudential. Further, post 9/11, it has become impossible even for secularists to bluff with them, by trying to wrap us in a secular cloak. Besides, disingenuous mudslinging against Muslims, genuine worry of rising extremism and subsequent bad-image has rendered this so called strategy obsolete. In either case, they won’t trust our secular credentials, even if we have some of them. Better present and promulgate our case honestly, openly, boldly and dexterously in the capacity of a Muslim. One must not forget that the hypocritical approach, at the outset is an unfair way of achieving any sacred objective. Besides trying to baffle them has a serious side-effect of baffling our own self, system and society.
Question: Religion will create trouble in seeking solution to Kashmir dispute?
Admin Answer: Can anybody prove it with reason and logic, that seeking freedom from India on secular grounds is easier than on religious grounds. So far, nobody has proved it to me. As a matter of fact, ground reality won’t change for India, for it, Azad-e-Kashmir is one and the same thing; pull-out from the occupied territory. If religious freedom for Kashmir has a potential to create religious hysteria in India, secular freedom too has a potential to incite regional sentiments like that of Tilangana sentiment, Marathi regionalism, sentiment of Dravidastan, Mangalorean regionalism, ULFA etc etc. However, for us, religious struggle, for its intrinsic potential to infuse sense of unity, religious fervor and consciousness among us, will be for sure advantageous and result oriented. Inshallah!
