Arun Joshi
The Government’s decision to release All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman and chief cleric of Kashmir Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday after more than four years of house arrest can become a defining moment of the “ dividends of peace” that the people and Delhi were looking for in Jammu and Kashmir . This was manifested in his first address at the historic Jamia Masjid during Friday congregation, in which he urged the youth of Kashmir to show patience and perseverance for the better days to come.
Among the audience of thousands of people at the Jamia Masjid, the Mirwaiz tuned toward the youth, he said “ to my youth who the wealth of the nation, I say I respect your feelings, but I request you to be patient and have faith, and strengthen your connection to the Almighty and his messenger. That is the key to the survival and success.”
On the face of it, this may be read as a traditional appeal by leader to the youth of Kashmir to follow the righteous path, but a deeper analysis against the backdrop of what Kashmir has undergone in the past few decades, and also what all transpired in the Valley in the past four years since the abrogation of Article 370, that snapped special status and exclusive privileges of the permanent residents of the erstwhile state and its split into two union territories, the Mirwaiz sent a very profound message to the youth in Kashmir.
As a man who had been at the center of the dialogue process with Delhi, during the Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh era when outreach to Kashmir was the hallmark of Delhi, he was counselling youth to be “patient”, meaning thereby that this was time to keep the feelings of their frustration and anger under control because that was mandatory for “success and survival.” His advice to them stay connected with their faith in Allah and His Messenger – Prophet Mohammad reinforced the idea of Islam as a religion of peace. The overall and outstanding message was peace.
Mirwaiz’s release from House arrest for over four years was much different from the release of other relgio-political leaders. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Altaf Bukhari and Mehbooba Mufti in the post-Article 370 abrogation period – Farooq and Omar were set free within year of the abrogation on August 5, 2019, while Mehbooba was set free after 14 months of detention All of them are political leaders. The Mirwaiz represented as many institutions all at once – first, he is the chief cleric of Kashmir whose sermons form part of religious teaching in the Muslim homes in the Valley. By tradition, he represents the family institution but he himself is a religious scholar of international repute. He did his doctorate in religious studies and is globally recognised for his scholarly accomplishments. He has figured almost every year as one of the most influential Muslim leaders across the world.
He represented, and that title continues even today – chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, the conglomerate that sought Kashmir solution through UN resolutions or dialogue between India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir. He was the founder chairman of the Hurriyat Conference in 1992 and continued in the office for maximum number of years, before it was split in 2003 by late Syed Ali Shah Geelani, known for his rigid and hardline on Kashmir issue. The Mirwaiz, despite suffering personal losses, his relatives and properties were targeted, opened dialogue with Delhi and Pakistan. He was a votary of trilateral dialogue and had also favoured the talks between Delhi and Islamabad to create an atmosphere for solution as per aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
His speech on Friday gave a firm indication that he knows how the realities have changed, the decisions of August 5, 2019, and subsequent extension and implementation of laws into J&K have left people “disempowered.” There is a difference of perceptions – the overall view in Kashmir is not same as what it was four years ago, new realities have emerged, in which Delhi sees empowerment of the people what it has done over the past four years, and certain sections, and almost all political parties, barring BJP, believe that the people, though happy with record tourist arrivals , feel that there is something lacking as far as their political rights are concerned.
Drawing on the history and geography of Jammu and Kashmir of 1947, which is now divided – some portion is with India, other with Pakistan and third with China , the Mirwaiz said , Families and friends living on different sides divided” by an artificial line want to meet and share their lives , share their happiness with each other, mourn their loss together. This is a human problem for us the people of Jammu and Kashmir, not a territorial tug of war. We also want to move beyond it.” If read carefully, it is a case for open borders and not all about joining one or the other country.
In this context, he referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, using prefix of Shri, not something common in Kashmir, and stated that, “ PM Modi rightly said that this is not an era of war. We have always believed and participated in efforts of resolution through an alternative to violent means which is dialogue and reconciliation. We have personally suffered for pursuing this route,” and added with an extra emphasis: “We are not so-called separatists or peace disrupters but realist solution seekers. We have no personal ambition but to represent the interests and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir who are basic concern and people want settlement, and peace bringing prosperity with it, but on their (people’s) terms.”
He has defined his outlook and philosophy. This is realistic, according to him, but the next step, as is expected, giving leverage to the Mirwaiz to move freely and gather steam for peace in Kashmir on the people’s terms.
(Arun Joshi is author of “Eyewitness Kashmir; Teetering on Nuclear War and senior journalist based in Jammu and Kashmir, writes on South Asian affairs)
Disclaimer: This is the personal opinion of the author. The views expressed in this write-up have nothing to do with www.prameyanews.com.
