MY SISTER MOHINI pyari behan ji

My sister Mohini (Pyari Bahanji)It
It has been a sad beginning to 2017, when I got the news of sudden end of an era in the family with the fatal heart seizure of Pyari Bahanji. She was a model of fortitude and courage. Being immediately elder to me ,there would be a running turmoil for primacy in favours of goodies from our support structure, particularly from Lala, our grandfather. We would also quarrel ,make up ,quarrel again and make up again as a rebel that I was ,particularly at that age would not like her role fluctuating from a kid sister to big sister (which right fully she was by virtue of being around five years elder to me). But the intensity of filial love was so acute and so perineal that there was that one thought stream between three of us(we two plus Bahangashi) somewhere in our subconscious that we would get a telepathic feeling . I have personally experienced it but is too sacred to make it public.
We shifted to our new house at karannagar in 1937 spring when I was 5 year old. Jigri delivered PJ in August . Dedi had the command of the kitchen ,PBJ would help JiGri to raise the new baby ,his feed & sanitaries . Bahan Gashi was assigned the job of becoming a governess of Jayi saib who even at that age was a stormy petrel. She would feed ,dress, clean me & strictly monitor my pranks.she would recite counting in Kashmiri,then in Urdu & I got my oral count from Bahangashi's recitals. With the advent of autumn , both the sisters starting knitting woolen sweaters,caps,socks, gloves for the entire family with pure wool purchased in bulk from Govt.wool spinning mill,Srinagar. The
Closings of the chinks of the windows in ground floor and the second floor was done with the effort of one and all except dedi & jigri . I am amazed how my two sisters in never ending preoccupation of heavy work schedule would get time for sibling quarrels. One instance , l glaringly remember. There was a Tulsikrit Ramayana in our home from which Bhaigash would recite daily . One day the two sisters wanted to see how things would go with her that day ,so wanted to see the 'Prashan'. In their 'me first' tug of war, they ripped open the book from its seams .They were so scared that to avoid a punishment ,they put the damaged Ramayan in my Lap & shouted at the top of their voice,' haye,haye,jayan ho chotutmet chu Ramayan. I was shell shocked to speak anything and since the goods were found on me, nobody believed me.Later I would always blame them for making me the fall guy. In the winter of 1938, l got chilbanes on two feet and was treated with jenson liquid and sulpha ointment. The two sisters would be nursing me in shifts round the clock and prompted Bhaigash to promise to get me a green phaeton in spring for a ride. Like a simpleton ,I would always ask for the buggy when my pain was gone .I have both of them in their 
youthful face vividly before my open eyes and can I ever forget their Love, affection ,and trust & more poignantly the pain in their eyes at my pain.
Comes 1939 and the world war which was not even worth a mention for us being bereft of any news having no access to a radio set or newspaper of the day as the paper when it came by post was just stale news. (It was only in 1954 when we got a Metz radio set.) The search for a groom for bahangashi,who was fourteen,started and after some time , she was engaged to Triakak( Prof. TN Raina) and marriage was solemnised in the late spring of 1940, when the guilder roses in our garden were in full bloom. That day re opened , the factor of the kid sister vs big sister syndrome and it continued to the day of her marriage in 1941 to Mohanji who in B sc final year ! That day I suddenly became the big brother in the family at the age of nine .They left for Burnpur ,Asansol,where Mohanji had joined the then Indian iron & steel industries after a BE.,metallurgy degree from BHU. 
Those days a daughter- in - law had to go with an assortment of gifts cash,kind & fruit with chochi (Rotis)etc. A servant would accompany the girl of the family to her in- laws with the gifts.The girls brother or cousin would also go for proper presentations of 
the cash and clothes & various fruits,& sweets etc with a note listing and costing with a proper abstract. I remember the delivery of the notes written in Urdu by Bhaigash on every big occasion ,be it a birthday , a religious occasion & to a child's mind,even at the drop of a hat. The list would have specific terms & definitions for each item as per social mores . Since l would feel a tearing rage , l would be seething on my return home . I had to share the custom at a later stage when I was an adult earner without any diffidence so as to shield my parents from any further difficulties.
As a child I was given to understand that it was our social obligation as we were ' kori wale'( ladki wale). In essence , it would indicate periodic goodies were donated for the satisfactory acceptance of the daughter of the house in her own household.The cruelest cut is that the most snide remarks & messages were mostly from the older ladies of the in- laws or their collaterals and even any neighbour . I saw all this first hand as l was not only a messenger boy for my elder two sisters but for my elder cousin Mangala Bamezai also. Being born and growing up in a non-web age, we were with limited horizons of imagination, but we had a greater measure of pure common sense. The basic reason for this belittling of our womenfolk those days was their lack of self support financially and the social stigma of being 'cast off'. These were the times my sisters,my wife,and my cousin Mangla pehnji had to survive & fight through.Nobody ,repeat none, can feel the pain and struggle they have gone through in spite of all the insight we might have.I have no hesitation to confess that I have been a silent onlooker of this physical ,psychological ,and mental carnage . In the process, in most of the lower middle class pandit homes of that time existing on a pittance of monthly salary, the middle aged men and women became prematurely old, the younger ones lost their vivacity of youth and the children their ebbulience of  childhood. I have seen and lived through all this.The uppermost priority was to maintain the 'Chach'(in Kashmiri) of the 'khandan',even though the care worn faces would be a dead give -away. 
Comes 1950, I join the BE degree civil at Aligarh. The parents had already pegged me for marriage .The ceremony took place at Srinagar in September.This was an occasion for the whole family to meet again.I met PBJ and found her somewhat distracted.We couldn't talk much as for those few days I was kept on leash by my parents. WE wold meet only sometimes during my breaks between an annual examination if they would be on a holiday at Srinagar those days, and later to our respective destinations .
It was near the advent of the year 1953, when I was in my final year at Aligarh, one night at around 0130 hrs, l suddenly woke up feeling woken up by some authoritative voice commanding me to receive my sister at Delhi Rly station as she would be coming alone with a child in her lap. Dreamingly, l fell asleep again just to be shaken awake by the same voice . In a stupor( though fully awake,) I kept my keys with the boarder neighbour , left my hostel, walked nearly 3.5 miles in that winter night and boarded a milk train to old Delhi stn, hurried to platform where morning train from Pathankot called Kashmir mail was to arrive. When the train arrived, She with Neerja in her lap was amazed to see me receiving her. Such agitation of mind is a beacon from the unknown for a normal mind. (Swami Vivekananda in his Rajya yoga says that the astral body has the power of sending thought streams to another when they are in sync. The person whose kundalini has awakened can do it as a routine.)This incident left a lifelong imprint on my impressionable mind still untouched by complexities of life that there is a power behind every living being steering him in this ocean of life.
From Delhi I accompanied them to Burnpur(Asansol) enjoying that long train journey , though standing most of the way for want of a reservation. It was my first visit to a planned colony for residential accommodation exclusively on the basis of hierarchical gradation.Being sunny winter days ,the stay was enjoyable . Mohan Ji was also surprised to see me there as I was not expected and wanted me to stay for sometime but my final exams were a couple of months away . In the interim ,he showed me the factory ,particularly the blast furnace area and the moulding areas . Expecting an 8 hour shift for Labour who face the furnace fire and molten iron at very high temperatures to live a normal healthy life is asking for a mirage. It would leave an indelible effect on the person particularly a career driven one.
My train reservation gave me three day's stay at Burnpur. It was the only time when we spent some private time together and discussed our hopes and dreams . It was that time she used the Kashmiri Pandit quote equating ' aithi voohur bouy ti shyeth varish beni' & I promised her that I would always be available as 
a support when required . My best tribute to her personality will be to appreciate that she fought her own life's battles in silence. She kept her tears to herself to give a shining face to the world at large. Likewise she had an uncanny common sense to gauge a person to a T ,& a high stock of worldly wisdom.
As I left Burnpur that day, I had an inkling of cataclysm from role of a kid brother and his kid sister or even a big sister to an elder sister who in her home getting settled in life of hers and the younger brother going back to his own to - begin life. The entire panorama of our respective lives suddenly illumined before me and the ebullience of immaturity just vanished at that particular instant from my intellect and personality . 
In the meantime, my field of action was in J&K and was shuttling from place to place till I finally retired. It was only during their holidays to the valley, that we would meet for a short time wherever I was posted except Leh & Kathua. The only time when we would otherwise meet would be on a marriage of our siblings and get updated personally about ourselves first hand. Knowing that I had enough on my hands she was somewhat reticent about hers and l respect her for the sentiment. I respect her for listening to my harangues of advice.So the life carried on.
Those were the days of post & telegraph. Instant wireless , even in its primitive form was excluded from a commoner's reach.
Life passed by. Mohan Ji's passing away suddenly changed her zest of life and she started getting more inward. It was in this phase, that  evolved her   tremendously in spiritual life and living. Yet she did not become a recluse .She lived in this world ,participated in its structure , had the bounce to come to see her young and old alike, stuck to her daily routine. & yet in our last meeting, her parting embrace conveyed all. I Hail such an antardhyan. 
Where,when and whither we meet again and what form. Depends on the will of Param Brahm.

For the present ,Aurevoir!

The new Government in J&K

Let me start this blog by congratulating Shri Mufti Syed on taking over as Chief Minister of an unlikely coalition of PDP & BJP . Frankly,only this arrangement can work for the state in view of the numbers that sprang up in Kashmir region and Jammu region. The patrons of the BJP and PDP have exhibited great statesmanship by joining in their efforts to give an elected government to the people belonging to all the three regions of the state. In his  press conference , Mufti gave his thanks to Pakistan and the separatists for 'letting' the election be held peacefully forgetting the efforts put in by E.C & the security forces. This remark indicates :  1.he is trying to keep his constituency happy

                                                                       2.he is trying to play the big brother to the other party in the coalition, ie, theBJP to show who is the major actor for policy.

The Home Minister of India immediately disassociated the Govt. of India from  Mufti's remarks.

This marriage of conviction (to quote Mufti) shall end in a bitter divorce sooner than later,if such a discourse is not put to a stop. The job of the Government is to make life easier for people in the state and the C.M. has to respond sincerely if he means what he has promised. BJP has to respond to that effort. Nobody has been given mandate for doles from the centre.

 Simultaneously, the new government must issue a white paper on the the true facts leading to:

1.Eodus of  3,00,000 Kashmiri Pandits from the valley .

2.The disappearance of nearly 10-15000 youth in the valley by alleged police excesses.

3.The persons behind the loot and vandalism of places of worship and property of the Pandits at Wanpoh village and surrounding areas in the valley inFeb.1986.

Wish Mufti Sahib my sincerest best wishes for the success of this Government.

Why?

It has become a tradition in our national pastime in our international relations to go to any harmful extreme to exhibit our democratic fibre. A common citizen is instinctively savaged mentally when he finds a meeting is being arranged between  Kashmiri separatists and Pakistan ambassador in the capital. The diplomatic immunity guaranteed to the latter as a diplomatic representative of  Pakistan is acceptable, but why allow anti- national  elements who are brazenly espousing abuse of Indian constitution and state ? Is  the  history of the  deceiept, murder and ethnic cleansing of thest people to be brushed under the carpet.? Has Pakistan ever granted Indian ambassador such diplomatic freedom?
An Indian citizen  would not be happy to see people like Geelani ,Malik and their ilk  to be above the jurisdiction of the Indian national sentiment.
Why is not such a foray stopped further.? Why?

18.08.2014 IST 21.35
Post script
It has finally dawned on the govt. Of India that there is no scope of any peace talks with a country which breeds terror.for export to our country. Long Live India.

ART. 370,plebiscite for J&K state

Debate on Plebiscite in Kashmir and Art.370 Indian Constitution on J&K 

Recently the MOS in the PM's office, declared that consultations on the present usefulness of art 370 is being started soon as promised by Mr. Modi in his pre- election speech at Udhampur which is now represented by the MOS as an MP. This raised a strong reaction of the present ruling class of the state. Omar Abdullah went to the extent of challenging the accession of the state if the art. 370 is amended or abrogated which the BJP has listed on its election manifesto.The letter of the then Governor General of India ,Lord Mountbatten while accepting the  instrument of accession of J&K state to the dominion of India among other things lays down     ' As soon as law and order has been restored in the state of Jammu&Kashmir and the invader is completely repulsed ,the the views of the local population will be final.'    This condition has been completely negated by the state rulers by declaring the Indian-held J&K as the entire state by polity of Kashmir valley for grabbing of power with notional seats in the assembly for the unfilled seats for the territories held by Pakistan,the invader. Pakistan continues to occupy the areas it had grabbed in 1947, annexed the Gilgit and Skardu areas renaming these as it's Northen Territories being directly administered by the central  Govt. China has constructed the Korakaram highway in our territory . The commitment to any acceptance of Plebiscite by India ,in these changed conditions becomes null and void. UN Security Council decision 42-c which laid down vacating of the invader also becomes unworkable and is ,therefore,void. Only an act of war may change the present territorial occupation of each nuclear power  otherwise it is to stay as a fait-accompali. Politicians from all sides will continue playing games on 'Plebiscite' whenever and wherever it suits them. So this word will continue holding primacy in political lexicon. The present generation of Kashmiri politicians understandably are bound to carry on with this charade to play to the gallery and vested interests ,both within and outside the state & across the country's borders. But it will only be a replay of political adventurism with shifting stands according to expediency at that instant of time. The instrument of accession signed by the Maharaja and Governor General of India is absolute and final as the former was the 'absolute ' ruler of the state. The commitment of 'Plebiscite ' was only an intent from Nehru and since the prevailing conditions now after more than more than six decades are completely changed and shall remain  so ,the intent /demand thereof is not workable any more.some theorists say that most of the states have signed another instrument of merger which J &K has not and therefore the accession is not permanent. They forget that these states were reorganised by combining many states  into groups by merging with each other and later into Union of States  and then merger to the Indian union for maintaining linguistic or cultural identities. No such reorganisation of J&K was needed and as such no merger was  required.The instrument of accession was the only legal requirement as per India act 1935 and Indian independence act 1947. If the same principle is to be adopted for  J &K  it would lead to trifurcation of the state on linguistic and cultural basis, As an extension of same principle those leaders who are in the vanguard trumpeting the demand of plebiscite and autonomy ready for this as it might lead to further divisions. Are they ready to accept such a contingency thereby losing their primacy?The crisis created by imminent fall of Srinagar in late 1947 to the Pakistani forces and tribal fighters associated with it,prompted the maharaja of J&K to seek the accession of state to India . Nehru, (who had confined kashmir affairs only to himself as P.M. and stonewalled any and all opposition to Abdullah's demand for granting special state status to J&K which was conceded and later incorporated in the constitution of India as article 370. There was only one word 'temporary' prefixed by encouragement from Sardar Patel who was piloting the bill in the parliament in Nehru's absence.What is Art.370?  An explanation in non-legal parlance!1. It is incorporated as a statute in the constitution of India as 'Temporary' but there is no limitation of time attached. 2.The GOI's authority on the state will extend only to foreign affairs ,defence,communication ,and any concurrent list as enshrined in the instrument of accession.3.the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be governed under a separate state constitution,penal code,and accounts . The Indian laws shall have no jurisdiction on J&K unless agreed to by the constituent assembly ( and now the successor legislature.)
4. Any amendments in this statute including its repeal shall have to be sponsored / agreed to by the constituent assembly before any any action can be taken by the govt of India .  Nehru put the passage of art.370 in the parliament as a matter of personal honour and requested Patel to get it through . There was a lot of opposition in the congress on this special status. The author of the the Indian constitution  Dr. Ambedkar refused to even draft this article when Abdullah personally addressed him at the behest of Nehru .He was so agitated that he wrote to him'. You wish India should protect your border,she should build roads in your area.she should supply your food grains and Kashmir should get equal station with India .But Govt.of India should have limited powers and Indian people should have no rights in Kashmir. To give consent to this proposal would be a treacherous thing against the interest of India and I, as the law minister of India will never do it '    How factual has this statement been as made out by the events till date. A constituent assembly was elected in  to prepare and approve a separate constitution for the state which was prepared and passed in an unanimous resolution . The J&K. constitution stipulates at the outset that J&K 'is an integral part of Union of India'.  (People are not generally aware of the fact that Sheikh Abdullah in early Oct.1947 had already tried negotiations on accession to Pakistan on his terms but Jinnah would accept only unconditional accession.) Abdullah bulldozed Nehru to accept these conditions against the advice of his colleagues in the cabinet and the party. Abdullah was as such not acceding to India due to any secular idealism as he had already triedPakistan first.The ruling national conference was in brute majority in that constituent assembly and party to further dilution of art.370 by various duly elected Govts. Governing in democracy is not the private prairie of an individual or a region. No Indian govt of any political formulation will ever accept reversing the clock back to pre 1953 conditions which will create a tidal bore of agitatations and frenzied violence throughout India. The valley polity cannot have the cake and eat it without any recrimination .Most of the clauses in the art.370. have since been modified under due administrative procedure as laid down by mutual acquiescence of the central and the state governments. To reverse this action would require the accord of the Indian parliament as laid down in Art.370.The main controversial issue  now is the J&K citizenship rights act which was in its original form passed in  during the reign  of Maharaja Pratap Singh. It was a safeguard from any large migrations into the state with scanty resources of its own and saving the environment. After 1947 it acquired a confrontational tone in the valley due to its political clout in the state. Certain changes have been made in the act which has a communal slant:1. Re settlement of those people and their descendants who were permanent residents of the state in 1947 and had fled(migrated) to Pakistan up to 1954 can resettle in J&K and their state subject rights will be open.this option is not open to the Pandits whose population has dwindled from 1947 going in search of  livelihood to other parts worldwide and the mass migration due to forced exodus in 1990s. While as there is no dispute about about the state citizenship of the generation who fled in 1990s, the succeeding generations by and by lose their domicile rights as most of them do not own any immovable assets in the state any more and are no longer domiciled in the state .The prime movers of power in the state have not paid even lip service to this issue while they moved fast for the migrants to Pakistan .2. Any female who marries a non resident of the state loses her citizenship. This condition affected the Jammu Hindus and Pandits more than any body else .The matter is now sub -judice  . The intent of the state rulers is apparent.  The reason for retaining the J&K citizenship act may be subjected to debate but the primacy of the the meagre land mass for habitations in the state needs to be understood to protect its unstable environment to avoid encroachment into its forests and drainage basins.In conclusion, it has to be understood that there are three primary regions which have different political agendas . Time is ripe for restructuring the state and limit the application of Art.370 to the valley only after a centrally administered area in the valley is earmarked for resettling the Pandits .  It is time G.O.I. acts to rectify unwelcome events overtaking the measures which are laundered as policy.

Roots 11

Prominent events in the valley from 1947 to date.

 1. Kashmir Conspiracy case.

In early 50s ,the Indian central intelligence in the valley starting sending ground reports that the ruling elite in kashmir was working for an independent Kashmir and hobnobbing with Pakistan authorities to supply material and infrastructural support and help with cash and materials for arson and propaganda against the Republic of India. On getting a spate of reports from the intelligence supported by credible documentary evidence Sheikh Abdullah was dismissed and his lieutenant G.m.Bakhshi was appointed as P.M.by the majority in the house. Abdullah was arrested on August 8 ,1953 but later released on .He was again arrested in 1958 when a prosecution case of conspiracy for sedition ,and treason  and war  against the  Indian  state (in collusion with Pakistan )and spreading communal discord  against Abdullah ,Beg,and 20 others was taken to court. The court case continued till 1968 when the state govt  withdrew the case as directed by the centre for political reasons.

2. Moi muqadas agitation  ( agitation for the lost relic of prophet's hair from Hazratbal shrine)
 Moi(Arabic    Strand of hair).   Muqadas(sacred)
In Dec..1963 , it was found that the  enshrined relic of prophet's hair at Hazratbal was missing from the shrine. This led to large scale spontaneous protests in all parts of the valley. To guide the agitation ,a working council of different social,religious and political groups was formed to guide and plan the agitation to put pressure on central and state govts.for the recovery of the relic . There were strong grounds for rumours afloat in the valley at that time as being the handiwork of some high-ups in the ruling clique for personal reasons. And when the conditions in the valley started getting out of control, it was secretly placed in the shrine and on following Friday it was publicly displayed after a group of muftis declared it as genuine in January 1964.

 3.1965 invasion by Pakistan
Having failed in 1947, Pakistan planned and executed what was called 'operation  Gibraltor' and without any fomal declaration of war , sent about 15000 soldiers of its army with air support from P.A..F., as infiltrators across the various trail routes into the valley across the cease - fire line  Surreptitiously   to seize the valley and proclaim it as a part of Pakistan . Their presumption  was the Muslim majority would rise against  India once pakistani forces were in Srinagar. this guerrilla movement was detected  on August  6,1965 by gujjars in the BAHAKS (summer grazing grounds in the higher reaches in the mountain passes) who informed the nearest CRPF post . By the time the Indian army's resistance began, the vanguard of the Pakistan Army (clothed in local style)had already reached Batamallu in Srinagar city. The general public was completely unaware of the situation till the inhabitants of the locality were asked by the army to vacate for a few days to search and capture the raiders and those who harboured them. I am a living witness of the tragic scenario of a caravan of people emanating from Batamaloo along with their essentials down the road for dispersal to any alternative locations they could muster within the city. Coincidentally , I was on my way to Baramulla from my home at Karannagar when I passed this route and saw this caravan coming from the opposite direction. Pakistan presumably had succeeded in creating some sleeper cells even in 1965. The Pakistani army sensing their failure starting moving back. Another group of infiltrators was repulsed by a pincer movement by the Indian army at Singhpora and repulsed. The Pakistanis had planned to complete the capture of Srinagar cantonment ,secretariat ,radio station and the airport by 12/13 August and welcome Gen.Ayub khan  on his projected arrival at Srinagar  on 14th August ,Pakistan's Independence Day to declare accession of Kashmir to Pakistan . This story was based on the input of the local dailies of Srinagar during that period but its authenticity  could not be corroborated by any other source.
In Jammu region, the Pak army attacked and captured the area from nearly 4 kms across Munawar tawi bridge to 2 kms. Short of Akhnoor town deploying air force,tanks and infantry regiments . Frantic air attacks were made on Akhnoor bridge to cut off the route from Jammu to Poonch. Pakistan crossed the Chenab river at Pargoal and captured  Khour area and northwards to cut off the Jammu Poonch road at chowki chora . Pakistani regulars crossed the entire border from Sum nallah to Munnawar Tawi with tanks and armour in a brigade strength setting up its HQRS. at Peera-Da-khoh  in the housing of the irrigation dept. already available. The front spread  upto Bawe-Da-Mazar  leaving Akhnoor only 2kms away. The entire left bank of River Chenab from Laliyal to Indri- patan  was vulnerable due to constant mortar fire and shelling from Chicken-Neck ( a conical- shaped Pakistan territory projecting into the state on the right bank of minor branch of Chenab). An island between the two branches of Chenab called Pargoal was captured and part ot Tawi island and all the villages and small  islands at the confluence of Tawi and Chenab fell into the hands of the enemy.The area across Munnawar Tawi in Chamb taluka  including the town was captured with token resistance from Border Security Force and reportedly renamed as Farouqabad . The  same strategy was extended to the entire area up to  Poonch, and Meindhar bypassing the main towns in the first phase of the offensive.A counter offensive from India resulted in capture of Hajipir plateau which was Pakistan's nodal point of its strategic control on outskirts surrounding Poonch which had already passed into their hands right to Krishna- gati pass near Poonch town.
The situation for India was getting indefensible , and it had no alternative to opening a front of its own choosing from Gurdaspur to suchetgarh area to mount an offensive on 12th sept.1965,on Pakistan through the international border with full armoured might. Our fighting forces were on the gates of Lahore within a week  (Ichugal defence channel) and our forces captured area at least  20-25 kms deep into Pakistan in western Punjab right upto Sialkot skirting the city.Immediately, after the offensive by India ,the Pakistan army started retreating facing  pursuit by our army and Air Force . Jammu & Kashmir could not be rescued in 1965 if India had not started the offensive against the enemy from the fronts which suited It topographically across the international border .Pakistan was not expecting India would cross the International border. They counterattacked in the Barmer area and  Khemkaran area . Pakistan army and air force landed a massive attack in khemkaran sector putting its patton tanks in the battle of  assal- uttar  (fitting its name when our jawans gave a befitting answer to Pakistan by inflicting heavy  losses  of men,and armour . The saga of sacrifice by our jawans against much superior armour is one of the legends of 1965. the defeat at assal uttar demoralised Pakistanis. The big powers wanted the hostilities to cease.Ultimately, a ceasefire was declared at Tashkent  and an agreement between PM of India , Shastri  and President  Ayub Khan of Pakistan was sighned with Russian president Khrushchev as the arbiter. The history of 1947 was repeated in as much as we lost the chamb tehsil to Pakistan and returned the Haji- pir pass to them against our own future national interests and in the end I cannot place Pakistan as a loser in that adventure. I can't fathom why we   handed over Hajipir and conceded to non- return of Chamb area across R..Munawar Tawi when the stipulation in Tashkent agreement wanted both India and Pakistani armies withdraw to the line of actual control before the hostilities.

4. 1967. The Pandit agitation( abduction of a pandit girl Parmeshwari Handu)

In the co- operative society shop (super bazaar ), Srinagar a pandit girl , Parmeshwari was employed on the sales counter . Daughter of an old widow residing at Rainawari , she was the sole bread  earner for the family. She disappeared in August1967, when she did not return home . The poor mother contacted the police but to no avail. The news spread fast among the Pandits and some prominent Pandits took up the issue with the state machinery but got poor response.
After some days,the girl was produced before public by a fellow employee of hers         ,proclaiming that she had converted to Islam and taken the new name Parveena and willingly married him twisting the facts. The truth was that she had been abducted and confined for several days and coerced to convert  and marry the person without informing her mother.
The pandit community was alarmed and to their annoyance no notice was taken  of their pleas by the state . It was only after all the doors were closed for them , they started a peaceful and non- violent agitation .   The agitation was spearheaded  by an action committee .The central nodal place for planning and programming of the agitation  was at shitalnath in the office and ground of Sanatan Dharam Yuvak Sabha. The intensity ,spontaneity and response from Kashmiri Pandit men and women of all age groups was a major surprise to all and sundry. Voluteers  for daily  jathas for satyagraha and hunger strike from all sides of the valley joined the morchas .The protest did'nt slow down nor were there any indication of a slow down inspite   of all the police brutalities and state crackdown and arrests. All means like harassment, physical cruelities and false propaganda were used by the state and goons from downtown population to suppress and fail the protest . The agitation still raged unabated till end of Sept when the centre intervened and mediated. Ultimately an accord was signed between the representatives of the centre ,the state ,and the Pandits and the agitation was withdrawn.
One positive from this episode emerged with no further  abductions to lure,entice,and coerce pandit girls for a long time after 1967 up to 1990s when there was a well planned PROGROM  against the Pandits forcing them to quit the valley.


5.Hijacking of Indian Aircrafts in 1970 & 1999

5.1.   A Fokker Friendship aircraft 'Ganga' of Indian Airlines Corporation  on its scheduled flight from Srinagar to Jammu on 30-01-1970 was hijacked by two Kashmiri militants ,Ashraf  Qureshi and  Hashim Qureshi demanding release of their comrades in custody . The pilot was redirected to Lahore.The passengers were disembarked after negotiations .The  plane was burnt accompanied with a victory dance of the militants and chants of allah-u-akbar and anti- India  slogans. Hashmis were treated as heroes . After negotiation,the passengers returned home in another plane sent by India. Immediately after the return of the passengers back home,India dis-allowed all Pakistani civil and army over-flights over its air space increasing the distance  between the two wings of Pakistan . Pakistan retaliated by disallowing its airspace to Indian aircraft . The irony of the whole episode is both the Hashmis were later tried as Indian spies as a measure of expediency to defame India internationally

5.2.an Indian Airlines Flt. 814 with on its scheduled flight from Khatmandu tp New Delhi  with 176 passengers on board was hijacked enroute by six Pakistani militants   from the Hizb-ul- mujahideen on 24.12.1999. It was allowed to refill at Amritsar airport     When it was refused to land at Lahore and diverted to Dubai but not allowed to land and again diverted to Kandahar in Afganistanto land surrounded by the militants. They issued an ultimatum to the central govt to release Hizb. Chief ,MAULANA MASOOD AZHAR, OMAR AHMED OMAR SHEIKH AND MUSHTAQ AHMED ZARGAR before a deadline when they would kill the passengers before destroying the plane. At Amritsar ,they had already killed one passenger and injured many though they conceded to allow the old, children and sick to disembark . India had to accept  these conditions to save the passengers . The humiliation of the then Minister Of external affairs accompanying the three dreaded terrorists to Kandhar was the price India had to face to save the life of the passengers in view of our weak position in that environment of militant-dominated territory where writ of international law and relations did not exist. It is easy to dissect or comment in a post-trauma situation for political expediency as has been done so often since then, but a dispassionate and honest opinion has to be that the then PM and his cabinet exhibited great moral and physical courage by taking the only option open to them in  national interest .

5.  1971 war.

The fact remains that the  Pakistan's mindset that  creation of Pakistan was incomplete without inclusion of Kashmir valley and  other contagious  muslim majority areas like poonch and rajouri in jammu region is the bedrock of its relations with India. There were two attempts earlier in 1947 and 1965 when Pakistan  fought wars to annex kashmir but failed. From 1965 the tentacles of jammat-ul-Islami and net work of madrassas expanded (fuelled and funded by foreign sources)in the valley with indoctrination of pan-Islamic Wahhabi wave in the Kashmiri  youth slowly started overtaking and over- riding  the tolerant  traditions of Kashmiri Sufist Islam. This wave spread and inculcated into schools,colleges and universities and thence travelled into all sections of the society with passage of time. Though the majority of the population wanted peace, a fringe extremist element got spawned into militant Islam . These  elements got all the necessary assistance from the Kashmiri agents of Pakistan.Even after nearly a quarter of century after accession to India, Kashmiri Muslims  were still not in the mainstream of Indian thought and ethos but had aspirations of a separate Kashmiri identity . The hot and cold policy of the Central Govt.made the situation worse by alienating the population and a peripheral polity grew in the valley demanding independence from India ,or outright merger with Pakistan . When this fringe started acting in collusion with Pakistan army intelligence, the propagation of anti-india sentiment  in the muslim youth of the valley got a boost. It was 1971, and Pakistan over-estimated the extent of the intensity and the spread of this sentiment . They misjudged that in the event of their army sudden dash to Srinagar in a gorilla force ,the entire Muslim population of the valley would rise as one in rebellion against India and Pakistan would intervene as a ruse to help the Kashmiris to overcome the military might of India and as a follow-up wrest the valley from India .
On  Pakistan Air Force in an unprovoked sudden and swift move attacked the IAF air stations in northern and western India. India retaliated with its full might inflicting heavy damage to Pakistan's air and land power within the first few days of the war. Pakistan entered the heavy armour across the state border across Chenab river at Pargoal and Planwala sector in Akhnoor region to advance to chowkichowra village to cut off the communication artery to Poonch And Rajouri by blocking the Jammu-Poonch road. Air attacks were mounted for bombing the Akhnoor bridge  across R. Chenab on Jammu Poonch  highway. But unlike 1965,they could'nt make any headway in the Akhnoor area as India was better prepared. In The Poonch and Rajouri sectors the resistance from India could not hold on for long due to long supply line and more difficult access from base.
India strategically chose to open another front by crossing the international line from Gurdaspur to shakargarh with later extension to suchetgarh (Sialkot sector). Pakistan apart from defending its territory attacked with its heavily armoured land forces and Air Force all along the border from Jaisalmer(Rajasthan) to Doab area in Punjab  , the venue of the decisive battle of Longawal. To assist the support and morale of the forces,the civilian volunteers of Jammu and kathua would carry parcels of cooked meals,fresh milk and curds ,vegetables  fruits in their transport to the fronts round the clock braving the constant shelling and air forays the enemy. I have witnessed all this with awe and admiration.
It was almost  concurrently that India was posed with the problem of heavy influx of Bengali Hindu refugees from the east pakistan(now Bangladesh )due to    Mass  killings,abduction ,rapes and untold cruelty of Pakistan army stationed  in the then E.Pakistan . They were out to quell the battle- cry of the bangla Mukhti vahini who wanted Bangladesh ceded from Pakistan . sheikh Mujib ur Rahman who was the president of Awami league scored a stunning victory in the election getting a majority in Pakistan assembly and was arrested and flown out to Punjab and tried for treason.
In order to arrest the flood of refugees to India ,Indian  army waged multi- pronged assault on east Pakistan with Mukhti vahini scouting and guiding to easiest approaches. Being with scanty supply line , the Pakistan army finally surrendered .The Bengalis declared independence from Pakistan and this was the birth of Bangladesh and Rahman was declared its first president .
Pakistan's allies America and China assumed threatening postures but stopped when faced with surrender of Pakistan army by Lt. Gen. AAA Niazi to LtGen. J.S.Arora ,by signing the instrument of surrender at Dacca .
In the western sector slow attrition of Pakistan armour had already set in.
The western powers and other friends of Pakistan pressurised India to agree to a cease- fire which was declared when the instrument of surrender was signed in the eastern sector at Dacca  and the war ended. It was a blessing to Pakistan as any extension of war would end in its rout and further division by similar situation developing in Blouchistan. 92000 officers and men were taken over as prisoners of war by the Indian army and detained in different places ,one of them at Ram nagar,Udhampur,J&K, which I have seen personally .
India was in a bargaining position to settle the so called Kashmir issue permanently in 1971 but all we could negotiate was the Simla agreement which has been reduced to a farce by Pakistan  time and again .Again what we gained on the ground we lost in diplomacy.

6.Growth of alienation and militancy in the valley and other Muslim dominated districts of Jammu .

The think- tank of the Sheikh Abdullah led National Conference grew up in their political struggle against the Dogra rulers with the notion of a separate Kashmiri identity. With his stature as the tallest valley leader, he transmitted  this sentiment to the masses. During the days of non- accession to either India or Pakistan he sent a mission headed by Afzal Beg to Pakistan in early oct. 1947 to negotiate terms with Jinnah for safeguarding the Kashmiri identity( priority the valley.). Jinnah rejected any conditions and asked for outright accession . The mission to Pakistan failed and he (Abdullah )had India to negotiate with . With Pakistani  attack on the state in last week of Oct. 1947 ,  the issue of accession was forced on Maharaja to ask for assistance of India and Nehru made Abdullah as as a participitant of back -up party of the  negotiating team. It was at this stage that Mahraja was made to abdicate and transfer power to  the representative of the people. Nehru was agreeable to allow:
1. A separate flag
2. A separate constitution
3.naming of head of council of ministers govt as P.M.
4.separate president termed Saddar-I-Riyasat.
5.J&K citizenship for only domicile residents later incorporated as Art.370 of the constitution of India .
6.Offering a plebiscite for permanent settlement for the state which can never happen now   ( as the condition of de- militarisation by both India and  Pakistan shall remain unfulfilled between these nuclear powers . Pakistan has gifted some of the aksai- chin area to China and  impounded the Northern areas of Gilgit and Skadu  under its direct control )
 Thus construing the psychology of an autonomous region within the dominion of India . India had jurisdiction of Defence ,communications,and External affairs .In those early days, one had to get a permit to enter the state of J&K accentuating the idea of separateness.. The die for the present turmoil was actually administratively  cast in 1947.
       The Indian  army operations repulsed the Pakistanis but It will remain a riddle why India accepted the ceasefire at a strategically difficult line of defence leaving some important salients  with the enemy. Maybe the Kashmiri leaders headed by sheikh Abdullah worked on this to avoid any meddling from punjabi-speaking Muslims from other areas in vicinity of W.Pakistan in their quest for political primacy in Indian held J&K?
 The first elected Govt of J&K with Abdullah as P.M.. took over in Feb.1948 and in his speeches and statements ,he made no secret that Kashmir held its distinct place with its autonomous relations with the Union of India. The western powers found the situation ripe for playing the big brother with strong anti-Indian bias with Pakistan as willing partner for the perpetual intrigue and espionage and sabotage. The American Aldai Stevenson came to Srinagar those days and met the Sheikh.
The IB(central intelligence beareau) from their ground reports submitted a detailed report to the govt.of India regarding the valley politicians conspiring with some elements in Pakistan for getting assistance to engage in a perpetual armed struggle  in their quest for  autonomy from India if and when all 'other means failed. This case was known as the 'Kashmir conspiracy case' and was later withdrawn for political reasons. Had, at that juncture, this case been pursued to its legal and logical conclusion, Kashmir might have suffered less over the years as the populace would accept the judicial process and its ultimate conclusions .
The immediate effect of the subsequent incarceration of Sheikh Abdullah by the Govt. of India was spawning of a breed of adherents to the idea of autonomy/independence  across the entire section of Kashmiri society . Whether it was the student community in schools,colleges,or institutes of higher learning , the the depth of this feeling grew .
With the passage of time ,it is now bred into the psyche of the present generations living in the valley being strongly opposed by regions like jammu ,kathua,udhampur and ladakh districts where Muslims are in a minority turning the undertones of the issue as communal.
With the Kashmiri society bereft of the umbrella of Sheikh Abdullah's leadership ,the N.C.adherent split into different branches . The days of opportunistic alliances started taking shape and any govt. would only last if the centre so wished.There were  numerous P.Ms/C.M's from 1953 to 1975 (when Abdullah returned as C.M. as per a pact between him and Indra Gandhi)and in these 22 years anti-Indian feeling expanded as Kashmiris felt let down.
 The legacy of sheikh in his absence  was taken over by Afzal beg who started the 'J&K Plebescite front' as the National conference was hijacked by Bhakshi Ghulam Mohd who was installed as the P.M. Of the state with support by the progressive groups .In this period , the National conference was merged into national congress and also got a resolution of full accession to India passed in the state assembly.
The jurisdiction of the pesident of india ,C.E.C., Supreme Court of India ,comptroller and auditor general of India ,etc.was extended to the state.the state would have a Governor and a Chief minister henceforth . All these changes diluted 1947 coditionalities mutually agreed to by Nehru and Abdullah. That is why the demand of the N.C. that the state should be restored to pre-1953 status  in their demand of autonomy and there is no visible difference on this policy with the other groups with the exceptions of BJP and Ladakh  Buddhist  Council.
As the ruling clique had  merged the NC with the Indian national congress and  sheikh Abdullah on his release fought elections in 1977 on the national conference ticket and got a majority to form the Govt.as chief minister of the state. He again started the autonomy debate ,but distanced himself from the idea of independence. He died In 1982 .
After his death ,their were succession claims within the family.GMShah left the NC and started Awami National Conference. NC was headed by Farouq Abdullah . An era of manipulative political opportunism set in and was exploited by the centre . Aya rams and Gaya rams were ready for changing a  majority into a minority and resulted in  interegums   of CMs and President's rule. Nobody in the state and the centre acted to control the flow of ideologues of  the rabid anti- Indian and fundamentalist philosophy into the the all sections and tiers of the society spreading the venom against anything connected with India or Indian . Local militant groups like JKLF , and  splinter groups created  mayhem and sabotage on a comparatively minor scale by targeting only unarmed civilian targets mostly Kashmiri Pandit leading lights in public but were locally instrumental in the wide spread of anti- indian psychosis within the Muslim dominated areas.Now Pakistan's ISI accelerated the undercover activities in Kashmir by sending trained militants (commanders and foot soldiers )across with and maintained a continuous supply lines of local guides, infrastructural support groups, finanances,arms and ammunition. Training camps were set-up in pak-held Kashmir and Pakistan for  Kashmiri Muslim youth who were entinced  by any means ,be it threats,coercion, financial support, radical sentiments,and even pan- Islamic idealism. The hideouts for men and materials in the higher reaches for stockpiling of provisions and arms and ammunition  and even training camps were put in place across all mountain trails of access to the valley . The entire infrastructure with adequate flow of trained militants from across the border was complete by late 80's and the militancy in Kashmir announced its arrival in August 1989 and continues with equal vigour unabated with deceptively quiescent periods depending on the pressure from the security forces and state of relations between India and Pakistan.
  By this time, the political thought in the valley crystallised into distinct sections:
1.those who openly advocate merger with Pakistan headed by G.M.Gillani who became later the spearhead and overt face and voice of militancy and insurrection against Indian state . They get their strength and voice by being propped by established millitancy and sufficient freedom which a democratic system and soft reactions of the ruling class allows them.they donot accept the Indian constitution .
2. The advocates of independent Kashmir . Like Mirvaiz molvi  farooq (now his son  Ummar)G.H.Lone (now his two sons) and many others like them who openly advocate AZADI .a group who after inset of millitancy in late 1980's were called moderate Hurriyat and they accept the Indian constitution only whenever it suits them for their selfish interests.
3.the mainstream parties like National Conference ,People's Democratic party,Communist party of India with each one with their power base but united in their search for dilution of centre's powers in J &K.the BJP has just a notional presence in Muslim dominated areas and is a non-player and as such a non- entity in the political events of these areas.
         From 1980's the ethnic cleansing of minorities in these areas under the threat of gun totting militants backed by a section of the local politicians (very much under the eyes of Govt) is a fact of HISTORY evenly understated by vested interests in the state and the centre .The extinction of almost an entire community of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley by the gun wielding Muslim fundamentalists will always stay as a blot on secular India.
 The only viable solution of this problem would be to give the valley autonomy after eking out a separate land for resettlement of ousted KPs  to retain a hold in their homeland and keeping  the military only  at the borders for their specified job of safeguarding the existing de - facto borders  ,strongly blocking any ingress and egress of disparate hostiles. Having done this ,all anti-national  actors should be harshly dealt with.The aspirations of Jammu and Ladakh regions have to be addressed separately on the basis of ground realities.The Central Govt. in India needs to determine now to act fast against any anti national elements from within and outside as the present situation may result in a never-ending mayhem and bad human rights record and expanding  activities  of  the fundamentalists and separatists and may get out of control with disasterous consequences for our nation..

Roots 10

Political manifestations from 1947 till date.

With the accession of the state to India in 1947 immediately followed by the abdication of the Maharaja, J &K transited from monarchy to democracy. The fulcrum of power shifted to the people through universal franchise. The primacy of the power balance ,in consequence ,shifted to the valley in view of its bigger population than the combined population of Jammu and Ladakh regions. Kashmir's political voice thus became dominant in the state as well as the centre drowning the aspiration of the other regions leading to a constant state of unease and struggle and by the events in the valley in the subsequent years ,the distrust between the regions is on the increase.The Kashmiri mainstream polity want autonomy, Jammu wants a seperate legislature and abolition of the art.370 articulating unconditional central authority and Ladakhis want a union territory status. The Kashmir  region is Muslim majority ,Jammu Hindu majority and Ladakh a Buddhist majority with such separate interests endangers communal polarisation of the state. When seen in context of the enmasse eviction of Kashmiri pundits from the valley in 1990s, the matter needs solutions in a calm but resolute manner, so that all the regions get a just and fair deal. Our national integrity demands it.

The events in the valley since 1947 are known world wise and need not be revisited except briefly to enumerate the nuances as under:

1. Pakistan tried and failed to annex Kashmir valley in an open war three times since 1947 but failed.

2. Bhuttoo's warning  of bleeding India at thousand places was not a joke of a maverick but threat of a very determined enemy.

3. After getting convinced that open war with India could not win Kashmir for them, Gen.Zia-ul-haq, got plans  drawn and  put to action to create and infiltrate a gorilla militant force into the porous cease -fire  line into the valley through scantily used mountain passes and trails while the local authorities remained either ignorant or inactive. The first wave of these trained militants (called mujahids) were sent only to locally create active and underground  cadres of Muslim mujahids by using any possible effective methods: indoctrination, coercion,fear, and money . The pipeline of carriers of arms,ammunition,explosives into the valley was put in place and guides and escorts for taking the new local recruits across the border for on ground  training in Pakistan- occupied Kashmirand West punjab ,indoctrination to jehad , and switch from their hereditary trades to becoming guerrilla warriors engaged in a holy war. It is paradoxical that this monster could not be nipped in the bud. History will judge  us very harshly for this monumental lapse.

4. Lack of decisive strategy to deal with Pakistan who was (and still remains ) the sole  perpetrator  of crimes in Jand K till a core group for jehadi militancy with full infrastructural support from their extremists from both within and outside the govt, was put in place . Many different groups sprung up locally in conjunction with groups from across who always formed the senior hierarchy in the command structure. For their finances ,apart from foreighn funds through the hawala channels they resorted to extortion, protection money ,donations from sympathisers, and cells created in offices for contributions on payday for the 'cause'

5.The overt and covert assistance in terms of planning and stratagising for sustenance and continuity by different extremist organisations in Pakistan with support of theISI.

Over the years all this developments in the Muslim majority areas of the state  led to the state being put under special powers  act  for the security forces and subsequent quelling of militancy resulted in lot of  collateral damage of life,limb and property. The abuse of these powers in stray cases led to further deterioration of peace ,which is being exploited by the vested interests for whom the persisting with frequent disturbance of  peace is a profitable occupation .  Inspite of people's strong desire for peace , they keep the pot of turmoil burning.

Keeping this strife continuous , they have managed to inflict a colossal damage to the very basic concept of ethnic tolerance and tranquility which was a bye-word called 'Kashmiriyat' . The people have braved bullets to maintain a democratic system . Pakistan has been successful in bleeding India at any place it chooses with impunity because of its geo-political  situation in view  of conflicting interests of America and China,which it is exploiting to its hilt. Any other nation with brazen support to exporting terror would have been brought to its knees in the world forum.

In order to have a stable peace in the state, the rule of the gun has to be extinguished and the extremists have to be contained politically. A terrorist and his sympathiser should lose his  constitutional  rights when a crime is proved against him.  Over all these years , kashmir has witnessed  heavy loss  of life and property and trust between communities and regions. Kashmiri  Pandits got evicted  from the valley which is their motherland.

 The intentions of Pakistan have always been inimical to our interests and being aware of this fact ,the situation urgently  calls for setting our own house in order and work out a solution (taking all the stake holder's genuine and constitutional interests) which stands the test of time inspite  of never- ending attempts of sabotage by the fringe reactionary elements(planned under-ground and executed by their stooges on ground). Recently, a team of interlocutors was sent to the state by the centre ,which has submitted its report after debates and discussions with all different social,community and political groups to find avenues for a permanent peace in the state. All the politicians need to rise above their narrow partisan interests to come to an agreement on the issues and remedies ,take immediate action to satisfy the aspirations of all the regions and communities with a sense of purpose and determination. The reactionary elements should not get any mercy and need to be dealt with realistically . Our actions should speak for people to trust us. We  owe it to loss of life of about a lac of people(civil and military) and loss of their homeland by 300000 Kashmiri Pandits.

When we settle our internal disputes to our satisfaction , we can sternly deal with the evil designs of our neighbours . We have to be  seen as a nation who always seek a non-military  solution with them but can take firm action if and when required .

MY ROOTS 5

 GENRAL ZORAWAR SINGH stands out in this period  for  extending state territories to Ladakh,Baltistan,and upto Lake Mansarovar in tibet. Gen.zoravar was appointed adminstrator of kistwar by Ghulab singh who was governor of the place under the sikh rule. His first expedition was limited to annex ladakh.In July 1834,he crossed to suru valley via warwan pass and crossed to Pashkum andfighting his way he defeated the king of Leh Tse  Pal Namgyal who accepted the suzarinity of raja of jammu. But the ladakhis rebelled and zorawar came second time and succeeded in conqering and annexing Ladhakh to jammu and kashmir in 1840. Then he turned his attention to conquering Baltistan, and Tibet.Baltistan was eventually overpowered completely in instalments by him and his successors and all the rajas of the kargil,askardu,gilgit.nagar haveli,and swat accepted the suzarinity of dogras and entered  separate treaties with jammu durbar agreeing to pay an annual tribute and subjects like defence,foreign policy and trade  with dogra durbar. After this compaign,zorawar singh started for conquest of Tibet but due to severe winter  and lack of logistics ,he was defeated by the tibetans getting killed on the battlefield in december 1841.His successor,general Dinanath defeateated the tibitis near panesar and a treaty of peace and friendship was signed  in september 1842 between khalsa durbar,Ghulab singh on the state side and Guru lama ,emperor of china on the tibet side demarcating the border between tibet and the state ,agreeing to peace and friendship and free passage of trade between the two sides. THE PRESENT DISPENSATION IN CHINA DOESNOT HONOUR THIS TREATY SAYING THAT THE BOUNDARY IS UNDEMARCATED . They have occupied large tracts of this territory and Aksai chin under this pretext for their unstated (though easily cognisable) ulterior motives.