Jhelum’s repeated warnings

After the last year’s destructive flood which reflected the River’s annoyance, it has given two more warnings before it strikes in the most devastating final way!

                                                                        

The River Jhelum, Vitasta or Yveth has been the lifeline of Kashmir Valley from the earliest times. The entire Kashmir civilisation has been growing along the banks of the River and its tributaries.
After the mythological Kashyapa drained the Sati Sar by killing the demon Jalodhbhava at Baramulla, the River has been written in the very first line of the thousands of years old history of Kashmir. Like the Sholokhov’s “Quiet Flows the Don”.
Jhelum too has been quietly flowing and observing the happenings on its banks. However, it often turns furious when too many sins get washed into it!
The River which gave life to Kashmir has been vandalised and desecrated by us. Muck and filth of almost entire Kashmir flows into the River. Its banks have been encroached. For last half a century or so no one has bothered to dredge it and take away the silt. Over and above everything else its flood basin has been snatched and converted into colonies. Where else will it go except overflow its banks and sometimes may even change course.
Last year’s flood was Nature’s backlash in the form of a furious and desperate River trying to find its natural course. Reportedly during the flood the width of the River in some places in South Kashmir was few kilometres. It was flowing like a sheet of water taking away everything in its path. All the experts opined that the disaster was due to human greed and negligence of authorities to take preventive measures all these years in spite of the warnings of various experts. One had expected that the government would give the top most priority to prevention of future floods. Unfortunately, nothing seems to have been done regarding dredging and desliting. Neither the embankments have been strengthened.
The Met Office has again issued warning about the possibility of intermittent rains throughout the summer. They have admitted to the occurrence of climate change which is dangerously combining the effects of monsoons and western disturbances. We may be in for many more floods. After, the main flood of last September, there were two more which kept the people on their toes. These were warnings from Jhelum to the people to mend their ways. People seem to have developed a flood phobia. This will continue till some concrete measures are taken on ground on a large scale. Merely being alert and asking people to leave for safer places is no solution but a quick way to escape the basic responsibility. Delhi seems least concerned about this aspect of the situation. Allegedly, the Nature has come to their rescue to subdue Kashmiris. They will not be accused of human rights violations for these natural disasters. Nature’s elements do not need any AFSPA!
Kashmir is desperately looking for a Suya! During the time of Avanti Varman, it was Suya who initiated the extensive flood prevention measures. At present there is no hope to locate someone like Suya. The people will have to do their own bidding. During the last flood, it was the youth of Kashmir who came forward to rescue the people. In the absence of their untiring efforts, there may have been thousands of casualties. They may again have to step in to ensure on ground measures for prevention of future floods. If the youth all along the length of the River take up the job of desilting themselves, the capacity of the River will increase. Same is the case with flood spill over channel and so many other water bodies facing extinction. Again someone has to give the lead.
One wonders why the so called leaders of the popular movement can’t take up this very people friendly constructive activity. If Kashmir gets destroyed and washed away by vandalisation of its environment, “Azadi” will have no meaning! On one hand these people refuse to recognize the government as the genuine peoples’ representative while on the other hand they expect them to take all people friendly measures. A strange dichotomy! If Mahatma Gandhi could defy the British by making salt out of the sea and spun cloth on charkhas, why can’t our so called leaders take initiatives to safeguard our environment with massive peoples’ participation? It can’t be classified as “anti-national” activity!
Incidentally, Kashmir has lots of multi-millionaires who could easily sponsor environment friendly measures including desilting of the River and other water bodies. There are over a million unemployed youth who could even get some employment.
Unfortunately, we have brain washed our youth for white collar jobs and they prefer to have the lowest possible government jobs rather than work with their own hands. There is no dignity for manual labour! The new generation needs to come out of this artificially created psychological barrier and take the initiative as they did during the actual flood. That may be our only and the ultimate hope!
               

The Invincible Kashmiris!

Historically no one has been able to completely subdue Kashmiris. They have risen again and again to the utter disgust of their outside oppressors

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Webster dictionary defines “Invincible” as “incapable of being conquered, overcome, or subdued”. In the historical context, the word describes Kashmiris very appropriately. From the earliest times, Kashmiris have faced both manmade and natural calamities.

They have faced floods, famines, earthquakes, epidemics and foreign aggressors. However, they have never been subdued or cowed down, neither by the natural calamities nor by the human oppression. They may have gone down sometimes but they rise again and again! 

Kashmiris have been called timid, cowards, cheats, liars and greedy. Sir Walter Lawrence in the “Valley of Kashmir”, though mentioning the bad traits of Kashmiris states that these weaknesses are not by nature but due to an extremely long period of external suppression.

According to him Kashmiris are good at heart and it is the survival instinct which has made them timid and cowardly. Tyndale Biscoe in his book, “Kashmir in Sunlight and Shade” observes that the amount of oppression Kashmiris have undergone over the ages, if the British had faced the same, they would have lost their manhood!

For over last four centuries, they have been oppressed by Mughals, Afghans, Sikhs and Dogras. They were reduced to virtual wretches and lost all their good qualities. They did rebel to change their destiny many times but failed.

The main misfortune of the people has been their betrayal by their own kinsfolk. There have been and there continue to be “Black sheep” within the Kashmir society ready to sell even their mothers for a price. All the foreign oppressors got a foot hold because of these local collaborators. The external oppressors always scout for ready collaborators by patronising the weaknesses of character in a person. They bring out the worst and suppress the good qualities.

During last 68 years people on both sides of the divide have exploited the weaknesses of our character. Sir Walter Lawrence in his book the “Valley of Kashmir” while commenting on the character of local people observes that two generations of a just and strong rule will bring out the best in a Kashmiri. Unfortunately, we are still to see that just and strong rule! 

However, there was some awakening and a possible emancipation during the last century in thirties. Had there been no partition, Kashmiris may have been able to regain their lost sovereignty.

Even at the time of the partition they had a chance to reclaim their independent status but their leaders for their own vested interests let them down and put them in such a mess that there appears no escape from a virtual political whirlpool generated by their two warring neighbours. Still people seem to be taking this untenable situation in their stride and continue with their daily lives. They continue to pine for ultimate emancipation.

The last year’s flood supposed to be the worst in a century severely devastated Kashmir especially its capital, Srinagar. Going through different parts of Srinagar one was terribly shaken by the extent of the devastation.

There was general feeling that the city would take at least 10 years to recover. However, other day while going through the posh shopping areas of Residency Road and Polo View, one could never imagine that these are the same places which had seen almost total destruction! Anyone going through these areas first time can never imagine the status of these immediately after the last flood.

The enterprising and invincible Kashmiris have taken everything in their stride and are going full steam ahead regardless of totally unsympathetic attitude of the authorities both at the state and the central level. In most of the affected localities people are busy trying to restore their properties and their lives on their own! 

In fact, the Central Government has cut a practical joke on Kashmiris by giving aid which cannot even be called the proverbial peanuts! They had an opportunity of a lifetime to end the extreme alienation of Kashmiris due to harsh and repressive measures in vogue for last over 25 years.

However, they seem to believe in cowing down and subduing people rather than winning them over. Probably they have forgotten the saying of the most famous illustrious son of Kashmir, Kalhana, “The country of Kashmir may be conquered by the force of spiritual merit, but not by the force of soldiers!”

This should be evident from the thousands of mourners attending the funerals of the militants slain by the security forces in various encounters. The recent total shutdown to protest against the Sopore killings should be an eye opener. The new generation of Kashmiris is totally uncompromising and invincible. They are all leaders in themselves and take their own decisions. They are Kashmir’s future hope!

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Kashmir’s Murky Waters!

Last year’s flood, the worst of the century not only inundated the city of sun in murky waters but brought out the muck which has been enveloping Kashmiris for last 68 years now!

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File Photo

Witnessing the Associated Media film “Kashmir: Into the Murky Waters” on the last September flood was not only reliving of a personal experience but a first-hand account of all the happenings including everything that was going on behind the scenes.

The film is an indictment of all the concerned people because of whose failure the disaster occurred. In fact, they should be indicted for criminal negligence and prosecuted.

Unfortunately, the murky waters have been flowing all over Kashmir for almost 68 years now! These are in the form of a perennial uncertain situation with total lack of accountability. No one is accountable to no one! There is an absolute free for all!

The last year’s flood can be termed truly as “Nature’s Backlash”! We have totally vandalised our fragile environment and ecology due to our insatiable material greed. River Jhelum earlier called Vitasta and locally known as Vyeth has been Kashmir’s life line for centuries. It used to be pure and clean. People would drink its water.

However, it became murky after washing the sins of Kashmir’s black sheep for last 68 years or so. Kashmir’s so called elite was the main culprit. Incidentally, Jhelum in its fury totally covered with muck the poshest areas where the majority of the deviant elite had been residing.

For all these years no one bothered about the condition and the health of the River. Its bed got totally silted. Even the spill over channel got filled up. Its embankments were usurped and vandalised by construction of hotels, guest houses, private houses and even mosques! Worst things happened with its flood basin. It was converted into colonies and even some government offices were set up in it. The irony is that the authority entrusted with the planning and development of the city of Srinagar set up its office in the flood basin of the River!

Apart from the criminal negligence of the concerned in failing to taking urgent preventive measures, during and after the flood, there was total failure on the part of the government. In fact, one was not sure whether any government existed in Kashmir! Omar Abdullah was shown on TV throwing “Bananas” to the marooned people from the state helicopter.

One was reminded about the “Rise of the Planet of Apes”. He should thank God that the people did not pull down his chopper like the Apes do in the movie! This “Banana” episode reminded one about the “Banana Republics” of South America and Omar Abdullah rightly earned the name of the “Banana Chief Minister”!

The worst tragedy is that even the new government too is in deep slumber. For over nine months nothing substantial seems to have been done in regard to prevention of future floods. Its first priority should have been the prevention of future floods. The only news one got was that ISRO has been asked to undertake satellite flood zoning of Kashmir which may take over a year or so.

As regards dredging of the River, desilting of the flood spill over channel, strengthening of the embankments, and setting up of dewatering stations above the flood level no news is coming out. Even the drains and dewatering system appears to be without any major change. Apart from the city getting water-logged repeatedly, there are still some areas in the valley water logged from the previous flood. 

In the movie it is shown that a report regarding measures for flood prevention has been shuttling between New Delhi and Srinagar for over three years! Some engineers had predicted the possibility of a disastrous flood but no one seems to have been seriously bothered about the subject.

In fact, even the MET Office warning about flash floods was ignored by the “Banana Government”! Now that they have seen the face of the disaster, the first task for the present government should be to get along with the implementation of the most urgently needed flood prevention measures. The task can be given to some resourceful engineering companies in the field on a turnkey basis to be completed in a definite time-frame.

The Chief Minister has all the residuary powers under the constitution and after identifying a resourceful organisation even if from abroad can ask them to go ahead dispensing all lengthy paper formalities. However, that needs political will on the part of the government. Does this government have such a will? That is the million dollar question! One has to keep the fingers crossed and probably wait for some more “Murky Waters”. However, the next time waters can not only be murky but “bloody” too!

Climbing the wrong tree!

Even if the intentions are good, yet it seems the present ruling set up is climbing the wrong tree!

The expression is often used to describe people who discover after sometime that the real goals are still elusive because they have been following a wrong track. People get into jobs, careers, businesses and relationships to achieve some purpose in life by taking a certain course which seemed the right idea at a particular time. However, they suddenly start discovering that the path taken is not the right one. It is said that if one discovers that he is climbing the wrong tree, the best strategy at that point is to get down and find the right tree! That is the most sensible course but people often forget the basics and continue climbing instead of getting down and finding the right tree. The result is a disaster!

The present ruling set up of the state came into existence after lengthy deliberations and the main goals given out were the respecting and implementing the peoples’ mandate and relieving the sufferings of the people caused by the most devastating flood of the century. The most immediate priority was the prevention of future floods, rehabilitation of the displaced persons and the restoration of the damaged infrastructure. It was for the first time that the poshest areas of the capital city of Srinagar were severely hit and damaged by the flood waters. Apart from this many parts of the valley were adversely affected as regards infrastructure like the roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, offices and so on.

The residential accommodations all over suffered either total destruction or very severe damage. The crops were destroyed in many parts of the valley. It was given out that these goals of restoration and rehabilitation could only be achieved if the State Rulers had the Delhi Rulers on the right side! All these projects would cost money and the key to the treasury of a totally bankrupt state was only with the centre! Well, that may be true as Delhi does not treat Kashmir on the same scale as other states because of their confidence that no one can rule the state without their goodwill. 

There seems to be common feeling that priorities of the setup have got seriously misplaced. No doubt Tourism and Bollywood are contributors to the state’s economy but even these cannot flourish without the basic infrastructure. In fact, one of the Bollywood heroes on his visit to the valley remarked that Kashmir has everything except the infrastructure! Anyone flying into Srinagar, the capital of the “Heaven on Earth” gets the first shock on getting into a traffic jam on dilapidated and dusty roads.

A very common custom in Kashmir is to greet the guests with burning of Rue (Peganum Harmala seeds) locally called Isband, in an earthen pot filled with coals known as Kangri. A famous cartoonist depicted the situation of welcoming tourists as guests with a Rue burning Kangri of which the bottom has fallen out! It is a fact that the tourist inflow into the valley has received a severe setback. There have been massive cancellations especially after the panic regarding a second flood highlighted by the electronic media extensively. 

A journalist friend recently remarked why government has to proclaim initiation of improvements in everything with the arrival of tourists? It gives an impression as if the local population does not matter and they can live with anything! There is need to cleanse the minds of the ruling elite of the “Tourism Obsession”. Yes, Tourism is an important economic activity generating employment but it is neither the backbone of Kashmir’s economy nor an activity without which Kashmiris cannot survive. For almost 10 years of upheaval during nineties Kashmir had virtually zero Tourism but there were no starvation deaths or suicides. However, if Kashmir’s crops totally fail we may have a big disaster on our hands. The idea is not to belittle the importance of Tourism but to place the priorities correctly. Without world class infrastructure the really paying upmarket tourists will not come to Kashmir. Even the middle class tourists avoid Kashmir because of the spiralling airfares. They could visit any European destination in the same price! Moreover, there are no two opinions that the fundamental requirement for any leisure destination is peace which plays hide and seek in Kashmir! In view of this it is not advisable for the state rulers to put all their eggs in the Tourism basket.

Before the elections no one believed the slogans concerning the final political settlement of Kashmir. In fact, it is hypocritical to expect mainstream parties to have any role in that as most of these are only protégés of Delhi. People wanted good governance and improvement in day to day living. It was not difficult to achieve this given the political will and sincerity coupled with dedication. Unfortunately, this too has not happened as the rulers are climbing the wrong trees. It is not important how many dreams you sell to the people. The most important thing is what is happening at the ground level! There is a Kashmiri proverb about a person asking Willow trees to give Pears! That sums up the present situation. There is still time to find the right tree and climb it. Otherwise there would be no Ghar Wapsi for the present rulers from the valley!

Kashmir Needs Composite Society, Not Secluded Townships

Kashmir needs restoration of its centuries-old, composite society and not clusters of imprisoned citizens acting as perennial sources of friction

The idea of “composite townships” for Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley has renewed tensions between the communities rather than create an atmosphere conducive for their return. Kashmir boasts a 5,000-year long history and one of the unique attributes of the local people has been their tolerance and peaceful communal living.

Some of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad ideologues recently observed that the Pandits had “owned” Kashmir for the past 5,000 years. It is true that Kashmiri Pandits (Brahmins) did constitute the ruling elite of Kashmir for its 5,000 year old history.
There is a written record, the only of its kind in the sub-continent, in the form of Kalhana’s Rajatarangni which in Sanskrit means the “River of Kings”. It details minutely the history of the Kings of Kashmir till twelfth century AD from the earliest times. The ruling Pandits comprising the upper caste Brahmin class constituted only 2% of the population.
The origin of Kashmiris is an interesting topic. The Neolithic dwelling pits and implements found at Burzohama and many other places in the Valley confirm the beginning of human life in Kashmir like the rest of the world.
According to Kalhana, the early dwellers of Kashmir were Nagas and Picasas. Then Aryans are supposed to have come from Central Asia and subdued the local Nagas and Pisacas. There are also theories about the coming of Israelites to Kashmir. After the destruction of the second temple, the twelve tribes of Israelites were dispersed all over the world. Kashmiris are supposed to be part of the missing twelfth tribe.
According to some legends, Jesus Christ and Moses are buried in Kashmir. There are many stories about early arrival of Jews in Kashmir. Interestingly, Kalhana mentions in Rajatarangni that the Kashmiris in earlier times were very restrictive and would not allow outsiders to come into the Valley.
The only exception was the Jews whom he calls “Maleech” (unclean or unholy) who were off and on allowed in. Some researchers have also observed many cultural and traditional similarities between the Kashmiris and Jews. Incidentally, Israeli tourists are fond of Kashmir Valley and according to some; they feel at home in Kashmir.
Religion wise, after the initial Naga worship, Kashmiris started with the Saivite Hinduism of Trika School of philosophy. This school believes in monotheism which has been one of the important factors in their mass conversion to Islam. The Saivite School of philosophy of Hinduism in Kashmir received much acclaim. It was studied at the famous Sharda University which became known all over the world as an important seat of learning and people from far and wide came here.
After Saivism, Buddhism also flourished here and the fourth Buddhist Council was held here. This unique conclave of Buddhist philosophers was responsible for changing the basic philosophy of Buddhism from the strict Hinayana School to the moderate Mahayana School.   Subsequently, Saivism again gained ascendancy.
Finally, the advent of Islam through the spiritual preachers like Bul Bul Shah and Mir Sayed Ali Hamadani changed the whole scene. The entire population except the ruling Brahmins, the Pandits, converted to Islam peacefully. The Pandits virtually lost the Kingdom after the last non-Muslim (Buddhist) King Rin Cin Shah also embraced Islam.
Till that time the Pandits had been ruling Kashmir with the force of their swords but then on they took the “pen” in their hands and ruled over Kashmiris for almost 800 years. Thus they still continued to be the Kings (rulers) of Kashmir even after losing their physical hold on the government through the power of their pen. They became the ruling elite, the landlords and the money lenders and had the Kashmiri society in their strong grip. Nonetheless, the bonhomie between the Pandits and Muslims remained strong.
In 1947, Sheikh Abdullah through his unique legislation in the entire sub-continent called for giving the “land to the tiller” and the freezing of all debts. It resulted in the Pandits losing their rich estates, landholdings and money power. Yet they remained a harmonious part and important segment of the Kashmiri society. However, their mass migration in the turmoil of 1990 deprived them of all their power and they truly lost the 5,000-year old Kingdom.
No wonder most of the prominent Kashmiri Pandits including the stalwart Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, pined for the lost Kingdom. They refused to accept the ground reality that Kashmir, now a Muslim majority state, could never become a Hindu Kingdom again.
Majority of Muslims in Kashmir never wanted Kashmir to be an Islamic state but as an independent, sovereign republic where all religions are respected equally. The Pandits instead of joining their Muslim brethren most of whom may have the same blood flowing through their veins and with the same basic DNA have been trying to reverse the history. They are now being used by Hindutva chauvinists with their inherent hatred for Muslims to settle the scores with them.
One cannot, however, reverse the march of history. Civilizations come and go and the world moves on. Panun Kashmir, composite townships and the artificially carved settlements cannot bring back the ancient Hindu Kingdom of Kashmir.

If Kashmiri Pandits want to be back in Kashmir as an inseparable part of the society, they have to follow the teachings of Nund Reshi and Lal-Ded and not the commands and directions of Praveen Togadia and Ashok Singhal. They must remember the famous saying of Pandit Kalhana, “The country of Kashmir may be conquered by the force of spiritual merit, but not by the force of soldiers”! Kashmir needs restoration of its centuries-old, composite society and not clusters of imprisoned citizens acting as perennial sources of friction. A composite society of all Kashmiri groups and sections, not Israeli style settlements, is the way forward.

The Uneasy Hug!

The hug between Modi and Mufti seems to be turning uneasy like the hug in the Kashmiri proverb, “Kakun Haaputh”!

A picture of Narendra Modi hugging Mufti Sayed was splashed all over the media just before the swearing in of the new PDP-BJP government in J & K. It represented something like a Bear Hug! The very first hug of these two ideologically opposed leaders seemed an uneasy one and not a normally warm human hug! The picture reminded one of the very common Kashmiri proverbs, “KakunHaaputh”! The story is about a father and a son going into woods and then getting separated. Suddenly, the father hears cries of his son calling him to save him. The father asks what has happened. The son agonisingly cries back that a bear has hugged him. The father shouts, leave the bear. The son shouts back, father I am trying to leave it but it is not leaving me! 

There were a lot of expectations both developmental and political. The moot point is whether the hug was really a positive bear hug and a lasting one and is any of the two leaders really acting as the proverbial bear? Both leaders took a pretty long time in preparing to hug each other. If one minutely observes the facial expression of the two leaders, it appears that Mufti Sayed was not very comfortable in hugging Narendra Modi who on the contrary seems happy and contented. While as Modi is holding him tightly in terms of a true bear hug, Mufti Sayed's hands are open! It may appear that the proverbial bear is Modi but on second thoughts after seeing the recent happenings, the reverse seems more plausible! Especially the uproar and subsequent threats to leave coalition followed by a climb down makes one think that it is now Modi who will be unable to un-hug himself from Mufti Sayed!

Having kept the controversial issues of the north and the south pole on a temporary hold, the first and foremost need of the people in the valley was not only rehabilitation and restoration after the most devastating flood of the century but the fool-proof prevention of future floods and the perennial water-logging of most of the city and other areas. There have been many plans including some with the help of Asian Development Bank executed through the Economic Reconstruction Agency for some of these projects. Unfortunately except a few, most of the projects get allotted or sub-let to small contractors for financial and political gains. The result is disastrous implementation and management of these projects whether connected with drainage, road construction and so on. The living example is the drainage in Srinagar city and the four-lanning of the highway from Qazigund to Srinagar. For a change, the basic infrastructure projects need to be allotted to some of the reputed national or even international construction agencies to ensure implementation and completion on turnkey basis within a definite time-frame. Some examples of the work executed on these bases is the surfacing of some Srinagar roads during governor's rule in mid-eighties and the commissioning of the Uri Power Project during the most disturbed years of the militancy of the nineties.

There were many possibilities in the sphere of good governance and development in all the three regions of the state. The million dollar question was whether the present set up clobbered together after putting a temporary lid on some very controversial and disruptive issues could firmly put its feet on the ground and get a strong hold on the situation. Unfortunately, the reverse seems to be happening. One after the other controversial issues are being deliberately propped up. The return of Pandits has been hanging fire for last 20 years while as the West Pakistan refugees have been waiting for more than 60 years! The refugee issue is more volatile than the Pandit issue. However, the Pandit issue is more sensitive in regard to the valley. There seems to be deliberate attempt to inflame the sentiments and passions of the valley dwellers.Can it be construed as an attempt to get un-hugged from one of the two sides?

Normally, the two sides should have gone full steam ahead in rehabilitation and restoration. The infrastructure is in shambles. In fact, one of the Bollywood heroes recently remarked that Kashmir has everything except the infrastructure! The three most important and urgent tasks to be taken in hand were the restoration, rehabilitation and construction of standard basic infrastructure. This had to be coupled with lessening of the harassment by security personnel of all shades and hues. While the first tasks are still going on at a slow pace, the reverse is happening on the last one because of the new fuel being added to already simmering fire. In fact, a fellow columnist had recently observed that the present phase of Kashmir's popular movement appears to be fizzling out. He should rest assured that the present central government will not allow this to happen and they are renewing the same with their periodic inputs. May be they are regretting the hug and want to end it sooner than later?

A bear hug!

Hope this Mufti-Modi meet turns out to be positive and does not end in the proverbial endings!

At long last after a wait of more than a couple of months, J & K has an elected government. According to Mufti Muhammad Sayyed it is the meeting of the North Pole and the South Pole. Hopefully it does not turn into an equatorial meeting which would be too hot and uncomfortable! A picture of Narendra Modi hugging Mufti Sayed was splashed all over the media just before the swearing in of the new PDP-BJP government in J&K. It represented something like a Bear Hug! Both the parties are attaching great importance to a first historical alliance between the two regions of the state. There are a lot of expectations both developmental and political. The moot point is whether the hug is really a positive bear hug and a lasting one and does not turn into the proverbial bear hug? 

Both leaders took a pretty long time in preparing to hug each other. If one minutely observes the facial expression of the two leaders, it appears that Mufti Sayyed was not very comfortable in hugging Modi who on the contrary seems happy and contented. While as Modi is holding him tightly in terms of a true bear hug, Mufti Sayed’s hands are open! 

There have been many opinions and comments about this ideologically incompatible alliance. On the positive side, it is said that this is for the first time that the two regions have come together to fulfil their aspirations notwithstanding the fact that some of the aspirations are diametrically opposite. It has been claimed to be respecting the mandate of the people of two regions. Others have opined that a strong and stable state government backed by equally strong and stable central government can do developmental wonders. Well, that may be true if both have the sincerity of purpose and honestly implement their mandates. On the negative side, it has been alleged that both the sides have receded from their main agendas simply to capture power at all costs. For BJP it was an excellent opportunity after the Delhi debacle to show some positive gain. 

Kashmiris have been extremely alienated and this was an excellent opportunity for the ghar wapsi of the estranged people even though not in terms of the declared long term agenda of the RSS. For PDP the realisation of its long term agenda of self-rule seemed a tall utopian order and the least they could show as an achievement was going in a big way on the developmental agenda including relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected. The common people, who have been suffering during Omar Abdullah’s comatose administration, expect relief and rehabilitation on a war footing. Everything in Kashmir from electric power to roads and above all the environment is in shambles. The most immediate task is prevention of future floods which has so far been totally neglected resulting in some fresh breaches and water-logging of the city. Another nightmare which has visited Kashmir recently is the swine flu! It has created worse scare than the unprecedented flood. 

Both sides have agreed to put the controversial issues on the back burner. Well, that will not be difficult for the ruling set ups to do if they have the honesty and the sincerity of purpose. It is not difficult to control the state machinery if the rulers really want to do it. After all they are constitutionally supposed to control the state actors. However, the main headache would be controlling the non-state actors who will have prompting from a number of sides. This too can be done if the two sides are sincere and do not score points over each other. To ensure honest implementation of all these measures and give succour to the troubled and suffering people, they have to first of all tackle corruption head on without any fear or favour. Honesty like water flows from top to down below. If the top is honest, the people below will too have to become honest. If the top is corrupt, the honest people below cannot survive. 

One can forget the movement forward on the ultimate solution to the political problem in Kashmir. It too has gone to the back burner. People having expectations of the final solution from the mainstream parties are being hypocritical. Their maximum contribution is lessening the harassment on the ground and improving the day to day living conditions. On this count one would have to watch the performance. It will not be fair to pass the judgement regarding the governance and stability of the set up at the moment. However, they need to understand that there are many pitfalls and they would be doing a tight-rope walk. The swords of Damocles would be always hanging over their heads. Mufti Sayed who affectionately hugged Narendra Modi needs only to be reminded about the Kashmiri proverbs, “Kakun Haaputh” and “Haapath Yarazz” which for him needs no explanation!