Democracy is a relatively simple concept, it entails a strict adherence to the collective will of the people and all democratic institutions tend to be built around this central theme. After decades of struggle against a foreign oppressor we won ourselves the right to self-determination and the freedom that is essential to it; with one small exception, Kashmir.
Kashmir is a peculiar case as it enjoys a tremendous degree of constitutional autonomy. Laws passed by the Indian parliament are subject to validation by the Kahmiri State assembly and no Indian can buy property there. These laws exist to begin with because no matter how many maps we produce, the state remains disputed territory. Normally, the resolution of such territorial disputes are left to policy makers and diplomats, but where Kashmir stands out is in the fact that in the valley of Kashmir there exists searing popular resentment against India. This has only been exacerbated by consistent rigging of elections in the 1980s, complemented by Army rule and martial law. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act has destroyed families of innocents and left a highly politicized youth with a simmering sentiment of injustice.There are reports of the army and police barging into houses, and abducting family members on mere suspicion of either terrorism or compliance with terrorists. Some estimates state that at least 10,000 Kashmiris have gone missing following such detentions. Our conduct and thus reception is that of an occupying force
Everyday life too is marred by violence and instability and militants constantly wreak havoc in civilian areas and attack security forces. Curfew is common and many basic freedoms are denied. Very few Kashmiris in the valley feel any sense of belonging towards India, and yet for some perplexing reason we seem determined to cling obstinately to this little piece of land and its deeply alienated populace.
Separatism in the valley is much unlike any other secessionist movement that our nation has successfully tackled before. Here, the powerful desire for independence is less about any misplaced sense of nativism and more about a people’s aspiration to freedom.
It is unconscionable for a democracy to subjugate any part of its population the way India has the Kashmiris. It is about time we let Kashmir go, they don’t want us, whether they need us or not however, only time can tell.
*Contributed by Nachiket Joshi, St. Xaviers' College, Mumbai
