Once again the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has given a call for unfurling the tri-colour on the Republic Day in Lal Chowk, the traditional symbol of Kashmir’s accession as well as resistance to India. Anurag Thakur is planning to lead the race for Lal Chowk. There is absolutely no doubt that the exercise is more of a publicity stunt and a crude attempt to cash on the Hindu votes across India in future elections. The spot has a history of its own and keeping in view the past events, trying to exhibit a show of force there amounts to showing the proverbial red rag to the bull! Almost 63 years back Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru embraced Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at this historical spot named after the Red Square of Moscow by BPL Bedi, the architect of Naya Kashmir Manifesto. Sheikh Abdullah recited a Persian verse, " Man tu shudam, tu man shudi; Ta Kas na Goyed, man degeram tu degeri" It can be translated as:"I became you and you became I; so none could say you are separate from me".......... Nehru gave a pledge to a mammoth gathering of Kashmiris that they would be free to decide their future. Incidentally, the official website of J & K Government carries photographs of this gathering and reproduces Pandit Nehru’s words, “India will never let down Kashmir!”

Thanks to Indian security forces, the place is getting converted from the Moscow’s Red Square which was the pride of Russian Revolution into China’s Tiananmen Square, the global symbol of suppression of human rights and peoples’ resistance to this suppression. During the peak of militancy it had become probably the most violent town centre in the world but was never closed to public. The Indian Government appears to have been unnerved by the massive marches for “Azadi” (Independence) witnessed in recent years. Having a similar gathering at this spot where India’s greatest leader had given a promise to Kashmiris is considered a huge embarrassment. It is definitely a total reversal of history. Lal Chowk is an inalienable part of Kashmir’s recent history. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah must have addressed dozens of rallies at this spot. All the national and international dignitaries who have visited Kashmir from time to time have been taken to this spot. It has the same importance for Kashmir as the Red Square has for Russia. It figures in every historical epoch connected with Kashmir since 1947. Probably the BJP leaders feel that by raising the tri-colour here they would be able to show to the world that Kashmir is an integral part of India. However such gimmicks will not be able to suppress the sentiments and emotions of the people. On the contrary for emotional reasons they may give such a hurt which will deepen the alienation that has already reached the breaking point. This could very well be the proverbial last straw!

One fails to understand the regressive BJP strategy. In fact, it was their own leader Vajpayee who kick started a peace and reconciliation movement in Kashmir. The present leadership seems to have totally abandoned him! There had been a paradigm shift in Kashmir’s Popular Movement since 1990. The upheaval of nineties was a result of the violence which had been triggered by the rigging of 1987 elections. Kashmiris have been aspiring for “Azadi” or “Freedom” for centuries. They made many attempts to attain it even during earlier rule of foreigners right from the Mughal times but could not succeed. The latest attempt was made in 1931 during the Dogra rule and the movement culminated into the famous “Quit Kashmir” slogan in 1946. However, the cataclysmic changes of 1947 in the sub-continent thrust Kashmiris in a logjam out of which they are unable to come out. For last 63 years they have been trying to reach the goal of total emancipation from time to time. In 1987 they had made an attempt to reach the goal through democratic means but the rigging of elections followed by a massive crackdown forced the youth to take up arms. Two decades of violence did not take them anywhere and they had now switched back to a peaceful movement having realized that after 9/11 all violent movements were bound to fail because of the menace of global terrorism. One would have thought that all the concerned authorities would welcome this paradigm shift and encourage the peaceful movement which would ultimately end in a dialogue. However, they instead tried to suppress brutally the peaceful movement. But this suppression did not solve the problem and the civil society as well as some parliamentarians convinced the government to go for peaceful dialogue with all concerned. While these efforts are on, the main opposition party to show down the government seems to be bent upon sabotaging these efforts.

The Hindutva leaders need to be told that any type of force does not make a Kashmiri give up his aspirations. He is a great survivor. Apparently he may seem to compromise with the brutal authority but inside he continues to harbour strong anger and resentment which simmers on till he gets another opportunity to strike back! BJP may force the Government of India to bring a Kashmiri to his knees by excessive oppression but they will in the process lose the war to win the hearts and minds of the people. Kashmiris may seem to be beaten by the might of the prospective “Super-Power” but they are not down. In fact they appear to be more determined than before in their resolve, a taste of which may be had by the authorities sometime in future. Kashmir’s famous historian Kalhana has said, “The country of Kashmir may be conquered by the force of spiritual merit, but not by the force of soldiers”. One wonders why the Hindutva leaders especially the BJP stalwarts like Anurag Thakur so fond of reviving Kashmir’s Hindu past have overlooked this historical saying!