Kashmiris have now become too familiar with the word “AZADI”. But what does “AZADI” mean for a commoner in the valley? Firstly, freedom from day to day harassment of the security forces. Cordon and search. Frequent roadside checks. Nocturnal raids. Restricted movements in the night. Problems of living close to cantonments and security forces barracks set up in residential areas. All these actions have made it impossible for a Kashmiri to lead a peaceful life with self-respect and dignity. On one hand any uniformed soldier or even an army commando in civilian clothes with a gun can herd him like cattle while on the other hand every rebel with a gun demands his total allegiance. He is torn between the devil and the deep sea. Violence is unpredictable and it can erupt anywhere any time. A citizen’s very existence is threatened from all sides. So the first “AZADI” is the “right to life”, freedom to survive and lead one’s own life as one pleases with guaranteed security. Next comes the freedom of expression. The “AZADI” to express one’s view freely without any fear in public. At present it is practically impossible to do so. The Government for whatever reason or cause it may be, does not tolerate any procession, or public meeting other than those organised by the pro-establishment parties. Section 144 banning the assembly of four or more than four persons in public is perennially enforced throughout the valley. Even religious processions taken out on Muharram are not allowed. Bunkers, pillboxes and roadside blockades are not so much to stop the onslaught of militants as to prevent massive gatherings of people on the roads and in the streets. If these restrictions on free public expression are lifted, Government is scared that it may have millions on the roads asking for “AZADI”. They cannot forget the events of 1990 when almost entire population of Kashmir was on the roads demanding “AZADI”. Next comes the “AZADI” from want. Marx once said that to be free, man must be first fed. In Kashmir it is the reverse. By and large there is no serious problem on feeding the people. No body starves in Kashmir. Situation is quite comfortable compared to some other parts of the sub-continent where people in millions live below the poverty line. Those unfortunate people do not even classify to be designated as poor! However, the situation could be much better for Kashmiris and they would be able to lead more prosperous lives had they the freedom to do so. There are more than three hundred thousand educated unemployed youth in Kashmir. These include Doctors, Engineers, Management Graduates, Computer Engineers, Software Developers and Experts in many other fields. It is very rarely that a Kashmiri Muslim youth gets a job anywhere in India. Only Kashmiri Pandits are preferred. Unfortunately these unemployed youth are not even allowed to go abroad freely to find jobs. They could have earned a lot of foreign exchange without causing any problems. Even if some militants use this channel for going abroad, it would not be such a serious problem for the Government. In fact they could be more easily trailed. They are anyhow crossing and re-crossing the Line of Control and that too with lethal arms! Another “AZADI”, which is lacking is the freedom to use as well as safeguard our own natural resources. We cannot use our own water to generate power. For no fault of ours we have to face a perennial shortage of power in spite of having the capacity to generate more than 20,000 megawatts of it. Our Forests have enough capacity to generate a host of herbs, medicinal plants and other flora to enable setting up of many perfumeries and pharmaceutical units. However, these forests need to be first safeguarded against the vandalism, which is going on unabated and unchecked. Same is the case with our water bodies. Instead of being the main attraction for the historical City of the Sun, these are turning slowly into stinking marshes. Tourism could be our greatest resource but security forces occupy the prime areas in our potential tourist resorts. Moreover, to develop this sector of our economy we need “AZADI” from uncertainty which has been plaguing Kashmir for ages now. No body from within the State or outside is willing to invest in this atmosphere of total uncertainty. Thus all these “AZADIS” are interlinked. Kashmir can get emancipated and march on the road to progress and prosperity only when we get the main “AZADI”, for which every one has been pinning so long. Who will get us this “AZADI”? Who will lead the way? Not the present breed of leaders who are more concerned with their own appearance and image than the well being of the people. Each one of them is going in his own individual direction. If their aim is to achieve the same “AZADI” for everyone then why so many outfits and organisations? India got “AZADI” because the movement for it was led by a group of dedicated and sincere leaders with one single purpose and one single organisation. Pakistan became a reality because the movement for its creation was led by a single sincere and honest leader supported by a single dedicated and well knit organisation. The greatest misfortune of Kashmiris is that they have neither a single honest and sincere leader nor a single dedicated organisation to support such a leader. People living in posh villas, wearing designer clothes and driving around in luxurious cars cannot get “AZADI”. Vested interests always try to groom and patronise these types of leaders whom they can mould to their way of thinking. The honest and genuine leaders either get exiled or rot in jails and in some extreme cases get liquidated. The present brand of leaders have failed to show the people the way to get any of the “AZADIS” mentioned above, not talk of the ultimate “AZADI”. They are themselves waiting for an abstract “AZADI” without knowing what is it all about and how to get it! Gandhi and Jinnah led very strong popular movements for Khadi, Salt and “Home for Muslims” respectively by mobilising millions. Kashmiris did get a leader of very “tall” stature who had the capability to mobilise people but unfortunately he got confused and fatigued and could not resist worldly temptations and left us in absolute lurch. The new breed of leaders should do what Gandhi and Jinnah did for their people if they want Kashmiris to be emancipated. Instead of dreaming and waiting for abstract “AZADI”, they should lead and mobilise people to save Kashmir, its people, its environment and its resources. In a situation of cross conflict, violence does not solve matters but compounds these. If there is a true and strong desire to be free, one does not need violence to reinforce it. Only the urge to get it is sufficient. So the need of the hour is universal urge for “AZADI”. Once people want it sincerely and genuinely, no one can stop them from getting it. It depends upon the capability, sincerity and honesty of our present leaders if they can create this urge. If they fail, they will be rejected and a new leadership will emerge and the failed ones will not even be consigned to History, as it very rarely keeps a record of the failed leaders.