The Kashmir Files Stirs Nation into Recognizing Pattern of Genocidal Violence

 

Notes of my lecture at the symposium: The Kashmir Files, Moment of Reckoning, April 9, 2022, at 7 PM IST/ 9:30 AM EST

In today’s lecture I will focus on two of the important aspect brought out by the Kashmir files.

The Kashmir Files Represents Historical Human Rights Violations Amounting to Genocide

Unfortunately, contemporary discussion surrounding the recently released film The Kashmir Files represents what is wrong with our collective conscious; it went astray: The discussion is not about historical facts or historical issues, that everyone agrees, but aside from the issue all they want to discuss is either polarization, or politicization, which is traditionally used to distort facts in the past; moreover, it ignores the issues that perpetrated violence and punishes the victims with silence. Instead, If the historical event is discussed focusing on the brutal violence, the perpetrators, and the victims, it would lead to truth and reconciliation.

There are two issues with the way the public is misled in the current discussion in some media and academic sections:

1.     Misguiding the Historical issue

2.     Distorting the Human rights and Humanitarian concerns

What does it mean for contemporary history and for the future?

We must be ready to condemn violence, any elements perpetrating violence, and support the victims.

1.     History is constituted by: Facts, more facts, and all facts! For history nothing else matters.

I was surprised to read some articles about the Kashmir files hurting certain groups of people etc. How is recording historical facts hurting to somebody? If we go by that route, we cannot record any history, because no matter what its bound to hurt someone. Hurting or not hurting sentiments should not matter for history: the discipline of History is not the handmaiden of some activists or political theorists. History works independent of all these ancillary ideas. History should provide truth based on facts, that’s all it matters for history. In the case of Kashmir, as far as history is concerned the truth is hidden, facts of killings, maiming, and other atrocities committed in Kashmir did not see the light of the day or form part of the public discussion until now.

What happened on the ground is important for history, it should not be erased. hence as the Hindus of Kashmir has been requesting for a long time, a white paper should be released on the violence of Kashmir. The Kashmir files brings forward this moment of urgency.

 

Kashmir files stirred the soul of India by touching the Inner conscience of many across the country who have seen or heard of similar violence in the past not far from their home. There is an unmistakable pattern of violence of this nature seen across India.

 

1.     For many in India the Kashmir Files stirred emotions hidden inside the inner layers of conscious. Coming from Southern India the events of the Kashmir files had brought to life the stories of inhuman atrocities Razakars in Hyderabad state, that I heard from near and dear. It is the same: terrible atrocities killing innocent civilians including children, raping women, public terrorization of a group of people by chopping their limbs, gorging their eyes etc, for simply being different and practicing their faith; there is clearly a pattern---

How long will these genocidal massacred be ignored? How long will these atrocities remain suppressed? For what purpose? What is humanitarian response for these atrocities?

2.     Through its inaction not even condemning such acts, the Humanity’s soul is dead.

Human rights abuses even though partially depicted in the film form a large part of the film due to the nature of the issue on hand; these events are also imprinted on the inner conscious of Indian public, which stirred horrifying memories of previous events like these. It is important to understand the gravity of the issue, hence these events do not repeat.

Within all these discussions and debates, the Kashmir Hindus still await the recognition for their pain and suffering.

The Hindus of Kashmir face a dual curse in addition to their long struggles to get recognition for their trauma- first, they are victims of brutal violence, second, their victimization is being denied, which is worse than the abuse perpetrated 30 years ago. A film depicting their troubles is being termed Islamophobic- this is the irony. Hinduphobia within the Kashmir genocide is ignored and victim’s voices are suppressed by outrageous claims of Islamophobia. Silencing victim’s voices, suppressing history is the biggest crisis of our time! It’s not merely in the past, but continues in the present, and the future of this pattern of violence is embedded in it. This pattern of violence amounts to serious humanitarian crisis.

 

 

Why India Should Support Ukraine

 Why India Should Support Ukraine

One who stands with none stands alone. Standing alone has no merit as friends and enemies are part of geopolitics as is the case with life. India has already missed its opportunity to participate in geopolitical relations in a meaningful manner by being limited by the Nehruvian lack of future vision. It is time for India to end this NAM (Non-Alignment) mindset and enter the world with new vigour and mindful of its geopolitical role. How long is India going to plan its geopolitical participation based on the role of Russia and China, its powerful, but imperialist neighbours? If India remains quiet and fuels its growth further, it would be a threat to India’s sovereignty rather than help India in any manner. 

India never had an opportunity to shape its international relations independently. Some relations are based on the colonial background like participating in the Commonwealth. Some are shaped by threats from neighbours leading to NAM, which is a mistake. Therefore, it is important to disband these farmer organizations and move forward boldly with India-centric policy. An India centric policy must guide the future of Indian foreign policy and geopolitical strategy. I wrote an article about India’s foreign policy debacles previously. Check here: https://www.globalorder.live/post/india-s-foreign-policy-needs-to-escape-the-legacy-of-colonial-entanglements

I have long argued for establishing a new model of international relations for India based on its sovereignty and history. Arthasastra highlights the fact that the immediate neighbours cannot be trusted and would never be friends, but that a state should establish friendly relations that must be cultivated with farther neighbours. I do not say that we must follow this book written about 2,500 years ago, but what I am saying is that the state of India must take a closer look at its geopolitical strategy and shape it with guidance from tried and tested methods. As an important step in this direction India’s joining the Quad is impactful, but this role must also expand into other areas of India’s foreign relations rather than simply being symbolic. I wrote an academic article about it previously published in the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs. Please check it here: https://www.academia.edu/72480031/Connectivity_and_the_Quad_Powers_Revisiting_History_and_Thought

The Ukrainian crisis is one such situation, which demands India to go beyond its previous foreign policy debacles and vote in support of UN Security Council measures along with other world nations. It is important to stay strong and support the measures to end the war rather than stay quiet. India should support international measures to sanction Russia to end the war and support Ukraine, so as to help rebuild, the same way it is helping Afghanistan. This is India’s opportunity to show its stand on the international stage.