Ref: – Indifference to Dutch offer, the sign of Kashmiri atrophy.
Dear Sir
The present position of Kashmir problem is given below as it evolved through its history after 1947: –
(1)- The Kashmiris, speaking same language and practicing same religion (predominantly Islam) cannot be expected to remain divided across LOC.
(2)- In the backdrop of 1947 partition of India on religious lines (and also in view of Hyderabad & Junagadh controversy), it was natural that Kashmiris had an inclination to make ‘Unified Kashmir’ a part of Pakistan. Especially when it became evident that 1948 UN resolution for plebiscite is not worth the paper it is written on and in later months of 1948 India tried military solution to retrieve Pakistani side of Kashmir but failed (as narrated by noted historian Ramchandra Guha also in his latest book “India After Gandhi” at the last para of page No. 74).
(3)- The history of pre 1947 Kashmir (where Muslim majority Kashmiris were living under the rule of Hindu king, Maharaja Hari Singh) was not conducive for the emergence of martial forces of Muslim Kashmiris.
(4)- The martyrdom of Kashmiris during last two decades [where they laid down the lives, as per media report, of about 1,00,000 of their people (even as per EU’s report 80,000) for the nationalist cause of unified Kashmir, which is more than the lives laid down combinedly by
both India and Pakistan for their independence from British Raj] generated nationalism and a martial element in Kashmiris.
(5)- This two decade old independence struggle of Kashmiris was made possible by the instigation / motivation and active support of Muslim fundamentalist forces from Pakistan including support from Government of Pakistan (through ISI or otherwise).
(6)- But now after 9/11 (where Pakistan, which used to term terrorist attacks in J&K and in rest of India as part of independence struggle, has stopped calling these terrorists as freedom fighters) the Kashmiris have more vociferously started defining Kashmir solution as
“Sovereign Unified J&K” disintegrated from both India & Pakistan.
(7)- Here lies one of the main problems of Kashmiris. The martial element (a precondition for sovereignty) emerged due to sacrifices of about 1,00,000 Kashmiris under the leadership of Pakistanis. Hence Kashmiris are finding their new independence struggle (for “Sovereign
Unified J&K” disintegrated from also Pakistan apart from India) without any leadership. Kashmiris have not been able so far to through up indigenous leadership to lead this new independence struggle, without the support of Pakistanis.
(8)- As far the apprehensions & reservation shown by some that Hindus and Buddhists of Jammu and Ladhakh may not support independent J&K because it is mainly fought by Kashmiri Muslims. But during independence struggle every Indian / part of India did not support or participated in it. But now every Indian is taking the benefit of this independence. Also after independence the Congress party, which mainly spearheaded Indian independence struggle, ruled over entire India. Similarly Kashmiri Muslims (who have already laid down the lives of about 1,00,000 of their people for independent unified Kashmir) and the political parties sponsored by them (having membership from entire J&K) have every right to rule over entire J&K after it becomes independent “Sovereign Democratic Secular Unified J&K”.
(9)- The second major problem of Kashmiris is that when they were fighting for separation from only India then their leaders from both sides of LOC were working physically together with Pakistanis. But now when Kashmiris want separation from both India & Pakistan then it has become a great problem for the Kashmiris from both sides of LOC to function physically together for their independence.
(10)- This problem could have been solved by Kashmiris by establishing Government of “Sovereign Secular Democratic Unified J&K” in exile on the soil of some third country, which is the prerequisite for any independence struggle for an emergent nation, in the contemporary world. But they have failed so far to do so.
(11)- The golden opportunity for establishing this J&K government in exile came when Dutch companies showed their keenness to collaborate with Kashmiri entrepreneurs for importing fruits, flowers, honey, mushrooms, saffron etc. from Jammu & Kashmir.
(12)- This offer on behalf of Dutch companies was made last week by Hans Wolff Counselor for Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality for Netherlands embassy in India during a meeting with Kashmiri businessmen at Shrinagar.This meeting was chaired by Secretary to Govt, Agriculture Production Mrs. Tanveer Jehan and among others was attended by the Director Agriculture Kashmir, Ghulam Haider besides top officials of Horticulture, Horticulture Planning and Marketing and growers of the valley.
(13)- The Dutch councilor gave his assurance to the officers as well as the growers of all sort of possible help from the embassy for the start of Joint ventures in the state with those of Dutch companies (though, obviously, there is no Dutch offer to allow on Dutch soil this government of J&K in exile).
(14)- But once people of J&K (fro both sides of LOC) engage in a big way in export activities through Dutch embassy (and later on through other embassies and EU’s CBI – The Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries) then the establishment of this government in exile on the soil of some third country (even other than Netherlands) will be only a matter of time and the solution to Kashmir problem in the form of “Sovereign Secular Democratic Unified J&K” will be then very much nearer than what it is at the present moment.
(15)- But Kashmiris, without Pakistanis, are atrophied to such an extent that there still is no sign of leadership of this J&K independence struggle mobilizing the entrepreneurs of J&K in order to grab this opportunity offered by said proposal of Dutch companies.
Yours truly
Hem Raj Jain
208, Supriya, Plot # 20, Sector – 10, Dwarka,
New Delhi -110075, INDIA.
Ph: – +91 11 32940177, Mob: 09871194983