Every killing is regrettable
Whatever ‘terrible’ is happening in Kashmir, technically it cannot be attributed to a ‘war’ but the egregious circumstances unfolding (read: gunfortunate events) in Kashmir are not less horrifying, if not equal to that of war. Killings have become a new norm in Kashmir and an accepted reality. If one picks up a human-centered yardstick and not that of political convenience with regard to killings in Kashmir then he/she will certainly come to the conclusion that every killing is regrettable and should invite an uncompromising condemnation from everyone. But ‘gunfortunately’ this is not the case in Kashmir. The ‘selective mourning’ exhibited by the people in Kashmir over the episodic killings speaks volumes about the growing ‘prejudiced condemnation pattern’ among the people here.
What is it that makes the people to differentiate these violent deaths from each other?
There are many reasons as why we get to experience this ‘subjective judgment pattern’ with regard to the killings in Kashmir. I will try to discuss a few of them here and the alternatives thereof that would possibly help the people to get rid of this ‘prejudiced condemnation pattern’. Every killing in Kashmir, obviously, fuels the anger among the people, whereas the political leaders get busy in rhetoric so as to exploit the sentiments of masses; hitherto all this is cyclic in nature.
If both the aforementioned responses could be changed – if for nothing else but a positive change – then it would require something like this: After every killing “Not to be Debbie downer, but —” People in Kashmir need to be realistic instead of being angry and leaders should be pragmatic and visionary rather than just sticking to the rhetoric. However, the above suggestions need to be followed in tandem with each other, for any positive change to take effect.
Those many so-called leaders know one kind of response to everything that hurts the common people of Kashmir: condemnation. And the grave problem with these condemnations is that they tend to lead the people towards anger-generating situations. The people of Kashmir don’t need condemnations; they are looking for the help to escape from these apocalyptic tragedies. Moreover, this condemnation partisanship of the political leaders (all-inclusive) tends to sow a discord between the people with regard to routine slaying in Kashmir.
On the other hand, the people of Kashmir have to have ‘strategic patience’ in order to overcome the anger – which flows from the political condemnations — that sap our ability to think. If people are to be saved in Kashmir from getting killed for now, we need to stop talking about the killings in terms of figures and spread the word –– “Courage is in Living, Courage is in Saving.”
I refuse to comply with those who think and preach that “Kashmiris have nothing to offer but blood.” There are invisible forces in Kashmir who have unleashed a psychological warfare in Kashmir, and this aforementioned slogan of death and destruction suits them the best. These invisible forces are also playing a sinister role in creating a schism between people of Kashmir on the basis of ‘condemnations’.
In order to defeat these evil invisible forces and fight the psychological warfare thereof, the people don’t have to hit the streets but they need to take the charge of their own thoughts and keep the role of their minds and fingers into consideration while scrolling through the newsfeeds of their social media accounts.
Akeel Rashid is News Editor of the Kashmir Images
He can be reached at [email protected]
