From past few decades, Kashmir and Kashmiris have been demonised by some vested interests, within and outside, for being communal, intolerant and fanatics. However, the locals have all along proved these vested groups wrong. Post 1990 has given an argument to some, particularly right wing groups, to portray Kashmiri Muslims as fanatics. But is that the truth?
Yes, Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave Kashmir in early 1990’s. Yes, the majority community remained silent. But does that mean the entire Muslim community wanted Hindus out. Weren’t they as helpless as Hindus. Were they not killed accusing them of being Mukhbirs (informers) and for their political affiliations. Deaths should not be presented as statistics but let us be realistic and see how many Muslims too were by killed by militants. For Muslims, the situation was double edged sword. Hindus were targeted by militants alone but Muslims were targeted by security forces also on the suspicion of being sympathetic towards militants.
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Kashmiri Muslims were killed, Kashmiri Sikhs were killed, Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus were killed, so it was not an assault on any religious community. It was an assault on entire community, irrespective of region, religion or sect. But what has been drummed out is that Kashmiri Muslims killed “OTHERS”. It is untrue, it is a propaganda, it is misinformation dished out by those who want to portray Kashmir as an intolerant society to create a nefarious narrative outside J&K to garner votes on communal lines.
The allegations that Kashmiris being fanatics and fundamentalists could never be substantiated but given the national mainstream media’s obsession to ‘othering’, the narrative did catch some eye and resulted into harassment and victimisation of Kashmiri students, traders, travellers and others in rest of the country (the recent incidents in Himachal Pradesh prove the point).
But Kashmiris braved it all with dignity. They suffered outside their State (now UT) but tried every bit to safeguard those who visit here from rest of India and Gund Ganderbal incident proved it beyond doubt when snowfall disrupted traffic on Sonamarg-Srinagar road leaving scores of tourists stranded. The tourists were rescued by local Muslims and not the dual administrations led by LG and CM. They were taken to homes, wherever there was a possibility, and to local mosques, having Hamams. The stranded tourists were provided every possible facility and locals opened their hearts and homes to them.
This is Kashmir, this is how Kashmiris behave, no matter how rudely you treat them elsewhere in the country. Those, who are desperate to demonise Kashmiri Muslims, need to open up their eyes. They are living in the past and the past has some very notorious stories that may leave them red-faced.
No one in India can compete with Kashmir and Kashmiris. People here don’t care what you eat, what you wear, how you walk, how you talk – they just welcome you, very well knowing that in rest of their country they are seen as “others” and treated differently. They believe in themselves; they have their own conventions and beliefs and they stand by that hoping the India of Gandhi will prevail someday.
