Explaining the tragedy

The book is by a serious person on a serious issue designed to provoke debate. BOOK REVIEW BY DR MAROOF SHAH

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Book : India Kashmir: Twining of Night and Day Author : Syed Tasadsaduque Hussain Publisher : Gulshan Books, 2011 Pp : 202 There are a few publications on Kashmir that make you think. The book under review is one of them. A Scintillating and provocative book on the question of nationhood and alienation of Kashmiris that deserves respectful reading from all of us. The book approaches the problems from an entirely original and fresh perspective. We have few authors with such analytical mind and boldness to stand up to their views. The book is by a serious person on a serious issue designed to provoke debate. It makes some brilliant points and draws parallels though occasionally the imagination runs too wild and could have been more charitable to the main characters it analyzes. It is psychohistorical analysis of the formation of nations and then Kashmirs troubled genesis. The book is impressive on many accounts including language which is both scholarly and literary though occasionally too flowery. The author has a forceful style of his own. He has independent view on many issues and what is impressive and praiseworthy regarding the personality of the author is his decision to resign from the post of Additional Public Prosecutor govt. services on moral grounds as an expression of protest against Indian policies in Kashmir. In his letter of resignation he wrote to Sadiq my only mistake has been to serve a govt. which is democratic in form, dictatorial in spirit, draconian in its quintessence. The author makes many observations and theses and urges his readers to consider them for debate. I list some of them: Accession turned Muslim majority into minority and Kashmiri Pandit minority became integral part of the brute majority of India. Reflecting on mutually antagonistic perceptions of Muslims and Pandits in recent past regarding each other Muslims seeing them as moral lepers and responsible for their economic plight and in turn Pandits seeing Muslims as lecherous rascals, dishonest, mean rapscallions, reckless scapegraces. - the author finds fault with the perception of both communities as exaggerated and paranoiac. Indian politics has been dominated by interests of high caste Brahmins and Kashmir problem is traceable to it. Gandhi was a mere puppet whose strings were in the hands of powerful Brahmans. The secret Brahman cabal in the Congress saw in Gandhis feminization of Indian political struggle potential for double-crossing the British and Indian public opinion. Bhakti saints are mock-rebels against orthodox Hinduism and sponsored by the Brahmans to channelize the forces of revolt to their advantage. Gandhi was a bhakti saint fabricated by the high-

caste and thus a conduit through which flew the forces of social change only to irrigate highcaste pastures. Gandhi led shudras to cul-de-sac. He invented Ahimsa under the influence of political interests of Brhamns in complicity with British Raj which could rule with impunity. It was in Brahmin interests to open up Sikh-Hindu feud. Indian nationalism was euphemism for Brahmanism and Sheikh Abdullahs declaration that Kashmiri nationalism was an extension of Indian nationalism needs to be similarly contextualized. Kashmirs movement after independence after Abdullahs arrest was betrayed by Afzal Beg who made a deal with Nehru to prevent underground armed resistance movement that was brewing by selling public the slogan of plebiscite front. Beg, the servile lackey of New Delhi would use all the repertoire of claptrap to preach the cant of constitutional struggle for plebiscite. Abdullahs rule from 1947-53 was a period of unexcelled tyranny that surpassed the savagery of Sikh rule. Every NC hoodlum had become a centre of cruel authority. Every Kashmiri Muslim was considered a fifth columnist. Politically suspect people were stripped of their trousers on the streets by NC thugs. Before the partition NC was handmaiden of Congress and its brainchild that was used to humiliate Dogra Maharaja into submission. Post-1947 NC ceased to represent the sentiments of people. It had become a conglomeration of paid gangsters, mobsters, desperados, hooligans, hoodlums and delinquents. It was supported by petty shopkeepers of the city of Srinagar. It had no base in rural Kashmir.After land reforms I think this is an understatement. Bakhshi Ghulam Muhammad debased national character, debauched the Kashmiri youth, encouraged corruption and created a powerful class of parvenus, the P.W.D contractors, the forest lesses, the transporters, the carriage contractors who would support his policy of carrot and stick. Sadiq was an epitome of inertia. a man of indecision, a perfect milk toast. After Nehrus death especially India focused on the policy of colonialism in Kashmir. Five year plans were aimed at linking military installations. The various economic plans had a limited objective, to create a new class of vested interests, consisting of nova riche, snug political mavericks, avaricious lesses, money grabbing contractors, ravenous orchardists, penny-pinching carpet dealers, corrupt civil servants who would support Indian rule in Kashmir. After Sheikh Abdulla installed his son history would repeat itself and Kashmir would again be ruled by cheats, the double dealers, the rogues. The author locates Kashmir conundrum in recent perversions in the psyche of Indian leadership which have manipulated masses and sponsored hysterical outlook on minorities and other issues. Kashmirs corruption story and dependence syndrome begins with conversion of agriculture land to apple orchard and then growing financial ties with commission agents from Delhi. Both Pakistan and India are uninterested in serious dialogue or resolution of K issue. This is the first in depth characterological study of Gandhi by any Kashmiri. It is one of the most devastating criticisms of the philosophy of Ahimsa. It loudly condemns the pundits of Indian nationalism for sacrificing Kashmir at the altar of their fabricated nation-god. The author takes up some lesser known facets of Indian history for detailed examination to press his thesis that Hindu India was no match for Islamic culture at the time it conquered it politically. He rebuts, on purely historical grounds, Havel who had criticized Muslims and glorified Hindu culture. His treatment of Hinduism in turn betrays some Orientalist fallacies like its elitism and ignores deeper symbolism of its cultural or ritualistic aspects. It is not merely a system for defending Aryan supremacy. His remarks on history of religions, on polytheism in ancient religions can easily be questioned by more informed reading of religion or its history. His assertion that Gandhi contrary to orthodox position of Gita or other scriptures, preaches the message of joyousness in self emasculation of personality is too simplistic a reading of his complex religious thought. The authors reading of Gandhis autobiography is quite original displaying his remarkable knowledge of Erich Fromn and others but it invites serious debate and criticism that I leave to his readers. The authors analysis of Hindutva is quite incisive. His observations on decadent intellectuals of modern Kashmir are eye-opening and call for serious introspection on the part of those whose business to think for the masses or represent their viewpoint. While the book is studded with observations of great

value its thrust runs contrary to much accepted theses in current political history. The author only wishes that the book should raise debate and he succeeds in this endeavour. The book ends by making some predictions on political future and changing power games in world politics. While appreciating his analytical rigour I think the question of class needs to be better foregrounded. Although I disagree with his psychoanalysis of Gandhi for want of space I cant explain my position his portrayal of the overall situation is remarkably objective. The book overemphasizes political reading of history and religion. On the whole it is an important contribution to Kashmir studies and highly recommended. It has blasted mainstream parties and dominant imposed discourse on Kashmir in very forceful terms. The book has a point. It needs a serious hearing and debate from all Kashmiris. It is the cry of a bruised soul who is also intellectually sensitive.

Dear Bhaijan, salam, Hope you doing good, am fine and just finished the two projects have been too much busy with the work and am really exhausted and From few days their is this mis - communication going around, i request you to kindly don't get carried away with the wrong informations given to you by mummy. i know she is doing all this to keep samreen and Rifat/maryam and naza intact. Unfortunately and coincidentally while using my computer last week Ruheel had seen the mail which yu had sent in 2009 when mummy was in Albaha i had not shared it with Ruheel those days as when i confirmed from Naza about same in 2009 she said ruheel baji never beat samreen also i did confirm from samreen on the very day i recieved yur mail in 2009. but now when ruheel saw that mail she obviously did get annoyed and next day asked Naza about same and Naza said that she has never said that Ruheel did anything wrong those days in 2009 and also then mummy and Naza and Samreen had told her that they never said so and mummy also said she is now hearing about any mail and the same story. i am sure you understand the scenarios better now as yu saw things of yur own in last 7 months when yu were here. Ruheel has heard from Naza that mummy was talking to you and telling you certain things about me of not contributing etc i just wanted to tell you that i do contribute although in little way yet but i do contribute monthll by way of paying to Rahman sometimes paying for rice etc and getting Roti, Bread, eggs, sometimes vegetables and other stuff"this is so bad i have to write all this but as you are being given wrong information from mummy so i am sharing all this" . Mummy spends lot of money on lunch as she has to feed rifat/sam/naza and whatever they eat during lunch is only for lunch. i told mummy yesterday that she should talk to me if their is any problem so that we fix it instead of making stories and creating more confusion also ruheel told her that if she wants to see any change in her way of doing things please tell me. but mummy seems to be pulling in sheeba baji and sanam baji into it and mixes all stories which gives space to larger confusion and misunderstandings. i sometime get this feel that they don't want me to stay here as they have been living alone last year and eating and enjoying without any interference.

Believe me i wept in evening the day when i dropped sheeba baji n kids at Rajbagh at 8:30 am morning on 22nd when she had come for samreens birthday, and when i asked about same to mummy that she should not have let her go so early this is her house too etc but she never takes any responsibility. I just wanted to keep yu updated about the same and also request you please ask me if mummy says anything to you, i am sure she will put all the blame on Sheeba Baji so as to create multiple confusions.

Take care regards your Feroz