Jnana Prabodhini Kashmir Group

The modern world we live today oozes of turbulence, internal and external. While the extreme climate changes, tsunamis and receeding icebergs are shortening the lives of the human population on Earth, the same goes with the people. There is shortage all along of resources everywhere and that has started a cycle of turbulences, for food, for oil and for other resources. The fights continuing, what are the so called educated class youth doing? Nothing but expressing concerns over the geopolitical issues, showing disinterest in local politicians and remaining happy within their eworld and waiting for the bigger calamities to come to them.

Lets talk India specific. Lets talk about us. The keyboard centric junta who knows nothing about the odds faced by the youth outside, who daily suffers the shortage of food, shortage of education and the shortage of income, of course. What do we do about it. Feel proud about ourselves, that we are not in the same situation. Is it worth feeling proud or is it the time to feel ashamed about our being self-centered ideas of life, leading us on a trajectory that makes us completely lose the social context of the world outside. Feeling happy about our achievement is a good thing, but there has to be a limit and then there shold be some real social concern, of how my brothers are living outside there, in that central part of India which has seen nothing but the scorching Sun, depleting water tables and rising hunger and thirst. Add the local political disinterest in development and a habit to depend on government for everything from the 'Sulabh Shouchalayas' to irrigation projects. If everything was to be done by government what are we living for and what is the use of our education? just getting a job and be happy. Let the world outside go to hell...Me and my family and friends living happily and enjoying my status of middle class richness. What it is worth to the people around us? The people we overlook standing on the bus stops while we swoosh our four wheelers...the people we bargain with while buying subji...these people are not aliens and neither they are from outside India. They are here all along. It is just that I am not bothered and have a swollen 'devil may care' attitude a typical of the neuvo-rich middleclass youth, after getting a feel of achievement having a 2BHK flat and a four wheeler in the parking. Is that all? Is that the pinnacle of my life ? Our previous generation had taken 55-60 years of life to come to this stage and they definitely were right to feel happy and content, as it took their whole youth to achive this. But does this apply to us anymore?

The middle class youth is everywhere on the market scene, everywhere on the blogs and the rest. But where is it on political front? Where is it on cultural, developmental or even literary front? Everyone going gung ho about English and globalized way of living. But aren't there people anymore in rural areas, aren't there writers anymore in Hindi or any other Indian languages? Why the youth is so disinterested in politics? Has the cushiness of life and money earned in job made us totally coward and defensive? Are we saying that we are least bothered about politics and we haven't got anything to do with it? Well if that is the case my friends, we are a sitting duck waiting to be slaughtered and cut off from the mainstream social stream. We are an endangred specie for whom there is no plan in government, no voice in parliament and no standing in the election. After sixty years of indipendance, which was kept alive and kicking by the middleclass, we are now a 'taken for granted lot' in the election and no political party, no political leader is bothered about us. There are people who stand for Industrialists, there are people who stand for poors, there are people who stand for Hindus, there are people who stand for Muslims, there are people who stand for Christians, there are Marathi's and there are non Marathis, there are people for Biharis and UPwallahs, but is there anyone for middleclass people who takes all of the middleclass along nomatter the religion or ethnicity or language, there is none. The class has no representation of its own. We are the ones to be blamed for it because we don't like politics, we don't want to travel with low-class people, we are in awe of upper-class and harbour a desire to be one of them some day, we are not proud of our roots, we don't love our own language, we hate to love the roots from which we have come, or atleast we don't like to show it openly. Are we cowards to the hilt? yes we are. We wear an unseen purdah around us and think we are protected from the socio-economical turbulances. In fact, as I see it we don't want to be seen as a middless class people. When the situation arises, we fall back to what the ancestors told us.To be a Hindu or a Muslim, to be a Bihari, UPite or marathi, thus mutely accepting the label given to us by the politicians and still saying we are not interested in politics. Its like a goat saying that he is not interested in fighting a tiger while standing in the tiger's cage. We are being eaten by the politicians for their own interests, we are being eaten by market for their own interest, and we are mute acceptors and being happy after being identified so. It is the time we need to do something for society, it is the time we get involved in the daily administration of local municipalty, it is the time we read books by ragional-language authors and feel proud about it. We are just not letting ourselves out of the cages built by the politicians and merketeers for us. We need to really break that jinx and let oursleves out in open and getting the smell of the soil. That's fun right?

In conclusion I can imagine a democle's sword behanging over the neck of middleclass, who are having the money and the designation as only identification marks they can claim as theirs. God forbet, the industry sinks and the money gone, we would fall back to the state of poverty India is best known for and there would be only poors and elites and no middle. That's what is the case in Pakistan right? Are we any different? If we are, may be this is the time we start proving. That might be by getting involved in improving the education in local schools, understanding the problems that hamper the growth of locality we live in, asking questions to the local corporators regarding the problems and following them with it, extensively travelling the rural part of the district and knowing what people do over there and yes not being to net-centric and getting out in open under the blue sky. Then we might see new challenges calling us, that will help not only us but the whole locality on the growth path. The uninterested middleclass youth is the biggest threat to our own societal existence and the functioning of great democracy called India. India is calling you...are you listening ?

Aniket Kavathekar

We are very thankful of u people to give brief idea about our most wonderful state Kashmir.

As u herself knows Kashmir is a paradise on earth. Have u observed it from last year tour. Kashmir has provided the God various health resorts, glaeirs, lakes, ponds, mountains of Himalayas.

Health resorts of south are phalgam, achbal, kokernag, verinag, patni top, akad etc.

Health resorts of north are gulmarg, sonamarg, Dal Lake, tulip garden, botanical garden etc.In short there should be a calculator to count the health resorts of Kashmir.

But unfortunately due to problems of few past years Kashmir people feeling very unhappy .they shut there houses,shops,industries etc right before the evening and opens late in the morning due to threatening of army people. Army is the main big problem in Kashmir to keep our shops etc close late in the evening and opens early in the morning, Open schools, colleges early in the morning as the schedule is in the foreign states. Not only army is responsible but the guilt is also government which is not according to choice of Kashmir’s people. The government is not showing good response to people for making happy and prosperous. They does not look upon unemployed youths, does not build industries , colleges of latest modern types, universities of modern technologies, schools of newly challenged types. They (means govt) does not secure Kashmir people from army as well as militants.

You have heard about the incident of Shopian, the two innocent girls Asia and Nilofer which working on their garden but due to rude behavior of security personals they

Leave this mortal world. The guilt is that they were late in the garden and were too beautiful. This is the government of Jammu and Kashmir.

I think Kashmir people welcome the every kind of guest whether it should a Muslim ,a Hindu ,a Sikh, a Christian of any cost,any religion and of any co lour & of any part of the world they quench there thirst with their blood and respect them with whole heartedly.

Now in these days the conditions of the Jammu and Kashmir becoming normal step by step. Hope this mail will not threat u but becoming aware of the day to day circumstances of this state.We all hope that this state will soon become normal and good conditionable.Thanks from JAVAID.

वाह वाह क्या बात होनी थी वही बात हो गयी. जो काम न होनी थी वही काम हो गयी . उन सब कामोमे हमारी आवाम खुदको खोती रही. मासूम जाने गयी, मासुमोंकी इज्जत लूट गयी फिर क्या ये सारी खताए अब हमारी हो गयी खताए अगर किसीकी होती है तो हमने चुना है कही खताए अगर ऐसी हो जो बिल्कुल माफ़ करने के लायक हो तो उसे माफ़ करो. और अगर खताए माफ़ करने के लायक बिल्कुल न हो तो उसे जरूर सजा दो. ये की नफरत क्यों और कैसे मिलती है? अगर लोग यही सोचते रहे की एक दुसरे के मजब अलग अलग होने से मिलती है. तो सबसे पाहिले एक मुस्लिम होकर आप सबको इस बात से आगाह कर रहा हूँ की हमारी मुसलमानियत हमें ये नहीं सिखाती की हमें नफरत बाटो . मुसलमानियत का मतलब यही है की जितानाभी प्यार आपके दिल में होगा तो उस सबकेसाथ ऐसे बाटो की कोई ये ना सोचे की ये हिन्दू है. इसके साथ नहीं चलेगा. या हिन्दू ये नहीं कहना चाहिए की भाई ये मुस्लिम है, काश्मिरी है इनके साथ कोई बात बाटनी नहीं है. ये दहशत जब होगा, और फिर उन्ही बन्दोसे जो काश्मिरी हिन्दू और मुस्लिम हो सबसे पहिला सवाल उनके जीमें आयेगा तो जाहिर है कोई चंडीगड़ का नाम लेगा, कोई पंजाब का नाम लेगा कोई दिल्ली का नाम लेगा कोई मुंबई का या किसी और का.. और कोई कहेगा मैं काश्मीर का हूँ . लेकिन ये चंडीगड़ ये दिल्ली ये मुंबई ये काश्मीर ये सबका वजूद कहा पे है. तो वो भारत मैं है. तो फिर किसीको ये हक्क नहीं बनता की काश्मिरी को दहशती कहते है.अगर काश्मिरी दहशत करते है, तो आप लोग कहाके हो? आप लोगोका वजूद भी तो वही है जो कश्मिरियोंका है तो इसका मतलब ये है की आप भी दहशतमें शामिल है. दरसल ये कहना है की गलत क्या है सही क्या है इसके बारे में हम सोचते ही नहीं . चाहे वो दिल्ली हो या काश्मीर .

मिसाल के तौर पर एक घर मैं चार लोग रहते है .२ बच्चे और माँ बाप वही माँ बाप उन बचोंको कोसेंगे, तंग करेंगे, लेकिन कभी सही रास्तेपे नहीं ले जाएँगे तो नतीजा क्या होगा? एक तो घर बरबाद हो जायेगा और घर के लोग भी. और वो बच्चे अपनी सही मंजिल को कभी नहीं पा सकेंगे. इसके एवज अगर उनको अच्छी तर्दियत (treatment ) दी जायेगी तो घर भी खुश और घर के लोग भी मतलब काश्मिरी कुछ ऐसा फिल कर रहे है की अगर भारत हमें अपना हिस्सा समज़ता है तो कश्मिरीयोंको वो सारे हक्क मिलने चाहिए जो दिए गए थे. नहीं तो कल कोई ऐसे वारजत (incident) पेश नहीं आनि चाहिए जैसे शोपियान का केस हुआ था तो वही रखवाले कभी मासूम इज्जतो और मासूम जाने बीछा जाती है की जहा नफरत की जड़े पैदा होती है तो लोग मजबूर होकर अपने घरोसे निकलकर सड्कोपे जाकर ऐतचाजी (जुलूस) करते है. शोपियन केस तो हालिका मसला है. ३-४ साल पाहिले बखारपुरा पुलवामा में ५ बचोंके एक बाप को फौज ने गोलियोंसे बहरमिसे चिर के रख दिया था और बच्चोंका सहारा उठाया था ये सब चीजे हम ऐतचाजी(जुलूस) मुजारी करे तो जायज है. नहीं तो कुछ लोगोंके बहकावे मैं आकर हम अपनी मंजिल खो देंगे. जो बिल्कुल ऐसे बहकते है और कहते है की काश्मीर जन्नत का एक नमुना है काश्मीर वो ऊँची ऊँची पहाडिया, घने घने बर्फ और ठंडी हवा निकलती है.तो हम काश्मीर को कुछ नहीं होने देंगे लेकिन करते क्या है गन्दगी फैलाते है. ये हुआ वो हुआ बहकाकर सारी कारोबार और एजूकेशन को रोकते है.

मैं एक स्टुडेंट की हैसियत से ये कहना चाहता हूँ की ये काश्मीर जो है वो बिल्कुल खुबसूरत कुदरती नजरोमें जन्नत का नमुना है एक खुबसूरत जन्नत को और खुबसूरत बनाने के लिए चाहिए की अपनी तालीमी दुनिया को ना रोके अगर ये तालीमी दुनिया किसीके बह्कावेमे आकर रुक गयी तो ये जन्नत जन्नत बनके नहीं रहेगी. तो यहाके प्यारे प्यारे फुल जिनसे जन्नत सज़ती है और अगर वही फुल सुखके गिर जायेंगे तो इस बागमें आनेको किसका मन होगा. इसके रखवाले इमानदारीसे बाग की रक्षा करे . कही ऐसा ना हो की बाग सुखकर रखावालोको खुद अपनीही बागमें से निकलना पड़े और बाद मैं पचताना पड़े. बाकी मेरी यही दुआ है की काश्मीर मैं आकर कश्मीरियत का प्यार देखो आपका मन खुशियोंसे भर जायेगा बाकी कोई दर नहीं है कोई नफरत नहीं है और कोई दहशत नहीं है अमनसे आओ और अमनमे रहकर बहोत ज्यादा खुशिया लेकर जाओ.

धन्यवाद्

After the big success of 3rd world Kashmir Pandit conference in Jammu on 11 and 12th April 2009 Panun KashmirsPune Chapter organized an event at Historical Shaniwarwada in Pune on 24th May 2009. The event was organized for informing the people of India about the ethnic cleaning ,cultural genocide and mass exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the Valley. The event started at 6 PM with Shardha Vandhana , local recitations and patriotic songs by Mrs.Veena Kaul and local artists . The musical presentations were also made by Sh Dleep Langoo and young Devash Langoo who had come from Delhi to perform for this function.

Welcoming the guestsDr. Amar Malmohi said "The great Maratha warriors have inspired us to start this campaign of awareness from Pune which has a history of many successful struggles.He hoped that the campaign for a separate homeland with support from all national elements will surely materialize.

After the welcome address Dr Agnishekar addressed the audiences and discussed the various dimensions of Kashmir politics with a nationalistic point of view. He stressed the formation of a separate Unionterritory for the Kashmiri Hindus under the central administration. He said the politics of separatist and the so called main stream leaders of Kashmir is similar in essence and different only in style and ex-pression.These elements either want independent Kashmir or annexation toPakistanor autonomousKashmir, all of which are against the very sprit of constitution.

Sh. R.C . Sheopuri read a paper on Saraswat Brahmins and said that since 1320 ADseven migrations have taken place from Kashmir and all the Saraswats basically belong to Kashmir and as suchHomeland is needed for all those people who belong to this stock.

Speakers included Sh. Ashwani Chrungoo co-founder and a dynamic leader of Panun Kashmir, Principal BMCC collegePune, Aniruddha Deshpande, president of the Maharashtra Warkari Mahamandal Hariprabhubhakt Rameshwar Maharaj Shastri, spokesperson of Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, Maharashtra, Ramesh Shinde, and senior representative of Panun Kashmir, Vadodara chapter, Shailaja Bharadwaj,

Sh. Ashwani Chrungoo said that the union government has been a salient spectator to the woes and agonies of Kashmiri Hindus who have become refugees in their own country. He stressed the unity of purpose and strategy on the part of all nationalelementsfor eradicating the curse of terrorism and all those activities which undermine the national sprit. He further said that only cure for the sick Kashmir problem is Homeland for patriotic elements.

In his address Sh Deshpande stressed the need for an unending struggle and selfless dedication to every national cause.

Sh Ramesh Shinde said that the cause of Kashmiri Hindus is cause of all national minded Indians who shouldsupport it by all the means.

Shailaja Bharadwaj said The Government should take tough measures to wipe out militancy from the trouble torn state . Failure to do this will pose a measure threat to the entire nation. Blatantly, attacking successive Governments on the issue of Kashmiri HindusBharadwaj said that no government has given any considerable heed to the trials and tribulations of Kashmiri Pandits. She asked Why does not the Government or the media talk about the human rights violations of Kashmiri Hindus.

Sh Rameshwar Maharaj Shastri said that he represents saints and believes in action and assured that if the situation demandsWarkaris will walk to Kashmir as has been done by the saints in the past.

Followingpersons and organizations were felicitated for their unparallel Support to Kashmiri Hindu Community

Sh.Rameshwar Maharaj Shastri, Sh.Ramesh Shinde, Sh.Anirudh Deshpande, Sh.Milind Ekbote, Mrs.Mohantara Patil, Mr.Anil Ganu,.Mr.Uday Joshi, Mr.Sarang Gosavi, Hindu Sabha,Pune , Bhagwan Gopinath Trust Pune and Sh.Milind Kamble.

Following persons from the Kashmiri Pandit Community were also felicitated

Dr.Raj Kumar Mirakhur, Sh.Pran Kishor Kaul, Dr. AmarMalmohi, M/s Epoch Events,

Mr.Rahul Kaul and Miss.Ankita Raina

Panun Kashmir leaders thanked the people of Maharashtra for their support. Dr. Agnishekar said Maharashtra was one of the first states that reached out to us.This reflects the sensitivity and broadmindedness of the Maharashtrians. We express our deep gratitude through this event.

The anchor of the event Sh. Bharat Bushan Dhar thanked all those who participated especially from Noida, Delhi, Mumbai, Baroda, Jammuand other parts of Maharashtara.

The event was concluding with Vandamatram

Before few months, if somebody had asked me to predict the nature of a Kashmiri man, my answer would have been,? A Kashmiri man must be under continuous tension, living with immense stress upon him. That?s why he would not trust any outsider, would always stay in the house under the fear and not a single man would be seen on the road once the darkness of the evening takes over the town.? Thank god no one ever asked me this question and saved me from building a totally opposite impression of a Kashmiri man. Now, I would welcome such questions from the people around me as I have gained numerous experiences from my tour to Jammu and Kashmir, and I am sure this time my answer would be far more correct.

We were fortunate to get the opportunity to stay with our Kashmiri friends and to have ample time to interact with many people. Kashmiri people just love to socialize. While having a walk through the town Bijbihara with Noor, he used stop every now and then to greet his friends and relatives. They would even talk to me and immediately invite me over a tea at their place. The hospitality I experienced in the state was first of its kind experienced by me. It was simply great. They love to serve their guests, they equally love to talk to them and most importantly they love to feed them. At Javed's place, we were served cold-drink and tea almost consecutively only because we did not know when we will be able to visit his place again. I enjoyed these informal interactions to the fullest. Those people have got great skill to befriend someone effortlessly.

Experiences at Jammu were equally memorable. Especially visit to Mishriwala migrant camp was unforgettable. The condition of the houses at the camp was not very good. But it had to do nothing with their love to serve their guests. People from all the age groups interacted with us so nicely as if we knew each other for many a days. Meal at the Vijender?s place used be the pleasure for us as we were served delicious recepies ( including Potato chips especially for us on the last day ) and had the lighthearted conversations with Deedar Singhji and their other relatives. Vijender accompanied us in the Jammu and prepared the Jnana Prabodhini office in a nice way to make our stay comfortable.

This tour taught me a lot and enriched me with number of amazing experiences. This was the first time when I just loved to observe and study people closely. I feel that the nature of Kashmiri people is equally significant as the Nature of Kashmir in making the JK a heaven on the earth.

-Prayag

• War is also known as 'Kargil war'
• Duration of war : May-July 1999
• Location : Kargil district, Kashmir

About Kargil:

• Before partition, Kargil was part of Baltistan district of Ladakh.
• After first Kashmir War (1947?48), LOC formed bisected Kargil on the Indian side in the Ladakh subdivision of J&K.
• After Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the two nations signed the Simla Agreement promising not to engage in armed conflict with respect to that boundary.

Why Kargil was selected as target:-

• Geographical and territorial importance.
• Situated 205 Km from Srinagar.
•  Indian national highway NH1 connecting Srinagar- Leh cuts through Kargil.
•  District capital, Kargil, the populated areas near the front line in the conflict included the Mushko Valley and the tiny town of Drass, southwest of Kargil, as well as the Batalik sector and other areas, northeast of Kargil.
• The terrain surrounding it, lent itself to pre-emptive seizure of unoccupied military positions.
•  Well-prepared defensive posts atop the peaks, a defender of the high ground would enjoy advantages akin to a fortress.
• The difficulties would be exacerbated by the high altitude and freezing temperatures.
• Just 173 km from the Pakistani-controlled town of Skardu, which was capable of providing logistical and artillery support to Pakistani combatants.
• The Kargil district had a Muslim majority, which may have led Pakistani forces to expect local support for the infiltration.

Background:-

• The efforts of both nations to control the Siachen Glacier by establishing military outposts on the surrounding mountains ridges and the resulting military skirmishes in the 1980s.
• Tensions and conflict due to separatist activities in Kashmir ( during 1990s).
• Nuclear tests by both countries in 1998.
• Attempt to defuse the situation- Lahore Declaration in February 1999, promising to provide a peaceful and bilateral solution to the Kashmir conflict.
• During the winter of 1998 -1999, training and sending Pakistani troops and paramilitary forces, some allegedly in the guise of mujahideen, into territory on the Indian side of the LOC.

Objective of Pakistan:-

• Any tension in the region would internationalize the Kashmir issue, helping it to secure a speedy resolution.
• Force India to negotiate a settlement of the broader Kashmir dispute.
• To boost the morale of the decade-long rebellion in Indian Administered Kashmir by taking a proactive role.

Phases of war:-

Phase 1: Pakistan infiltrated forces into the Indian-controlled section of Kashmir and occupied strategic locations enabling it to control NH1.

Phase 2: India discovering the infiltration and mobilizing forces to respond to it.

Phase 3: major battles by Indian and Pakistani forces resulting in India capturing positions held by Pakistani forces and the withdrawal of Pakistani forces back across the Line of Control.

Final battle and result:-

•  First priority was to recapture peaks that were in the immediate vicinity of NH1a. This resulted in Indian troops first targeting the Tiger Hill and Tololing complex in Dras, which dominated the Srinagar-Leh route.
• Followed by the Batalik-Turtok sub-sector which provided access to Siachen Glacier.
• As vital strategic importance to the Pakistani defensive troops were Point 4590 (the nearest point that had a view of NH1a) and Point 5353 (the highest feature in the Dras sector, allowing the Pakistani troops to observe NH1A), the recapture of Point 4590 by Indian troops on June 14 was significant.
•  Most of the posts in the vicinity of the highway were cleared by mid-June. The Indian army launched its final attacks in the last week of July; as soon as the Drass subsector had been cleared of Pakistani forces, the fighting ceased on July 26. The day has since been marked as Kargil Vijay Diwas in India.

Effects:-

• India had resumed control of all territory south and east of the Line of Control, as was established in July 1972 as per the Shimla Accord.
• Pakistan was criticized by other countries for allowing its paramilitary forces and insurgents to cross the Line of Control. 
•  Pakistan's primary diplomatic response on term "Kashmiri freedom fighters" was in the end not successful.
• Pakistan also attempted to internationalize the Kashmir issue, by linking the crisis in Kargil to the larger Kashmir conflict but, such a diplomatic stance found few backers on the world stage.
• Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif flew to meet U.S. president Bill Clinton on July 4 to obtain support from the United States. Clinton rebuked Sharif, however, and asked him to use his contacts to rein in the militants and withdraw Pakistani soldiers from Indian territory.
• G8, European Union, ASEAN Regional Forum supported India and condemned the Pakistani violation of the LOC at the Cologne summit.
• China, a long-time ally of Pakistan, did not intervene in Pakistan's favour, insisting on a pullout of forces to the LoC and settling border issues peacefully.
• The Kargil War was significant for the impact and influence of the mass media on public opinion in both nations.
• The Indian military operation in Kargil and served as a morale booster.
•  India gain valuable diplomatic recognition for its position.
•  Since Pakistan and India each had weapons of mass destruction, many in the international community were concerned that if the Kargil conflict intensified, it could lead to nuclear war.
•  The Kargil crisis is believed to have played a big part in garnering the votes to NDA government.
•  From the end of the war until February 2000, the Indian stock market rose by over 30%.
•  On the diplomatic front, Indo-U.S. relations improved, as the United States appreciated Indian attempts to restrict the conflict to a limited geographic area. Relations with Israel ? which had discreetly aided India with ordnance supply and matériel such as unmanned aerial vehicles and laser-guided bombs, as well as satellite imagery ? also were bolstered.
•  Criticism of intelligence agencies like RAW.
•  Already fragile Pakistani economy was weakened further.
•  No public commission of inquiry was set up in Pakistan to investigate the people responsible for initiating the conflict.
•  Though the Kargil conflict had brought the Kashmir dispute into international focus (which was one of the aims of Pakistan) it had done so in negative circumstances that eroded its credibility, since the infiltration came just after a peace process between the two countries was underway.

• War is also known as 'Bangladesh liberation war' as well as 'Pakistani civil war'.
• Duration of war : 3 to 16 December 1971
• Location : Current day Bangladesh and India-Pakistan western border

Background :

• Traditional dominance of west Pakistan over east Pakistan in spite of majority
• Actual cause of war seen in 1970 Pak election in which east Pakistani Awami League (leader :SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHAMAN) won 167 of 169 seats in East Pakistan so secured a simple majority in parliament of Pakistan with 313 seats.
• Their claim for formation of government was refused by ZULFIKAR ALI BHUTTO (leader of Pakistan Peoples Party) and president YAHYA KHAN called military army to suppress the dissent in East Pakistan.
• For this action taken by Pakistan :

• Mass arrest of dissendendents
• Disarm east Pakistani soldiers and police
• Widespread atrocities against the civilians of E. Pak
• Awami League was banished and Mujib was arrested and taken to W. Pakistan.

• In this scenario, on 27 April 1971, ZIAUR RAHAMAN (a rebellious major of Pakistan army) declared the independence of E. Pak on behalf of Mujibir.
• This leads to formations of :

• Government-in-exile in Baidyanathtala of Meherpur by Awami League leaders
• Mukti Bahini

India's involvement in war :

• Full support to the struggle for independence by the people of E. Pakistan by prime minister INDIRA GANDHI ( 27 April 1971)
• Opened E. Pak-India border for refuges and established their camps in west Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura.
• Training for Mukti Bahini members by E. Pakistan + Indian Intelligence

Objective of war:-

For Pakistan

• Hold Indian forces from entering in E. Pak
• Occupy as much as territory as possible on western side of India.

For India

• Prevent Pakistan from entering Indian soil on the western front
• No intention of conducting an offensive into W. Pak
• The Indian army waited for winter, when the drier ground would make for easier operations and Himalayan passes would be closed by snow, preventing any Chinese intervention.

Operations before and during war:-

Result:-

December 16, 1971: Lieutenant-General A. A. K. Niazi, supreme commander of Pakistani Army in East Pakistan, surrenders to the Allied Forces (Mitro Bahini) represented by Lieutenant General Aurora of Indian Army at the surrender. Bangladesh gains victory .

Effects:-

• The surrender of the Pakistani military to the allied forces of India and Bangladesh.
• Bangladesh became an independent nation, the world's third most populous Muslim state.
• President Yahya Khan resigned, to be replaced by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
• Mujibur Rahman was released from a West Pakistani prison, returning to Dhaka on January 10, 1972.
• The cost of the war for Pakistan in monetary and human resources was high.
• The Simla Agreement signed the following year, also resulted in control of Pakistani territory (more than 15,000 km² ) that had been captured during the war being given back to Pakistan, in order to create a "lasting peace" between the two nations and to affirm that India had no territorial ambitions.

SIMALA AGREEMENT

• Signed between India and Pakistan at on July 3, 1972.
• The treaty was signed in Simla, India, by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India.
• Bound the two countries "to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations".
• Cemented the Line of Control as something close to a permanent border. "In Jammu and Kashmir, the Line of Control resulting from the cease-fire of December 17, 1971 shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognised position of either side.
• The basis of all subsequent bilateral talks between India and Pakistan, though it has not prevented the relationship between the two countries from deteriorating to the point of armed conflict.
• In Jammu and Kashmir, the line of control resulting from the ceasefire of December 17, 1971, shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognised position of either side. Neither side shall seek to alter it unilaterally, irrespective of mutual differences and legal interpretations. Both sides further undertake to refrain from the threat or the use of force in violation of this line.

Book review

Violent Activism

(Interviews of 24 ex-millitants)

by Shobna Sonpar

Jammu and Kashmir is a state with two contrast identities. One is the heaven on earth, as the state specially Kashmir valley is popular for its amazing natural beauty and on the other hand it is famous for being an issue between two neighboring countries, for instability, for the call for Azadi and youths involved in terrorism.

This book deals with the psychology of militants with special reference to social aspects through interviews of 24 ex militants. Social actions and reactions are very complicated to define and whereas the social background of Kashmiriyat is concerned it is a very questionable issue to think over the change in mentality of common Kashmiri from peace to armed movement.

The author points out that the post conflict reconstruction is always torn by political violence; this political violence:

1. Destabilizes the social order

2. Polarizes political debate

3. Vitiates peace building efforts

Problems faced by ex militants in J & K:

1. Issues related with the identity, status and the effects of violence and trauma

2. Reintegration into society as workers and family men

3. The real danger to their lives and well being is from other militants and from the security forces.

4. Pursuing their political goals through non violent means

Causes for joining militancy:

These 24 cases show different background & different upbringings, along with other factors like education, religious faith and economic status etc. but the causes are often repetitive. Tough violence is not acceptable in any humanistic sense; it is their aims which made it so. But most of them rejected to accept the suicide attacks as they are against Islam.

1. Political protest against oppression

2. The cry for Azadi

3. Minority sectarian identity

4. To find identity and esteem

5. Family disturbances (to gain respect in family)

6. A sense of physical inferiority

7. Strong sense of victimization at the hands of Indian forces

8. Strong sense of victimization at the hands of Hindus (pundits)

9. To fight against those who oppress poor

10. To highlight Kashmir issue internationally

[Other factors are: Maqbool Butt was hanged, Democratic means of protest resulted useless, the fascination of gun as a sign of authority and strength]

They lost:

1. A steady life

2. Family and relations

3. Trust-at certain extent

4. Economic stability

5. Education

6. Secure future

7. Civilian?s life

They gained:

1. Social status in society-at some extent

2. Alien feeling

3. Physical problems

4. Psychological problems (disorders)

Oppositional discourse about militants:

1. It denies them legitimacy

2. It denies them agency

3. It denies them reason or sense

4. It denies them morality

5. It denies them humanity

Peace and reintegration:

• Militants to be brought into the dialogue process
• It is important to consider an exit policy that will secure peace

Some facts:

1. The tension, anxiety for a number of reasons and harassment at the hands of the security forces has provoked some to return to militancy

2. Surrendered militants often got opposed by those who are released. Furthermore they always have the danger from active militants and suspicion in their community.

3. Ex-militants experience pressure from the security forces to provide information and help in counterinsurgency

4. Large gap between the ex militants? self perception (e.g. All ex militants are treated as surrendered & seen as a defeated army)

5. The lack of transparency and failure to keep promises (in surrender related agreements) has created bad faith. It has damaged the credibility of the state, increased levels of distrust and aggravated perceptions of being victimized and dishonored.

6. One respondent returned to militancy because he was not allowed to live with respect and without fear.

The book shows the figures related to their social, family, religious, economical, educational and occupational background. But as the data sample is limited to 24, it is not very accurate to think over.

Kashmir : Roots of Conflicts and Paths to peace

By

Sumantra Bose

The Book 'Kashmir: roots of conflict and path to peace ' has taken a broad view of internal and external dimension of Kashmir issue. The author has done detailed study to present how Kashmir conflict has come to present grave threat to south Asia?s peace and different approaches to work upon this. Roots of crisis that erupted in 1989-90 lie in post 1947 history of denial of democratic rights and institutions to the people of J&K. Because of different ethno linguistic, political and social orientation, Kashmir problem has become more complicated.

Though the crisis happened in Kashmir was post 1947 events, Author has highlighted the Hindu dominancy in Kashmir before 1947 which gave rise to era of popular politics. Hindu Autocrat and Relation of NC with Indian government resulted into integration of J&K in India in spite of the fact that the region was more contiguous to Pakistan and around 77 % of population was Muslim. The Line of Control (LOC) that divides the Pakistani- and Indian-held portions of Jammu and Kashmir was the outcome of the first war between the two countries, when both armies were commanded by British generals and the Indian Defense Committee was chaired by Lord Mountbatten. Sheikh Abdullah, Kashmir valley's most popular politician, was supportive to the Indian Government till 1951. But in 1952, idea of full integration of J&K shifted them towards a confrontational pro-independence strategy because of his regional patriotism based on Muslim Heritage of Kashmir. Though J&K was integrated in Indian Constitution with Special Status, It never fulfilled procedural minima of democratic governance because of criminalization of political opposition, uprising insurrection erupt confined to Indian side of LOC and authorization policies of Indian Government towards J&K.

The heavily manipulated 1987 assembly election in J&K resulted into new phase in Kashmir History. Muslim youth from valley started taking arms. They started Azadi movement through Islamic anti-Indian groups like JKLF. Author has named this phase in J&K history as Intifida phase which was followed by Demoralization and atrophy and Fidayeen phase. From this particular era Author concludes that the use of suicidal tactics as a weapon of war is not monopoly of Muslims. Main ideologues and practitioners of warfare in the Kashmir are radical Islamist groups of Pakistani provenance. Most spectacular and most publicized attacks have been directed against high profile targets.

Kashmir Conflict is an outcome of mutual interaction of domestic and international sources. In order to establish definitive solution to the dispute, Author presents 2 approaches i.e. plebiscitary and partitionist. The first one is inadequate and destabilizing because of different political and regional orientation. This is explained through sovereignty dispute in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The partitionist approach also fails to fix the dispute because this can result into intolerable loss for integrity and sovereignty of India. Mixtures of people loyal to different states are living in distributed manner. So only large scale of population transfer can solve the issue. Sheer Complexities and multilayered differentiation of political allegiances can make this approach infeasible.

Based on Northern Ireland Conflict and Good Friday Agreement, author proposes his own model of peace building process. In this process there will have strands with a strategic compromise between opposed perspectives. Author suggests an institutionalized permanent inter-governmental India-Pakistan council on Kashmir to improve the relation between India and Pakistan. In second strand, author looks for accountable government in J&K which will fulfill minimum criteria of governance. An acknowledgement by the government of India can play major role in the process. Third stand recommends transformation of LOC which will result into cross-border economic and cultural linkages between Indian Kashmir and Pakistani Kashmir.

Through these strands Author wants to conclude that peace building process in Kashmir should be to device a framework that can turn the competing mutually antagonistic political logics of contending parties into positive sum game.

With a good ?dozen+? to-do list in hand, I left for Jammu late night in May 2009. For this was the first time in my life that I was travelling this far (2172km) all alone that too I had to meet a lot of new people, I was damn excited. The mesmerizing views on the way especially of rivers like Ravi added to my excitement. I reached Jammu on 1st of June where my friend Vijandar had come to pick me up. I was given a warm welcome at his home in Muthhi (Kashmiri Migrants? Camp in Jammu). We settled down and fixed my next plan of the tour. Vijandar and I planned to leave for Kashmir Valley next morning.

We started off from our home early morning hoping that everything will be fine, as we had been hearing about tensions spreading in the valley over the two suspicious deaths in Shopian district. It was such a fantastic ride on NH 1A, only until, we started facing traffic blocks. Soon the traffic blocks became so frequent that we slowly started realizing as to how the tension would be in Srinagar. Even the CRPF convoy got blocked and the jawans had to get down clearing the traffic. This went on till we reached the famous ?Jawahar tunnel? which separates the Jammu region from Kashmir valley. As we passed Khannabal, slowly the traffic started disappearing and we were left only with the Army, CRPF and RR officers to be seen on every turn searching for possible threats along the road. A confirmed news that no one is allowed to enter Srinagar city made us to leave our Sumo at Avantipura and thus leave for Tral, a small village, where we have a newly established computer training center. As we carried the heavy library books in tanga (chariot), I was getting caught in the wonderful spell the nature was throwing on me. Later we visited our Computer Training Center. We discussed with students for their feedback regarding the center, teaching, course and if they faced any problem. The main issue was of the shortage of electricity which had to be dealt at the earliest. We also needed a committed instructor. So much for a day, we came back to Trilok Singji?s residence, who looks after the center. The temperature was slowly decreasing as the night was approaching.

Next day afresh news broke in, that the strike had been extended by Mr. Gilanee and curfew was still on in Srinagar city. Since any tourist vehicle was not allowed to pass through Srinagar we could not reach Budgam, a place where a new Computer Training Center and a Science Club were to be started. Thus we had had to stay in Tral and the original plan was all disturbed. The whole day went quiet, I definitely loved the late morning wake-ups, the breakfast in local style (Roti and subzi of ?Baagale?) and then taking long walks around the quiet village, visiting the gurudwara, Rice fields and so on.

Finally we decided to go back to Jammu without waiting for the strike to come off as we had to start Science clubs in two ?migrants camp? schools at Jammu. So taking the risk we left early morning by a local Sumo which we negotiated for a rent of Rs. 2000/- (Any way we had no choice). Too much of Army and CRPF presence was seen everywhere, especially near the Shopian pass but by now we actually got used to it. As we reached the town Bijbehara in Anantnag district we hurriedly passed on the heavy bag of books to Noor one of our local friends and continued towards our journey to Jammu. Once we had crossed Khannabal we were in a safe zone.

On reaching Jammu, we decided to visit the Purkhoo and Mishriwala camps in next two days. I was so much surprised by the manner in which all people greeted and welcomed me. I met my friends, the children from the migrant camps who had visited Pune last year. I had a jolly good time at their home. I put forward the concept of Science Club and asked them whether they were interested in it. All the enthusiastic students in both the schools were ready to join the Science club the very same day. Luckily they were starting off with their summer vacations, we decided to start the Science Club in a couple of days. Next day we invited the students to our newly opened office at Mutthi. But before that Vijandar and I had lot of work to be done. We talked to our counterparts back home in Pune, discussed and planned for the event to be taken at the office next day.

In the meantime we also visited places nearby the city such as Bagh-e-Bahu, Harisingh Palace, The Zoo, Muh-Maya mandir. The temperature in Jammu city was soaring high almost above 40. But it really didn?t matter compared to the love and hospitality shown by all the students, Vijandar Singh?s parents and the teachers.

As planned, all the students arrived at the office and we started off with various activities like writing about self, video show and lastly an interesting experiment. All the students involved themselves totally and made this day a huge success. The students then bade us good bye along with their teachers, who would handle the respective Science clubs at the respective schools.

9th June ?09 was the last day of my stay at Jammu. I was to return to Pune along with Noor and Vijadar by Jammu-Tawi Express. As they were to take the Hardware Training Course at Solapur. With a loud hooter blown, the train started for Pune as I left with a heavy heart, recalling the memories of the curvy roads, icy mountain tops, quiet fields of rice, the red cheeked Kashmiri beauties, the cold, Army, the supers of Baagle aur Kadam ki subzi with plate-full of rice, the warm welcome and the kashmiri hospitality.