My
father was posted to Srinagar while he served in Military Intelligence. The
year was 1981.
Kumaon regiment day, Uri (Kashmir)
I’ve few memories of the Badami bagh
cantt., walking to Sankaracharya temple on the top most hill overlooking the
whole of Srinagar;
the Gulmarg ice skying,
Dal Lake boating to char chinar (a small piece of land in between the lake),
my Muslim neighborhood friends – Mushtaq and other
Muslim, Dogra and Sikh families that lived in the surrounding and kids playing cricket all evenings.
Whosoever had a television made space for kids from
nearby houses to binge watch Sunday TV programs i.e., spiderman….; Rishi Kapoor
songs (dhaplee waaale…) that played on loud speakers.
The Sadar bazaar corner book shop; one
afternoon we found it vacant. I jumped counter and stole a dozen comics
on behest of friends. Ending up with a sound thrashing from father, on discovery.
Army school where few classes were held under the tent and the only books that I meditated upon, were the comics!
My IV class final report card, class teacher remark stated, “passed with grace marks”.
I went around the neighborhood proudly declaring my passing with grace (marks), until someone educated my english and told me what actually the ‘grace’ marks meant!
I yet managed next year to fail class V.
Although in 4th standard; all by myself, I'd walk up a few kilometers to Srinagar Military transit camp and hop on a military transport for a 100 kms day long mountain road trip via Baramulla to Uri where my father was stationed (almost a feat by current standards).
I even
went to our border outpost with father to witness the enemy station.
Father was transferred out of Srinagar in May 1984.
Those were its years of peace and tranquility but the undercurrent of extremism had commenced by early summer of 1989 and the start of insurgency.
Big rallies and massive mobilization were underway as Kashmir was warming up to a proxy war!
The disappointment of failing class, change of environment and friends, made me
resilient in studies for the time being and soon thereafter I joined the
prestigious Military school.
Negotiation, politics, appeasement and administration fell on its face.
As Kashmir was rife with extortion, extremists and everyday killings; boots had been set to roll and various intelligence units were being relocated to deal with a proxy war!
In a trice, my father got transferred from the North east states to Rampur (near Uri) in Kashmir. The year was 1990.
On his return from Kashmir, he would be endlessly occupied talking of Kashmiri
pundits – the massacre and exodus:
While Kashmir had fascinated him, it has bothered him no end since...,
Many subsequent dark nights, Srinagar was lit by the blazing houses of the prosperous Kashmiri pundits in affluent neighborhoods, the cold air filled with stench, screams and wails.
Jag Mohan the Governor tried to make some arrests and was unceremoniously removed. CM Sheikh Abdullah gave separatist a free hand.
Kashmir was declared an Islamic state by the separatist from Jama Masjid, Srinagar. The separatist dictate was, “leave Kashmir and leave your land and women to us or get killed”.
In Srinagar woman was raped and chopped to bits and pieces on an aara machine (saw mill), home burnt to ashes.
Instances of neighborhood friends who turned rapist to loot was not uncommon – it set in suspicion, distrust, a reign of terror thy neighbor's and frenzy crowds!
Anyone not supporting insurgents - Moderates among Kashmiri Muslims, friendliest of Hindus, even Buddhist with prospects of any snatch - either cash, gold, silver, women, house or property was the pick out game.
The traction insurgents had was of fear, greed, poverty and anarchy complemented with political, administration, media and intellectual isolation.
All intelligence reports were red taped and the then dispensation slept over the national disgrace.
It vindicated the local culture, craft, art and artisans, however extremism didn't echo with the general and profound notion of Kashrimiyat - 'heaven on the earth'!
It was an age of helplessness, despair and disgrace till the army, quite late though finally came in.
It initially neutralized large insurgent groups of usually 80 separatists retuning from across the border neighborhood training camps.
Overtime the large returning contingents were cut short to 40 then 20, 8, 4 to just a couple of insurgents.
It has been a long bloody process to eradicate
insurgency, now it’s high time not for hate, spleen or retribution - but for Justice!
I yet believe – A lot of pain, brutality, neglect
and also heroism is yet buried in the files of Kashmir! Like many others
my father in active service – played their role to their helm while the nation
was made to be a bystander!
The opinions expressed are solely personal, based
on my experience and my father – who with the hand of destiny found himself for
considerable duration – in the thick of action.
I must suggest prudence and empathy. Likewise take time to research (or just google) on the real people.
Few other of my references:
& an (unverified) picture:
Can I also mention, few displaced Kashmiris may just be nearby...
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