[Reader-list] Gowhar Geelani calling for the Return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir in 'Greater Kashmir'

[Inder Salim]

Dear Gowhar

translation please,

i see suspending my own reasoning against attempts to translate:
verses and other things,  but it is again a very complicated question,
may be we connect it to wider kashmir discourse. but i come back :

Ls sar kar daappan maan chi sippar, kafir sapdit korum iqrar ( my nude
performance at LTG organized by Sarai in 2007, when i filled little
(maitsch ) earth ,in my mouth to resist its translation while its
audio was played on the screen. i distributed fragments of poem to the
audience)

this radical poem by Zargar sahib attracted fatwa once in Kashmir, but
sung by local folk chakri singers, and the CD is available in the
market at the moment. it will be its english translation that will
turn it into gun power. Here i think if Satanic Verses was written in
Arabic, perhpas, it would not have attracted hostilies all over the
world. There are some guys in kashmir who write erotic poetry in
Arabic. fantastic, but it will not be easy for them to publish, and
yes its translation.

So, a paradox. but a good one to start about the Kashmir discouse itself.
Right now the  'Kashmir issue'  has been translated from end to end,
easy for others to manipulate it, because the very projection of it
has  perhaps,drained it from the very force that  it is composed of.
what i means to say here, is that when culture ( culture in deeper
sesne, including contemporary) is detached from the naked grand
narrative of the conflict it becomes easy for its lovers to play with
it. The devil is in the detail, so one need to bring him closer to
know to engage, to drive him away even. The translation banishes the
existing detail to operate effectively, and incoporates a new detail
which may be a something alien to its translators even. It is not
about originality versus fake, but something more.....

Theoritically, i see a freedom moment, as you said is like a romantic
affair , so therefore, to be handled very sensibly. A single foot
print of the beloved becomes part of the shrine, ( the new idea of
free Kashmir ). A total tilt towards the concpet that violence as
methodology is temporary, but necessary to challange the state that
occupies, would be problematic in the long run. I may look Gandhian,
but one needs to discover some Gandhigiri in the least, to sustain the
discourse, that is possible if it begins to turn creative in approach.
That is the challange, but worth to think about, i guess. Here, sufi
present/past would be handy to make it happen, i believe.

There is one work by Marcel Duchapm titled . "The bride stripped bare
by here bachlors, even." It is very complex work done before world war
II, but one of the most profound works by this avant garde artists.

The lovers of AZADI ( Azadi as muse , let us say for a while ) need to
realize that giving freedom to muse actually will result into one
sided affair, S/he needs  freedom to dance, to sing, to meet
homosexuals, which would be  challange to  some phallus oriented
lovers even. But a lover need not to be possessive and at the same
time, the love affair should be unconditional.

I want to know if the desire for a free nation is akin to the simple
desire of a body for other body. I have no idea of sprituality that
does not engage material of the body and soul. Religous sermons on
this sprituality only contaminates, but that is the challange.

Something at individual level even, one may need to raealize how
profound is the concept of Azadi, similar to the understanding that
how a private lover affair is actually healthy for any society to
grow.

That is why i want the concept of Azadi to flow like River in the
minds of people in kashmir, which can liberate their very souls.

I think i was myself very predictable in my previous mail, so this

love
but tranaslation please










On 9/25/10, gowhar fazli <gowharfazili at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Inder, I second you.
>
> On impossibility of return or to "restore things", i wish to share Sheikh Saidi's couplet:
>
> Raftam ki khaar az pa kasham,  mohmil nihan shud az nazar!
> Yak lahza ghafil boodam o sad saalah raham door shud!
>
> love gowhar fazili
>
> p.s.  I am not sure Gowhar Geelani is on this list.  In case he is not, I will however share your response with him.
>
>
> --- On Fri, 9/24/10, Inder Salim <indersalim at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > From: Inder Salim <indersalim at gmail.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Gowhar Geelani calling for the Return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir in 'Greater Kashmir'
> > To: "reader-list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
> > Date: Friday, September 24, 2010, 12:10 AM
> > Dear Gowhar
> > thanks
> >
> > the most magical thing would have been a non-violent
> > struggle in 1990
> > itself. alas...
> >
> > but i guess, we have a long history of getting things done
> > through the
> > barrel of gun, earlier it was sword.  What the
> > violence has achieved
> > so far:  affluent class from Kashmir are constantly
> > thinking to have
> > an alternative space outside Kashmir, in Delhi or in Jammu
> > even,
> > leaving behind the rural poor masses to face the music.
> > People in
> > Kashmir  need to restore the confidence of the its own
> > intellectual
> > class, who inwardly yearn for a more democratic voice. The
> > more
> > violence is there the more people will think about material
> > security,
> > the more it can corrupt the mind...  which is actually
> > happening... it
> > is besides the point that why security forces are trigger
> > happy in the
> > valley
> >
> > . ( for a while i am holding back the profound nature of
> > what VIOLENCE
> > actually means to us... )
> >
> > The trouble is that we are never in a position to restore
> > the things
> > lost, exactly as we once experienced...  Things change
> > at a very rapid
> > pace every time, every day, every year..and when at
> > thisjuncture we
> > have a violent protest minus gun, it should be an
> > opportunity to all
> > the stake holders to start something fresh. Taking
> > about kashmir
> > about Indian and anti indian position would actually limit
> > its scope
> > to open up spaces for other voices to join.  Kashmiri
> > stuggle should
> > have a unique indigenous voice, and i dont think they need
> > to be
> > dependent upon moral and political and material support
> > from Pakistan
> > .
> >
> > Kashmris perhaps need to shun the Gun culture once for all,
> > and think
> > creatively about the Kashmir issue,  rather something
> > which is based
> > on long term strategy. The question why AZADI ? needs a
> > sincere
> > discourse to disseminate the idea of new free Kashmir. What
> > is
> > pressing for most of the educated youth that whether they
> > should
> > listen to people like Dr. ZAkir Naik or about what suits
> > them
> > actually.
> >
> > Riding on the shoulders of faith will be again a temporary
> > repreive,
> > since people finally dont need a straight jacketed belief
> > system to
> > carry on their routine,  I am not too optimistic here,
> > but still, i
> > love the kashmiri way of life, which is its own... not like
> > Iraqi, or
> > Punjabi, Sindhi etc...
> >
> > so, to weave the Kashmir discourse with the Kashmir
> > culture  will
> > perhaps salvage the psyche of Kashmiri youth who are really
> > hurt by
> > the violence unleashed by all agencies...
> >
> > Kashmir discourse is beyond vengeance of recent innocent
> > killings, even. .
> >
> > shall keep on thinking myself.....
> >
> > love
> > is
> >
> > On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 10:00 PM, Bipin Trivedi <aliens at dataone.in>
> > wrote:
> > > Dear Inder,
> > >
> > > I appreciate your attitude towards Pandits and so many
> > are their like you in Kashmir but could not dare to come out
> > fearing of militants or separatists. If everyone thinks like
> > that in Kashmir there want be any problem and Kashmir will
> > be on the right track. Thanks accepting about the beginning
> > of Pak sponsored gun culture for which you give reason
> > rigging of election. However, the tense situation initiated
> > by Pak will be there even if election rigging was not there.
> > So at one place it is proved that Pak with the help of few
> > local Kashmiri played key role to push out Kashmiri Pandit
> > from valley.
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > > Bipin Trivedi
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: reader-list-bounces at sarai.net
> > [mailto:reader-list-bounces at sarai.net]
> > On Behalf Of Inder Salim
> > > Sent: Thursday, September 23, 2010 12:25 AM
> > > To: reader-list
> > > Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Gowhar Geelani calling for
> > the Return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir in 'Greater
> > Kashmir'
> > >
> > > Thanks dear Shuddha for this wonderful forward
> > >
> > > Lot of people on the list have this impression that
> > all the Muslims in
> > > the valley think that Pandits left the valley on their
> > own, or
> > > Jagmohan convinced them so.....
> > >
> > > But that is  not the fact. Majority of Muslims in
> > valley miss Pandits,
> > > and want their return to kashmir. Both the communities
> > love each
> > > others simplicity and want to restore that
> > co-existence in the valley.
> > >
> > > It was in 1986 that congress J&K Chief Mufi Mohd
> > Syed thought to
> > > outwit the NC-Congress alliance by instigating
> > communal riots.  The
> > > subsequent rigging of elections ensured the beginning
> > of Pakistan
> > > sponsored Gun culture, which automatically pushed out
> > Pandits from
> > > Valley. Qazi Nissar was MUF canditate ( killed by
> > militants later )
> > > who never said a word against Pandits in his
> > lectures.
> > >
> > > When passion for Azadi was really at peak, that time
> > even, neighbors
> > > helped Pandits to move out safely. But now when lot of
> > Muslims
> > > brothers have suffered,( first by securities excess
> > then by rogue
> > > militans, then by both, and now by SOG and all that...
> > ) sincerely
> > > want Pandits back in their homes. That is my
> > feeling...
> > >
> > > But the problem with Pandit leadership is that they
> > have different
> > > priorities: one of them is extreme love for Indian
> > Nationalism,  its
> > > Tricolour etc, which is not a sin, but in Kashmir it
> > complicates the
> > > problems, since Kashmir is a conflict zone between
> > differnt parties.
> > > But  the bonds between Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri
> > Pandits is based
> > > on shared cultural heritage, music food,  simplicity
> > and above all
> > > language, and not because of some conflict.
> > >
> > > So, Pandit communty need to decide what is good for
> > them . My humble
> > > suggestion is that both the communities need more
> > visibility through
> > > multiple interactive cultural sessions  ....
> > >
> > > I dont see any political role for Kashmiri Pandits to
> > play in Kashmir
> > > or outside. The number game is quite vital in any
> > democratic form of
> > > politics, as we know, and Kashmiri pandits are very
> > few, that too
> > > scattered all over the country.
> > >
> > > The interaction is already happening at a very
> > personal level. There
> > > are exchanges and friendly  meetings even during this
> > time.
> > >
> > > Both the communities are nostalgic about their past,
> > one can only wish
> > > a happy new beginning between the two..
> > >
> > > with love
> > > is
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 10:22 PM, Shuddhabrata
> > Sengupta
> > > <shuddha at sarai.net>
> > wrote:
> > >> Dear All,
> > >>
> > >> Here is a forthright and moving piece by Gowhar
> > Geelani in today's Greater
> > >> Kashmir newspaper. Notice how he takes 'personal
> > responsibility'. And how he
> > >> talks about the value of repeated entreaties.
> >  Hope it will be of interest
> > >> to all.
> > >>
> > >> best
> > >>
> > >> Shuddha
> > >>
> > >> -----------------------------------
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Come home,  Come soon : On the hoped for return
> > of Kashmiri Pandits to
> > >> Kashmir
> > >>
> > >> Gowhar Geelani - Greater Kashmir, 22 September
> > 2010
> > >> http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2010/Sep/22/return-of-kps-34.asp
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> I vividly remember my favourite school teacher Ms.
> > Anita. As her name would
> > >> suggest she was a Kashmiri Pandit. She was my
> > form-teacher at school. I
> > >> remember my others Pandit teachers too. Mrs Bharti
> > Koul, Teja Ma'am and Usha
> > >> Ma'am. I owe a lot to all of them for what I'm
> > today. I remember how Anita
> > >> Ma'am would ensure that I secured first position
> > in my class. I also
> > >> remember how Teja Ma'am would want me to be the
> > best of the lot! I remember
> > >> everything.
> > >>
> > >> Those were beautiful and peaceful days in our
> > Kashmir, full of sweet
> > >> memories. Muslims, Pandits and Sikhs studying in
> > the same school, playing
> > >> together in playgrounds, sharing their lunches,
> > attending marriage
> > >> functions, birthday parties, offering condolences
> > when someone in the
> > >> neighbourhood died, sympathizing with each other
> > and even engaging in
> > >> smaller verbal brawls as friends normally do.
> > >>
> > >> 'Music of bullets replaced school bells'
> > >> Then, all of a sudden, tranquillity vanished in
> > thin air. Peace didn't stay,
> > >> it was blown away into pieces. My beautiful
> > memories in 'Angels Public
> > >> School, 'Abhay Public School', 'Light Public
> > School' and 'Shaheen Public
> > >> School' in Srinagar soon started turning into
> > nightmares.
> > >>
> > >> The huge paintings of greats like Dr. Allama
> > Iqbal, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and
> > >> Rabindra Nath Tagore hanging on the walls of my
> > school were now being hit by
> > >> stray bullets on a regular basis. Music of bullets
> > replaced the 'recess' and
> > >> 'period' bells in my school.
> > >>
> > >> 'My beautiful garden isn't attractive anymore'
> > >> Life was not the same again after 1989. Everything
> > changed, dramatically. I
> > >> remember everything. How Indian troopers
> > humiliated my elderly people, day
> > >> in and day out; how they slapped me after on their
> > directions (read orders)
> > >> I'd read a poster of a popular militant outfit
> > pasted on an electric pole in
> > >> our locality; how they stared at me, abused,
> > hurled choicest invectives and
> > >> threatened me while walking on my streets for no
> > fault of mine; how they
> > >> made me to bend on my knees and walk on my elbows
> > on an undeclared curfew
> > >> day, when I and my other classmates were to appear
> > in class 10th papers at
> > >> Bemina Degree College, Srinagar. It all happened
> > in early years of 1990's.
> > >> The memories of their abuses and slaps haunt me,
> > still.
> > >>
> > >> I remember the Army crackdowns, operation 'Catch
> > and Kill', the firing
> > >> incidents, cross-firing incidents, grenade blasts,
> > mine blasts, encounters,
> > >> massive anti-India protest demonstrations, slogans
> > for freedom from India,
> > >> slogans in favour of militants, even some slogans
> > against Pandit brethren.
> > >>
> > >> And I also do remember Pandits leaving from my
> > Valley. That was a painful
> > >> memory.Many blame Mr. Jagmohan, the then notorious
> > Governor of the
> > >> strife-ridden Jammu and Kashmir for the exodus of
> > Kashmiri Pandits.
> > >> But, I will blame myself
> > >> Yes, I know I was a school-going boy at that time,
> > not influential enough to
> > >> be responsible for their migration or to prevent
> > their exodus; but I still
> > >> blame myself. I strongly feel and believe that we,
> > as a proud Kashmiri
> > >> nation, should have prevented their exodus. Yes,
> > it may be my idealism. Yes,
> > >> I know those were not ideal times.
> > >>
> > >> Who's responsible for this?
> > >> Today, there are television debates on Indian
> > media about 'Kashmiriyat'.
> > >> Who's responsible for the exodus of Pandits? We've
> > too many answers coming.
> > >> Many Pandits blame their own Muslim brethren, some
> > blame militants and
> > >> pro-freedom forces active in Kashmir, yet others
> > blame the unfortunate
> > >> circumstances of 1989. Many Muslims blame former
> > Governor Mr. Jagmohan,
> > >> others say Pandits shouldn't have left Kashmir
> > while few others maintain
> > >> that what happened was unfortunate and should
> > never have actually happened,
> > >> but the migration could not have been avoided
> > during those hard times.
> > >>
> > >> I've a different take on the issue. I believe that
> > I'm responsible for the
> > >> exodus of Pandits. I believe Muslim community of
> > Kashmir as a whole is
> > >> responsible for the migration of Pandits. I also
> > believe that Pandits too
> > >> are responsible for their migration. For the
> > simple reason that together we
> > >> shared beautiful history of elegant bonds,
> > exemplary friendships and
> > >> harmony, and we, as a great Kashmiri nation,
> > should have never allowed the
> > >> circumstances dictate our decisions, our lives,
> > our history; and above all
> > >> our great cultural bonds! But they did.
> > >>
> > >> Was it possible?
> > >> Though in my previous articles I may have pointed
> > fingers at the politics of
> > >> Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chairman of a faction of
> > pro-freedom alliance
> > >> Hurriyat Conference and another leader Sajad Gani
> > Lone, but here I must
> > >> shower praises on both of them. Mirwaiz Umar lost
> > his father, Mirwiaz Molvi
> > >> Farooq to bullets on 21st May, 199o; while as Lone
> > brothers lost their
> > >> father, Abdul Gani Lone to bullets on the twelfth
> > death anniversary of Molvi
> > >> Farooq; 21st May, 2002. Mirwaiz Umar, Sajad Lone
> > and Bilal Lone too had an
> > >> option to leave Kashmir and get settled down
> > abroad, far away from hell in
> > >> Kashmir; but they didn't, instead chose to face
> > the challenges the
> > >> circumstances had thrown before them. Kudos to
> > them!
> > >>
> > >> Leave these brave leaders aside for a moment.
> > During late 1990's my mother
> > >> was seriously wounded when militants hurled a
> > grenade towards a bunker of
> > >> Indian troopers at Safakadal, Srinagar. The
> > grenade missed the intended
> > >> target, as would quite often happen during those
> > days, and thus like many
> > >> other pedestrians; serious injuries were inflicted
> > on my mother too. Her
> > >> left foot was badly wounded and it took almost
> > four years to heal, though
> > >> not permanently. Our family did not leave Kashmir.
> > We too had the option.
> > >> Because my father had his shawl business running
> > successfully in Kolkata
> > >> since almost three decades.
> > >>
> > >> Should Pandits too have braved the 'come what may'
> > and avoided leaving
> > >> Kashmir, our beloved motherland? Well, debatable.
> > May be it wasn't possible.
> > >> Or, may be it was. Perhaps yes, perhaps no!
> > >>
> > >> 'Life hasn't been easy'
> > >> Life hasn't been the same for Pandits after
> > migration. It hasn't been easy
> > >> for them in the migrant camps of Jammu or in
> > different parts of India.
> > >> Sameer Bhat, my former colleague at Eenadu
> > Television in Hyderabad, India in
> > >> 2003-04, would often narrate the painful stories
> > of migration. Sameer, his
> > >> wife, ailing mother and kids would bear the
> > scorching heat of Jammu while
> > >> sitting in a temporary shed that consisted of only
> > one-room. His stories
> > >> were very moving and would often leave a pang in
> > my heart. Like hundreds of
> > >> other Pandit families, his family too had left
> > Kashmir in early 1990's. A
> > >> close Pandit friend of my father in Rainawari,
> > Srinagar, too had to leave
> > >> Kashmir alongwith his entire family. Their house
> > was burnt down and reduced
> > >> to ashes. This friend of my father also used to
> > buy shawls from us. At the
> > >> time of migration he owed us a lot of money, the
> > cheque he had given to my
> > >> father bounced. After apologizing he promised to
> > repay every single penny in
> > >> installments once he settled down in Kolkata. My
> > father offered all possible
> > >> help and said to the family that they need not to
> > pay our money back,
> > >> because we understood what they had gone through.
> > But, as an honest
> > >> businessman he kept his word, his promise; and
> > repaid all due amount in
> > >> smaller installments in the following years. That
> > is Pandit pride! My
> > >> father's friend kept the friendship going, his
> > Pandit pride alive and with
> > >> it the reputation of an honest trader too.
> > >>
> > >> 'Burden of unique expectations'
> > >> Kashmir is a special place having its unique
> > history. During our marriage
> > >> ceremonies we extend invitation to guests in a way
> > that is unique. It is
> > >> unparalleled. No where else in the world
> > invitation is extended or expected
> > >> like as in Kashmir. Even in this age of facebook
> > and twitter; an information
> > >> and technology age, particular members of a
> > Kashmiri family- that has fixed
> > >> marriage of a son or a daughter- go personally to
> > homes of their close
> > >> relatives, friends and neighbours to extend an
> > invitation. Then, some
> > >> two-three weeks before the marriage an invitation
> > card is sent; as the
> > >> marriage date comes closer several telephonic
> > calls are made, and then a
> > >> final call too. At times, even this may not be
> > enough and that is perhaps
> > >> why many relatives or friends throw their tantrums
> > during marriage
> > >> ceremonies; you may call it an attention-seeking
> > tactics!
> > >>
> > >> If all relatives, neighbours and friends come and
> > attend the marriage
> > >> ceremony, it is considered a miracle! If all of
> > them do not come, no one is
> > >> surprised! That is Kashmir. It is not that
> > Kashmiri Pandits or Kashmiri
> > >> Muslims are at war with each other after 1989. It
> > is the result of their
> > >> great and unique tradition and history that
> > they've such huge expectations
> > >> from each other. As a matter of fact, they're not
> > blaming or accusing each
> > >> other, instead throwing tantrums, seeking
> > attention and expecting a lot!
> > >>
> > >> To me what actually Pandits are asking is this:"If
> > we left Kashmir, why
> > >> didn't you call us back? Are merely one or two
> > calls enough? Shouldn't you
> > >> be doing more and calling us back and receiving us
> > with open arms?" And
> > >> Muslims are replying:"Why did you leave us when
> > things were tough here, you
> > >> shouldn't have left us alone in the first place?
> > Shouldn't you've faced the
> > >> challenges of the circumstances like we did?
> > Shouldn't you have stayed and
> > >> never gone?
> > >>
> > >> Both actually expect a lot from each other! There
> > is no communal disharmony
> > >> in Kashmir. Only circumstances have been
> > challenging and the going has been
> > >> hard and tough. The movement for freedom in
> > Kashmir is not against Kashmiri
> > >> Pandits or Sikhs, it is not against the Indian
> > people, it is against the
> > >> Indian state and its wicked state-craft.
> > >> Today, I once again extend an invitation to all of
> > them. Please come back.
> > >> 'Walev Yeyev Wapas'!
> > >>
> > >> (Gowhar Geelani is a Kashmiri journalist based in
> > Bonn, Germany since 2006,
> > >> where he works for Deutsche Welle [Voice of
> > Germany] as an Editor.
> > >> gowhargeelani at gmail.com)
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Shuddhabrata Sengupta
> > >> The Sarai Programme at CSDS
> > >> Raqs Media Collective
> > >> shuddha at sarai.net
> > >> www.sarai.net
> > >> www.raqsmediacollective.net
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> _________________________________________
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> > >
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