What does Homeland mean for Kashmiri Pandit Community?: Lalit k kaul
What
does Homeland mean for Kashmiri Pandit Community?
(Transition
from Stateless Nation to a Nation State)
Lalit K Kaul
Kurds, Palestinians, the natives (Red Indians) of America and
Kashmiri Pandits are in the same boat- a Stateless Nation.
Kurds:
An example of a stateless nation is the Kurds.
The Kurds are a nation without a state of their own. Instead, the Kurdish
population is spread across territory in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. Their
attempts at statehood have failed, though they have gained some autonomy from
the states where they reside.
Palestinians:
Palestine no longer exists. When the UN was
founded Palestine was replaced by the State of Israel, as In a very planned,
systematic and brutal way the Palestinians (Arabs) were excavated from their
Homeland by British enabling the Jews to occupy their land. The Jews summed up
their art of living in denial mode when Ms. Golda Meir declared that the land
they walked into had no Arab population living in there. A human tragedy
indescribable in words inflicted by the politics based upon the Axiom- Art of
the possible. Palestinians fighting for their cause through their various
organizations have been labelled as terrorists! Thus, the natives of Palestine
became a Stateless Nation.
The Aboriginals
of America:
The “settlers” annihilated them setting targets
for each day. The various tribal societies were given a classification-Red
Indians. Treaties post annihilation culminated into celebrating “Thanks Giving
Day”. Museums have been built to display their art, culture and civilization-
sources of revenue for the extant dispensation! The “Red Indians” live in
museums. A reminder how a bunch of savage people can make a civilization
extinct and its associated Nation States. A tragedy beyond words.
The
Kashmiri Pandit Community (KPC):
This community went through the same ordeal as
did the natives of Palestine- the only difference being that while the natives of
Palestine were a victim of the barbarism inflicted upon them by alien forces, the
KPC was the victim of the barbarism unleashed on them collectively by the
religious and political leadership of the native majority community and that of
the national level political leadership of all shades in a “democratic” and “secular”
India. Like the Jews, the native majority community too has perfected the art
of living in a denial mode well supported by political consensus at the
National level.
What’s
a Nation?
A nation is
limited to a cultural identity without statehood. The nation does not govern a
sovereign territory.
What’s a Nation State?
A sovereign state in which the cultural borders
of a nation match the borders of the state.
What is a Stateless Nation?
A
nation that does not comprise the majority of the population in the country
where its homeland is located, or in any other country.
Since When is KPC a Stateless Nation:
Since the advent of Islamic rule in Kashmir.
Yet, some inconsequential numbers remained who continued to live in
their land of heritage and culture, despite facing all kinds of discriminations
in their day-to-day life. Then arrived 20th century “modern” Indian
State and one time near full excavation of the aboriginals was ruthlessly implemented
in “democratic” and “secular” India. The aboriginals became refugees in India
creating a diaspora within and without its geo-political boundaries.
Right to Live:
No Man-made Constitution on Earth is qualified to grant
right to live to any living being because it was granted by the Creator the day
one was born. The Constitution is only required to ensure it through various
State agencies. And it has failed to do so in case the KPC.
What does Right to Live Encompass?
It’s not just about breathing in and breathing out. It’s
about living a whole life without apprehensions of an impending disaster; it’s
about being able to draw inspiration from a Nation’s heritage, follow religious
beliefs and culture, choose a vocation of one’s choice- without any fear of or
ridicule from aliens. Whatever be the claims of having restored “normalcy” in
Kashmir, the message has been sent loud and clear to KPC that it is not welcome
in there. Therefore, fundamentally the KPC is deprived of Right to Life.
Why Homeland?
To enable the KPC to live in the way as described in the
preceding paragraph. The Homeland to the North and East of river Jhelum just
about creates an environment that would facilitate the Right to Live in all its
dimensions. A Nation with a State- Nation State.
Not Sovereign Though:
Though the demand is for a UT within the Indian geo-political
boundaries yet it allows the KPC to rule for itself to chalk out its destiny.
It frees the KPC from the fear of yet another calamity befalling it in near or
distant future; insures future of its never ending generation next.
And to ensure its creation is the fundamental
responsibility of a civilized Nation State that India claims to be.
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