— Col (retd) Manoranjan Goswami
This writer has seen Kashmir both in war and in peace. We are also from that section of Indians who, may be faintly, but do remember that pang and pain of partition, our independence was associated with. In Assam, in fact, we have neither seen truly any horror of war or the horror of partition. Kashmir and Assam, apart from having nature’s bounty, has very little in common and neither history nor geography has endowed and real common chord. But today, both these beautiful States of India are burning together from two extreme ends–one in the north and the other in the east. India, rather all Indians, should be worried because Assam and Kashmir are not only the beautiful extreme leaves and flowers of the country, but they are most strategically important from the derence and security point of view, more so, when there is a constant threat from across the border for both the States with involvement of fanatic religious groups supporting terrorism.
First talking about Kashmir, the recent Amarnath shrine deal, ordered and subsequently revoked, has just vertically split the State of J&K, into two parts–one, Jammu and the other Kashmir valley, Jammu is a plain area from where the road to the beautiful valley of Kashmir begins and which has a mixed population and does share the larger part of J&K. The Kashmir valley, on the other hand, comprises almost total Muslim population, particularly after Kashmiri Brahmins have left the valley in the nineties. This is a very docile and beautiful race. Contrary to general belief, very few among Kashmir valley Muslims, really talk about Indo Pak conflict or Hindu Muslim conflict although bullets do fly at all moments across LOC almost daily. It is an unfortunate part of history that there is no permanent boundary line still between India and Pakistan. The Line of Control (LOC) as it was in October 1947 remains the boundary with substantial part of the valley remaining still with Pakistan, known as occupied Kashmir. The Muslim population of the valley, generally speaking, does not want to be a part of Pakistan though independent Kashmir does remain aspirations of many. The serious part, however, is that Pakistan, with ISI backing or the ‘Jihadi’ element in their very national politics and philosophy will not let this population forget that Kashmiri people are Muslims only at all time. It is not only the ambition and aspiration of Pakistan that has kept the conflict between the two countries alive and burning, but to a great extent, it is India’s mishandling of the situation also since the days of Nehru that Kashmir has remained a burning problem for India, though three wars since independence have passed through this State. To day, with Amarnath shrine land issue, there is such distrust and open confrontation between Hindus and Muslims that an open call in the air–for the Muslims to demand that Hindus should leave the valley and the Hindus calling for their right. Not only fanatic liberation group like Hurrayat but even liberal leaders like Farookh Abdullah, is now saying openly that unless India stops this bad blood, as growing between the two communities as a result of Amarnath shrine issue, India may lose Kashmir to Pakistan and for this only the Indians are to be blamed. Pakistan is just waiting on the wings to strike and recent growing Army actions across the LOC is a serious reminder. Cross border terrorism is a natural phenomenon for Pakistan and militants and terrorists do get encouragement as evident from history so far. Before proceeding further, let us now see the situation of Assam and why there is a common chord that binds these two States, albeit, through dark and grave warning and possible disastrous consequences.
Assam has always been a place of historic ties and friendship between Hindus and Muslims. Never, prior to partition or immediately after, in Assam, religion has been a dividing force, rather, it has been the trying string for two communities to live together and share the pleasure and pain of history together. Unfortunately the serious foreigner or illegal immigration issue, as it exists now, has taken a very grave turn. Among an other adverse effects, the one that is most dangerous and which may bring final break is the possible conflict between these communities, open passive or hidden. The problem of illegal migration from Bangladesh to Assam with lakh of Bangladeshis settling in Assam threatening the very culture, opportunities or economics of Assam and its indigenous people is a most serious crisis Assam is facing today. The identity of the State is at stake. It is not a creation of history. It is simply the creation of politics. Narrow politics before independence and after formation of Bangladesh has been cause of the serious demographic problem this beautiful State is facing now. An accord was signed by agitating students with the government years back supposedly to solve this issue and bring equality and prosperity to Assam and Assamese, but whatever may be reasons, let us all agree that no political party or no student organisation or no civic body, can solve this problem of infiltration, that has already engulfed the State. The Government, both Central and State, must act fast. The fact remains that Assam is burning and most serious and horrifying matter is that it is burning from inside.
There is a very serious consequential threat also Assam may face. India, through Indian Army, liberated Bangladesh and that is a fact of history. This writer was there on the soil of Dacca around the time of surrender and we have seen the gratitude and welcome we Indians got from the Bangladeshi population there for what India had done to save that country from the tyranny it faced from Pakistan army. Probably, Indians are not that welcome now and if we call it ingratitude, it is an unfortunate historical truth. Bangladesh, which has turned Islamic almost immediately after liberation, will remain there as our neighbour and religious affinity between Pakistan and Bangladesh shall always overshadow the neighbourly friendship that may be expected. The historial fact is that original partition of India could not divide the Indus and Muslims of Assam, the chord of amity was never severed or disturbed. But taking the bitter lesson from Kashmir as going on now, it is extremely important that the historical tie of love and affection that remains with the Hindus and Muslims of Assam must not be disturbed because of the agitating mind and the violent protests going on here and there on the foreigner issue. The indigenous Muslims, first, have a very serious and solemn role to play in this regard. The Bangladeshis, taking advantage of religious affinity and demanding sympathy, must not enter the inner courtyard of indigenous Muslims. The politicians may play politics for short term gains or vote banks as they have been doing always, but the people of Assam must remember their history and culture and must not get into situation when Assam may face another partition of a different kind. With increasing number of Muslim majority districts in Assam, thanks to the infiltrators, Assam is facing a serious a warning signal.
We must avoid a situation when Muslims, under political or social compulsions, may all combine under the banner of ‘minority’ and with the blessings and patronisation of opportunist politicians inside and fanatic and militant groups outside, Assam gets divided again with Muslim majority district demanding almost another partition. Partition need not necessarily mean ceding from the nation or acceding to another country, but it does equally mean that Assam should not turn into a virtually Muslims State and Bangladesh on the border and Pakistan with remote control should not control the destiny of Assam. Religious fantism of ‘Azadi’ or ‘Jehadi’ should not overtake the sane sections of society. While looking into the foreigner issue, this serious threat facing Assam needs immediate attention. Kashmir and Assam, in equal terms, are sending a grave signal and it is time India, as a whole, goes beyond politics and elections and save these two States and the country from disaster. If we do not, history may not excuse whether we are Hindus or Muslims. source: assam tribune editorial 12.09.08
This writer has seen Kashmir both in war and in peace. We are also from that section of Indians who, may be faintly, but do remember that pang and pain of partition, our independence was associated with. In Assam, in fact, we have neither seen truly any horror of war or the horror of partition. Kashmir and Assam, apart from having nature’s bounty, has very little in common and neither history nor geography has endowed and real common chord. But today, both these beautiful States of India are burning together from two extreme ends–one in the north and the other in the east. India, rather all Indians, should be worried because Assam and Kashmir are not only the beautiful extreme leaves and flowers of the country, but they are most strategically important from the derence and security point of view, more so, when there is a constant threat from across the border for both the States with involvement of fanatic religious groups supporting terrorism.
First talking about Kashmir, the recent Amarnath shrine deal, ordered and subsequently revoked, has just vertically split the State of J&K, into two parts–one, Jammu and the other Kashmir valley, Jammu is a plain area from where the road to the beautiful valley of Kashmir begins and which has a mixed population and does share the larger part of J&K. The Kashmir valley, on the other hand, comprises almost total Muslim population, particularly after Kashmiri Brahmins have left the valley in the nineties. This is a very docile and beautiful race. Contrary to general belief, very few among Kashmir valley Muslims, really talk about Indo Pak conflict or Hindu Muslim conflict although bullets do fly at all moments across LOC almost daily. It is an unfortunate part of history that there is no permanent boundary line still between India and Pakistan. The Line of Control (LOC) as it was in October 1947 remains the boundary with substantial part of the valley remaining still with Pakistan, known as occupied Kashmir. The Muslim population of the valley, generally speaking, does not want to be a part of Pakistan though independent Kashmir does remain aspirations of many. The serious part, however, is that Pakistan, with ISI backing or the ‘Jihadi’ element in their very national politics and philosophy will not let this population forget that Kashmiri people are Muslims only at all time. It is not only the ambition and aspiration of Pakistan that has kept the conflict between the two countries alive and burning, but to a great extent, it is India’s mishandling of the situation also since the days of Nehru that Kashmir has remained a burning problem for India, though three wars since independence have passed through this State. To day, with Amarnath shrine land issue, there is such distrust and open confrontation between Hindus and Muslims that an open call in the air–for the Muslims to demand that Hindus should leave the valley and the Hindus calling for their right. Not only fanatic liberation group like Hurrayat but even liberal leaders like Farookh Abdullah, is now saying openly that unless India stops this bad blood, as growing between the two communities as a result of Amarnath shrine issue, India may lose Kashmir to Pakistan and for this only the Indians are to be blamed. Pakistan is just waiting on the wings to strike and recent growing Army actions across the LOC is a serious reminder. Cross border terrorism is a natural phenomenon for Pakistan and militants and terrorists do get encouragement as evident from history so far. Before proceeding further, let us now see the situation of Assam and why there is a common chord that binds these two States, albeit, through dark and grave warning and possible disastrous consequences.
Assam has always been a place of historic ties and friendship between Hindus and Muslims. Never, prior to partition or immediately after, in Assam, religion has been a dividing force, rather, it has been the trying string for two communities to live together and share the pleasure and pain of history together. Unfortunately the serious foreigner or illegal immigration issue, as it exists now, has taken a very grave turn. Among an other adverse effects, the one that is most dangerous and which may bring final break is the possible conflict between these communities, open passive or hidden. The problem of illegal migration from Bangladesh to Assam with lakh of Bangladeshis settling in Assam threatening the very culture, opportunities or economics of Assam and its indigenous people is a most serious crisis Assam is facing today. The identity of the State is at stake. It is not a creation of history. It is simply the creation of politics. Narrow politics before independence and after formation of Bangladesh has been cause of the serious demographic problem this beautiful State is facing now. An accord was signed by agitating students with the government years back supposedly to solve this issue and bring equality and prosperity to Assam and Assamese, but whatever may be reasons, let us all agree that no political party or no student organisation or no civic body, can solve this problem of infiltration, that has already engulfed the State. The Government, both Central and State, must act fast. The fact remains that Assam is burning and most serious and horrifying matter is that it is burning from inside.
There is a very serious consequential threat also Assam may face. India, through Indian Army, liberated Bangladesh and that is a fact of history. This writer was there on the soil of Dacca around the time of surrender and we have seen the gratitude and welcome we Indians got from the Bangladeshi population there for what India had done to save that country from the tyranny it faced from Pakistan army. Probably, Indians are not that welcome now and if we call it ingratitude, it is an unfortunate historical truth. Bangladesh, which has turned Islamic almost immediately after liberation, will remain there as our neighbour and religious affinity between Pakistan and Bangladesh shall always overshadow the neighbourly friendship that may be expected. The historial fact is that original partition of India could not divide the Indus and Muslims of Assam, the chord of amity was never severed or disturbed. But taking the bitter lesson from Kashmir as going on now, it is extremely important that the historical tie of love and affection that remains with the Hindus and Muslims of Assam must not be disturbed because of the agitating mind and the violent protests going on here and there on the foreigner issue. The indigenous Muslims, first, have a very serious and solemn role to play in this regard. The Bangladeshis, taking advantage of religious affinity and demanding sympathy, must not enter the inner courtyard of indigenous Muslims. The politicians may play politics for short term gains or vote banks as they have been doing always, but the people of Assam must remember their history and culture and must not get into situation when Assam may face another partition of a different kind. With increasing number of Muslim majority districts in Assam, thanks to the infiltrators, Assam is facing a serious a warning signal.
We must avoid a situation when Muslims, under political or social compulsions, may all combine under the banner of ‘minority’ and with the blessings and patronisation of opportunist politicians inside and fanatic and militant groups outside, Assam gets divided again with Muslim majority district demanding almost another partition. Partition need not necessarily mean ceding from the nation or acceding to another country, but it does equally mean that Assam should not turn into a virtually Muslims State and Bangladesh on the border and Pakistan with remote control should not control the destiny of Assam. Religious fantism of ‘Azadi’ or ‘Jehadi’ should not overtake the sane sections of society. While looking into the foreigner issue, this serious threat facing Assam needs immediate attention. Kashmir and Assam, in equal terms, are sending a grave signal and it is time India, as a whole, goes beyond politics and elections and save these two States and the country from disaster. If we do not, history may not excuse whether we are Hindus or Muslims. source: assam tribune editorial 12.09.08
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