The hypocrites we are
Daanish Bin Nabi
Almost every attribute has been used to describe Kashmiris, except one. There is one attribute that has either been deliberately omitted or suppressed – the attribute of hypocrisy.
On one hand Kashmiris shout themselves hoarse over Army’s presence in the state and subjection of the people an issue that surfaces in the wake of killings. On the other hand Kashmiris give a darn while associating with the same Army for benefits.
In elections we join the massive election campaigns and vote the politicians to power. In sport, which is cricket, we support team Pakistan, we cheer for Parvez Rasool and his performance in Indian Premier League, but we want India to lose every match, whosoever the opponent be.
Remember what we used to say in the 1990s? “Azaharuddin gasi century karun magar India gasi harun” (Azaharuddin should make a century but India should lose). Almost three decades down the line not much has changed, at least not with us – instead of Azharuddin it is Parvez Rasool.
We want jobs, handsome salaries and want flourishing business units. For inaugurations we invite influential people as chief guests, the same people we believe are responsible for the ills of Kashmir. We are chameleons that change its colour whenever there is a killing or threat. We do not respond to the crème de la crème and instead launch our tirade against everyone who believe is on the other side, which is not a civilian. We give vent to anger but when we are told to assemble even for a small protest we do it virtually, comfortably sitting behind the computers and laptops and taking it out on the poor keyboard.
We curse the state police. But when it is business or any kind of deal, favour, etc., we forget the acrimony. What are we and what do we stand for? Nothing but confusion.
We hate government, but we cannot live without government jobs. We can go to any extent for the government job. We will offer bribes, we will get the minister’s sufarish, we will even go to New Delhi and to Kanyakumari.
Then there are people beneath the so-called fourth pillar holding it as untiring philanthropists, castigating the actions and presence of Army, criticizing government, lashing out on politicians, administrators, bureaucrats, cops even the drivers of ‘sarkari’ order. Really, that’s amazing, especially when these fourth pillar minions with two widely-held arms receive awards from the government and even armed forces. On any event we feel exhilarated of even talking to an official, become timid like a jackrabbit before a wolf.
It is most painful to see colleagues who claim to be champions of “Azadi” justifying their awards. They say that profession and sentiments are two different things. But, how?
It is the same story perhaps beginning since 19 and dash dash. We begin on idealism, say things at the highest pitch, do activism for a while and then it is the same “awara gardi” because the trophy in the living room with a photograph with some minister tells it all – hypocrite, exposed. We are hand-in-glove with the forces that beat us, that kill us, that make us suffer, but to different degrees.
We keep saying that Kashmir is a Peer Waer (land of Sufis and Saints), and want a ban on liquor. But at the same time, we are afraid to even speak of things in our own society.
We forget “Azadi” for 5 kgs of subsidized Punjabi rice. Take out huge processions and burn flags, say about NFSA as if it were some alien invasion. Meanwhile, when there is a killing locals, neighbours and relatives come out and the rest observe the holiday hartal next day with chicken bought in advance. Then we say we are preoccupied.
Other than barbecues, Kashmiri loves denials. The state of denial is the best refuge of a Kashmiri. Behind those denials a scoundrel always lurks.
People curse some private schools and programmes broadcasted and telecasted. They say these programmes are responsible for ills. But a long queue of ‘Uncle Kashmiris’ is always there outside these very schools trying everything to get their children admitted in the schools. They don’t stop watching and listening to the programmes, otherwise how is it possible to know about the programmes if they are not watched or listened to. Our battleground is called wwwdotfacebookdotcom and wwwdottwitterdotcom. When we get angry and have nothing else to do, which happens to be most of the times we log in and starting shooting in every direction. We keep on monitoring the comments and likes and feel happy of having said something... wonderful.
If leaders like Syed Ali Geelani do not react to incidents we go with the barrage of insults, and if they do react and give a hartal call we curse them, say they have nothing better to do. The youth have also found new ways to observe the strikes. It is Gulamrg and Pahalgam chalo.
There were long lines of people at polling booth in the 2014 elections. When a camera tried to capture them these people tried to hide their faces. Why? What is fear, sense of insecurity? No, it was shame, because a hypocrite when exposed will naturally try to hide. We embarrass our own conscience and it is a voluntary reaction, much like a reflex.
Then, more than 30,000 people attend the funeral prayers of Abu Qasim, who was not a Kashmiri. People had to wait to offer jinazah for other slain militants in different parts of Kashmir. The same south Kashmir that is now a headache for the security grid of New Delhi witnessed more than 60 percent of voting in 2014 elections.
We keep beating drums by saying that Army first kills and then regrets. What do we do? We post long notes on Facebook, keep the coffee shops buzzing for a few hours and then go do our usual business, wake up only at the next killing. We have forgotten the thousands of Kashmiris who died for something. We do not even remember were they were laid to rest. Yet we think of ourselves as puritans, as chosen ones. We need to face the truth once, but we are not even bold enough as we have been eaten from inside by the lack of remorse.
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