( Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)

Whatever may be the reason, Kashmiri politicians are presently showing other shades and hues of their true colour. In  1990,  they abruptly started quitting regional and national political parties on the `directions’ of militants and their organizations who were then ruling the roost in Kashmir. Now it is the other way round!  

  Interestingly, those who were then challenging the authority of India in Kashmir in 1990, their offsprings now publically pledge their loyalty to the sovereignty of the Union of India.

The Kashmiri Psyche

Arvind Gigoo occasionally presents himself as a maverick, showcasing his talent for crafting wry yet thoughtful satirical humor, undoubtedly infused with a discernible attribute of pathos.”

This professor of English possesses a profound understanding of the Kashmiri psyche, with no malice in his heart and that’s why his gifts of premonition are vivid…. In the early nineties, he penned an anecdote in his renowned book of aphorisms, which has since achieved cult status. In fact, he portrayed the predicament of those Kashmiris who flocked to newspaper offices and published notices emphasizing their disassociation from established mainstream political parties aligned with the Indian Constitution.

  This, of course, was done to ward off potential attacks by fanatical terrorists who operated with impunity during that time, targeting those perceived to belong or associate with political organizations aligned with India. This strategy was formulated across the border and spearheaded by the who’s who of fundamentalist and separatist leadership. The movers and shakers of this strategy were, of course, late Sayed Ali Shah Geelani and others. During that period, newspapers were filled with numerous such notices, in anticipation of clearance certificates by militants, etc.

Situation in 1990

Arvind Gigoo immortalized one such situation in his famous book of aphorisms, “The Ugly Kashmiri” capturing it’s essence in his most inimitable style on page 63. A news clipping  from his Book is presented here for our esteemed readers.

Real-life press releases and write-ups preserved at www.kashmirrechords.com belonging to that period consistently emphasized the detachment from political parties, both regional and national. These contemporaneous press clippings are reproduced to illustrate the events from the turbulent history of Kashmir during the decade beginning in the 1990s. In one such public notice, one Yasin Firdosi says… “Na mein Sher Hun, Na Bakra Hun..Na Nationali Hun, Na Congressi Hun…Na Jamati Hun, Na Gul Shahi Hun..Na Hamdani Hun..Na Mahazi Hun..Mein Sirf Yasin Firdosi Hun’’

Situation in 2024

The situation in the year 2024, leading up to the 18th Lok Sabha election (April to June), has witnessed a remarkable turnaround. Children and relatives of separatist leaders and elements are now observed rushing to newspaper offices to publish notices on their behalf. These notices emphatically assert their disassociation from separatist ideologies and affirm their unwavering faith in the Indian Constitution. They make it clear that they entirely disavow whatever beliefs or actions their parents may have stood for.

Time appears to have executed a complete reversal, finding itself at diametrically opposite points on its own scale. It commenced with a somber tone, yet it culminated joyfully and exceedingly optimistic, with the days ahead brimming with promise.