Almighty Allah created each creation on this beautiful earth and human being as a supreme creation in fact is the crown of Allah’s creations in this world. Allah bestowed us intelligence and power of thinking. It is an old saying that pen is mightier than the sword and undoubtedly pen possess enormous power but in our Kashmir pen is not as powerful as it should have been and death of a top intellectual in Kashmir is proving it beyond doubt. Though the nib of the pen was powerful but the violent sword has cut the tongue of a creative nib for nib forever. I’m talking about Dr. Shujaat Bukhari. Kashmir lost a pearl he was the icon for the new generation whatever he achieved he achieved it because of his own hardwork and patience. He was a peace loving personality who always works for the welfare of people. When devastating floods hit Kashmir in September 2014 he was seen coming to the rescue of the people in every way and even offered food and shelter to the people in deluged areas. He was a loving human being and one of his best achievement was his contribution for the promotion of Kashmiri language as he wanted international recognition for Kashmir . As Chief Editor of Rising kashmir he was a powerful voice for the kashmiri people who are struggling against all odds.
As per world report Kashmir is one of the highest militarised zones in the world. Jammu and Kashmir is old problem and the seeds of unrest were sown during the time of partition. Regional political parties know it very well that BJP is threat for the kashmiriat as their ideology is harsh and their intent is to change the demography of the state in order to communalise the state and create a wedge between Jammu and Kashmir. Today youth of Valley who face bullets and pellets for resolution of the seventy year long dispute standing at the core of India-Pakistan relations for the last seven decades. Thousands and hundreds of people have laid down their lives for the resolution of this seven decade old dispute and today Kashmir is totally orphaned. Successive central governments initiated dialogue with separatists but all in vain and in the absence of a political engagement the situation is going from bad to worse. Situation demands a serious, result oriented and time bound resolution of Kashmir through a broad based dialogue between the leadership of India, Pakistan and of Jammu and Kashmir but unfortunately the intent to resolve the Kashmir issue is lacking. PDP- BJP alliance failed miserably in leading the state on the road to peace. It is unfortunate that Pakistan calls Kashmir its jugular vein and India it’s integral part but they never come sincerely on the table and consequently youth in Kashmir is totally frustrated. The situation in Kashmir itself speaks of the insecurity brewing up among the people in Kashmir. If India believes Kashmir is an integral part of India then it should have allowed democracy to thrive in Kashmir as democracy is allowed to take routes in other states of the country.
Kashmir is no longer paradise earth not withstanding the fact that the anchors of Indian news channels loudly say so in their cozy news rooms but only the Kashmiri people know where the Kashmir stands today .Everything here is in chaos and disturbed as no one thinks about the common people. Everyone is responsible for the mess in Kashmir and the suffering of people are unlikely to head to any dead end. The trouble started from day the Maharaja of Kashmir decided to have stand still agreements with both the countries. Pandith Nehru though was keen to have Kashmir with India and read the Maharaja’s mind and played tricks to take Kashmir issue to United nations. Pandith Nehru was gaining time and busy in manipulating things and he betrayed the people of state as plebiscite promised by him was reduced to a dream which will never come true. Not only the successive central government but also the leaders of mainstream political parties are responsible for today’s mess in Kashmir. Situation is worsening each and every day as right to freedom of speech is no more a fundamental right in Kashmir.
As I heard the news about the demise of Dr. Sujjad Bukhari my hands started trembling tears started oozing out from mu eyes . I could not believe it that Shujaat Bukhari has been assassinated but soon I saw whole Kashmir wailing the murder of the pen. Shujaat’s murder has proved it beyond doubt that in Kashmir to hold a pen means to face a war. In fact Kashmir lost a great journalist and undoubtedly a dissenting voice has been silenced forever. Every one condemns the cowardice act in the state as well as outside . He was a gifted personality as he will be remembered for his intellect, his power of thought. He was the only journalist who openly talked about the resolution of Kashmir issue and never compromised on what he believed was required to be done for healing the wounds of bleeding hearts in Kashmir. Kashmir is a volatile area mismanaged at the political level as they never realise their own mistake and if they don’t wake up even now Kashmir will never have peace. In last seventy years of their existence India and Pakistan have fought at least three wars over Kashmir but wars did not brought them closer to any agreement over conflict on Jammu & Kashmir state . Though no popular government has a right to curb the fundamental rights of people but in our Valley those who speak truth are killed ruthlessly. Everyday Internet is banned and it has virtually become a routine practice for the law enforcing agencies to shut internet connectivity on the whims and wishes of their political bosses in Delhi and Srinagar .No one feels secure in Kashmir after the killing of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhar in a broad daylight. Last but not least in the world of political war and unrest, Kashmir needs more and more pens than swords. In fact people are influenced by and guided by ideas and not by the fear of sword or physical assaults. It is true that the command of sword is restricted to a particular time span but the influence of pen is immortal and universal.
(The author is a freelance writer and very often writes for the edit page of “Kashmir Horizon”. Views are his own)
