Thanks for visiting this blog and thanks for contributing. I would like to reply to some of your comments.

This blog is so popular, probably because it belongs to a KM and related to KPs.

FIrst of all let me mention that the fact that you say this blog is popular humbles me. I never meant to be popular and I am not sure if I am exactly that – popular. I am just an ordinary Kashmiri who just wants to express his thoughts. These thoughts are just that – thoughts and claim no right to be the universal truth. And yes this post that you have commented upon relates to Pandits and others other issues on which I have penned my thoughts.

So you are right it is unjustly occupied and freedom is the need of the hour.

I have always avoided taking sides here, and I am sure I have not advocated freedom, secession anywhere in my posts / comments. To me the solution is not so black and white. It is a complicated problem and I have a feeling none of the proponents of whichever banner have clarity as to what the solution is. that is how it remains that – a masla.

For that matter relying on Pakistan wont help as you had done by renaming Anantnag to Islamabad. (It is childish, couldnt you have thought of a better name that pakistan’s capital!)

At the risk of sounding repetitive, may I mention that as a Kashmiri I do not have any special affinity for Pakistan and no undue hatred of India either. We collectively have grievances which stem from how Kashmir and Kashmiris have been treated by Delhi for decades now. I am not sure if ever there comes a day where Pakistan can do us any good.

“Diamond Cuts Diamond”- Use Satyagraha to fight against India. For example. Why dont all of you just sit out peacefully on hunger strike till death in Lalchowk.

Peaceful march to Lal Chowk – Let me take you back to last year’s Anti land-grab agitation – The peace marches then were acknowledged even by neutral observers on the ground as well organised and disciplined – Read again the word “Disciplined”. And how the gov’t and security establishments were unnerved by this rare display can very easily be gauged by the fact that all attempts on orgranising such marches have been crushed by the powers-that-be. But still nothing works like that, only if you are allowed to. I do not see Omar Abdullah allowing Hurriyats such liberty for he knows what it will lead to.

Probably someone will say that they dont need my advice how to fight for independence, but I would definitely want to see peace in that region, even though I dont mind even if Kashmir becomes a foreign country for us, because even if it is part of India, we still visit as tourists( Only difference will be a visa will be required after it gets Independent).

I would hate to imagine such a day when the sons-of-soil (Kashmir) will need a permit to come to Tulmul to celebrate their festivals. Believe me such a solution will never be ideal. Two of my KP friends – Shyamji and Sumeerji – I don’t want to ever have to send an invitation to them for they would be visiting their own home.

Thanks once again for wishing peace returns to this troubled valley. May Almighty help us all.

Comments disabled on this post since too many comments make browsing this post very slow, however you are most welcome to contribute in any manner – a new post / comment on other posts. Unless its very inappropriate it will be published regardless of whether or not I subscribe to the point of view

All new generation KP born after 1990 dont care about what happens to kashmir. For them it is another state of India causing internal trouble. And those KMs born after 1990 believe what they are seeing and hearing inside valley. Most of them should believe that India is an oppressor and they should fight for their freedom. Perfectly valid!

You and me who have witnessed the time before and after 1990 are thinking about what happened and what went wrong. what should we do blah blah.

Most of the KPs are still in touch with their old childhood KM friends who they believe are good people (of the same generation). Just see any social networking site(orkut etc), A KM is stilll a friend of a KP. We still love them, but we hate the KM in general. We will ALWAYS blame KM for our plight, however long we discuss in any blog.

My opinion is that this blog gave a vent to many KPs for posting how bad they feel about KMs in general (not you or sajad, or bashir). but KPs are not really any significant for Kashmir anymore. We have learnt to continue with our lives and kashmir will just remain alive as a topic of political interest for us.

So going with your “let bygones be bygones” agenda. I think you should more focus on what you (as KM) want to do with Kashmir. Or more specifically how to achieve Freedom from Indian Slavery. Obviously Kashmir is not integral part of India as India claims. Then there wouldn’t have been any 370 thingy over there. So you are right it is unjustly occupied and freedom is the need of the hour. IT is another matter what you will do after freedom. Pakistan is still struggling to be independent after 60 years of independence. But as long as Kashmir becomes better than pre 1990 after it gains freedom, that is what we all want.

Probably you should start a discussion for inviting ideas as to how to achieve that freedom and KPs can participate in it ( I mean just the discussion). Some points that can help is – unity among you people. Civil disobedience, Economic sanctions against India. Self reliance etc etc.
Fighting with arms, killing innocent people will not help. Nor is it a war where you can fight against CRPF or Army. For that matter relying on Pakistan wont help as you had done by renaming Anantnag to Islamabad. (It is childish, couldnt you have thought of a better name that pakistan’s capital!)

“Diamond Cuts Diamond”- Use Satyagraha to fight against India. For example. Why dont all of you just sit out peacefully on hunger strike till death in Lalchowk. You know how much International pressure will this generate! There are so many other innovative ideas that can help you rather than looting your own people.

International community is not taking you seriously because it doesnt look like freedom movement so far, it started out wrongly with ousting and killing of KPs and still has no direction.

Probably someone will say that they dont need my advice how to fight for independence, but I would definitely want to see peace in that region, even though I dont mind even if Kashmir becomes a foreign country for us, because even if it is part of India, we still visit as tourists( Only difference will be a visa will be required after it gets Independent).

This blog is so much time consuming, I would rather stop. I just could not resist contributing something, hope you dont moderate.

Pardon me but I am bit lost here courtesy your latest comments – As always there is absolutely no connect between what ordinary thoughts I have posted as the main thread and the brilliant piece you have contributed. May be you should focus on penning some bestsellers.

Foreign settled people like Geelani, Jeelani and Khans – Why are we talking about them – If they are settled outside I wonder what impact they can make or are making with their utterances.

Next you jump to Kashmiri converts – For God’s sake could you please face the reality – The reality is the people converted wilfully and once they did so, there is no need to constantly harp on the conversion.

My ancestors may have belonged to a different faith than what I believe in, that doesn’t mean you have to always remind me of that. Is this all you can come up with. I have many Pandit friends whom I would listen to everytime they speak for they don’t indulge in these nonsensical yarns. Even if I do not agree with every word they speak, yet I would listen to them.

Keep your thoughts coming – We need people like you and may be you too need countless ordinary souls like us. After all aren’t we all from the womb of Moji Kasheer. How can we be different? If you can gel with a Delhi-ite and I can be friends with a Yankee, isn’t it ironical a Kashmiri Muslim and a Kashmiri Pandit (who have done no harm to each other) feel its their national and religious duty to hate the other.

@mharaj

I hit this blog today, your earlier comments and writings had some direction & thought. Over a period of time it is loosing the thought behind it and the blog is drifting into usual hindu muslim rhetoric.

You are partly right but if you again analyse the comments you will see that it is the participation from the Muslims side which is the problem. So you don’t see discussion but finger pointing from the Pandit brethren. It’s not ideal to answer each and every comment from all Kashmiris – not that I cannot answer but it defeats the purpose. The purpose of this blog is to promote an understanding between the two communities who have suffered equally in the one way or other.

@neelu

I am a Kashmiri Pandit and i was in 4th grade when we were forced to leave Kashmir.We were one of the few kashmiri families in a Muslim dominated area in Sopore.I still remember hundreds of muslims gathered outside our house shouting pro-pakistani slogans, threatening us to leave the valley…

We all are aware of the hardships and the mental trauma countless people like you have faced and for some hardships still continue. And I am sure you too would concur that Kashmiri Muslims have suffered in the harshest possible manner as well. Let us move from our rigid stands, acknowledge the pain we all have endured and move ahead to mitigate those sufferings. As long as Pandits keep on saying .. Kadikh ho and Muslims shout Maarikh ho things will never get better.

@bilhan

Well,i am Kashmiri and i am freedom loving person . I believe those who converted Kashmiris were communal

May I mention that you would do each of us a favour if you try to stick to the subject of the post rather than needless and at times obnoxious comments on Islam. May I remind the topic of the discussion is significance of people like you, neelu, aastha and rest in the resolution of Kashmir dispute.

Juz A Kashmiri