The Rare Confession of a Kashmiri Separatist Was 2024’s Most Defining Moment for Me
As we close a momentous year for Kashmir, perhaps many may remember 2024 for the Parliamentary elections and the Assembly elections in the region. Perhaps people may remember videos of enthusiastic crowds that thronged to polling booths to cast their votes.
While the elections of 2024 have been an important milestone for Kashmir, the moment that tugged the most at my heart was the rare confession of a Kashmiri separatist that the so-called struggle for freedom left Kashmir adrift.
These words of wisdom on the futility of the Kashmir conflict were spoken by Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat, former Chairman of Hurriyat Conference and once a founder of Kashmir’s Muslim United Front. In an interview, Prof. Bhat spoke about how the valley’s separatist leadership “operated in total darkness”, got thousands of Kashmir’s young men killed and “achieved nothing” in a 35-year-long directionless struggle.
Prof. Bhat said that the struggle was without any planning and without any set goals. It was a blind war fought with motives which were not worth the price that Kashmir and its people paid.
Check out this on X: Confessions Of A Kashmiri Separatist
My Lost Years
This honesty and truthfulness, alas, should have come 20 or even 30 years ago. Then how many of our blossoming, budding, innocent youths would have been saved. How many parents would have been saved from the pain of crying for their beloved sons who were lost to the conflict imposed upon us.
These words of truth tugged at my heart. They reminded me of my lost youth years. I too was lost in that era of mindlessness. Some months ago, a gentleman who is not from Kashmir asked me how I became an aggressive stone pelter in my teenage years.
Professor Bhat has spoken up for all those who knew this truth but never stated it. His truthfulness reflects the pain we all have felt
I smiled and told him, “If you were in Kashmir in those years, you would have been gripped by the same forces of radicalization. These forces did not groom us to be doctors or engineers. They groomed us to be stone pelters and get into other activities of conflict.”
Professor Bhat has spoken up for all those who knew this truth but never stated it. His truthfulness reflects the pain we all have felt. His words reminded me of my friends who got radicalized and joined the terror path to kill and die. It reminded me of seeing hundreds of Kashmiri parents crying brokenly for their sons who died.
Na Hum Ghar Ke Rahey Na Ghat Ke
The video of Prof Bhat talking about the futile conflict went viral across Kashmir. The sincerity of his words resonated across the Valley. Prof Bhat correctly said that ‘Na hum ghar ke rahey na ghat ke.’
We were fighting with no clear objective. We were killing and dying for no clear purpose. Even now, the deep tragedy that afflicted Kashmir strikes at the hearts of many Kashmiris, and they cry when they recall those devastating years. The wise Prof. Bhat stated this same truth after years of contemplating upon how we went all wrong. His words are a lesson for us all.
“When you operate in thick darkness, you will always end up in wringing hands. Never ever see brightness of tomorrow. Never ever. So how could we do it? We would operate in darkness. We never knew what we are against and what do we really want to do. Where do we want to go. Look at Pakistan…”
Another person in the video answered with one word. “Tabahi”. Destruction.
As the new year dawns, let us surge ahead with positivity and strength. Let us build the Kashmir which is defined by peace, progress and harmony.
(The writer is the Director of Gaash Coaching Academy which provides free education to poor children and orphans in Old Town Baramulla)
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