06-27-2008, 08:40 AM
Independent Kashmir Movements Endorse Indian View Point
by
Brigadier Usman Khalid
One wonders how and why organisations emerge from time to time and try to
make a case for Jammu and Kashmir as an independent state. Since the right of
national self determination is the inalienable right of every nation,
Kashmiris have as much right as any other nation to that right. The question,
therefore, is not whether a nation has right to self-determination but
whether the people of Jammu and Kashmir a separate nation.
Most of the political parties of India subscribe to "One Nation Theory". They
assert that everybody from the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan to Mekong
Delta in Thailand is a Hindu and Indian. The BJP even insists that both words
underline a single identity - every Hindu is an Indian and every Indian is a
Hindu. They also insist that conversion to Bhuddism, Islam or Christianity
does not change or divide the people that are united by History and
Geography. There are indeed similarities of race and culture that can be seen
as a scarlet thread throughout that region. But does that make them one
nation?
The definition of a nation that is generally accepted today is a "people with
a durable basis of solidarity founded on a principle that overwhelming
majority live by and are ready to die for". The region from the Hindu Kush to
Mekong Delta was populated by a caste based society that was characterised by
apartheid and separation and shunned solidarity. Until the introduction of
proselytising religions - (Islam and Christianity) in South Asia, there was
solidarity within each caste. The castes were indeed nations. After the
advent of Islam, religion as well as the castes became the touchstone of
national identity.
In South Asia today, there are two theories competing for attention that
already command substantial loyalty - the Multiple Nation Theory (also known
as the Two Nation Theory) of the Muslim League and the One Nation Theory of
BJP. It is necessary to outline the Two (more accurately Multiple) Nation
Theory. It consists of three concepts all of which are vital components of
the theory.
1) Identity by Birth or Belief. There are two kinds of nations in the Indian
Subcontinent - those who identify themselves by their belief (Muslims,
Christians and Sikhs, etc.) and those who identify themselves by their birth
(castes).
2) View of History. Muslims view History very differently to those of other
faiths. The heroes of Muslims are often a villain in eyes of others and the
Golden Age of Muslim rule is seen as the Dark Age in Brahmin eyes. History
does not unite the peoples of the Subcontinent, it underlines that they have
a wide variety of identities that give rise to very different perceptions,
mutually hostile aspirations and opposing objectives.
3) Sovereign Purpose. Every people with a separate identity do not ALL posses
a separate National Personality. Only those peoples who have a common purpose
that cannot be achieved without being sovereign, have a national personality
that requires being recognised as a separate nation in a sovereign country.
The principle of national solidarity of Pakistan is Islam. Its people
identify themselves by their belief, they have their own view of history with
their unique set of heroes and villains, and their sovereign purpose is to be
the vanguard of efforts for sovereign freedom and solidarity of all the
peoples particularly the Muslim Ummah. Clearly, non Muslims of the
Subcontinent do not share with us our sovereign purpose or our principle of
national solidarity. But many of the nations in the Sub Continent can follow
the example of Pakistan and crystallise their own national personality and
secure their own separate and sovereign nation states. It is now being
increasingly realised by the low castes in India that Pakistan is not the
enemy; it is their role model.
The BJP is nervous and afraid. Its machinery for propaganda and covert
operations is eager to discredit the Multiple Nation Theory on which Pakistan
is based, which also promises sovereign freedom for all the peoples of India.
It cannot attack Islam as a principle of our national solidarity. It,
therefore, seeks to undermine our solidarity by emphasising sub-national
identities. Let this be quite clear; the letter K represents Kashmir in the
name of our country. Kashmiris are an integral part of our nation. Since
Balarwaistan Freedom Movement was too blatantly anti Pakistan to have any
credibility as a genuine movement, UKPNP has come to the fore with the
difference that it attacks India as well as Pakistan. But it is just as
sinister in its make up as it is evil in its purpose.
The purpose of India in its propaganda and policy is to discredit Pakistan
and its Two Nation Theory. Since it would be too direct and perhaps
counterproductive to attack Islam as our polity, our enemies prefer to
emphasise ethnic identities that have played little role in building national
personality in the peoples of the subcontinent. Let this be quite clear; any
Muslim, particularly a Kashmiri, who challenges that Pakistan has a role and
a duty in Kashmir plays the same role as an earlier traitor and Indian agents
- Sheikh Mujib and his Awami League. I criticise the Government of Pakistan
more than most. But Pakistan, including Kashmir, is still mine; nobody can
change that. By criticising its policies I assert my right over it. But I
will also die for everything that it stands - Islam, Muslim Solidarity and
spirit of Jihad.
We make a mistake by ignoring Indian propaganda on the Internet under dubious
names and pretexts. We should condemn in the strongest possible words anyone
like UKPNP who seek to undermine Muslim solidarity by demonising a country -
Pakistan - where Islam as its polity underpins the unity of the people and
the viability of the state, and guarantees success in pursuit of more power,
more peace and more prosperity.
by
Brigadier Usman Khalid
One wonders how and why organisations emerge from time to time and try to
make a case for Jammu and Kashmir as an independent state. Since the right of
national self determination is the inalienable right of every nation,
Kashmiris have as much right as any other nation to that right. The question,
therefore, is not whether a nation has right to self-determination but
whether the people of Jammu and Kashmir a separate nation.
Most of the political parties of India subscribe to "One Nation Theory". They
assert that everybody from the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan to Mekong
Delta in Thailand is a Hindu and Indian. The BJP even insists that both words
underline a single identity - every Hindu is an Indian and every Indian is a
Hindu. They also insist that conversion to Bhuddism, Islam or Christianity
does not change or divide the people that are united by History and
Geography. There are indeed similarities of race and culture that can be seen
as a scarlet thread throughout that region. But does that make them one
nation?
The definition of a nation that is generally accepted today is a "people with
a durable basis of solidarity founded on a principle that overwhelming
majority live by and are ready to die for". The region from the Hindu Kush to
Mekong Delta was populated by a caste based society that was characterised by
apartheid and separation and shunned solidarity. Until the introduction of
proselytising religions - (Islam and Christianity) in South Asia, there was
solidarity within each caste. The castes were indeed nations. After the
advent of Islam, religion as well as the castes became the touchstone of
national identity.
In South Asia today, there are two theories competing for attention that
already command substantial loyalty - the Multiple Nation Theory (also known
as the Two Nation Theory) of the Muslim League and the One Nation Theory of
BJP. It is necessary to outline the Two (more accurately Multiple) Nation
Theory. It consists of three concepts all of which are vital components of
the theory.
1) Identity by Birth or Belief. There are two kinds of nations in the Indian
Subcontinent - those who identify themselves by their belief (Muslims,
Christians and Sikhs, etc.) and those who identify themselves by their birth
(castes).
2) View of History. Muslims view History very differently to those of other
faiths. The heroes of Muslims are often a villain in eyes of others and the
Golden Age of Muslim rule is seen as the Dark Age in Brahmin eyes. History
does not unite the peoples of the Subcontinent, it underlines that they have
a wide variety of identities that give rise to very different perceptions,
mutually hostile aspirations and opposing objectives.
3) Sovereign Purpose. Every people with a separate identity do not ALL posses
a separate National Personality. Only those peoples who have a common purpose
that cannot be achieved without being sovereign, have a national personality
that requires being recognised as a separate nation in a sovereign country.
The principle of national solidarity of Pakistan is Islam. Its people
identify themselves by their belief, they have their own view of history with
their unique set of heroes and villains, and their sovereign purpose is to be
the vanguard of efforts for sovereign freedom and solidarity of all the
peoples particularly the Muslim Ummah. Clearly, non Muslims of the
Subcontinent do not share with us our sovereign purpose or our principle of
national solidarity. But many of the nations in the Sub Continent can follow
the example of Pakistan and crystallise their own national personality and
secure their own separate and sovereign nation states. It is now being
increasingly realised by the low castes in India that Pakistan is not the
enemy; it is their role model.
The BJP is nervous and afraid. Its machinery for propaganda and covert
operations is eager to discredit the Multiple Nation Theory on which Pakistan
is based, which also promises sovereign freedom for all the peoples of India.
It cannot attack Islam as a principle of our national solidarity. It,
therefore, seeks to undermine our solidarity by emphasising sub-national
identities. Let this be quite clear; the letter K represents Kashmir in the
name of our country. Kashmiris are an integral part of our nation. Since
Balarwaistan Freedom Movement was too blatantly anti Pakistan to have any
credibility as a genuine movement, UKPNP has come to the fore with the
difference that it attacks India as well as Pakistan. But it is just as
sinister in its make up as it is evil in its purpose.
The purpose of India in its propaganda and policy is to discredit Pakistan
and its Two Nation Theory. Since it would be too direct and perhaps
counterproductive to attack Islam as our polity, our enemies prefer to
emphasise ethnic identities that have played little role in building national
personality in the peoples of the subcontinent. Let this be quite clear; any
Muslim, particularly a Kashmiri, who challenges that Pakistan has a role and
a duty in Kashmir plays the same role as an earlier traitor and Indian agents
- Sheikh Mujib and his Awami League. I criticise the Government of Pakistan
more than most. But Pakistan, including Kashmir, is still mine; nobody can
change that. By criticising its policies I assert my right over it. But I
will also die for everything that it stands - Islam, Muslim Solidarity and
spirit of Jihad.
We make a mistake by ignoring Indian propaganda on the Internet under dubious
names and pretexts. We should condemn in the strongest possible words anyone
like UKPNP who seek to undermine Muslim solidarity by demonising a country -
Pakistan - where Islam as its polity underpins the unity of the people and
the viability of the state, and guarantees success in pursuit of more power,
more peace and more prosperity.