BUDGAM VIOLENCE: LOOKING INWARDS
“Humko maloom hai jannat ki haqeqat lekin
Dil ko khush rakhney ke liye Ghalib, yeh kyaal accha hai.”
(Even though I am very well aware of the reality of paradise
But to keep one’s heart happy, believing in its illusions is wise”
– Mirza Ghalib
Unfortunate as they are, the sectarian clashes in Budgam have once again highlighted the growing religious intolerance that is steadily creeping into our society. However, more unfortunate is the perfunctory manner in which no less a person than the venerable Hurriyat (G) Chairman SAS Geelani himself has sought to obfuscate this grave issue by conveniently dubbing it as a ‘conspiracy to distract attention of the people from Gool bloodbath and desecration of holy Quran by the BSF personnel.’
While the timing of the sectarian violence in Budgam coming just after the Gool incident may raise suspicions, the very fact that a petty altercation between two men belonging to different sects should have escalated into a ‘full blown sectarian battle’ is something which should worry all of us. If it is indeed a ‘conspiracy’, then it speaks poorly of our leaders, elders and the civil society as they have collectively failed to inspire sectarian amity and mutual confidence amongst the masses. And by merely burying its head in the ‘sands of conspiracy theories’, the separatist leadership is unwittingly allowing our society to be inextricably drawn into the quagmire of sectarian disharmony.
‘Conspiracy theories’ appeal to the widespread ‘persecution complex’ existing in the minds of the people and as such, are no doubt a versatile tool for rallying the masses. However, the problem with indiscriminate use of ‘conspiracy theories’ is that over a period of time people actually start seeing a ‘conspiracy’ in everything. And, from what one gathers from media reports, is likely that this is exactly what may have happened in this case, when a spontaneous altercation between two individuals over a petty matter was obviously perceived by either one or both sides as a ‘premeditated conspiracy’ against their respective communities!
Though instances of sectarian animosity leading to violence have been rare in Kashmir, they have nevertheless shown an upward trend in the last few years. However, instead of introspecting on this disturbing development and working out a plan to arrest this dangerous trend, the separatists appear to have found it more politically expedient to use this as a stick to beat New Delhi. In April last year, Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farook, publically accused New Delhi by claiming that “The government has activated institutions and its paid agents to create conditions for a sectarian conflict in the Valley through the medium of construction of mosques, shrines and religious schools.” He went on to say, “The government has even employed a section of the paid clergy to divide the Muslims here and promote a particular school of thought.” While the Mirwaiz may have intended to embarrass New Delhi by accusing it of dividing the Kashmiri Muslims on sectarian lines, he himself unwittingly sowed the seeds of sectarian discord amongst the public. And while he may have thought that by not naming the ‘beneficiary’ of New Delhi’s largesse, he was only hauling New Delhi over the coals, his barb directed at New Delhi also found its mark on a particular section of Kashmiris!
Rather than attribute sectarian violence to ‘conspiracies’ and then sit content, our leaders need to take a serious note of how sectarian divide is taking roots in the Islamic world. We have before us the examples of Pakistan, Iraq and more recently Syria, where popular movements have degenerated into a sectarian bloodbath. Our leaders need to realise that these developments are bound to have an impact on our people too and they can no longer rely on the traditional sectarian amity of the Kashmiris to withstand external influences. Holding peace marches, convening ‘extraordinary meetings’ and forming ‘coordination committees’ after sectarian clashes have erupted may help temporarily calm tempers, but will certainly not help narrow the sectarian chasm. So, it’s time that our leaders took this issue more seriously!
Tailpiece: While condemning New Delhi’s nefarious designs to initiate a sectarian conflict in Kashmir, Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farook had on April 27, last year declared, “We will oppose all efforts aimed at fanning division of the Kashmiri Muslims on sectarian lines. If need be, we will expose the elements and institutions patronised by the government for this purpose.’ Now with the Hurriyat (G) Chairman SAS Geelani calling the Budgam sectarian clashes a ‘conspiracy’, will the respected Mirwaiz kindly do the Kashmiris a favour by ‘exposing’ those who are stoking sectarian passions in the Valley!