The student protests in Kashmir for over a week are giving clear signs that the situation in Valley is leading towards a grander civilian uprising stronger than anything before.
As the government continues to crack down on dissent, the result is not going to be peace. There is a majority section of the population in Valley today that has no fear of death or desire to associate with the mainstream politics, as proven by the lowest voting percentage (only 7.1%) in recent elections and the death of eight civilians in a day.
For more than a week, students are protesting against the human rights violations and the right to self-determination. Even though, the students’ organizations had called off the protests in between, the protests turned intense on Monday, displaying the spontaneous urge to come out against the government. It is not the first time there have been protests by young students, including girls, but protests without any given call are first. It was also surprising for many that young girl students, wearing uniform and bags slinging over shoulders, were throwing stones at the government forces.
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Kashmir used to be on the edge and always unpredictable. Today Kashmir has fallen into the hands of youth, and to wrest back control is not only difficult but also almost impossible. There is very little space for engagement left in the Valley now as all those bridges have been burnt over the years.
Youth in Kashmir make the majority of the population (more than 60%). This section is tired of the status quo of Kashmir dispute and is taking the matter in their hands, with less consultation from anyone. As much as Narendra Modi government wants to believe that every protest is fanned by Pakistan, they are only turning it worse. Such statements don’t help solve Kashmir dispute but only intensifies the resolve of youth.
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For a young boy or girl, who is in teens or 20s, when death becomes irrelevant, the signs of revolt are visible. Can Kashmir be controlled today? Perhaps, time has passed and there needs to be talks about solving this issue rather than delaying it further -- only to cause more grievances and injuries to Kashmiris. Till there is no serious political engagement from all sides, it will only force the youth to take over completely. They have clearly taken over the political matter of Kashmir – it is just that there is no face yet.
The local government in the state seems to address all the wrong issues, by making hollow promises and statements. All that will yield nothing and 2016 has shown it in which at least 80 civilians were shot dead, 15,000 were injured, including many blinded by the pellets. On the other side, the separatist leadership is also following these youth, who come out on streets and make everyone accept the reality that the anger and desire has not died down.
During my recent reporting trip to Kulgam district of South Kashmir, I asked some young boys, who go out to protests and throw stones, what are their thoughts about elections? The young boys replied, “We were not planning anything like what happened in Budgam – we don’t want to attack polling stations. We were glad that more forces will be deployed for elections and it gives us opportunity to snatch guns from them, so that more youth can join the armed rebels.”
This is where we are standing today – a generation that was waiting for a resolution through peaceful means all these years has now understood such a development is unlikely. Thus, the rise in young armed rebels along with a majority youth population on streets without a leader may be the future of Kashmir. Whether it will make any change in the political status of Kashmir or not but it will likely change the Valley. Such regime of youth, who believe in anarchist forms of resistance, could take down any rule of power – whether government or non-government.
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Fahad Shah is a journalist and Founder-Editor of The Kashmir Walla magazine and the Director of The Kashmir Institute. He tweets @pzfahad
