Azaadi for Kashmir

http://ttrammohan.blogspot.com/2008/08/azaadi-for-kashmir.html

Monday, August 25, 2008

'Azaadi' for Kashmir
Arundhathi Roy has created a stir by supporting Azaadi for Kashmir. Some columnists have done likewise. This seems a cute, liberal thing to do. Without pretending to be an expert on Kashmir, let me highlight a few issues:
Would a move to allow Kashmir to secede be without implications for the rest of India? What would it mean for the principle of secularism and for the fate of Muslims spread over India?Partition was followed by a holocaust. Will this not be seen as a partition-like move?
Can an independent Kashmir maintain its independence for long given the interest of every single power in the area? Pakistan would fish in troubled wars; so would Iran, Afghanistan, China, Russia. India and the US would not be able to hold aloof. Kashmiris, who detest India's presence, will find themselves sitting on a veritable tinder-box.
What would be the basis for the economic viability of a an independent, landlocked Kashmir?<>I doubt that western opinion favours the creation of another Muslim state in a highly combustible zone of the world. Because of its location,because of the interest of every power in the area in the state, western opinion would view Kashmir as having the potentialf for becoming another Iraq or Afghanistan- perpetually on the boil thanks to warring factions serving as proxies for various competing powers.Autonomy and self-rule must seem preferable options once you consider the implications of 'azaadi'.
Labels: Indian Politics
posted by T T Ram Mohan at 12:22 PM

5 Comments:
jatinder said...
the only logical argument in favor of so called freedom kashmir would be that the people of the state favor a different country....but then why not for Punjab..majority sikhs would favor it...why not nexalite state..they would favor it..why not a separate tamil nation...they would favor it...surprise is not over such a statement but the source from which it is coming.....
11:16 PM
apurv said...
a seperate state will never be an option.....it can't be.....it surely will not beI am an optimist
1:30 AM
Deepthi C said...
Separate state might seem to be a better option , compared to the politically unstable Pakistan.But may be the separate state would also become an example of unstable democracy!
11:25 AM
shalini said...
Kashmir does not have the resources to become a separate state. Though Kashmiri proudly talk about Azad Kashmir, it will be gobbled up by Pakistan. (or maybe even China)Surely India needs to take a stronger stand here.
10:30 PM
Venu said...
I think we must end the charade of talking about Azaadi for Kashmir. It is only the Muslims in Kashmir who want Azaadi or to become a part of Pakistan. Since they are not the sole residents or inheritors of Kashmir, let us call it what it is - a Muslim secessionist movement. Only then would we be able to see clearly the consequence of such a movement upon the integrity of India.
2:22 PM
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