Kashmir: Paradise Lost.

Last few weeks we all have witnessed the violence in Jammu and Kashmir. The media potrayed both sides of the story. But what the media did not potray was the history of J & K. I remember when I was in school, we were never told about this dispute between India and Pakistan. School text books used to show the political map of India. In standard 10, the history book mentioned the divided, where it said Pakistan has occupied 1/3rd of Kashmir and China has occupied Asai Chin. I was bewildered by these statements, I asked my parents what this meant. To my surprise they did not know of this.
The Indian government always had this policy of hiding the real issues. Waiting for them to explode. Since 1995 we hear the word LOC and wonder why media did not cover this earlier.

To me Kashmir is a disputed area. The very creation of Pakistan was to integrate the Muslim majority areas which included Kashmir. I think as long as Mahatma Gandhi was alive the concept of the two nations was alive. As soon as he died. This idea was abandoned and the idea "Might is right" was imposed.

Today things are out of hand. There is a deep hatred. This cannot go unless some form of autonomy is provided to Kashmir. I believe there is going to be no peace, unless India talks.

India is strong, stronger than Pakistan. But have we become arrogant with pride. Partition is never a solution. Integration is a solution, but I cite the Examples of Yugoslavia, Czechosolvakia and the USSR. These were multi-ethnic and multi religious countries. All have but collapsed. The governments tried their best to hold them together by force. This resulted in a large loss of life.
I see that happening in India too. It bleeds, economically and socially.

Fear and Hate destroy nations. Nation building cannot rest on these foundations. Is it pride, or false pride.

The Eagles of our society should see where are they taking people to. Jim Rogers as person whose wisdom I admire, believes India will collapse into smaller states.

I see it visible. The government has to provide some autonomy esp with regard to taxes to the states. The rise of regional parties symbolises the aspirations of the people on local issues. National issues are less important to the people.

Kashmir has been lost, lets not loose ourselves.