Why I believe Chetan Bhagat is right in suggesting Kashmiri youth to fully integrate with India

As I write this, my fingers tremble because I think there is a high probability of this blog going controversial. Obviously I don’t intend that. Nor do I intend to incite hatred or hurt sentiments. On the contrary I intend to suggest what I think could improve the harmony in the society. I don’t claim to know it all nor do I claim that these suggestions are absolutely right. I just think I’m part of the problem. And intend to be a part of the solution as well.

Chetan Bhagat penned an open letter to Kashmiri people a few days ago suggesting them to choose to integrate with India, fully. Obviously the internet exploded. Responses started pouring in from all factions of society including the Kashmiri locals as well. Open letters in response to his open letter. Criticizing him for what he suggested. According to me, though, he’s right. I must clarify at the outset I have never been to Kashmir (Only Ladakh but that’s completely different) so I obviously don’t understand the situation on ground as well as the Kashmiri locals. No one does except they themselves. But I can see logic in what Chetan suggests. And it’s compelling. At least to me anyway. I am not a fan of Chetan. Far from it. Nor do I agree with his views in general. But I wouldn’t dismiss a logical argument just because it’s coming from a man I don’t like.

He summarizes the whole Kashmir conflict for people who don’t have a whiff of understanding of the issue. 7 million people live in what we know as the Kashmir valley constituting 7% of the total J&K state territory. By the way India holds ~43% of the total territory, Pakistan holds ~37% and China ~20%. He clearly states, “ This is not an emotional, political or historical argument. It is simply more rational for people in the Kashmir Valley who seek a better future to do it with India.”

Now I see nothing wrong in that argument at all. As everyone would understand and agree the current situation on ground needs to change. Obviously there are only three possible options: Assimilate with Pakistan, Assimilate with India and achieve total independence. The current state of partial independence, of two-governments is not leading the Kashmiri people anywhere. Especially the Kashmiri youth whose future is in doldrums.

But the sad part if no one, especially the so-called Kashmir experts, chose to see the logic in Chetan’s argument. Almost everyone jumped in with the same old rhetorical arguments of AFSPA and how Indian Army is the biggest monster of all time. Here are some of the letters I read:

As you can clearly see, AFSPA is the most important bone of contention. Tell any Kashmiri to come to India and the first thing they’ll talk about is the atrocities committed by the Indian Army in the region. But why bring this up at all? Chetan is not denying these accusations at all. He acknowledges that there could be possible wrongdoing by the army but still goes ahead to suggest integration with India. And I think he’s right. Let’s assume for a moment that Indian Army has in fact mistreated the Kashmiri locals. That the assault — physical, sexual, fatal accusations are true. Do you really think that that situation is going to change under the status quo ? I’d think there’s a better possibility of the situation changing if you do actually integrate with India. Then the army can actually be held accountable if they’re wrong. Think about it. If you actually think Indian Govt and Army gives you an outsider treatment, why remain an outsider at all?

One of the above-mentioned articles says, “ What he seems to be saying is, your life is miserable, but this degree of misery is the best and the only choice you have, so suck it up.” I wouldn’t want to sound so harsh and cold-hearted but yes he seems to be saying exactly this. Why can’t, for once, we be objective ? Is having a future somehow less important than this sort of vindication ? When will we stop believing life’s fair. It’s not. Our nation’s not pristine. No nation is. At least can’t be with as much land and population as ours. When has a small territory remained peacefully independent between 2 or 3 big and powerful countries. Kosovo. Manchuria. Crimea. East Jerusalem. There are numerous examples of disputed territories all over the world. When have those territories been peaceful.

And to be honest, who else than India will give the liberty of Article 370. According to the budget of 2014–15, the total budget for J&K was Rs. 44k Crore. Now, 53% of this budget comes from central grants and a mere 17% from taxes. On the contrary the spend on salaries and pensions is a whopping 43% of the total spend. Kashmiri locals not only enjoy reservation in colleges like Delhi University but also subsidies in tuition fees. They also enjoy right to religious freedom and minority preservation under Article 25–28. The coin always has a second side if you want to look at it. But all you ever see are the so-called atrocities committed by the Indian Army.

Plus isn’t this how it all started in the first place? J&K refused to get annexed to India and Pakistan attacked the territory seizing several parts of it over many wars. Remember it was the Indian Army which saved the Kashmiri people during the partition when they were attacked by Pakistan. Doesn’t it seem likely at all that once the area is outside the jurisdiction of Indian Army, Pakistan will attack again ? Are the ISI-funded Jihadist organizations operating in the region invisible to the naked eye ? There is a consortium of 13 militant groups called United Jihad Council operating in the area for crying out loud. This is the same group which claimed the responsibility of the Pathankot attack. One of the member groups, Lashkar-e-Taiba’s wikipedia page states their motives as “Integration of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan after ending Indian rule in the state & propagation of pan-Islamism in South Asia”. Mind you LeT is a designated terrorist outfit by the US, India and Australia. It’s not secret though that it’s Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)’s puppet with the primary agenda of annexing Kashmir from Indian rule. Kind of like how Iran created Hezbollah in Lebanon to fight for the Palestinian cause against Israel. Don’t you get it ? Pakistant won’t let you guys remain independent even if India concedes you. Unless staying with Pakistan sounds like a better option than India. In that case, I have simply nothing to say to you.

You need to understand the situation you guys are in. I’m not saying it’s justified, I’m just saying now that you’re in it, it’s only you who can do something about it. Something to get out of this situation. You think you’re fighting for your rights but the truth is that you guys are in a stalemate. And will possibly be for another lifetime. Why not just choose the best option on the table and move on.

What you need to understand is that while you guys deal with these issues on a daily basis, people in other cities in India have moved ahead in terms of technology, innovation and intellect. You didn’t choose that life. It was thrust on you. You didn’t have a choice then. No say. But you have a choice now. You can choose to move forward. Or you can choose to continue be in a stalemate.

Regardless of what you choose to do though, I can only imagine how difficult lives you have led till now and I wish you all the best! I wish you a long and prosperous lives.

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