Kashmir: Lost Paradise?

Kashmir is mostly in news for wrong reason, but is that what Kashmiries deserve?
Kashmiries are generally very enterprising and hard working people having a nomadic inclination. They are present in all touristic spots in India with their traditional handicrafts,shawls etc. The paradise as Kashmir is, I recollect memories of my visit to there few years back. As Kashmir is a boiling pot, a prime reason of dispute between Pakistan and India, I was curious to know the mind of the people. There are few people who create problem for Kashmir with Pakistan’s support, but I feel it is more or less a political issue. I hardly have seen any Kashmiri having feelings for Pakistan though they do not neccessarily feel as Indians. To be part of Pakistan is the last thing many Kashmiries wanted. (Of course we often forget about Kashmiri pundits who are mostly stay as refugees in their own country. Kashmir is their land also though some fanatics try to do an ethnic cleansing to make it a muslim place.)

But today throwing stone at security officers are considered a job in this beautiful valley, again, with the support of neibhouring country, poor youths are lured to score political mileage. I doubt to what extend this school boys are aware of freedom and India-Pak issue. Unfortunately those vicious minds behind this act, don’t aware of the impact of this on youth, their future. I wonder whether they want to build a ‘free Kashmir’ of some young illiterate stone-pelters?
Kashmiries are very friendly and not religious fanatics as they are being portrayed- They would invite you to their home with pleasure, feed you and make you feel at home. They have the ability to adapt to any circumstances that contribute to their good business skills.

Kashmiries are proud of their Kashmiriyat, many feel that free Kashmir can be more prosperous if independent, but there are some alien voices that are happy to be part of India. One Kashmiri fruit vendour in Mcloedganj told me, ‘If I see any terrorist, I will kill him, they are eating from Hindustan’s plate and spitting on it’. Another young Kashmiri is of the view that they can’t surive if Kashmir is free, ‘how we will survive just with dry fruits and Apple? We are indebted to Hindustan for rice, pulses,vegetable and other items’. He says. Anyways he is sure that Kashmir is neither going to be free nor going to be part of Pakistan, all in their life they may fight for freedom in vain’. ‘Hindustan isko chodega nahin(India will not leave it)’, he says with a glint in his eyes.

For India, it is an issue of prestige and for Pakistan it is an issue of water as many rivers origin from Kashmir. Indians generally feel that Kashmiries are pampered due to the separatist issue there. India pays a heavy price to retain Kashmir with her, she spends huge money of tax-payers on this valley. Though Ladakh is part of Jammu and Kashmir state, the peaceful Buddhist people there feel that they get a step-motherly treatment from govt. Some even say that they are ignored as they don’t throw stones at security forces.
Despite all this, Kashmir still burns and common people who struggle to meet both ends suffer, while those ignite violence enjoy luxuries and their children study in elite schools. Finally does that really matter which country you belong to?