I'm trying to think of a country in this world where an official report announces over 2000 unidentified bodies found in mass graves, and this news occasions close to no protest. Where in fact this news occasions remarks like: "Missing person goes abroad, learns how to use gun, comes back, gets a taste of bullets while fighting with forces and dies. These are the missing person graves."
Which country? Syria? Rwanda? Libya? India?
Answer: India. Bodies found in graves in Kashmir, India.
Admittedly Anna Hazare is a huge news story, has dominated the news in the last couple of weeks. And yet I wonder: is news about Hazare really bigger than news about the massacre of thousands?
But scratch that: I'm really not even interested in an answer, in any comparison. I'm just amazed and dismayed that this does not seem to have bothered too many in this country. Are we that indifferent to what happens in Kashmir? Or that indifferent to unexplained killing? Or do we think the killing is justified, maybe it's even in some noble cause like the territorial integrity of the nation?
I don't know, it seems to me that when ordinary Indians are killed and their families torn apart, noble causes suddenly seem pretty ignoble, nauseous. What will it take for us to feel that nausea, again?
I don't know what will stop killing like this in Kashmir. But I do know that every shameful, horrific episode like this reminds me why I wrote this essay four years ago.
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12 comments:
I'd think more than a few 1000 people being murdered by the State, a few thousand hectares being polluted is more important.
But then I don't take umbrage that the "media" does not share my viewpoint. This entire notion of X deserves more/equal/some/any space in news is silly at best.
The Indian media and academia also do not recognize the risks and sacrifices of the Indian security personnel in Kashmir, anywhere near to the extent that the American, British, Canadian and French media do for their respective soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else. Every death of a soldier is reported in detail in the Canadian media, and the name and circumstance given. And there is coverage of the mourning by family members. Nothing like that in the Indian media, most of the time.
Dilip - why should media be the soul(sole)keeper for this country. They are running a business and dish out what they feel in their own judgement important enough. I would rather question the state and the human rights organization whose charter is to highlight and stand for these issues. This would generate a lot of emotions in J&K for sure, just like lankan war did for brethren in Tamil Naidu.
Yes, I am concerned and hope people responsible are brought to justice. I do not agree with some of the other comments about how we do not worry about our soldiers, yes we should - but the soldiers are there to protect and bring law and order not to break it themselves.
Swaminathan A Aiyar's article echoing much the same concerns:
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Swaminomics/entry/why-are-mass-graves-in-kashmir-so-pass%C3%A9
thanks
Jai
Came across this juicy piece of news
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_isi-vetted-indians-on-ghulam-nabi-fai-list-of-invitees_1576089
See the person who has the news of mass graves. Nice credentials for this person.
So much silence from Dilip on fai. When you were prepared to utter a pack of lies about IDRF.
Yes, but who is doing the slaughtering this morning and two months ago in Mumbai? And who did it in Mumbai in 1993? The answer to the first question is that the killers are doing this over and over again, whereas the 1993 perpetrators have long stopped. 18 years ago.
the 1993 perpetrators have long stopped. 18 years ago.
The lies continue. Samjhauta Express massacre, to pick just one, happened in early 2007. Just slightly less than 18 years ago.
When you can find a way to make your case without lying, please let me know.
By the way, the Samjhauta killings left 68 dead.
I look forward to seeing how you will distort that number in your urge to lie.
Even that killing, culpability for which is not resolved, cannot be linked to the massacres of Mumbai, Pune and Delhi. Except for those who want to justify the latter. However, it does look like a small, very small, section of Hindus, are adopting the mentality of Islamists and are at least thinking of retaliation. Actually doing it, is another thing. We know for a fact that Hindus are not doing it in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. That's beyond question.
Start with a lie (92-93 riots "killed 500 Moslems and 400 Hindus").
Get caught lying.
Switch to another lie ("the 1993 perpetrators have long stopped [killing] 18 years ago.")
Get caught lying again.
Switch to making a meaningless point ("Even that killing cannot be linked to the massacres of Mumbai, Pune and Delhi").
Such are the contortions and lies an apologist must resort to.
Actually it is interesting how many commentators raise the issue of old riots as in Bombay, 1992-93, to explain the latest bombings in 2011. What these people are essentially saying is that they have very, very little faith in and regard for Moslems. Because they feel that unless Hindu behaviour is absolutely perfect, in word and in action, Moslems will conduct Mumbai and Delhi bombings over and over again.
They do not issue such cautionary notes to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran or Saudi Arabia. Because they know that non-Moslems, particularly Hindus, are not going to riot, rampage and kill in those countries.
Dear Indians,
There is famous saying in Indian Culture which is called as Ragya Dharma-(I think so)which you can see in Ramayana- The great king Raven taught rams-brother, when he was going to die. it has lot of rules which one king or kingdom must do in order to succeed. One of it is -It is not bad to kill one in a family if its good for the family. Its not bad to kill one entire family if it is good for the village. Its not bad to kill one entire village if it will bring good to entire country. So the killing can be justified i think. Don't forget what happened to the pundits in Kashmir. Can you justify that there is another saying-the one who took the sward will be killed with it.
I have lot of friends who is working in Kashmir they all are telling you cant even believe a child who is more than 5 years old. Anything can happen to any one there. No one you can trust. This whole thing will not happen if the locals didn't support the terrorist. So just fuck off....
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