It was amusing to read last week of Kashmiri rapper M C Kash concert held in a Srinagar government school under the protection of police. The reason 600 youngsters had to watch the show under police guard was threat from radical Islamists who wanted it cancelled. They believed the music to be unislamic and hence haraam. Never mind the fact that a local management school had organized the concert to raise funds for an orphanage. Ideologies must be upheld even if the orphans suffer. Apparently, these radicals drew their inspiration from Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The report said radicals under Geelani are not targeting just the music. It is also co-educational schools and mobile phones for girls, apart from general rant against "western culture".
Railing against western culture, mobile phones, and music is common. It is one thing that unites Hindu and Islamic radicals. What made this particular episode amusing was that Geelani and his cohorts have been using the term Aazadi to galvanize the Kashmiri youths against so-called Indian occupation of their land. They believe that with India the people have no Aazadi, or freedom. An entire generation of Kashmiris and more has suffered in pursuit of this Aazadi. They have been deprived of education and economic opportunities that would naturally have come their way in the two decades when India has surged ahead.
Lately, even pre-teens have been roped in the task of throwing stones. All in the name of Aazadi. Now these youths have the opportunity to experience first hand what exactly Geelani & Co mean by Aazadi. Freedom is such an alluring idea for human beings everywhere. What makes it so intoxicating to people across geographies and cultures is its promise of letting individuals grow into their own. It is about allowing people to live their own life even if their behaviour does not follow the generally accepted norms.
Somebody needs to get Geelani and youths from Kashmiri colleges and schools together to ask if the Aazadi they are talking about is same. Both might be unpleasantly surprised. Before they throw their next stone, a youngster might want to know from Geelani if he and his sister would be free to go to college in the Promised Land. Will they be able to put on their denims and a tee with a rebellious message that mocks at the world? Will they be able to talk to each other on their cell? Will their going on a picnic with their friends be frowned upon? Will they be able to choose what they want to study in the language they want to study? Will they be able to love and marry and separate on their own? Will they be able to have fun as and when they want to?
It is a telling commentary on state of affairs in Kashmir that these questions cannot be raised even today. Not for the fear of much-demonized Indian security forces but because asking them would bring retribution from patrons of Aazadi. It is plain that in Geelani's Kashmir, there will be Aazadi for radicals to impose their will on everyone. Taliban like forces will be free to burn down schools, prescribe dress code for girls, and decree whether they will go to schools or use mobile phones. They will decide what music is played. They will have the Aazadi to stone to death in full public view anyone whom they accuse of falling foul of their morality.
The youngsters who attended the concert in Srinagar last week no doubt loved their music and felt good about having supported the orphanage. They may also like to take home a thought about which side of the fence actual Aazadi lies. In the end, it was the much-reviled, corrupt, inefficient, suppressive Indian state that stood up for their right to do what they wanted. And the folks who instigate them to throw stones on the soldiers wanted something very different. The next time this happens, perhaps some of these youngsters might like to toss a flower or two towards that soldier in the corner. Could it be that he is the one guaranteeing the true Aazadi?
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