Under the aegis of JK Democratic Liberation Party (JKDLP), an interactive caucus was held on 15th February 2016 at Hotel Grand Mumtaz in Srinagar, Kashmir. Around 200 youth of Kashmir, mostly below the age of 35, actively participated in the deliberations that lasted one full day.The panelists in this youth gathering comprised a mix of senior most academics of Kashmir and two youth, namely Prof. Agha Ashraf Ali who was the Chief Guest, Dr. Meraju’d-Din Vice Chancellor, Central University Kashmir, Dr. K.N. Pandita former Director Centre of Central Asian Studies Kashmir University, a former stone-pelting youth who is now an aspiring writer and an ordinary young Kashmiri girl currently pursuing her B.Com honors.
Introducing the theme for deliberations at the forum, Junaid Qureshi – a prominent columnist and international Human Rights Activist - the chief organizer of this unique event said that it is important to make periodical assessment of a struggle that involves the destiny of an entire community. It is time that the youth of Kashmir, born and brought up in an atmosphere of violence, uncertainty and bleak future, are given a platform to come together, debate and evaluate what the two and a half decade old armed struggle has brought to Kashmir at the end of the day. Only from introspection, debate and evaluation, we can deduce the line of future action that has the potential of pulling us out of the present morass. He said that we needed to re-think whether the entity of Kashmirian ethos is complete with the religious minority remaining at distance.
In all, five panelists made their presentations touching on various aspects of the suffering gun and violence has brought in its trail to the peace loving people of the State. They elaborated their viewpoints on the destructive role of the gun either by drawing from the traditional fund of wisdom come down to us as legacy of sages, savants and great humanists or through personal experience as in the case of the young boy and girl.After the presentations were made and ideas floated, the floor was opened for interaction. Questions were invited and answers were provided either by the panelists or through interaction among the audience in highly disciplined manner marshalling logical arguments. Interaction among the participants proceeded in an orderly manner owing first to the seriousness with which the audience took the deliberations and second to objective moderation by Junaid Qureshi, balancing point-counter-point process.The conclave unanimously resolved to condemn and reject the use of gun and violence because of unimaginable destruction it had caused to broad peace loving masses of Kashmir. It also resolved that Kashmir’s traditional amity and peaceful coexistence among its natives irrespective of wherever they are and to whatever ideological segment they belonged, be restored and preserved. It was agreed that the process of evaluation and assessment should continue to bring awareness to more and more people because this was an effective way of dispelling wrong notions and divisive interpretations.
This conclave of Kashmiri youth reflects unprecedented uniqueness and in more than one way. It is the first ever initiative taken by the youth of Kashmir to make some meaningful introspection about the legitimacy of the means and their consequences. It has kindled hope that the youth could, by introspection and self reliance, wriggle out of a state of despondency and helpless abandonment and carve out a path leading to universal mainstream. Human mind and creative potential can flourish only in the environs of peace and justice.The last and perhaps the most significant uniqueness of this conclave is that it was interactive in letter and in spirit. Questions were asked fearlessly and answers were given without mincing words. The entire atmosphere of broad-based debate exemplified what a boon democratic debate can be. The participants were very eager that the originator of this idea, Junaid Qureshi, makes such conclaves a regular feature so that the light of reason reaches all nooks and corners of Kashmir. This initiative opens an opportunity for hitherto muted voices of Kashmir to speak for themselves and for the people at large without fear or favor. (KNS)