KASHMIR……… Once a heaven on earth……. now a centre of militancy!

Jammu and Kashmir, one of the 28 states of the Republic of India has been a centre of attention and International focus ever since the separation of India in to Republic of India and the west while Pakistan. India and Pakistan has fought 3 furious wars in past 60 years of their existence which was specifically for the possession of Kashmir (1947, 1965, 1999).

DISCLAIMER:

1) My statements in no context refer Islam as a reason for terrorism nor do I claim that all terrorists are Muslims.

2) In this blog, Kashmir refers to only the Kashmir sector of J&K.

HISTORY: Back in 1940s J&K was the only princely state in the Indian subcontinent which had a Hindu Ruler for a Muslim majority state. During the partition, then ruler of J&K, Hari Sing was given an option to join either secular India or the Islamic state of Pakistan. Being a Muslim majority, though they were expected to join Pakistan, an unprecedented invasion from Pakistan forced the ruler to join the Indian union in return of military support to defend the invasion of Pakistan. The Government of India, under Jawaharlal Nehru also approached the UNO regarding the same and the UN's resolution asked both the parties to halt their army and not to proceed further with invasions. This lead to the carving out of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from Mainland Kashmir.
This blog will not talk much about the recent history of Kashmir, but it shall remain focused on two key issues which keeps Kashmir Burning.
Kashmir, being located at a highly elevated altitude, makes it a key zone of military interest for both India and Pakistan to monitor the military movements and for mounting an attack in case of an insurgency.

Secondly, Kashmir being a Muslim majority state, it would be the most suitable ground for Taliban and Pakistan funded Islamic terroristic groups for setting up terror camps to hinder the growth of India.

Let us look Kashmir from a more realistic point of view. The very cause of the existence of Jammu and Kashmir as a separate state with special status is on the religious grounds. The Indian union being a Hindu majority, it would obviously of least interest of a Muslim majority region to reconcile with India. This is the truth and we have to come in terms with it. Whatever you see today (insurgencies since 1990’s) is not a freedom struggle for a secular state based on cultural or ethic differences, but it’s a call for the creation of an Islamic state if not, the migration of well known Kashmiri pundits to Mainland India would not have happened. If this was untrue, how would only the Muslim youth of the region take part in stone-pelting and such tension-provoking activities (Loud speakers in the mosque has been used to mobilize youth for protest and this happens mostly on Fridays). Today, Pakistan has taken full advantage of this in instigating Anti-India feeling in the region and also in popularizing the concept of “Jihad” into a society which has a long history of more liberal Sufi Islam. This has made things worse not only for the people of Kashmir, but also to the entire Indian subcontinent as evidenced by the terrorist activities that unfolded in the past decade with the participation of kashmiri youth!

When we probe the kashmiri issue more in depth, the unrests are common only to regions of Kashmir but Jammu, Leh and Ladak are relatively peaceful. Demographic statistics reveal jammu as a Hindu majority region and Kashmir as a Muslim majority region. This is one of the main reasons why there is a call for greater Kashmir rather than a greater J&K in general.

Options to resolve Kashmir issue:

1) Reconcile with Indian union: This would be warmly welcomed by the regions of Jammu and Leh and Ladak. In Kashmir this might be dealt with high resistance especially after the recent human right violations by CRPF against stone-pelting protesters whether it has been instigated by political parties, Pakistan based handlers or it be genuine. This would pave way for greater development of the region that any of the other two options that would be discussed later. Recent election which brought pro-Indian state government is a strong indication of willingness of people of J&K to get closer with New Delhi.

2) Reconcile with Pakistan: This would of interest for people who support Pakisthan based terrorists and Islamic fanatics who dislike India for the sole reason it being a Hindu-majority nation. Taking recent developments in Pakistan into consideration, this would receive a very cold welcome in the whole of J&K with the exception of certain areas of Kashmir adjacent to PoK which are strong holds of Pakistan-backed separatists.

3) To be independent: If J&K was to be a separate state, regions of Jammu, leh and Ladak would have high resistance against the move as they are Pro-India. Then what is left is Kashmir, which accounts for less than 25% of J&K. This is an interesting point to discuss. Let us assume that Kashmir is given autonomy and we are to predict the future of the state of Kashmir. Being in the middle of two Asia-Giants and a terror torn Pakistan, It would be a much sorted region. Pakistan would try its best with the military might to get hold of the land and make it a part of Pakistan along with the rest of PoK as its strategically very important trump card. China, being a aggressive nation not only in terms of growth, but also in terms of extending its territory, it would not miss a chance to gulp the chunk of land merely to extend its communist rule. If it stay as a separate state, I cannot envisage the development of anything else, but a terror camp or a Taliban styled state that would spend its economy, youth and power in destroying everything possible (including itself) in the name of Jihad. Previous attempts by hardliner Islamic groups in J&K in issuing fatwas are corroboratory evidence to support this. Taking revenge on India for so-called human rights violations would be on top of the agenda for these groups. The economic viability of the region is also a troubling thought. Being a land locked country that too in a mountainous terrain gives its own disadvantages. Any war between India and Pakistan would affect them immensely. If given support to either Pakistan or to India (which is least likely) in such a situation would lead to direct targeting of the region. (So I would advise the PDP and other separatists to be a little more long-visioned and practical. Please do not waste your youth for mere gain of power).

CURRENT UNREST IN KASHMIR: Ever since the militancy broke out in kashmir, Indian armed forces, paramilitary forces, terrorists, bomb blasts and deaths have been a day-today sight, news, sound and an unavoidable irritant part of their lives. The role of Indian military in bringing thestate back to normalcy is spectacular and is applauded in every corner of the world. The involvement of external forces, such as Pakistan based LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen, etc did not only create a state of unrest, but also a political turmoil which resulted in several loss of lives either in the hands of the terrorists or pak-trained kashmiri militants or in the hands of the great Indian army. The high penetrance of terroristic and separatist ideas into the minds of the youth and into different starta of the society made it even more difficult for any force to cure this malignancy. The level of militancy, terrorism and separatism would not have cropped up beyond curable level only because of the ground support that they received in the land of Kashmir. This ground support was mostly a result of religious ideologies rather than a matter of self governance and independence as militants and separatists had different aims, but took the same route to achieve it. Pakistan being at advantage here supported both the causes as they had nothing to lose.

A month back, Kashmir was never a part of the headlines across the Indian subcontinent, But recently it has occupied the whole front page and all the major headline slots for one reason “Protest against Human rights Violation by Indian Armed Forces”. Stone pelting became a Friday business after Holy Namaz. CRPF-protesters clash became a trend. For a few weeks it was considered as an isolated event. This trend changed slowly and became an hour-to-hour based incident across the Kashmir valley. For anybody who thinks logically, It should have crossed at least once that this was not a emotional outburst by the people of Kashmir. The presence of external and internal extremist forces was at least obvious to me, especially after knowing and reading a bit about the issues and problems of Kashmir valley and various national and international intelligence reports. And what happened in the end, as recent as 9^th July was that, intelligence data and phone intercepts suggests that these violence were instigated either by separatists or by external forces. Earlier reports also showed the presence of paid stone palters in the mob. Now I would not argue that all the violence are caused by these inhumane elements, but of course some of them are which is basically aimed at strengthening Anti-India feelings, separatist ideologies and last but most heinous way of sacrificing their own youth for gains in the game of power. I pity the poor Kashmiri youth and martyrs who have become shaeed for a power game may it be in the (died in the hands of) hands of CRPF or in the hands of terrorists. Today’s Kashmiri youth are blinded by false claims and stupid ideologies of separatist leaders. It is even sadder that holy Mosques are used as grounds for assembling youth, fueling anger and hatred and instilling violence in the minds of the youth. Even the Holy God will not forgive such sinners!

Now it is time for me to discuss one of the most important issue – why were so many human rights violation in Kashmir by CRPF or Indian Armed forces. Was firing the only way to disperse an outrageously angry stone-pelting mob. Many might claim that in rest of India, such a situation is dealt with utmost care and using more peaceful ways. The recent Bharat Bandh caused a loss of Rs.1500 crore or more to the Govt of India, but there were zero casuatities and zero deaths. I would like to answer most of these worries and false claims by idiotically blind followers of the valley. You may take any records from across the country, may it be the emergency proclaimed by great Indira Gandhi to removal of tribals from illegally occupied forest lands in kerala to telengana issue to the current moist issue. Anytime the mob has taken adverse steps against the law enforcement agencies, deaths and casualities have happened. One of my friends asked me.. “why are maoists treated more softly”. My immediate response was.. If CRPF treat kashmiris like maoists, then shoot at sight would have been the option and this would have wiped out youth of the whole of Kashmir after first couple of protests. I was in fact astonished that he was unhappy that a few people were treated in a softer way. So is your mind so rotten that you enjoy a painful death of another human who is not from your valley? May be this is what the propagators of separatist idea and terrorism and the recent history of violence engraved in their minds and souls that they have lost basic humanitarian concepts over any other person outside their boundaries. This very reason is the culpable reason for so many deaths in the valley, which is enshrined as Shaheed. You, people of Kashmir, you protesters listen to it sound and clear and give this a thought: “Treat others the way how u expect others to treat you”. CRPF Jawans are also humans made in flesh and blood like every one of you. If you do not give them basic respect and treat them like humans and start pelting stones at them what do you expect them to do? Sit and receive all the stones and count them and take it back home? No, for such protests, the use of force is common anywhere in India or the rest of the world (recent happenings in Thailand, Greece and China are best examples). Peaceful protests anywhere in the country are free of stone pelting for your kind information and sometimes even such protests are dealt with force when its essential for restoring peace and normalcy. Think for once before you throw a stone and think how it would feel if someone throws stone at you. Now with all the reports of violence being instigated by separatists, it’s a question, how many of them actually die of CRPF firings!

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:

1) Give partial autonomy to Kashmir or turn it into a union territory.

2) Plumb in more revenue and developmental funds for better life and preservation of culture and heritage.

3) Improve employment and create more jobs so that stone-palters get better jobs.

4) Abolish article 370.

5) Don’t even think of reviewing Armed Force Special Power act.

7) Ban separatist parties, people show still think of going against the country should be stripped off their nationality.

To me the cause of this whole Kashmir issue can be brought down to two major points “RELIGIONS DIVIDE AND INTOLERANCE TO OTHER RELIGION(S)” and “GREED FOR POWER BY POLITICAL/SEPARATIST PARTIES”. If not for this, I would like to know what is that makes Kashmiris demand a separate statehood.

The FIKA BREAK

Fika is the most common word that swedes use and that is the same word that every non - swede in Sweden would have learned. In very few days of one's stay in Sweden, the Fika culture crops into u. Here, every swede takes a fika break in every two hours. As one comes to the lab, he just grabs a cup of coffe and then after 2 hours, by ten the second fika break and then lunch at 12 and then again a fika at 2pm followed by another fika at 4, just before he leaves for home. I've no clue how many fikas they have at home after their work. Besides these many breaks for fika, they are very productive and this fascinates me. When I think of productivity and Fika, I get this idea, how a break can actually make u more efficient.

After boiling your head for two hours, a break definitely helps you calm down and also helps you to think clearly. When you have a few other people around you, you share light jokes and your lab problems, this might actually help you solve some of the silliest problems through exchange of ideas. This might be one of the reasons why the researchers here has embraced the fika culture to the hilt.

I told one of my friends that if you do not take a fika, you disqualify as a swede. In this regard, my whole labmates faces the disqualification charges. we are just a bunch of hard working souls.

When I was talking to my swedish friend about the Fika break and how it has influenced Indians in Umea, He suddenly came up with this idea what if God takes a Fika break...

Hmmmm My rest of the blog is about what would have happened if several of our world leaders had taken a Fika break!

1) What if Hitler had taken a Fika break: the moment he would have said a loud "Nej NEj Nej" for the very idea of exterminating thousands of jews for no reasons. This would have prevented the second world war.

2) If Gandhiji would have had a Fika break, he would have thought very clearly, backed the radical revolutionaries and we would have won independence atleast 2 decades before 1947!

3) If American policy makers would take a fika break, they would understand that they are poking their nose into unnecessary matters and that they are a pain in the arse for the rest of the world.

4)If the noble peace committee had taken a fika break, they would have realised their blunder for honouring Mr.Obama with the coveted award, who is busy killing people in the 3rd world countries, whose policies are inhumane and who talk a lot about nuclear disarmament but does not even endorse a policy of "no first use".

5) After a fika break, Kishanji would have definitely abandoned his anti-government policies and his bloody rampage over CRPF personnels and would have stopped bombing schools and other public buildings.

Now you guys can contribute................

BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN!!!

This happened in 7th semester of B.Tech genetic engineering of 2005-2009 regulation at SRM University, Chennai, India. The student here is one of my close friends and hence I am not taking her name.. anyways.. enjoy it!

TEACHER: What is the source of Bovine serum albumin???

STUDENT: (Blinks, Blinks)... (Bovine = Cow, Albumin is found in egg, OH I C)

Cows egg teacher!

TEACHER: OH cows lay eggs????

STUDENT: How else will the calf be born, sperm alone will do the job????

My one question to Mr.MF HUSSAIN

MF Hussain, the renouned artist of Indian origin was recently issued a citizenship by the government of Qatar. Whether he accepts in or not, he is a man of Indian origin, no matter what his citizenship is. The furious and clueless government of India is trying its good luck in bringing back this gifted artist who created heckles by portraying Hindu deities in vulgar/nude forms, which Hindu right's wing claim to have hurt the feelings of the Hindu majority. Since then Mr.Hussain has been targeted by Sang parivar and other Hindu right's organizations, vandalising his shows and burning his portraits and has poised threat to his life. This forced Mr.Husain to flee India on a self imposed exile to the Middle East.

Best artistic works has come when the thoughts and talents were unquestioned; Hence I believe that Mr.Hussain's act is justified. Also, being vulgar or not is up to the perception of an individual. Above all that Hindus, whose ancestoral Gurus and Rishis have gifted a book for sex, Kamasutra and being the members of a religion which has withstood all atrocities, calamities and cultural and political revolutions, Hindus in the first place must not be so impulsive and vindictive in action. Our's is the only religion which has accepted Atheism and is one of the only religions that has never stipulated any rules to its members.

Recently, Mr.Hussain claimed that he loves India and he felt immense pain in leaving India and also he did show his willingness to accept the luring offer of Qatar where he can recklessly let his artistic ideas varnish the paint board. I do understand that ego and one's self expression especially when it comes to painting, can never be questioned and if questioned, it will never be acceptable. But if that is above the love towards your home land, then I would suggest that he may never return to India. India is the land of RAja Ravi varma, and Mr.hussain is just one of the talented artists of India, if not MR.Hussain there will be another hussain or varma and hence I do not hink Indian government should take this as a big issue and let its pride go under his foot!

In this context, many might argue about the fundamental rights of Indian citizens. I also agree that India has a constitution which has one of our fundamental rights as "Right of expression and speech", but not at the cost of hurting other's believes and faith. But I would lie to remind you all not to forget your duties while you access your fundamental rights. This is applicable to everyone. As Delhi/bomnbay high curt had recently ruled, even religion can be a subject of criticism, but in a healthy way. Knowing the reality, I guess these must be kept personal and public comments on beliefs and faith must be spared from public forums which can lead to undemocratic situations.

Well there might be a thousand people pointing at me accessing me of being narrow minded. So I stop this blog with just two questions:

If you can portray Hindu goddesses in nude forms, why cant/dont you portray an image for image less Prophet Muhammed of for that matter his wife (after all Arabs are more beautiful that Indians) ?? Why dont you portray Alla in a divine form (I am not asking you to portray in nude form)??? Why dont you respect every other religion the way you respect yours??

My questions here are with atmost respect to Islam. I am only questioning his mentality and not the religion. Pls do not get me wrong!!

Self respect is the most important quality in a person. Unless one respects himself, he cant respect others. It is even worse when ego centric people lack this very quality of selfrespect, which can be distructive as they would go around demoralising others for no reason!
An advice for such people: stay out of my life (for that matter from any human's life; you deserve to be in an asylam)!

The one who never forgives, never forgets and the one who never forgets never forgives. Its better to kick such people out of your life at the earliest. I've done the same!

RAPIST'S HEAVEN - INDIA!

Sex is a natural instinct in animals. One of the most pleasurable fruit that can be enjoyed, but the enslavement of mind by sex has been the biggest challenges of the modern era. Today we all access the right to have sex, ofcourse its our right, but the mode of accessing your rights must not be at the cost of the modesty of a another individual.

By now we all know about a 14 year old girl who was molested by a senior cop, which won him the title "molester cop'(which he considers as a jewel to his crown)committed suicide after a few years of the incident. After 19 years, the court sentenced the cop for 6 months in jail and a petty amount as fine by considering his age, his service and other credentials, the whole judiciary forgot about the age of the victim. This not only angered me, but I felt washed off of my sanity, I felt uncomfortable and I lost my trust in the judiciary. This also brought in to mind, a thought about something that is little worrisome. I thought I must write about that.

When the entire media's attention was behind Mr.Rathode for molesting a teenager girl, The whole media and public does not even sound warned about sexual abuse of boys. May be because we are in a patriarchal society or may be because we are naive or because we opt not to acknowledge the presence of gay sex in India. The latest High court ruling decriminalising consensual sex between adults is the first step India has taken to come out of the closet. This very acknowledgement of gays and liberty to access sex has brought in to light the possibilities of a boy child being abused for sex or money.

Soon after the decriminalising of gay sex in India, media reported a increase in gay/ lesbian members in one of the leading gay/lesbian dating sites. There were gay men kissing each other publicly on the court premises. So, what does this show? Is it not the time we start a champaign for saving the boy child from sex slavery? First of all, we have no specific law for molesting a boy and being in an ignorant and old fashioned society forbids us from going public about sexual exploitation of a boy child. The child himself and his parents prefer hiding the silly story for sake of their pride and social status.

I suggest the following to all people out there:
a) Accept the fact that there are gays everywhere and even your son can be one after all 4% of the population are homosexuals.
b) Being gay/lesbian is no crime, but enforcing it on anybody, especially on minors is a crime.
c) Unwillingness to change your thoughts, perception and ideas about the sexuality can only cause more damage to the society.

Today we see sex trade as a billion dollar industry in India. Besides several laws and curbs on this filthy business it still happens in every corner of the country. Besides the availability of sex in plenty in the black market(of course it is not accounted), still there are several cases of accounted rapes and especially against young women and minors. Several NGO activists say the accounted rape cases are just 20 percent or less of the real number of cases in the country. If this is the situation when it comes to women in a pro-female society like India, what would be the situation of minor boys, with the situation given that we do not have any particular law pertaining to sexual abuse of boys, Are'nt we letting the vampires relax under the dark ignorance of the society?

As everybody knows, the judiciary in India takes ages to convict a criminal. Our evidence based legal system, corrupt judges and money-minded layers has lead to inordinacy of the system. The inept and indifferent politicians have failed to bring more prudent and strict laws to curb sexual abuse against minors. Weather it be a girl or a boy, an environment for a safe and secured childhood has to be given the utmost priority of the society as they are our future. Any crime that innocence and modesty of a child is to be condemned with great anguish.

so what do we need????

1) Abrogation of sexual abuse of minors by stronger laws and severe punishments for the convicts.
2)Separate court for dealing with child abuse.
3)Create new laws for sexual abuse of boys.
4)Legalise prostitution in India (it can help curb the spread of STDs, hiv-AIDS, illegal human trade and promote rehabilitation of such professionals. It can also help prevent sexual abuse of children).
5) Compulsory sex education in schools.

6) Cyber sex crack down.
7)The most important: Change your mind and prejudice about a rape victim. She does not require you sympathy, she needs your acceptance and willingness to not to discriminate her. Help these victims come back to their normal life.

LIVE AND LET LIVE!