Ajaz says that political leaders consumed by unbounded ego to be never proven wrong sometimes end up showing their immaturity and shallow personal qualities
(Mr. Ajaz ul Haque, 40, was born in Srinagar. He completed his school and college education in South Kashmir. He is presently on the faculty as Producer in the University of Kashmir Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMRC), and a columnist for the Greater Kashmir. In leisure time he enjoys reading.)
Son we Win, Daughter We Won’t Lose
`Will it be a son or a daughter’? A desperate couple wanted to know the answer from a saint before the child is delivered. The saint played safe to have two independent answers. He assured the mother not to worry as it’s a bright little male baby arrving soon. To the father, he had a word of caution that it could well be a daughter. Either of the two had to be delivered and the saint had both the post-event explanations. If mother catches him on a wrong answer he can readily defend himself by referring to his last-minute tailpiece he confided in the father of the child. And if reverse is the case, mother will vouch for him that the saint had already tipped her to be the parent of a boy. Results whatever, the saint is safe.
Here we are facing a similar situation.
`Don’t worry’, says Geelani, `if big powers ignore Kashmir, it will still be an issue’. The statement can be seen from whichever angle we like to see it.
First comes first. Is it that Geelani has realised the futility of attaching too much importance to Obama visit. Well, if that is so, we can expect some positive change in the future. But unfortunately it does not appear to be the case. His earlier statement of declaring the ten coming days `crucial’ for Kashmiris in a way contradict the present one. The first one was about `what if’? The second is `what then’? The first one promised us a son, the second persuades us to keep heart and to accept daughter as a gift meant for the blest.
In the first one an impression was given that something really is going to happen if Kashmiris bear the trouble what they have bearing for months together. But here was a moment to show perseverance so that we don’t end up losers.
Ascribing cruciality to an event symbolises the level of hope you link with it. But now as Obama arrives and as speculations about his uttering or not uttering K-word started gaining ground, Geelani resorts to bet-hedging. Throwing his words in every possible direction and seeing that which one comes true. Presume, if Obama finally slips a word about Kashmir, no matter how and in what context he does, Geelani’s first statement will seem to come true at last. If he doesn’t, still we have no reasons to worry as people who fight for a cause, as Geelani explains his statement do not depend on the mercy of big powers. What if Kashmir figures, India will be trapped. And what then if it doesn’t, Kashmir still will be an issue.
No worries. Son or daughter, we will be the winners.
The second dichotomy in the statements is too obvious. If America really does not matter, why intensify your strike programme by asking people to observe a strict civil curfew. If India has got the whole nation on a high security alert, they have a reason. This guest matters for them more than all hosts put together. If they see coconut as a potential security threat and pluck it unripe lest the crust falls on Obama’s head, they only want to save this poor fruit, which normally Indians use as an auspicious symbol, from being declared a sinister weapon of mass destruction. But what do we walk away with by staying inside which we have been doing for months now. As I starve, will Obama be sharing a fast in solidarity with me?
This is not even expediency which at least politics allows. This is a poor, immature, and unrealistic response to a grave situation we have pushed ourselves to. We have taken the whole movement to a limit where even sublime appears ridiculous. God save us!