During two decades of anti-India revolt, Kashmir has lost tens of thousands of people, property worth billions of dollars and much more.
But the disputed Himalayan Valley has also lost over 1,500 working days (more than four years) to separatists’ shutdown calls in the past 20 years, dealing a crippling blow to its ailing economy.
The tourism industry of the scenic Valley, ringed by Himalayan peaks and dotted with mirror-calm lakes, shimmering streams and dense pine and conifer forests, is frequently disrupted by strikes and violent protests over the separatist cause.
But do war-weary Kashmiris have other means to raise their voice against human rights violations and resist New Delhi’s rule?
According to the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the region loses 100 million rupees for every day of shutdown.
Shutdowns have been a general expression of anti-India protests by separatists and militants since simmering discontent against Indian rule turned into a full-blown rebellion in 1989.
But many people now question the rationale behind endless strikes.
Local newspapers quoting residents of Kashmir say separatists are setting the wrong precedent by enforcing strikes after every “unfortunate incident”.
“It appears the separatists are extracting revenge from innocent ordinary people rather than taking revenge from the perpetrators of these crimes,” Mohammad Ramzan, a shopkeeper was quoted as saying by The Himalayan Mail.
But hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani says strikes are the only means to raise a voice against the unprecedented “Indian oppression on people of Kashmir” for the last 62 years.
Protests in Kashmir have intensified since bodies of two women, aged 17 and 22, who locals say were abducted, raped and killed by security forces, were found on May 29.
Shopian town in south Kashmir, where the bodies were found, has remained shut for a month.
Kashmiri columnists say despite a sustained campaign against strikes, little has changed and people continue to follow the protest calls.
“It is because hartals (shutdowns) are an unavoidable tool of resistance,” Javaid Malik wrote.
The strife-torn region has suffered a lot due to frequent shutdowns that have severely dented Kashmir’s tourism industry and education.
Do separatist leaders need to rethink this issue?
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if separitists r so concerned about kashmir then why they r not protesting against pakistan for giving a portion of kashmir to china. why they are not protesting against the domestic violence, crime done by the terorists. Murders and rapes are happening every parts of the world but we cann not afford the shutdowns everyday. its a bigger game plan by Pakistan. Kashmir is part of India It will remain so till world’s end.
- Posted by Parwez Alli Khanas the armed sruggle has been considered no means of solving a conflict talks and diplomacy is leading the way in present world,peaceful demonstrations saw no loss of lives it became a weapon in making issue being understood aspirations collected under one banner shouting the slogan of thier cause, hartals telling them thier unhappiness,thier peace loving intent no matter they bear the loss of thier own economic intrests a stopper to thier daily lives thier childrens education but they believe in thier cause which is true and higgest to them.
- Posted by faisalkashmir a disputed teritory remained in indian hands for more than 70 years,strugle against their occupants sought an approach whether that was armed or demonstartion which they called for hartlas..made a dent to thier economy, where they feel sacrifised even after loosing lives,when loss of life was bigger than anyother they chose a democratic way of bringing thier cause in the eyes of the world, it still contiues till a common term of peace is spoken from each side.
- Posted by juneedastrikes are demonstration on bearing a economic or other related paralysed life, its a way more prominent since the 19th century industrial revolution,in the present world kashmir has presented it the most,though not a economically strong region but still people thought it was an association to thier armed resistance the strugle continues for thier better tommorow they have chosen between the right and wrong to thier complete satisfaction and waiting for the day where they will remember thier sacrifice didnt go waste.
- Posted by hinawe are weary and tired after twenty years of fighting. we need a strong economy to fight oppression and i think we have to rethink and find a new way to protest and show our anger..so let us rethink….
- Posted by mushafiqstrike in protest against human rights violations and indian rule is no problem. we have been fighting since 20 years and it has not at all dented our economy. as a conscious nation we have to show resistance and in present day world peaceful protests are the only way. cause is bigger than economy… i am sure even my indian friends will agree. i am sure one day world will take cognizance of indian attrocities in our land and kashmir will be a free contry…..protest….protest….protest
- Posted by hinafreedom from India… that’s all.
- Posted by Shezan@India is not like british who would take notice of symbolic protests……for them symbolism means delay, peace and consuming time…..”
-says Wasim
–Neither are Kashmiri freedom fighters like the Indian Freedom fighters. Indian Freedom fighters made sure they do target killing. See the contarst of kashmiri freedom fighters–10 of them (LeT , the contract killers from Pakistan) killed 180 in Mumbai, although selectively of non-Muslims, as an example. Go read about Indian Freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh. Udham Singh, Azad, Sukhdev…..
- Posted by rajeevWhy do Kashmiris talk about only Indian occupation? If Pakistan wants an independent Kashmir, why did it give away a portion of Kashmir to China? Can’t the Pakistan free up the Kashmiri land that is under its occupation and recognise that as a country? Why doesn’t anyone question about the clause that anyone who wants to contest the elections to become PM in Pakistan-occupied-kashmir should unconditionally accept accession to Pakistan?
- Posted by SunnyWhy there are no protests to get back the land given by Pakistan to China?
WELL! ALL THESE YEARS OF STRIFE IN THE VALLEY WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT LEADERSHIP CRISIS AND THE OTHER WAY OUTS OF RESISTANCE. WILL SOMEBODY EVER COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE OR A ROAD MAP FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE WAY TO EXPRESS THE DISSENT????
- Posted by jeelaniKashmir is known for sliding swiftly from relative order to chaos and back to relative order. I wonder if Kashmiris agree on their priorities. May be, they want their cake and eat it too - that is, conveniently get the economic gains from India whenever possible but also foul mouth India and make demands for freedom at drop of a hat.
The Shopian incident is condemnable and the perpetrators must be punished. Such acts, unfortunately, have occured in other parts of the country. However, only in Kashmir, such a solitary incident slides in to anarchy and suddenly the out-of-work seperatists find new project to keep them busy. The Indian government admits its political mistakes in Kashmir; so does its army in its excesses. But, are the Kashmiris blameless? Shouldn’t they do some introspection? Only then conciliation is possible.
- Posted by NikhilThe Truth is that there is no sincere & dedicated leader in Kashmir at present, all who claim to be so are serving Indian policy in Kashmir.Even mainstream parties have no power. It is India who decides there faith. So How can separatist leaders rethink on this issue. But we have to find a way to protest against human rights violations and attrocities.
- Posted by Aijaz BhatI dont think any kind of freedom can be won through war and bloodshed,we cant wash away blood by blood.The power of pen has always been stronger than the power of sword.Lets strive to make this world a better place,instead of adding on to the existing mess,no one can win a war,bcz war in itself means, that the both sides are losers…
- Posted by asmaone mans freedom fighter is another man terroist.sorry to to say but kashmir freedom movement right now desperately needs reformers, those who can streamline the things.
Only the person who has measured the dominion of force, and knows how not to respect it, is capable of love and justice. (Simone Weil, The Iliad: or, The Poem of Force)
- Posted by Imtiyazi think strikes are a part of the ongoing struggle,where people are supporting it in a majority,while many have there individual opinions about it which differ when economy in the present world is the issue,but these things are going to change only when there is a suitable solution,while as things have changed since the early nineties so a bit more patience will take us on the other side democracy was announced by people in the recent elections, so a wider spectrum of peace and prosperity is expected in the near future.
- Posted by adeel shafiI think we need to rethink, but only about frequency…otherwise peaceful strikes and demonstrations are the only way to protest human rights violations and indian ruloe.
- Posted by Farooqwell friends …. in this so called civilized world, we have only way left…protest strikes…New Delhi has left no way for reconciliation with Kashmiris, may be we are Muslim majority nation, with illegal Hindu occupation. protest…protest…one day a sensible and pro-Muslim world policeman will prevail upon India and Kashmir will be free country as it was before partition.
- Posted by AdilThose Kashmiris who want to live in the 10th failed nation can simply cross the bridge to that nation. Who’s stopping you? Why live here and don’t let others live?
Can similar protests happen in China or Pakistan? Look at Tibet and Balochistan. Don’t abuse democracy. Rest of India moves forward, but Kashmir will remain stuck in time.
No amount of strikes can change history or your destiny. Better get to work or study and be productive.
- Posted by TonyWhen you impose weeklong curfews to thwart peaceful marches, fire bullets and teargas canisters at unarmed people, is there any other way left to register protest.
- Posted by Yawar NazirSuppressed and subjugated people like Kashmiris have to choose between economy and freedom. When our honour is at stake, like the thousands of Shopian alike case, there surely has to be some resistance, even if
it means some monetary losses. Like, Subhash Chandra Bose once asked Indians: “Give me Blood and I will give u
freedom.” Kashmir, no doubt, has given enough of blood, and continues to.. . I am sure that for a nation that has laid down thousands of lives, sacrificed the honour of thousands of its women for a cause, sustaining economic losses on strike days, isn’t a big deal