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Now the question arises :
1.http://www.kashmirhub.com/geography-of-kashmir/index.html
Kashmir, if literally translated, means land desiccated from water: "ka" (the
water) and shimeera (to desiccate). Tradition says that Kashmir was originally
a lake that was drained by the great saint of ancient India Kashyap. It was
included in the empire of Ashoka Maurya who is credited with the foundation of
the city of Srinagar around the year 250 BC.
During this period Buddhism spread in Kashmir and flourished under the
Kushans. During the reign of Kanishka, the third Buddhist council took place in
Kashmir which has been attested by the 7th century Chinese traveler Hien
Tsang. But Hinduism held its sway in the region. The 7th Century AD witnessed
the establishment of a dynasty called the Karkota whose foundation stone was
laid by Durlabhavarrdhana. The most famous ruler of this dynasty was
Lalitaditya Muktapid who built the world famous sun temple (Martand) in
Kashmir. The Karkotas were supplanted by the Utpalas in 855 AD. The most
important ruler of this dynasty was Avanti-verman. He recovered Kashmir from
utter political and economic disorder into which Kashmir had fallen during the
rule of his predecessors. Didda, a Gupta widowed queen, ruled Kashmir until
1003 AD when the Lohara dynasty took over. Didda was a very unscrupulous and
willful lady and led a very immoral life. But in spite of these drawbacks, she
ruled the valley with firm hands.
The last Hindu ruler of Kashmir was Udyan Dev. His chief Queen Kota Rani was
the de facto ruler of the kingdom. She was a very brave lady, shrewd and an
able ruler. With her death in 1339 the Hindu rule in Kashmir came to an end
and thus was established the Muslim rule in Kashmir under Sultan Shamas-ud-din
whose dynasty ruled the valley for 222 years. The greatest ruler of this
dynasty was undoubtedly Sultan Zain-ul-Abdin. Under his rule Kashmir was
culturally and politically at its zenith. The kingdom was annexed into the
Mughal Empire in 1586 and thus was extinguished the freedom of Kashmir.
In 1757 Kashmir came under the control of Ahmed Shah Durrani, the Afghan who
invaded India many times. In 1819 Kashmir was annexed by Ranjit Singh and made
a part of his Sikh empire. The two Anglo-Sikh wars fought between the Sikhs and
Ranjit Singh resulted in the complete extinction of the Sikh sovereignty in
Kashmir. The British gave away Kashmir to Ghulab Singh for the sum of 75 lakhs
of rupees under the Treaty of Amritsar. This entitled Ghulab Singh to have his
complete sway over the dominion. He extended his territory by annexing Ladakh.
Ghulab Singh died in 1857 and was replaced by Rambir Singh (1857-1885). Two
other Marajahs, Partab Singh (1885-1925) and Hari Singh ruled in succession.
Maharaja Sir Hari Singh ascended the throne in 1925. He continued to govern
the state till 1950. In 1932 Kashmir's first political party - All Jammu &
Kashmir Muslim Conference was formed by Sheik Abdullah The party was later
renamed the National Conference in 1939 and continues to be a major political
party in Kashmir today.
The last Hindu ruler of Kashmir was Udyan Dev. His chief Queen Kota Rani was
the de facto ruler of the kingdom. She was a very brave lady, shrewd and an
able ruler. With her death in 1339 the Hindu rule in Kashmir came to an end
and thus was established the Muslim rule in Kashmir under Sultan Shamas-ud-din
whose dynasty ruled the valley for 222 years. The greatest ruler of this
dynasty was undoubtedly Sultan Zain-ul-Abdin. Under his rule Kashmir was
culturally and politically at its zenith. The kingdom was annexed into the
Mughal Empire in 1586 and thus was extinguished the freedom of Kashmir. The
last Hindu ruler of Kashmir was Udyan Dev. His chief Queen Kota Rani was the
de facto ruler of the kingdom. She was a very brave lady, shrewd and an able
ruler. With her death in 1339 the Hindu rule in Kashmir came to an end and
thus was established the Muslim rule in Kashmir under Sultan Shamas-ud-din
whose dynasty ruled the valley for 222 years.
The greatest ruler of this dynasty was undoubtedly Sultan Zain-ul-Abdin. Under
his rule Kashmir was culturally and politically at its zenith. The kingdom was
annexed into the Mughal Empire in 1586 and thus was extinguished the freedom
of Kashmir. The British gave away Kashmir to Ghulab Singh for the sum of 75
lakhs of rupees under the Treaty of Amritsar. This entitled Ghulab Singh to
have his complete sway over the dominion. He extended his territory by
annexing Ladakh. Ghulab Singh died in 1857 and was replaced by Rambir Singh
(1857-1885). Two other Marajahs, Partab Singh (1885-1925) and Hari Singh ruled in
succession. Maharaja Sir Hari Singh ascended the throne in 1925. He continued
to govern the state till 1950. In 1932 Kashmir's first political party - All
Jammu & Kashmir Muslim Conference was formed by Sheik Abdullah The party was
later renamed the National Conference in 1939 and continues to be a major
political party in Kashmir today. [2]
2.http://www.kashmirhub.com/history-of-kashmir/history-of-kashmir-before-1947.html
HISTORY
KASHMIR CONFLICT
After Indian Independence in 1947, the ruler of the princely
state of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, refused to accede to
TH either India or Pakistan. When Pakistan invaded Kashmir in the
following year, the ruler of Kashmir sought help from the
Indian government and agreed to place Kashmir under the
HMIR CONFLICT
dominion of India. As a result India sent its troops to Kashmir
to help the Maharaja. A UN cease-fire in 1949 saw the end of
fighting and created the first Line-of-Control.
In 1956 Kashmir was, in effect, integrated into the Indian Union
under a new Constitution. However, Azad Kashmir, the area which
Pakistan gained during its campaign in 1948, continues to
remain with Pakistan. The volatile situation was aggravated by
the Chinese occupation of the Aksai Chin region, in Ladakh, in
1959. The situation came to head in 1963 when a Sino-Pak
agreement defined the Chinese border with Pakistani Kashmir and
ceded Indian-claimed territory to China.
India and Pakistan fought over Kashmir again in 1965. A UN
cease-fire took effect in September, 1965. Prime Minister Lal
Bhadur Shastri of India and President Ayub Khan of Pakistan
signed the Tashkent agreement on 1st January 1966. They
resolved to try to end the dispute by peaceful means.
Fighting erupted between India and Pakistan once again in the month of
December 1971, after the leaders of the independence movement in East Pakistan
sought India's help. Its leaders were aided by India in their struggle for
independence. After the war, the province of East Pakistan emerged as an
independent country called Bangladesh. A new cease-fire took effect and the
Shimla Agreement was signed between the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
and the Pakistani President Z. A. Bhutto. Both the countries agreed to sort out
all issues bilaterally.
Kashmir was a tourist's paradise during the 1970's and early 1980's. However
tourism in Kashmir declined during the late 1980's and 1990's, due to the
terror perpetrated by separatist militants and self-styled freedom fighters.
Victimized by Islamic fundamentalists and mercenaries, and Indian troops,
thousands of innocent Kashmiri lives have been lost due to terrorism. Today
the situation has somewhat improved with both countries agreeing to come to
the negotiating table and discuss all outstanding issues with an open mind.
All this augurs well for the state of Jammu and Kashmir and hopefully, peace
will return to Kashmir - followed by tourists, who remember its beautiful
parks, rolling meadows, spectacular mountains and scenic destinations with
nostalgia. [3]
3.
4.http://www.kashmirhub.com/history-of-kashmir/history-of-kashmir-after-1947.html
Ravaged by conflict ,
traumatized by lack of
accountability and strangled by
social taboos , people in
Jammu and Kashmir have been both
witness to and victims
of violence which has had a
significant effect on their
mental health . While a ISSUE
sustainable political solution to
Kashmir problem seems far away , KASHMIR CONFLICT
psychological
wounds inflicted by violence
and impunity on the Kashmiri
society continue to increase and go
well beyond socio -
Psychological and emotional injuries may
be the most enduring effects of major
PSYCHOLOGICAL conflicts between nations in the present
era , yet historically , they may be the
IMPACTS least addressed in terms of rebuilding a
OF society and preventing violence . In recent
KASHMIR CONFLICTworld conflicts , terrorism has
purposely utilized against civilians as a
been
ON means of attacking the self - esteem and
KASHMIRIS morale of “ the enemy ,” as well as simple
retribution . In fact , this is what has been
happening in Kashmir valley since 1989
( beginning of insurgency as called by
India , and interpreted as ‘ freedom
movement ’ by Pakistan ). Kashmiriites are
the victims of violence . They are being :
brutally murdered , displaced , and
expropriated ( direct violence ); assaulted
economically and socially ( structural
violence ); and victimized on religious and
racial grounds ( Cultural violence ).
Insurgency in Kashmir has existed in various forms , mainly on the
Indian administrated side of the disputed territory of Jammu and
Kashmir . Kashmir has been the target of a campaign of militancy by
all sides in the conflict . Thousands of lives have been lost since
1989 due to the intensified insurgency . Casualties include Muslim
and Hindu civilians ( men , women , and children ), Indian Armed Forces ,
and Kashmiri and foreign militants .
The Inter - Services Intelligence of Pakistan has been accused by
India of supporting and training mujahideen [1][2] to fight in Jammu
and Kashmir . [3][4] While , International Human Right Groups have
accused Indian army of committing grave Human rights violations in
Indian - administered Jammu and Kashmir . [5]
1.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6033383.stm
2.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/06/wafghan06.xml
3.http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/21/world/asia/21quetta.html
4.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE7D81F3EF936A15751C0A9649C8B63
5.http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,HRW,,PAK,,3ae6a8558,0.html
A 1996 Human Rights Watch report accuses the Indian military
and Indian - government backed paramilitaries of " committ [ ing ]
serious and widespread human rights violations in Kashmir ." [6]
One such alleged massacre occurred on January 6 , 1993 in the
town of Sopore . TIME Magazine described the incident as
such : " In retaliation for the killing of one soldier ,
paramilitary forces rampaged through Sopore's market setting
buildings ablaze and shooting bystanders . The Indian
government pronounced the event 'unfortunate' and claimed
that an ammunition dump had been hit by gunfire , setting off
fires that killed most of the victims ." [7] In addition to
this , there have been claims of disappearances by the police
or the army in Kashmir by several human rights
organizations . [8][9]
6.http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/kashmir/1996/India-07.htm
7.http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977469,00.html
8.http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78871.htm
9.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6367917.stm
Besides CCS , the Department of Sociology from the University
of Kashmir has written reports regarding the effect of
violence on Kashmiri society . Thousands of people have been
the victims of enforced disappearances by the government .
Another CCS member , the Association of Parents of
Disappeared Persons ( APDP ), has brought together hundreds of
Kashmiri families whose members have been the victims of
Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances ( EID ) by the Indian
government . The APDP is a collective campaigning
organization that seeks truth and justice on this severe
human rights issue in Kashmir . Recently , in April 2003 , APDP
organized a worldwide hunger strike , coordinated in
different cities across the world , pressing for an end to
disappearances , prosecution of perpetrators , and appointment
of a commission to probe into all enforced disappearances .
The APDP , along with other CCS member organizations , has
helped families pursue legal cases as well as highlight this
issue through reports , videos , and seminars .
If we talk about the psychological impact of terror - related
violence on Kashmir ’ s social environment . Historically , both
state and non - state actors have resorted to the same
approaches in terrorizing civilian populations , while using
different weapons and techniques . For both , the goals of
terror are political . However , the challenges of social and
economic order cannot be adequately undertaken unless we
clearly understand the psychology of political violence .
These concepts in many ways guide domestic and foreign
policy , but have clear distinctions . On the one hand , a
distinction can be made between violence undertaken because
persons have a right to defend their home , and actions
undertaken supposedly to “ alter the behaviors and attitudes
of multiple audiences ,” [18] whether they are ‘ conspiratorial ’
or not .
Kashmir ’ s experience could prove important in analyzing the
psychological impact of political violence . Together with
its atmosphere of fear , the Kashmiri militants have created
an atmosphere of widespread discontent . In this regard , “ the
secrecy of planning and the visibility of results ” may be
illustrative of a more general phenomenon in which
individual and population vulnerability to violence is
linked to terror . At least this has been the position of
researchers who have been active in the field , and the
particular case of Kashmir .
On the one hand, powerful ideological forces are creating a complex
movement, “especially under the banner of Islam”[10] thus diminishing
the traditional significance of the nation-state. On the other hand,
political organizations command “moral inhibitions”[11] as a reasonable
alternative “to alter the attitudes and behavior of multiple
audiences.”[12] As one writer has put the issue however , “terrorism and
our conceptions of it depend on…context…and on how groups and
individuals who participate in or respond to the actions we call
terrorism relate to the world in which they act.”[13] Kashmir’s
experience could prove important in contextualizing political
terrorism. Terror-related violence has left a death toll running into
tens of thousands and a population brutalized by fighting and fear.
Together with its atmosphere of fear, the Kashmiri militants have
created an atmosphere of widespread discontent.
1 0 . Reich , Walter ( editor ). Origins of Terrorism : Psychologies , Ideologies , Theologies , States of Mind .
Washington : Woodrow Wilson Center Press , 1998 . pp . 10 .
1 1 . Crenshaw , Martha . ( Ed .) Terrorism in Context . Pennsylvania : The Pennsylvania State University Press ,
1995 . pp . 4 .
1 2 . Crenshaw , Martha . ( Ed .) Terrorism in Context . Pennsylvania : The Pennsylvania State University Press ,
1995 . pp . 3 .
Since 1947 the conflict between India and Pakistan over the
territorial rule of Kashmir has shaped attitudes towards terrorism .
What started as essentially an indigenous popular uprising against
external rule has created a social environment “ beleaguered by
terrorism , repression , misery and destitution .” [13]
Political terrorism has been largely characterized as a “ movement
of political violence …. fueled by ethnic , religious and linguistic
factors .” [14] The inconsistencies and failures of government policies
in Kashmir have allowed “ social elements to encourage votaries of
political violence through passive as well as active support .” [15]
Further , “ peasants in villages formerly under the militants ’ sway
have been disillusioned with killings , rapes , and criminal
activities .” [16] It is in this context that the concept of political
terrorism can be best understood . In Kashmir , political terrorism
is largely characterized by “ movements of political violence
1directed against
3 . Fai , Ghulam Nabi the
. “ Free , fair state
elections and Commentary
in ,Kashmir” in turn involves
. The, Washington repressive
Times : Sunday
September 15 , 2002 , B5 . 17
measures that
1 4 . Wallace , Paul are often
. “ Political Violence seen as a instate
and Terrorism of Crisis
India : The terrorism [
of Identity”
]
.” in Terrorism in
Context . Pennsylvania : The Pennsylvania State University Press , 1995 , 352
1 5 . Wallace , Paul . “ Political Violence and Terrorism in India : The Crisis of Identity” in Terrorism in
Context . Pennsylvania : The Pennsylvania State University Press , 1995 , 352
1 6 . Wallace , Paul . “ Political Violence and Terrorism in India : The Crisis of Identity” in Terrorism in
Context . Pennsylvania : The Pennsylvania State University Press , 1995 , 404
1 7 . Wallace , Paul . “ Political Violence and Terrorism in India : The Crisis of Identity” in Terrorism in
Context . Pennsylvania : The Pennsylvania State University Press , 1995 , 352
Exposure to violence has potentially important implications
for mental health [18] . This paper presents the findings of
the community assessment survey done by Médecins Sans
Frontières in 2005 . The study , which was done to inform
program planning , assessed the mental health and socio -
economic impact of the ongoing violence , and the sources of
support . Following excerpts from the Médecins Sans
Frontières survey revealed that :
Psychological distress was mostly expressed through symptoms
such as nervousness , tiredness , being easily frightened and
headache ( Table 1 ). The prevalence of suicidal ideation is
striking : one - third of those surveyed had had thoughts of
ending their life in the past 30 days . Over a third of
respondents were categorized as suffering from psychological
distress ( SRQ ≥ 12 ) using the Indian validated SRQ ( 33 . 3 %,
170 ; CI : 28 . 3 – 38 . 4 ). The design effect for the SRQ was 1 . 4 .
Females scored significantly higher ( 43 . 8 % vs . 24 . 1 %, OR 2 . 5 ;
CI : 1 . 7 – 3 . 6 ; p < 0 . 001 ).
1 8 . de Jong J , Komproe IH , van Ommeren M , El Masri M , Araya M , Khaled N , Put W van der , Somasundram D :
Lifetime events and posttraumatic stress disorder in 4 post conflicts settings . JAMA 2001 , 86 : 555 -
562 .
Feelings of personal insecurity were significantly
associated with psychological distress ( SRQ ≥ 12 ) for both
males and females ( Table 2 ). Psychological distress among
males was significantly ( p < 0 . 01 ) associated with all self -
experiences ( defined as 'ever happened to you' ) and most
consequences of violence . Psychological distress among
females was significantly ( p < 0 . 01 ) associated with
witnessing events ( except hearing about / witnessing rape ), as
well as the self - experience of some events ( maltreatment ,
arrested / kidnapped ) and feelings of lack of safety and
independence .
For both genders , not
feeling safe is
associated with at
least twice the odds
of suffering from
psychological distress
( Table 3 ). For males ,
violation of modesty ,
forced displacement ,
and disability were
all associated with a
significantly
increased likelihood
( three times the odds )
of suffering from
psychological distress .
For women , the
witnessing of people
being killed or
tortured or dependency
on outside assistance
doubled the odds of
suffering
The majority of respondents ( 63 . 9 %, 326 ) had recently
visited a health postor clinic : nearly half had visited a
health facility more than once ( 46 . 3 %, 235 ) in the past 30
days . Overall , nearly half ( 49 . 6 %, 253 ) of respondents rated
the health facilities as poor . Women more frequently rated
their physical health as bad or very bad ( male : 24 . 1 % vs .
female : 36 . 3 %, OR 1 . 8 ; CI : 1 . 2 – 2 . 6 ; p < 0 . 005 ), and visited the
health facilities more than men ( male : 40 . 0 % vs . female :
54 . 7 %, OR 1 . 8 ; CI : 1 . 3 – 2 . 6 ; p = 0 . 005 ). The number of women who
had been on medication for six or more days was
significantly higher than men ( male : 30 . 7 % vs . female : 46 . 0 %,
OR 1 . 9 ; CI : 1 . 3 – 2 . 8 ; p < 0 . 001 ). A high level of psychological
distress ( SRQ ≥ 12 ) was significantly ( p < 0 . 01 ) associated
with poor or very poor self - rated health for both males ( OR
4 . 4 ) and females ( OR 3 . 4 ). For males this was also associated
with a higher likelihood of visiting the clinic two times or
more ( Table 4 ). For both males and females , high
psychological distress was also associated with a higher
likelihood of being unable to or having to cut back on work
or performance of daily activities .
The most common ways of coping were withdrawal ( isolation ,
not talking to people ) and aggression ( Table 5 ). Religion was
also reported as a helpful source of support .
It is also concluded that the high levels of violence
confronted by the Kashmiri population have resulted in high
prevalence ( 33 %) of mental health problems . Poor self - rated
health and likelihood of poor socio - economic functioning
were associated with high levels of psychological distress .
Mental health problems in this context of chronic violence
should receive full attention through the provision of
appropriate community - based services that would improve
access to care and reduce the burden on the health system .
With killings , torture , rapes , molestations , disappearances
and detentions becoming the order of the day in Kashmir ,
psychiatric disorders have seen a sharp increase post - 1989 .
In 1989 , about 1 , 700 patients visited the valley's lone
psychiatric hospital and by the year 2003 , the number had
gone up to 48 , 000 . Before the onset of the armed struggle ,
certain disorders that were not known to Kashmiris started
showing a significant presence amongst the civilian
population . The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( PSTD ), one of
the psychiatric diseases , which was completely unrecognised
before 1990 has witnessed a major upsurge . Major Depressive
Disorder ( MDO ) follows this . There are other mental diseases
like bipolar disorder , panic , phobia ; general anxiety and
sleep disorders that have also shown four - fold increase .
Substance Use Disorder or drug addiction and suicidal
tendencies has been another repercussion of the ongoing
conflict in Kashmir . women form a major part of the patients
who are suffering from PSTD ( almost 50 per cent ). For women
whose husbands have died , psychotherapy has failed to
produce desired results .
Women have become increasingly suicidal and are resorting to
sleeping pills , injections and inhalations [19] .
Nearly every person , particularly women , suffer from general
anxiety and the uncertainty pertaining to the security of their
family members . This always keep them in a state of unrest and
anxiety . Even in their houses people are harassed , beaten up or
taken into custody by the troops . The fact that the situation
doesn't seem to get any better , doesn't promise a better mental
state of the civilian population , especially women , in Kashmir .
1 9 . Jaswal SKP : Gynaecological and mental health of low - income urban women in India . In PhD thesis
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine ; 1995 .
HOW CAN THIS BE?
John Connon and W . Harrison
Childers
Mothers moaning soft and low Madly plunging into war
Sad to see their children go Marching to the lies once
Off to fight the latest foe more
How can this be? Who knows what they ’ re dying
for?
A father bows his head and cries How
It ’ s can
the this
same be?
old trajedy
As he begins to realize What a hollow legacy
Sons will fight and sons will No one learns from history
die How can this be?
How can this be?
We can talk about hatred We can talk about hatred
We can talk aboput war We can talk about war
We can talk about killing We can talk about killing
While we all keep score While we all keep score
We can count all the bodies We count them once more
And count them once more How can this be?
How can this be?
Children have to pay the price
For debts they do not owe
Time and time again they pay
The children can ’ t say no
Grieve for every wounded child
Sharpenel , mines , and bombs gone
wild
Innocence and love defiled
How can this be?