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Why Track-II diplomacy was not initiated in Kashmir?

By Humra Quraishi. Dated: 10/26/2016 10:05:13 PM

"Finally, traces of the 'Track-II' diplomacy geared into action. It is an obvious effort by the political establishment to try and reach out. But why this delayed reaction? Why now - after weeks of curfews and clampdowns, after hundreds sit ruined and affected, after the government and its agencies missed no opportunity to unleash all possible negative propaganda on the very Hurriyat leaders on whose doors Sinha has come knocking!"
First things first. More than shocking its getting painful to read latest news reports of schools set on fire in the Valley. Before I write any further let me clarify why there's little shock on this latest in the Valley. Simply put, there's been one shocker after another…a series of shockers! And when devastations get too much to handle then one reaches the stage when nothing really shocks. Instead, one sits back burdened with pain and sorrow; compounding by the day as most of these devastations are along a set pattern, dragging along a series of setbacks for the people of the Valley.
A heap of questions: Who could be setting schools on fire? Why aren't the 'miscreants' nabbed? With such a strong military presence who would have the guts to indulge in these targeted attacks on schools? Why no special efforts to protect school property and the lives of the students? In fact, this should be the top priority for the establishment. When ministers and even their deputies can be 'guarded' all days of the year then why not schools and the staff and the students.
Coming to the other development of the week - a five member delegation led by civil servant turned politician, Yashwant Sinha, reached the Valley to try and lessen the wreckage. Finally, traces of the 'Track-II' diplomacy geared into action. It is an obvious effort by the political establishment to try and reach out. But why this delayed reaction? Why now - after weeks of curfews and clampdowns, after hundreds sit ruined and affected, after the government and its agencies missed no opportunity to unleash all possible negative propaganda on the very Hurriyat leaders on whose doors Sinha has come knocking!
Term this belated move official or unofficial but it seems a step forward. After all, a solution has to be found so that the human disasters lessen. Right now, there is sorrow enveloping the Valley. And though there are no easy remedies to any sorrow but a political way out has to be found to pave the way ahead. Beyond talks concrete moves have to surface. Now and almost immediately. Let life return to the Valley.
WHAT IF WRITERS ARE FITTED IN BIG BOSS!
Whilst watching Bigg Boss, I sat wondering what if writers are 'imprisoned' in Bigg Boss : Season 10. Mind you, fitted right inside it without pens or laptops. I can assure the producers of BB these writers would go hopping crazy within the very first week. They'd get restless. Desperate for that outlet, for that release of words, for that unleash of emotions.
After all, writing is that addiction that takes you through those big or small upheavals. And writing alone can ease that restlessness, that surcharged anger. You don't need a stone or a shoe when you can throw about words on the paper or just about key them in.
Some of our best known political figures survived jailed terms because they could write, rather were allowed to write in that jailed state. Some of them came up with masterpieces. In fact, it's a reality a writer can come up with the very best in that cocooned state, away from the crowds …writing away undisturbed in a solitary confinement of sorts, sans distractions or intrusions.
I sit wondering at what developed pace we are supposedly moving ahead when today's prisoners are not encouraged to write books focusing on some of the stark facts or bitter experiences sitting in the jailed hell -holes. Are we marching ahead or moving backwards? In fact, diary -writing should be made compulsory so that those jottings take ample care of raw emotions. Not to be overlooked is that reality that a high percentage of the jailed population are under-trials so technically innocent. Why can't they be encouraged to unleash their emotions on paper. And even the so labeled 'full -fledged' criminals could be given a second chance. And what better way than to make him or her unleash on paper. Let jails and prisons and even detention centres be flooded with books and more of them. Let writers and publishers interact with them in jails and prisons, help them to start off with their manuscripts. Let policing tactics move backwards and take a backseat, and writing take care of the prisoners.
Big Boss should invite a bunch of writers into that infamous home. Lock them up without any of the means to write and then let the public see what strange and bizarre antics get going. After all, writers think and react differently. And with no means to unleash their very thoughts they could go screaming around!
LEAVING YOU WITH… this folk- song on the saffron flower of the Valley.
These days I have been reading poetic verse of the Valley. Just read this folk song tucked in the pages of GMD's Sufi's volume: Kashir. Here it goes -
'Like gold art thou gleaming, O saffron flower! /
To thee I devote my all, O saffron flower /
Like a burning dost thou look in moon-lit night /
Who hath given thee colour, O saffron flower!/
Who had given thee scent, O saffron flower!/
Just would I give thee a sweet embrace./
Towards Pampor flew away my Love/
The saffron flowers confined him in sweet embrace:
O he is there, and ah me,I am here/
When, when, O God, would I see his face,/
Let us go to Pampor,O maiden
When blooms the saffron,
It makes my heart throb
And steals it, ah me!/
Let's go to pampor, O maiden /
When blooms the saffron.'
*(Humra Quraishi is a freelance columnist based in Delhi and is currently a visiting Professor in the Academy of Third World Studies in Jamia Millia University).