- Survival Guide
By K.Asif
‘The survival theory’ - has been the bewildering, saga of
every living organism. Man and animals strive hard to earn
their place and position in universe, so as to make it up
to a community or a society. And there is always a
‘conflict’ involved with it. In sociology as well as
biology, conflict theory states that the society or
organization functions and attempts so that each
individual participant and its groups struggle to maximize
their benefits. Now history has turned over its pages and
now living benefits can never be expected.
This gives rise to a change – better known as a social
change. Generally, in case of human beings, these changes
are a result of changes in politics which governs them,
eventually every human being. There has been a solid share
of revolutions where people are adamant to change the way
their politics lead them.
In Kashmir context, this theory is mostly applicable by
the part of conflict – the long standing conflict of
identity and representation. Who should represent us and
lead us? Who should claim to be a part of us or who should
we identify ourselves with? Let us not clash with already
understood panorama of one of the most conflicting state
theories in the world today. The history would not serve
any cause here ‘but then’ the ramifications of any such
aspect like that needs to be cogitated upon. We can not
but talk about it.
Any conflict has certain, obvious political, social,
religious, economic consequences attached to it. We cannot
imagine or discern them beforehand. The sole reason being
“Judgmental Error”! Same is the case here. If we ask what
would India lose if Kashmir is let off? What would
Pakistan gain if at annexes Kashmir? You can invert the
equation here as well. There would be never any balanced
answers to these fundamental queries. Never! The situation
may never change. What the both players can not perceive
is the peculiar predicament hovering over this valley. The
mess can never be drained off from the shelves. The dead
can never be brought back. The injuries can never be
healed. Everyday, history books are written and new
chapters are weaved. Very activity on either side is
recorded and filed in. Perhaps either side wants a
no-consensus; therefore the dilemma is never ending. The
drama is on, a real one.
In the meantime, the fabric of politics, sociology and
economy as well is tarnished. There is a rising conflict
between social, political and economic ideas burning
bright in the minds of people. There has been no or least
decrease in differences which burgeon in class ideologies
and social ranks. There has been no spell of functionalism
theory in our valley as ‘individualism’ only, as yet, has
defined people in our state. The narration remains a
‘faraway thought process of humble people of this valley.
Always a committed effort for them whomsoever they chose
and support!
But now, amidst of all the turmoil and confusion, people
see their representatives going haywire, riding horses and
offering sacrifices, promising shockingly. Little they are
concerned and little they know that there has been a
‘change’ in every possible area of ‘local thought
process’. There is a radical basic surmise, divided as
conflict, giving way for social change, and the moderate
changes e.g. customs and traditions. Now people know the
things. They can aptly read the faces of those who claim
to be the torchbearers.
Any conflict is because of some inevitable reasons
nurtured by horrible political, social, or economic
developments. These serve for some people especially
politicians, as their living, for some, as their cause of
oppression (those at the receiving end) but most of the
time, there are some people who cash on such a resource. I
may call them the ‘third party’. So the genesis of
conflict as it may seem; the first thing as a precursor of
conflict is Competition. In earlier times, competition was
for the cause that Man needed resources (money, leisure,
sexual partners, and so on) as these form the basis of all
social relationships. Competition can never be simply
understood as human competition is one of the fearsome
aspects of human relationships.
Disparity is another thing which deteriorates the world
social fabric like a foggy moth. Gradually the greed for
more, every one gropes for something and as a result these
inequalities in power and reward conflicts arise and get
out of hand rapidly. As they say when injustice and
inequality cross the limit, revolutions take over. And
when a revolution fails there is a need for counter –
revolution.
Yes, our forlorn history necessitates for us to Change –
we need to be revolutionary as well as evolutionary. Let
us strive to save and secure our heritage, history,
culture and above all ourselves. Youth as the first
generations, facing this turmoil, its veracity, ought to
absolve themselves of all conflicts and give a way for a
better future. A future secured for upcoming generations.
However, not before going back to history to find out what
had actually happened and why such a quandary arose for us
to suffer. The fact that our youth still seem ignorant
about actual causes behind the turmoil clears itself with
every seminar, workshop, or discussion. Some even say that
India is our saviour; others say Pakistan is our
motherland and others say independence is our only refuge.
A deluge of thoughts, where no consensus seems possible;
what should be done is research proper and credible
material on history of Kashmir. To know the facts which
otherwise have put us in a dilemma of events.
Our sociology should bind and not separate us. We as
family members of the same family can never afford to
institutionalize our ideologies. Beware of the people who
are amongst us as our torch bearers. Check their
credentials before they rob us of our virginity of being “Kashmiris”.
This is not an antidote of integration or disintegration,
freedom or slavery but of being self and not forgetting
the camp to which we all belong. Long live “Kashmir”.
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