1. Home
2. Columnist

INTERVIEW: Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi

Kashmir Times. Dated: 7/30/2013 5:58:06 PM

'The leadership here is imposed on people; hence this impotence'

Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi, Pro-Freedom Resistance leader and Chairman Islamic Students League (ISL) in conversation with Mushtaq ul Haq Ahmad Sikander on Resistance, Current Political Turmoil and Unity among different Pro Freedom Leaders
Being active in Resistance politics since early 1980s how do you witness the change from that period till now?
It is evolution of a revolution, we have learnt a lot from our mistakes and now we commit few as compared to the past.
A discourse is being articulated that since 2008 Amarnath land Row Agitation, that there has been a switchover from Violent to Non Violent phase in the resistance movement. Do you witness such a change?
Track record is a witness to the fact that in Kashmir everything goes hand in hand. During the mass armed insurgency the street protests and demonstrations didn't die down. Similarly the gun still hasn't waned away.
But still Separatists are saying that there has been a changeover to non violence and the State must respect this change?
In principle there has been no change, it is the language which our opponent uses, this non violent phase has been worst than the armed violence. The demoralization of the security forces is at its worst regarding separatists they can talk about this switchover and change but freedom fighters never say so, separatists (want separation from Unit or center) that Kashmir is a part of India, freedom fighters have never recognized the same.
From past many years there is the talk of uniting both factions of Hurriyat conference, but you never have been a part of the same. Why?
Hurriyat Conference is imposed alien product, in 1993 and is a part of the game plan, but the resistance movement is senior to the Hurriyat Conference and they are a round peg in a square hole. I knew it beforehand that its existence will prove futile and it will not be able to deliver the goods; hence I always remained aloof, and did not officially join it.
Now we are witnessing internal strife within Hurriyat (M), and there are rumors of formation of a Third Front. Would you like to be a part of the Third front if invited?
No I would never like to be a part of the third front, as Hurriyat Conference isn't an indigenous part of resistance movement.
In the aftermath of 2008 Land row Agitation, Aasiya Aandrabi suggested a guild of five young leaders who must unite and provide indigenous leadership and you were one among them, but you didn't show any Positive signs to join the same. Why?
Our Resistance movement is neither leader centric nor people centric, thus there is no reason to invest in the same. What role I have in resistance I am doing that.
But you are convener of the recently launched Mutthida Mazahimati Mahaz (United Resistance Front). Isn't it the Third Front that is being debated these days?
Absolutely not. Mutthida Mazahimati Mahaz (MMM) is ideologically different from Hurriyat Conference. It is not a forum representing personalities, but a front representing the ideology of Azadi. It will comprise of three generations of resistance cadres the post 1975 Indira-Abdullah Accord resistance generation, the 1988 resistance upholders and the present generation of resistance cadres that mostly comprise of youth. It is completely different from dissident Hurriyat Conference leaders who are talking of Third Front because they have administrative issues that if addressed promptly will lead to the death of demands for Third Front. But unlike them we have ideological issues, rather than administrative ones. MMM isn't leader centric but ideological.
But why wasn't the need for MMM felt before and what purpose will it serve now?
The deliberations and meetings about MMM have been going on for years, and it took some time to give it a definite shape. The movement was either leader centric or people centric, now it needs to be ideological, hence the need for MMM was felt.
It seems that you have reclined from active politics?
It can be your (corporate Press) observation; I am still active and more active than ever. My busy schedule barred me from marriage and shelter of two rooms house for myself.
Since 2008 all the resistance efforts have been reactive in nature, isn't there any offensive resistance which leadership can offer, articulate and act on?
It is only evolution of our resistance movement. The key players are different this time, the age group of ours and leadership is not involved as the resistance is coming from young generation and regarding 2010 and current uprising I am still shocked about.
So the youth have taken the reins of the resistance movement. Is this a positive sign?
Obviously it is a positive sign and it is a sign of victory.
But no leadership is emerging among the youth?
It is more problem for State, so the State is facing the dilemma whom to engage with.
Stone Pelting as a tool of resistance has drawn flak and appreciation from many quarters, how do you perceive the same?
It is changing stance from higher ups though, it was and some times discouraging
You have been actively propagating the resistance discourse through alternative media like Social Networking sites. Are you able to better communicate the resistance discourse through Social Networking?
The users of Social Networking sites can better answer this query.
You were charged with disrupting Unity, Integrity and Peace of J&K through Facebook. How do you perceive these allegations?
There were no allegations against me. It was a precautionary arrest. No First Information Report (FIR) was filed against me, neither was I produced before any court. It was an executive detention rather than a judicial one. My Public Safety Act (PSA) was revoked rather than quashed by the authorities who in the first place had imposed it. It was an illegal type of detention, as I wasn't charged with anything.
After being released are you still engaging in those activities on Social Networking sites for which you were being charged?
As I stated I wasn't charged. Yes I am still engaging in articulation of Resistance Discourse through Social Networking sites.
Are not you apprehensive that you will again be arrested on those charges?
Let them arrest me again. Incarceration and Prison are a second home of every resistance cadre.
The Separatist leadership has always been impotent to channelize and deliver and after every spate of resistance, the movement is once again to ground zero. What are the reasons for the same?
The leadership here is imposed on people hence this impotence, it has to emerge but I witness that the indigenous alternative is emerging over the years which is the Positive sign indicating that the resistance movement is maturing.
Do you think that the Civil Society and intellectuals are doing justice to their roles?
There is no Edward Said in Kashmir; we have only the Hunter's historian not of the hunted ones. The Civil Society and NGOs most often here are collaborators and funded by the State instead of the people.
During the recent days some Indian human rights activists and writers are supporting the Kashmir cause and resistance movement. How do you perceive this support?
They all are fulfilling their obligations towards their own Indian nation.
Do you think that Kashmir Issue is getting increased support at the world level?
Not more than what we earlier used to get.
Why has the Muslim World failed the kashmiris?
The fault lies with our ambassadors, not with the Muslim world.
Do you think Hartal as a strategy would work in the long run and that too when most of the separatists are saying that we have no alternative except them?
Ask those who issue calls for Hartals, I have never issued a call for Hartal. I have ran the movement without issuing a single call for Hartal and those who say that we have no alternative except hartals I fail to understand what kind of resistance is it which has got only a solitary tool and weapon?
Hundreds have been killed, thousands injured and maimed in the 2010 protests, but these downtrodden have received no help from the separatist camp. Why?
There is a big gap between forces that lead the resistance on ground and those who lead it from their drawing rooms, hence the dichotomy.
After witnessing the downfall of 2010 protests with no successful outcome, as the state didn't budge even an inch on its rigid stance. As a youth leader, do you perceive that youth are disheartened with this failure?
We achieved the things and the method used was Peaceful but we got zero marks for the same from the State as a response. It is wrong to say that youth have been disheartened; if that would have been the case they would have become anti-movement and pro-establishment. Armed insurgency is being invited by these tactics of State. The State is repeating the same mistake that it committed in 1987.
Do you think that the arrests and torture of youth in the aftermath of 2010 protests, is fuelling resentment and anger in youth which can anytime burst into violence?
The youth are now preparing and thinking of all types of resistance. It is not anger but ideology. If you use the language of violence the youth learn the same. You can't have a beautiful resistance to an ugly occupation.
Is the Media reporting objectively the real truth and ground facts viz a viz Kashmir?
The corporate Press and embedded press is at the helm, so no grievance about them.
Different visions about Aazadi are articulated in media as to what kashmiris perceive to be Aazadi and there seems to be confusion in media and mainstream Indian politicians regarding Aazadi?
Aazadi is our baby and it would be reared by us, let them give us our Aazadi and we will erode all such perceptions, or we will snatch our Aazadi and define it ourselves, as for now Aazadi is the end of Indian occupation.
Now some separatist leaders like Prof Gani Bhat and others are questioning the legitimacy of U.N Resolutions on Kashmir. Do you think that U.N Resolutions still form the bedrock for Resolution of Kashmir Issue?
We have our own preamble for it. It states that we are struggling effectively to enable the people of Jammu & Kashmir as it existed on 14th August 1947 to exercise their inherent, internationally recognized and pledged right to determine the future status of the State in accordance of freely expressed will.
But still don't you think that U.N resolutions are important for the International Status of Kashmir Dispute?
The case is more important rather than any judicial ruling regarding the case. Our Case is much older than the U.N resolutions and even without U.N Resolutions the status of Jammu & Kashmir would have been disputed anyhow.
There are also opinions about participation in coming elections of 2014 by the Separatist leaders. Do you think that participation in elections will help separatists to articulate demand of self determination better?
Unless one doesn't take oath of allegiance to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, one can't take part in elections. So the limitations are inherent within the Indian Constitution itself. To add insult to injury the Legislative Assembly doesn't have the required quorum for taking meaningful concrete decisions, hence in no way participation in elections can help us to further our demand of right to self determination.
Can't there be any common minimum program or unity among separatist and mainstream parties for resolution of Kashmir?
There is no mainstream or separatism in Kashmir. Either you are pro-establishment or anti-establishment. If the goals are different, then how can one have the common minimum program? We are on opposing pathways. Being in opposition no common minimum program can be formulated.
Any message for youth who are carrying on the mantle of resistance?
Youth are wise enough to lead.

Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi can be reached at isljkashmir@gmail.com .
Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir and can be reached at sikandarmushtaq@gmail.com