And Jehlum Continued To Flow: Kashmir Witnessed Turmoil, Travesty and Tragedies
By
Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam
15 May 2023
Aur
Jehlum Behtaa Raha (And Jehlum continued to Flow)
Author:
Khaliq Parvez
Publisher:
Al Qalam Publications, Baramulla, Kashmir, India
Year
of Publication: 2021
Pages:
192 Price: Rs 200
ISBN:
9788195276707
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Kashmir
valley has witnessed huge turmoil’s, travesty and tragedies. On the one hand
its breath-taking beauty, lush green meadows and snow-capped mountains,
enchants any visitor or tourist. However, on the other hand, the violence,
gruesome deaths and political corruption has entrapped its inhabitants in a
gory vicious cycle of hopelessness and pessimism. The more appealing the Valley
looks to outsiders; grave are its contours for the inhabitants who are
struggling with a quagmire.
The current
work under review is not an academic treatment of Kashmir issue and what went
wrong, but is a memoir of a victim of Kashmir tragedy and politics. Khaliq
Parvez is a writer, poet, journalist and political activist, who had to pay a
heavy price for his political activism and later on for his writings too.
Earlier too his two-volume memoir titled Jula e Watan (Banished to Exile), was
received and appreciated very well by the readers. I had the privilege of
reviewing both the volumes, and now in this work Khaliq Parvez in his unique
writing style goes beyond 1980s and documents about the turbulence that
initiated in 1990s in the Kashmir. He is a personal witness of different
upheavals and downfalls of armed struggle, state repression and how the whole
society changed.
This book
is about the experiences and reflections of author about the socio-economic and
religious aspects. He keeps himself engaged with writing as he does not believe
in wasting time, by remaining idle, despite being a septuagenarian. He takes
the reader back to his childhood, how as a naughty kid, he used to steal milk
and drink it utilizing a unique style. He also documents the gory details of
tribal invasion in 1947, in which his native town Baramulla had to suffer
heavily.
The tribal
targeted Christian missionaries and nurses in Baramulla, but they did spare
Muslims, as they too were killed and properties looted. Being an eye witness to
those events, what and how things were happening during the attack, while the
tribal were looking for special targets i.e., Sikhs. In the midst of this
chaos, as an adventurous kid, Parvez stole a sword of a local Maulana. Later,
when the things got out of hand, Baramulla was bombarded and due to this aerial
bombardment and atrocities of tribal, the family had to migrate.
The
autobiographical details and family history is mentioned too, while narrating
the harrowing scenes of tribal invasion, its aftermath and bombardment through
sky. The least talked about massacre of
Jammu Muslims, by the right-wing members and Dogra forces is documented too.
Jammu massacre is a forgotten massacre of Muslims, during the harrowing
partition tragedy. Now academics, journalists are mentioning about it and
common people are becoming aware.
The tussle
between cadres and members of National Conference and Muslim Conference before
partition of J&K state between India and Pakistan, reflect an ugly reality
that shattered the unity of Muslims. Then, due to influence of subcontinent
Deobandi-Barelvi divide too paved its way in Kashmir. The towering leader of
Kashmir, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, was betrayed by his friend, the first Prime
Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, and incarcerated and illegally
removed from power. So, once he was released, he found out that he was losing
popularity among the masses, hence, he initiated a movement for reconstruction
of Hazratbal shrine, and during this movement he never spoke against India.
Although, even during his incarceration Sheikh was being looked after quite
well and shown great compassion by the government in power.
Parvez
appears to be a voracious reader since his childhood, that reflects in his
writings too. He documented his exile to Pakistan administered Kashmir, and
then his return in his two volume book earlier. Upon his return to Kashmir, he
settled down, started his business and then started to edit a weekly newspaper
Kamraz. Later, he had to close down the weekly that was still in its infancy
due to insurgency (P-111). He intended to initiate a new era through his weekly
in the journalistic history of Kashmir valley, because here most journalism is
a reflection of yellow one, whereas in the process real journalism is rendered
victim. As the memoir progresses, we can come to know more about his friends,
family and acquaintances. He mentions some Jaffar Ali Dehlavi, who is
introduced as quite a practicing Muslim, who used to pray for long hours
untiringly. But Parvez, as he informs the reader earlier but seems to forget
himself, that Jaffar is corrupt to the core and using his influence adjusted
his family members, children and others in forest department, thus promoting
nepotism. We many times fail to understand the spirit of Islam. We confuse long
prayers with piety and religiosity, because we presume Islam, to be
compartmentalized between private and public life. Islam is holistic, either
one follows and upholds its values or one denigrates them. The half-hearted
efforts of believing in something while rejecting the teaching which is not
suitable, certainly is enough to denigrate the real teachings of Islam.
Parvez,
also mentions about his near death experience (P-118-120). By reading this
memoir, we are made aware not only about his personal life, but various
characters of Baramulla, how the caste system is prevalent in Kashmir and the
Hindu right wing organization Panun Kashmir is involved in speaking and spewing
venom against Kashmiri Muslims. This memoir is an enjoyable read and adds to
many facets of life, but sometimes few mistakes sour the taste. These mistakes
could have been rectified by getting the draft read by a scholar, who could
fact check about various events and dates mentioned in the book. It is wrong
that Sheikh Abdullah after the Indira-Sheikh accord in 1975 was handed over the
power by G M Sadiq. It was Mir Qasim who did it (P-88-89).
Overall the
memoir does not disappoint the readers, it is quite a refreshing read. However,
those who have read the earlier works of Parvez, will feel the repetition of
some events at few places. This is quite an important memoir that needs to be
translated in other languages, for a wider dissemination. Parvez deserves our
accolades for writing this book, although the events during 1990s could have
been explained in more nuanced and explanatory long form.
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M.H.A.
Sikander is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir
URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/jhelum-jammu-kashmir-tribal-christians/d/129779
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