O KASHMIRO KASHMIR,, it pays to be with it pays to be with Prosperous IndiaProsperous India

A Paradise wrongly in search of IdentityA Paradise wrongly in search of Identity

- By Sharad Mistry- By Sharad Mistry

The name KashmirThe name Kashmir is derived from two words is derived from two words

- kaka (the water) (the water)

- and and shimeerashimeera (to desiccate), (to desiccate),

so the word Kashmir implies land desiccated from so the word Kashmir implies land desiccated from waterwater

WWe e shall not cease from exploration shall not cease from exploration

and the end of all our exploring will be to and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive arrive

where we started… where we started… and know the place for the first timeand know the place for the first time

T S Eliot, poet, playwright, criticT S Eliot, poet, playwright, critic

HistoricalHistorical• Vedic Civilization extended much Vedic Civilization extended much

over northern India, Pakistan, over northern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan Afghanistan

• Since ancient times, Kashmir has Since ancient times, Kashmir has been part of the Himalayan region of been part of the Himalayan region of BharatvarshaBharatvarsha

• Finds mentions also in Mahabharata Finds mentions also in Mahabharata

• Kashmir is also the birthplace of Kashmir is also the birthplace of Shaivism, Shiv Sutra revealed by Lord Shaivism, Shiv Sutra revealed by Lord Shiva to sage Vasuguptacharya, and Shiva to sage Vasuguptacharya, and Panini, the famous Sanskrit Panini, the famous Sanskrit grammarian grammarian

• Till 11th century, Kashmir was Till 11th century, Kashmir was important part of the powerful Hindu important part of the powerful Hindu monarchs whose kingdoms spanned monarchs whose kingdoms spanned till Central Asia till Central Asia

• Important centre also in the Buddhist Important centre also in the Buddhist eraera

Historical (2)Historical (2)Invasion, Conversion, Ousting out ownersInvasion, Conversion, Ousting out owners

• After Taxila and Nalanda, Kashmir also After Taxila and Nalanda, Kashmir also was important center for profound Hindu was important center for profound Hindu culture and Sanskrit studiesculture and Sanskrit studies

• Invading Islam / Turkish zealots destroyed Invading Islam / Turkish zealots destroyed its librariesits libraries

• Islam zealots 1st invaded Kashmir in 12th Islam zealots 1st invaded Kashmir in 12th century (1322) by Turkish Zulakdur Khan century (1322) by Turkish Zulakdur Khan

• 2nd Turkish invasion (1394) by Sikander 2nd Turkish invasion (1394) by Sikander Butshikhan Butshikhan made Islam the state religion made Islam the state religion by enforced mass conversionsby enforced mass conversions

• King Akbar one of India’s leading Muslim King Akbar one of India’s leading Muslim ruler is known to have thrown out Hindu ruler is known to have thrown out Hindu Kashmir Pandits, owners of Kashmir Kashmir Pandits, owners of Kashmir

• Since then millions of Kashmiri Pandits Since then millions of Kashmiri Pandits have been thrown out of their homeland have been thrown out of their homeland

• In 21st century, Islam zealots have In 21st century, Islam zealots have continued this terrorizing tradition continued this terrorizing tradition

PoliticalPolitical

Disasters of history are the result of government's Disasters of history are the result of government's folly and perverse persistence in pursuing the folly and perverse persistence in pursuing the policies contrary to national interests.policies contrary to national interests.

- - Barbara W. TuchmanBarbara W. TuchmanAmerican historian and author of 'The March of Folly'American historian and author of 'The March of Folly'

PoliticalPolitical • Desperately searching for its identity, Desperately searching for its identity, Kashmir must realize, it was and is very Kashmir must realize, it was and is very much part of prosperous Indiamuch part of prosperous India

• India is a successful democracy India is a successful democracy after six decades of good politics; after six decades of good politics; Pakistan still undeveloped with Pakistan still undeveloped with almost five decades of dictatorshipalmost five decades of dictatorship

• Radidcal Islam has more political Radidcal Islam has more political ideology that has since centuries ideology that has since centuries preached violencepreached violence

• Centuries of invasions, brutal, enforced Centuries of invasions, brutal, enforced conversions has high Muslim population conversions has high Muslim population in Kashmir in Kashmir

• Pakistan was carved out from large Pakistan was carved out from large hearted India for the benefit of Muslimshearted India for the benefit of Muslims

• Fathers of Independent India then Fathers of Independent India then thought Muslims will be happy with thought Muslims will be happy with their own countrytheir own country

• Pakistan has instead unleashed Pakistan has instead unleashed politics of hate, snatched land politics of hate, snatched land from Kashmir, unleashed terror from Kashmir, unleashed terror across the world and even set up across the world and even set up terror camps across line of controlterror camps across line of control

Political - 2Political - 2• India has been forced to fight India has been forced to fight

four avoidable wars on four avoidable wars on wrongs committed 60 years wrongs committed 60 years ago by politicians of both ago by politicians of both India and PakistanIndia and Pakistan

• Muslim-favoring Nehru was Muslim-favoring Nehru was wrong in taking the Kashmir wrong in taking the Kashmir issue to UN even when the issue to UN even when the then Hindu Ruler Hari Singh then Hindu Ruler Hari Singh had agreed to join the had agreed to join the Independent IndiaIndependent India

• Pakistan supported slogan Pakistan supported slogan mongers, secessionists have mongers, secessionists have wrongly hyped `Kashmiriat’ wrongly hyped `Kashmiriat’

• Removal of wrongly imposed Removal of wrongly imposed Section 370 will help return Section 370 will help return Kashmir Pandits into Kashmir Kashmir Pandits into Kashmir and allow all Indians to own and allow all Indians to own land in Kashmir as it is across land in Kashmir as it is across IndiaIndia

• This will help Kashmir develop This will help Kashmir develop faster with more number of faster with more number of industries in the Stateindustries in the State

Economic ReasonsEconomic Reasons• Kashmir was always known Kashmir was always known

as heaven on earthas heaven on earth• In 2008, it is shimmering In 2008, it is shimmering

under the Islam fanatics under the Islam fanatics

• Democratic India has Democratic India has progressed well and now an progressed well and now an emerging economic poweremerging economic power

• Pakistan’s governed largely Pakistan’s governed largely by dicatators, religious-by dicatators, religious-zealots is fiscally imprudent, zealots is fiscally imprudent, mismanaged,considered poormismanaged,considered poor

• India’s GDP pie in 2008 is India’s GDP pie in 2008 is over $1 trillion ($650 billion over $1 trillion ($650 billion in 2004)in 2004)

• Pakistan’s economy is barely Pakistan’s economy is barely 1/10th of India1/10th of India

• With its 172.8 million With its 172.8 million population, Pakistan’s GDP population, Pakistan’s GDP was estimated at around was estimated at around $140 bn in 2007$140 bn in 2007

Economic Reasons – 2Economic Reasons – 2 • India’s GDP growth close to 10%, Pakistan’s India’s GDP growth close to 10%, Pakistan’s

GDP growth hovers around 6% GDP growth hovers around 6% • India has strong social sector; Pakistan just India has strong social sector; Pakistan just

out of the clutches of dictators has barely out of the clutches of dictators has barely managed to initiate financing its social sectormanaged to initiate financing its social sector

• Urban wages in India go up to even Rs 5,000-Urban wages in India go up to even Rs 5,000-6,000 per day; in Pakistan, urban wages in 6,000 per day; in Pakistan, urban wages in 2007 were said to be around Rs 300-400!2007 were said to be around Rs 300-400!

• Afghan refugees – over three million – still Afghan refugees – over three million – still burden Pakistan’s economyburden Pakistan’s economy

• Kashmir’s economy for over a decade is in Kashmir’s economy for over a decade is in shambles because of Pakistan-supported shambles because of Pakistan-supported fanaticsfanatics

• Slow developing, small and poor Pakistan Slow developing, small and poor Pakistan would hardly be able to support Kashmir’s soft would hardly be able to support Kashmir’s soft industries like tourism, art and artifacts, industries like tourism, art and artifacts, agriculture (to some extent)agriculture (to some extent)

• Kashmiris will benefit more and progress fast Kashmiris will benefit more and progress fast if they are with Prosperous India than with if they are with Prosperous India than with unstable Pakistanunstable Pakistan

Religious FreedomReligious Freedom • Belief in pantheism and restrained Belief in pantheism and restrained modernism are at the basis of modernism are at the basis of both Sanatana Hinduism and Islam both Sanatana Hinduism and Islam

• Large number of Kashmiris are Large number of Kashmiris are originally Hindus who were originally Hindus who were forcefully converted into becoming forcefully converted into becoming Muslims Muslims

• Large-hearted, poly-theistic India Large-hearted, poly-theistic India offers more freedom and benefits offers more freedom and benefits also to Muslims who have also to Muslims who have prospered faster in India than in prospered faster in India than in Pakistan Pakistan

• Centuries old India’s Sanatana Centuries old India’s Sanatana Hinduism is the most tolerant, Hinduism is the most tolerant, conducive & progressive of all conducive & progressive of all other faithsother faiths

• India’s poly-theism has also India’s poly-theism has also helped cross section of religious helped cross section of religious followers to freely follow their followers to freely follow their religionreligion

Religious Freedom - 2Religious Freedom - 2• Islam’s mono-theistic, violence-preaching political ideology has Islam’s mono-theistic, violence-preaching political ideology has

overshadowed good, God-fearing and loving aspects about Islamovershadowed good, God-fearing and loving aspects about Islam• The 1400-years old Islam religion is the world’s most severe, The 1400-years old Islam religion is the world’s most severe,

intolerant of all faithsintolerant of all faiths• Islam’s strict mono-theism has emerged as the most frightening Islam’s strict mono-theism has emerged as the most frightening

of all religionsof all religions• Muslims across the world find India the best place to follow their Muslims across the world find India the best place to follow their

religionreligion• World’s largest Muslim population is in IndiaWorld’s largest Muslim population is in India

Kashmiris…Kashmiris…

Understand and chose what’s best in your Understand and chose what’s best in your interest interest

for a progressive and prosperous futurefor a progressive and prosperous future

Namaste…Namaste…

Namaste… and join us fast for a peaceful and prosperous worldNamaste… and join us fast for a peaceful and prosperous world