Economic blockade of Kashmir...is it bad

Since a couple of weeks now, the Kashmir valley has been under an economic blockade. The Hindu extremists in Jammu and some other Indian states like Punjab have been blocking the highways connecting India with Kashmir, besides the physical harassment of Kashmiri muslims in these regions.

The blockade is an means to ensure sanctions on Kashmir valley, it means that no essential supplies like food, medicine, paper and other necessities reach the vale and the muslim majority region suffers at the hands of the communal fanatics in Jammu. Interestingly even when the valley was burning over the land row and people were not having access to the daily essentials, the Kashmiris ensured that the pilgrims to Amarnath, undoubtedly Hindus from different parts of India, were not made to suffer. It was ensured that they were supplied with food and other necessary things, this was another instance when Kashmiris showered their hospitality to people who were not so necessarily kind to them.

Now that people in Kashmir are facing the hardships of shutdowns and no access to essential commodities and even hospitals falling short of medical supplies to treat any emergencies, I ponder if the blockade is after all so bad. In essence if you look at it, it has ensured a rendezvous with reality for the Kashmiris. Although the pro-freedom politicians of Kashmir (notice how I avoid the word Leadership) have expressed their anguish over these sanctions, we must do more than that. As we aspire for a freedom and a nation of our own, we need to prepared to face the reality and stand up to what it means. I don't know if self reliance is the right word here, but Kashmir needs to pave way for the people to be least dependent on Indian states.

During the strikes in the valley called by our pro-freedom politicians, during the past several weeks, my heart pained to see our own youth destroying Kashmir's own property. Whether it was the Iqbal Park or the newly made park at Badamwari, we hurt nobody but ourselves with such acts. Instead we should make efforts to support local trade and commerce, encourage local agriculture and stress on education of our youth, to broaden their minds, so that they are in the capacity to choose and not just be led like sheep.

More than anything we Kashmiris need to stop biting our own. How many times have we not witnessed that the Auto Rickshaw drivers hike their rates when a pro-freedom strike is called, how many times have we seen shopkeepers raising their listed prices when people are in most need, how many times have the butchers robbed us on Eid. If the answer to all these questions is a YES which I believe in most cases would be, then I begin to question if I can leave the future of the nation I aspire for, in the hands of my own people.