Reclaiming Radicalized Youth in India

32 radical youth leaders -13 from Kashmir Valley, 18 from Jammu and one from Ladakh, including 6 women - representing regions, communities and ethnic groups locked in antagonist relationship and sharp divisions that makes  Kashmir play ground of youth radicalization and armed militancy gathered in Delhi on 1,2,3 April 2016 for the first time in the post armed insurgency history of Kashmir conflict not to sharpen the edge of rivalry and retribution but to unify for a Nonviolent future for the violence torn region, considered to be nuclear flashpoint in South Asia. 

It is not unproblematic for known Kashmiri youth leaders to identify with someone from Delhi and attend an event on Kashmir. They can be branded renegades. Similarly, for Jammu activists to put political issues with the Kashmiris away in preference to social-cultural issues and democratic deficit in Kashmir Valley, is also an unpopular concern in Jammu’s social-political environment.  

Yet they came to sit together and give voice to issues vital to society but less so to politics, to find a way with hope and dedication. It also indicates their confidence in Swaraj Peeth amd maturing of five years of dialogue on nonviolence. By publically joining such a cause they make a radical departure.

Participants saw the unique significance of the event in the following respect:

1. “Tolerance, thoughtfulness, sensitivity and sympathy displayed by all despite opposite and conflicting views is uncommon when J&K issues are discussed among radical activists from all conflicting sides. This was the high point of the event.
2. The conference brought out that at the core of the heart of every sane voice of Jammu and Kashmir lies the betterment of the masses and amicable end of human pain arising out of political conflict, and for that they are ready to rise above their own perspectives, thoughts and ideologies.
3. Significance of the conference was in that it deliberated on burning issues confronting the trouble torn  Jammu and Kashmir  in a serious, in-depth and, above all, in   humane way
4. It affirmed the rightness of Swaraj Peeth initiative as all the participants, despite differences, agreed that reconciliation is needed and only nonviolent methods can help achieve it
5. Radical youth leaders from Kashmir talking and understanding ways of nonviolence, not out of strategic or tactical compulsion but as a choice and conviction , carries special significance in the light of discredit terms like ‘peace’ and ‘nonviolence’ have carried in Kashmir.
6. Conference has trained the peace makers of future so that we can ease the sufferings of our state.
7. We are inclined to include more peace related content in our publications.
8. The heart-touching and pro-humanity presentations were the core of conference, away from hype; the conference has laid foundation of big things.
9. In collaboration with Swarajpeeth, especially on World Peace Day and Gandhi’ birth anniversary, the editors of weeklies among us would like to dedicate our issues completely to peace and non-violence.
10. Each one came out with a personal resolve to actively carry forward this mantle of peace, nonviolence and reconciliation despite all challenges and hardships.
11. The coming together of such bright people from conflicting sides affirmed the potential for developing a wider peace-and-nonviolence constituency.
12. The event enriched knowledge of the diverse culture of the state and the unique strength and problems thereof.
13. Participants could closely converse with those intellectual luminaries whose books they read in order to understand predicaments of our social-political-cultural life.”

A scholar writer activist youth leader of high repute sums up  in the following words: 

“Efforts over the years have so fructified that this group has emerged as the only one in J&K that has become a common credible nonpartisan platform for radical activist, socially-politically conscious and thinking youth from divergent sides.  This is a radical difference Swaraj Peeth has made in the process of transforming violence, addressing radicalization, and above all building a dialogue on nonviolence. This even has built up a tempo and it will be test to sustain it.”

Both the groups worked out action plan on the last day of the conference.

Immidiate Impact::

Kashmir being a highly politicized society word of mouth spread inspite of our mot inviting the media.. Leaders of the group got calls from many activists, youth leaders and other seniors. A well known veteran, one of the famous former group of four who heralded the 1990s phase of armed militancy, phoned Rajiv Vora appreciating the initiative and asking for a meeting. Three popular independent weeklies, their owners and editors in chiefs have come out in support of addressing radicalization through nonviolence.

Youth Leaders View on Swaraj Peeth’s J&K Initiative:

 SPT‘s initiative in J&K was described as one that has gone to the grass root levels, tried to understand in a most nonpartisan manner issues in depth, never tried to sell Gandhi or any idea or ideology except practicing what they believe in and that is what has attracted the intellectually and politically dynamic bright lot of radical and activist youth and people both in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu. NGOs in J&K suddenly appear at opportune times and then never show up again. Swaraj Peeth  has broken that image of out-side intervention, not tried  to exploit J&K conflict situation to promote itself like NGOs and INGOs do. Gandhi, peace and nonviolence –all three carry negative value among the youth of Kashmir. And yet Swaraj Peeth has gained credibility and trust. This is unusual. Within this background the turn in past one year towards Gandhi and nonviolence among an important segment of youth leaders must be seen. Youth leaders from Jammu said they have been re-energized with a vision.  It was noted by the people of J&K and radical leaders that even during the floods Swaraj Peeth stood by the people and went to most difficult of places. It has for the first time created a platform where youth leaders with contrary views – from the Valley and Jammu- have come together and most importantly conducted such experiments that brought Kashmiri Youth closer to Kashmir Pandits and through them to the social-communal symbiotic culture that they are disconnected from.  

The phenomenon of radicalization among the youth was brought out in its comprehensive depth. Subjects listed in the program were presented and discussed with facts and socio-cultural- political understanding. It should remain a land mark in such collective discourses on conflict zones that a ‘Way Ahead’ was visualized in the light of Gandhi’s Hind Swaraj.

                                 OBSERVATIONS BY INDIA’S FOREMOST INTELLECTUALS

Prof DL Sheth, India’s senior most social scientist who pioneered the study of grass-root socio-political movements said “Such a group, if it develops chemistry, which it is developing, can change the very course of things in Kashmir. I can see it.”

 Prof Ashish Nandy, social theorist, critic and political psychologist of world repute, among 100 top global public intellectuals, said at the concluding session “I have not seen a group like this earlier. This initiative could not have come either from official sources, or from standard NGO frame work; nor could it have come from among the (conventional) Gandhians….  Greatest Gandhians of our time would not take his name because Gandhism is an instinct, a part of us. That is why entering a period of history, if I may say so, when groups like this will be remembered by our children and grand children.”

Dr Kapila Vatsyayan, recipient of second highest civilian honor, doyen among the scholars of art and culture said “It was truly a learning experience: their (Kashmiri participants’) sincerity was so evident… how could you get such an intelligent bright group of youth?” “…I write this to thank you most sincerely again and to tell you how much many people, and of course me, appreciate the great dedicated work you are doing.”

Both Prof Makarand Paranjpe, well known poet and social thinker, and Prof Sreeram Sunder Chaulia, experienced international nonviolent peace-keeper, columnist and  dean at Jindal School on International Affairs said the same word “This is just amazing work…what a transformation,  what a bright dedicated group!”

( Note: as our volunteers work on editing considerable important material on video recording , we will upload relevant parts. This is an impression report and not content report. Content report will be available on the website after transcription and editing. Our donors will be informed. A short version will be put up here.)

Links:

• Website of Swaraj Peeth Trust