: The recent survey conducted by Indian Express-Dawn News-CNN/IBN-CSDS-ACNielsen (IE, August 13) provides interesting insights into the political psyche of urban Kashmiris.
The continued alienation of the urban Kashmiri from the Indian state is reflected in the response to the question related to a preferred solution to Kashmir: an overwhelmingly large percentage preferring ‘independence’ to remaining with India. And yet this was not the only option that they were thinking of. On being asked whether they agreed that state should be given greater autonomy within the Indian Constitution, a large number (69 per cent) responded in the affirmative. That the Kashmiris could show their preference for ‘independence’ and ‘autonomy within the Indian Constitution’ in the same breath reflects the extent of ambivalence within Kashmiri politics today, especially when the urge for peace and normalcy is at its strongest.
For further illustrations of the ambivalence of the Kashmiri mind, it may be interesting to reflect on the responses to some of the other questions asked. For instance, respondents very strongly endorsed the viewpoint that the situation in the state has improved since 2002. Interestingly, the number of people who feel this is greater in Srinagar (79 per cent) than in Jammu city (63 per cent). Srinagar, it may be noted, represents the most sceptical part of the population even within the Valley. In 2002 the city had displayed its utter lack of faith in the electoral process by largely boycotting it. The city has always reflected its support for separatist politics. A call for a bandh from a separatist or militant organisation can evoke a total response here.
For such a sceptical population to say that the situation has improved since 2002 is significant. First, it is an endorsement of the ongoing peace process. Kashmiris, stuck in a cycle of violence since the late eighties, have been looking for an opportunity for an ‘honourable exit’ since the late nineties. The peace process initiated by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2004 has not only sustained itself through a change of the political regime from NDA to UPA but also brought about certain tangible results in the form of ‘soft borders’ — making greater interaction between the two sides of Kashmir possible.
