Again, Kashmiri students studying in other states have been victimized, harassed and thrashed. This time, the horrifying incident has taken place in Chandigarh. Seven Kashmiri students studying at Swami Devi Dayal College were thrashed by a group of goons. The Kashmiri students were on their way back to their rented accommodations. Recently, dogs were set upon a few Kashmiris in Delhi. The increasing incidence of attacks on Kashmiri students is alarming. A fear psychosis can set in Kashmiris studying or working in rest of the country. While it cannot be stated or inferred that these attacks are politically motivated and could , in all likelihood, be the result of vigilante, alcohol or hate induced attacks, they still are alarming.
Where will or can Kashmiri students go given the constrained opportunity and educational structure in Kashmir? The supply of education does not meet with the demand for it. By necessity, many have to exit Kashmir. But given the increasing incidence of violent attacks, many Kashmiris will think twice before venturing outside the state. The security of Kashmiris working and/or studying in other states must be ensured. Admittedly , the state cant do much about it. And neither can policing. So how can physical security of Kashmiris be ensured?
The answer may lie in criminalizing violent acts generally and vigorous police action and follow up. This can be easily done by highlighting what are called hate crimes- that is, crimes motivated by prejudice and hatred towards gender, ethnicity and /or race among other things – and penalizing them vigorously. Once a concept and idea of hate crimes is popularized and brought into public consciousness, then examples of penalizing these hate crimes also need to be made public. This could, to a degree, prevent the incidence of hate crimes.
Second, people need to be sensitized about Kashmiris. We are a people too. The accretions that have piled upon Kashmiris in terms of negative labeling need to go. Media has an important role to play in sensitizing people about Kashmiris. Kashmir-phobia needs to be dealt with on an urgent and exigent basis. The repercussions besides the fear induced among young Kashmiris who want to study outside the state would more alienation and bitterness amongst Kashmiris.
This is , insofar, as the general message is concerned. There is a message for Kashmiris outside the state too. They must drop their swagger, and try to engage with their host societies in a cooperative and a people to people, non conflictual idiom, so to speak. This, however, is not enough. As the old adage goes, safety lies in numbers. Kashmiris students of workers- living in other states must stick together and try as much as possible to look out for each other. In combination, these measures might prevent the incidence of violence against Kashmir. We close with the hope that the latest incident in Chandigarh serves as a reminder(albeit grim) to stem and stanch violence against Kashmiris. A lot is at stake here.
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