Review of a Book: Examination of the Failure of the Indian Government Toward Kashmiris
In his book, "Kashmir Insurgency," retired Indian Army officer Yoginder Kandhari delves into the complexities of the Kashmir conflict, particularly focusing on the late 1980s and early 1990s when insurgency was at its peak. The book, published by White Falcon Publishing, offers a unique perspective, drawing on interviews with retired military and civilian officers, as well as Right to Information (RTI) data.
### Key Points in the Analysis:
* **Failure of the Indian State:** The book explores the Indian state's inability to effectively address the insurgency, attributing this failure to systemic issues rather than just inefficiencies or corruption. It highlights the state's inability to manage the communalization of state policies, which negatively impacted minority communities, including Kashmiri Pandits. * **Communalization of State Policies:** Kandhari discusses how post-1947 policies were increasingly communalized, leading to support funds being diverted instead of being used to develop the region. This mismanagement contributed to the state's unpreparedness when militancy arose. * **Insurgency and Exodus:** The book revisits the 1989-90 insurgency period, focusing on the events that led to the mass exodus of Kashmiri Hindus. It discusses the psychological aspects of the conflict and its impact on the region. * **Neutrality and Perspective:** Despite being a Kashmiri Pandit, Kandhari maintains a neutral stance in his analysis, avoiding the communal tone often present in discussions of the Kashmir conflict.
### Other Notable Points:
* The book suggests that the Kashmiri Hindus were left to their own devices because India wanted to erase their Kashmiri identity and place it in the larger pattern of Indian nationalism. * The book does not provide extensive elaboration, which might have clarified the matter further. * The book is priced at Rs 700 and contains 308 pages. * The book portrays the extremely violent years of the late 1980s and early 1990s in Kashmir, suggesting that the Indian state was overwhelmed by a Pakistan-inspired "insurgency." * The book discusses the failure of the Indian state as a deliberate enterprise, beyond inefficiencies, corruption, and a lack of understanding. * The book seeks to discuss the failure of the Indian state through a lens of Punjabi social realism, combining subtlety and hard-hitting insights.
In conclusion, "Kashmir Insurgency" offers a comprehensive historical analysis of the Kashmir conflict, emphasizing the failure of state policies and their impact on the region. The book provides a different perspective compared to journalistic and bureaucratic "histories," offering a detailed perspective from a retired Indian Army officer who served in counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir.
- The book, "Kashmir Insurgency," by Yoginder Kandhari, explores the role of education-and-self-development and personal-growth in understanding the Kashmir conflict, positing that the Indian state's failure in addressing the insurgency was due to a lack of these factors, leading to systemic issues and the communalization of state policies.
- The book sheds light on the intersection of policy-and-legislation, politics, and career-development in shaping the Kashmir conflict, as it discusses the mismanagement of funds meant for the region's development and the role of post-1947 policies in supporting the insurgency.
- In search of general-news about ongoing conflicts and war-and-conflicts, readers might find insights in "Kashmir Insurgency," as it presents a detailed account of the late 1980s and early 1990s—a period marked by extreme violence and the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus.
- On the topic of crime-and-justice, the book offers a unique perspective, investigating the failure of the Indian state not just as an inefficiency or a lack of understanding, but as a deliberate enterprise. It highlights the psychological aspects of the conflict and its impact on the region.
